Etihad Airways Etihad Guest - Grannie flyers mini trip report

Just returned from my F class return flight SYD-LHR. Thought I would post my thoughts, mostly positive.

It has been stated before, and I now agree, the suites in F are excellent. The FA’s and the flight managers are also on the whole excellent. The food is awful, unless you choose wisely and the ebox works, but very ‘clunky’ even for a grannie, oh, and the awful new pyjamas, more later!

Experience at Sydney check in poor, Air NZ lounge outdated and uninspiring – but I knew this from past experience – nothing has changed. The difference between the LHR and SYD check in and lounge is so different. Personally I can only put it down to either the lack of competition in SYD, or Mcquarie, the company that seems to both own and rule SYD terminals.

Flight SYD-AUH went well, AUH lounge great as usual, flight AUH-LHR was also good, but why do Etihad not inform F class passengers how to do a ‘fast track’ transit at AUH – signage bad, we all stood in a queue that was wrong and unnecessary! Chauffer service LHR worked well.

Return journey.
Glad that I phoned Etihad 24 hrs before departure, they had my return chauffer booked at totally the wrong time – but then they sorted it out and all went well. The meet and greet service at LHR is brilliant, chauffer took my bag (light!) out, Etihad lady put it on a trolly and away we went – Grannie did not have to touch her bags, a truly first class experience. Etihad lounge LHR also good.

Sorry to write but there the good came to an abrupt halt. The flight LHR to AUH was awful. First class was full, but after my pre take off glass of ‘bolly’, nobody came to me to ask if I wanted another drink (I did), or take my menu order for over 1 ½ hrs, and yes, I did press my buzzer three times to no avail. There were three FA’s taking care of 12 and they seemed to be busy making up beds. Sorry to say, Grannie then got cross (in a restrained way – no shouting). Etihad staff then fell over themselves to make me happy, but it was too late.
And it got worse. On arrival at AUH once again I should have been given a ‘fast track transit card’ but no, faced with a huge queue snaking around transit check area, no signs for fast track (or at least none in English). Lucky Grannie has her wits and savvy. Saw an Etihad lady, thanks very much Helen. Helen saved me, whisked me through, literally took me to the first class lounge. I said I could find my way – but she was going there herself.

Final stage AUH/SYD was also interesting. I was the only one in F! The captain no less came to see if I was ok by myself, told him I was fine, and would enjoy dancing down the isles by myself. I ended up with one suite to sit and eat in, the next door one to sleep! Was looked after very well, by both the FA and ‘chef’ who had quite a few chats with me – think they were checking I was not lonely – they told me that they were not bored, normally they were flat out, so an almost empty F was a real bonus for them.

Now, the entertainment system. Its bad, clunky, and has a very poor limited selection of new films and a terribly limited selection of old films/tv. Does not bother me, but may concern others.

The new pyjamas for women are awful – and that is being polite! Gross huge ‘paste diamonds’ on a huge zipper, when you sleep they just scratch you. Could write more, but ladies just ask for the Mens pj’s in small, you are not going to get any flattering comments, but at least be comfortable. Have to say that all men I know would not like the mens style either, top has zip all the way down the front, my opinion is that they look like ‘street wear for a teenager’ – but remember I am a granny. They are not cotton – but neither are they polyester, think may be modal as they are quite thin and soft and not sweaty. A final comment, when I told the staff my thoughts about the new pj’s, they actually looked at them properly for the first time, giggled and agreed with me. Told me to let Etihad know, hopefully they monitor this forum.

Food. The Grille menu does not work. Full Stop. Ordered a plain rare steak on outward bound flight – was presented as a thin, grey bit of meat, stewed not grilled-just horrid! Chef was nice, only 4 in F, he was not pushed for time and was upset when I ate just a mouthful, (offered to make me something different) I made a polite excuse, because I firmly believe its not his fault, but the equipment he has to work with. Soup, salad, dips and bread are great. So is the cheese, and some desserts. Scrambled eggs were excellent, and my toast on last leg was just the best. Simple things do sometimes make you happy – for me it has to be toast that is cooked just short of burning and mine was toasted to order!

Do hope that the above is of some interest. I have focused on the points that bothered me – as one does. I had flown EY F a few times, but not in their suites, which are just great in my opinion. And the on board service was also very good – with the notable exception of the LHR-AUH return leg.

Thanks :) Great TR ... I enjoyed reading it!

Looking to do a LHR-SYD in F next year so thanks for the TR.

Thanks for your Trip Report, it persuaded me to give Etihad a try on a trip I'm taking from LHR to SYD next month!

thanks for the trip report. my mother in law is looking to come over to london from sydney later this year. i'm looking at flights with etihad. if you dont mind me asking where have you found the best deals in australia?

I don't understand the fast track transit at AUH? Why didn't you get both your boarding passes at check in, in which case you just go straight to the lounge until your next flight? We did this for SYD-AUH-CAI and on the return? Or were you stopping over in AUH?

As for the PJs, my 70 year old mother loves the Swarovski crystals and they do add a touch of glamour.

The best thing to eat on board are the Arab mezze, soups and desserts. Clearly due to preparation techniques, the exact items on the menu, particularly steak are far superior in the AUH F Lounge than on board.

removed, incorrect post.

[QUOTE=m0hamed;18434968]I don't understand the fast track transit at AUH? Why didn't you get both your boarding passes at check in, in which case you just go straight to the lounge until your next flight? We did this for SYD-AUH-CAI and on the return? Or were you stopping over in AUH?

NO. In SYD you are only given fast track transit for SYD. I was making a trip that was SYD-AUH (transit)-LHR travelling F as you must be aware. There was no offer of fast track cards for AUH either on the outbound or inbound flight. YES, I DID HAVE BOTH BOARDING CARDS, but they made not a jot of difference to the AUH, with no signage, no info, who to present the boarding cards to...Perhaps you can inform me, when presented with a huge queue, just where a F class pax should go, that is my point in this post.

An F class passenger should be informed by Etihad how to use their two boarding cards, who to present them to in transit.

Exactly the same on return journey. Yes, I did have both boarding cards, and a fast track for LHR.

With the greatest respect, who do you work for Mohamed?

NO. In SYD you are only given fast track transit for SYD. I was making a trip that was SYD-AUH (transit)-LHR travelling F as you must be aware. There was no offer of fast track cards for AUH either on the outbound or inbound flight. YES, I DID HAVE BOTH BOARDING CARDS, but they made not a jot of difference to the AUH, with no signage, no info, who to present the boarding cards to...Perhaps you can inform me, when presented with a huge queue, just where a F class pax should go, that is my point in this post.

An F class passenger should be informed by Etihad how to use their two boarding cards, who to present them to in transit.

Exactly the same on return journey. Yes, I did have both boarding cards, and a fast track for LHR.

With the greatest respect, who do you work for Mohamed?

Quite simple, really. You arrive into AUH, you go to the First Class Lounge where you present your second boarding pass, and then await your next flight. The same would be true if were flying LHR-SYD-AKL on QF.

The ground staff would have said to you: "Now here is your boarding pass Sydney to Abu Dhabi, and your Abu Dhabi to London boarding pass. You will collect your luggage in London" or something along those lines.

Apologies, but your ignorance in this exercise is not the fault of ground staff or the airline. Should they give you instructions on what you may think you need to do? Basically you followed the other pax to exit AUH, and then discovered you didn't need to. With clear signage in both English and Arabic that reads 'Immigration - GCC Nationals' or 'Immigration - Other Nationalities' why would you line up here?

Perhaps you are used to LHR as a transit point and expecting a flight connections area like at T5 with BA, but you don't need it. You have all your boarding passes.


Who I work for is irrelevant.

[QUOTE=m0hamed;18505908]Quite simple, really. You arrive into AUH, you go to the First Class Lounge where you present your second boarding pass, and then await your next flight.

Well news for you Mohamed, when disembarking in AUH from SYD there is no info, no guidance and no help. The FA's give no helpful info for F class pax.

Yes of course once you get to the lounge its easy - never said it was not. Its the actual arrival and finding the F class transit lane that is difficult. Exactly the same scenario on my return. Only that time it was worse. As I posted before, huge lines of folks, no helpful advice, no guidance, except from Helen. And no, I am not so old, or mad/crazy, all other F class pax thought the same.

I never intended to imply that the lounge was not great.