Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Etihad Y or Gulf Air J?

Hello,

I am looking for some advice on the following two options I have for an upcoming trip. Specifically, I will be traveling one-way from AUH to KUL, and would like to know which option below would be preferrable:

Option 1) Purchase a one-way Etihad Y (economy) ticket on the non-stop AUH-KUL flight.

Option 2) Use 30K AA miles to redeem a one-way Gulf Air J (business class) award ticket AUH-BAH-KUL. The award ticket I have on hold has a 7 hour layover in BAH.

Is the additional flight plus the 7 hour layover in BAH is worth it to get the business class routing on Gulf Air? Or is Etihad economy service good enough for the 7 hour flight to KUL? I cannot purchase an Etihad business class ticket, so that is not an option (too expensive). Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

If you're on an updated A340 or any A330 J on GF is much more comfy than a Y seat on EY or any other carrier for that matter.

The J lounge in BAH has a sleep room and the food and drink very good and plentiful with the usual showers, PC's, comfy seats etc. If the 7 hours isnt an issue flying J, esp if its a night flight, will afford you a much more civilised trip with priority baggage handling, lounge access as well as on board flat seats and less chance of crying babies(my greatest dislike while flying-sorry to all with babies in advance)

The lounge in BAH also has direct and excellent views of the runway and taxiways..shopping area on airside general transit area is enough to maybe keep you occupied an hour max.

Only letdown on GF will be the IFE, it wont have on demand as I gather EY will, but will have latest releases on individual TV's in your armrest.

My 2 cents

CJ

I have discovered on recent GF flights LHR/BAH/LHR that the On Board Chef serves both business and first and the only difference between the menus is a sorbet and a choice of desserts.

That's interesting...the menus used to be different to a large extent and the Chef would only wander back into the J cabin after F had been served to oversee the J service and do a PR walk in the J cabin. The J cabin crew did all prep and service, unlike F where the chef does all prep and depending on how full F is will do service too. Should also point out the Chef also doubles as the F cabin manager and usually has one assistant senior cabin crew member. Unlike QF the flight purser, if a local male, will do ZERO work except walk around. If purser is an expat female, expect great input from her too.

Perhaps GF are back to their 90's post glory days when F,J AND Y got the same food basically! but presented differently.