Surprisingly superb experience on Etihad! (EY211 AUH-DEL)
Jul 10, 2005, 5:18 am
#1
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Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Soon to be LEGT
Posts: 10,928
Surprisingly superb experience on Etihad! (EY211 AUH-DEL)
having read various FTers describing EY as a mediocre outfit, I hadn't been particularly excited about flying them on Friday. In actual fact, I hadn't even thought of writing a report of any sort, as the flight to Delhi only lasts around 3 hours and consequently is bound to be unremarkable.
But was it? I had a very memorable flight and thought that the only way of doing them some justice here is by posting a trip report. So here goes.
EY211 (DXB-)AUH-DEL, C class
The "limo" (actually a bog standard E-class Mercedes) chauffeur turned up at my hotel in Dubai about 15 minutes earlier than the agreed time. I definitely wasn't ready, as the pickup time was 6:30 and I wanted to maximise my sleep. Anyway he patiently waited for me and we were off at about 6:35. Quiet, uneventful drive to the airport.
The AUH airport requires baggage/security screening before entering the terminal. That makes perfect sense to me as it's more efficient and "protects" the terminal areas as well as the flights Etihad have a small premium zone that consists of two check-in desks and one for passport control. The latter is like a desk in an office, no glass booths or anything, just a guy sitting there having a look and putting a stamp on your passport.
A quick visit to the shops (nothing special) and then I'm headed to the lounge. Having been told (by the EY office in the UK no less!) that EY don't have a lounge at their hub and they use "the chauffeur company lounge" (!!!- btw the website didn't offer any more info either), I had been damn scared of what this place would entail. But this is a very respectable lounge: well lit and decorated (but not as lavish as Arabs sometimes tend to be), it's got a limited selection of hot breakfast items, at-seat drinks service (only two people at the bar, though, so you tend to have to go to the bar to order) complete with espresso-based coffees, PCs...I didn't check to see whether there were showers.
Boarding was relatively quick (I don't know whether priority boarding was offered, I was far too busy enjoying my hot breakfast and cappuccino in the lounge to reach the gate early). While in the queue I had a look at my BP that said 3A......, aren't Etihad supposed to be a 3-class airline? Or is it just that this flight has only 2 rows of F? Oh well, I shall wait and see. Once on the A330-200, the CSD escorts me to my seat which is in the "Diamond Zone" (First class), and an FA informs me that the premium arrangement for this flight is F seating with C service. Well, I am not quite complaining.
The F seat is fully flat (or at least very close, I'm not very experienced when it comes to intercontinental flying), and mightily comfortable! Announcements are made, apparently the crew speak about 12 languages between them. They don't speak Greek, though, so it will be English for me. (Business Class) Menus are quickly distributed, the meal looks like a reasonably light, no-nonsense fusion cuisine affair:
I thought the lamb was the most reasonable choice, keeping the chicken as a backup in case it wasn't available. Alas, neither was available. Needless to say I wasn't pleased as this is a flight from the airline's hub and F (i.e. people ticketed in both premium classes) is only about 50% full. I said to the FA that I'm skipping the main course, she recommended the sig dish which I agreed to order underlining that I was only doing it to taste a little bit since it didn't at all appeal to me. She said she'd do her best to find me a lamb meal, and she succeeded. ^
Let's leave the food to the side for a moment. The wine list we were given looked really good to me. I am not into champagne, but did have a glass of Gardet (Grand Cru, however I understand this designation isn't as important as it is for Burgundy wines). The meal was about to arrive so I asked for my main wine, the Saint-Aubin Premier Cru, Les Frionnes...This stuff is divine- unbelievable smell and very good taste. Other wines seemed to be of similar standard, only gripe being that the glass they served it in was rather small so you had to ask for regular top-ups (I think I had 2-3 of them). The cappuccino was quite good, too.
You have to remember that this was the wine selection for business class. I dare not imagine what proper F wines will be like!
As for the food, the cold appetiser was nice but nothing exquisite, the lamb seriously good and dessert was a tad too light (most probably on purpose)- I'd rather have some buttery Arabic sweets instead.
Service was on a tray without the main course, which later substituted the appetiser.
I had a walk around the plane, C-class seating seemed a bit cramped (still very good considering most European airlines offer Y seating in business class for flights of this kind of length), Economy was also decent with 32" and PTVs (naturally we also had PTVs in F, but I was only interested in the Saint-Aubin
).
Service up front was a bit slow but very professional and friendly. I was almost told off (in a very nice way mind you) for taking the trouble to walk to the galley and ask for something instead of pressing the call button
We reached DEL on time, were thanked for our custom went through passport control. By the time I had reached the conveyor belt (which couldn't have been more than 10 mins from the moment I left the plane), priority luggage was already there and ready to be claimed by the pax. EY staff had taken it off the belt in order for premium pax not to have to congregate with the hundreds of Y people irrationally anxious to get their stuff.
All in all, the best flight experience I've ever had. I'm sure the lots of FTers who fly intercontinentally all the time have seen better, but it was a relatively short flight and I'm guessing the EY experience must be in a global top-5 for flights of this length.
But was it? I had a very memorable flight and thought that the only way of doing them some justice here is by posting a trip report. So here goes.
EY211 (DXB-)AUH-DEL, C class
The "limo" (actually a bog standard E-class Mercedes) chauffeur turned up at my hotel in Dubai about 15 minutes earlier than the agreed time. I definitely wasn't ready, as the pickup time was 6:30 and I wanted to maximise my sleep. Anyway he patiently waited for me and we were off at about 6:35. Quiet, uneventful drive to the airport.
The AUH airport requires baggage/security screening before entering the terminal. That makes perfect sense to me as it's more efficient and "protects" the terminal areas as well as the flights Etihad have a small premium zone that consists of two check-in desks and one for passport control. The latter is like a desk in an office, no glass booths or anything, just a guy sitting there having a look and putting a stamp on your passport.
A quick visit to the shops (nothing special) and then I'm headed to the lounge. Having been told (by the EY office in the UK no less!) that EY don't have a lounge at their hub and they use "the chauffeur company lounge" (!!!- btw the website didn't offer any more info either), I had been damn scared of what this place would entail. But this is a very respectable lounge: well lit and decorated (but not as lavish as Arabs sometimes tend to be), it's got a limited selection of hot breakfast items, at-seat drinks service (only two people at the bar, though, so you tend to have to go to the bar to order) complete with espresso-based coffees, PCs...I didn't check to see whether there were showers.
Boarding was relatively quick (I don't know whether priority boarding was offered, I was far too busy enjoying my hot breakfast and cappuccino in the lounge to reach the gate early). While in the queue I had a look at my BP that said 3A......, aren't Etihad supposed to be a 3-class airline? Or is it just that this flight has only 2 rows of F? Oh well, I shall wait and see. Once on the A330-200, the CSD escorts me to my seat which is in the "Diamond Zone" (First class), and an FA informs me that the premium arrangement for this flight is F seating with C service. Well, I am not quite complaining.
The F seat is fully flat (or at least very close, I'm not very experienced when it comes to intercontinental flying), and mightily comfortable! Announcements are made, apparently the crew speak about 12 languages between them. They don't speak Greek, though, so it will be English for me. (Business Class) Menus are quickly distributed, the meal looks like a reasonably light, no-nonsense fusion cuisine affair:
Originally Posted by Etihad Airways
Appetiser:
Tandoori Chicken
Slices of chicken breast, prepared Indian style served with cucumber and yoghurt sauce.
Main Course
Vegetable and Paneer stir-fry (signature dish) with Thai noodles
Thai glass noodles stir fried with Indian cottage cheese and garden vegetables served with a Thai sweet chilli sauce
Chicken Curry with Machbous Rice and Vegetable Saloona
Tender pieces of chicken cooked in a curry sauce served with Arabic style rice and mixed vegetables
Lamb Biryani with Raita and Baingan Masala
Tender pieces of lamb, marinated in spices, served with basmati rice and yoghurt sauce, accompanied by aubergines in a masala sauce
Prawn Masala, Saffron Pilaff and Beans Poriyal
Gulf shrimps in a mildly spiced masala sauce, served with sauteed beans tempered in fresh ground spices, accompanied by saffron pilaf rice
Dessert and Fruit
Pistachio Mint Torte
Pistachio, mango and mint mousse cake served with strawberry coulis
Fresh Fruit selection
Tandoori Chicken
Slices of chicken breast, prepared Indian style served with cucumber and yoghurt sauce.
Main Course
Vegetable and Paneer stir-fry (signature dish) with Thai noodles
Thai glass noodles stir fried with Indian cottage cheese and garden vegetables served with a Thai sweet chilli sauce
Chicken Curry with Machbous Rice and Vegetable Saloona
Tender pieces of chicken cooked in a curry sauce served with Arabic style rice and mixed vegetables
Lamb Biryani with Raita and Baingan Masala
Tender pieces of lamb, marinated in spices, served with basmati rice and yoghurt sauce, accompanied by aubergines in a masala sauce
Prawn Masala, Saffron Pilaff and Beans Poriyal
Gulf shrimps in a mildly spiced masala sauce, served with sauteed beans tempered in fresh ground spices, accompanied by saffron pilaf rice
Dessert and Fruit
Pistachio Mint Torte
Pistachio, mango and mint mousse cake served with strawberry coulis
Fresh Fruit selection
Let's leave the food to the side for a moment. The wine list we were given looked really good to me. I am not into champagne, but did have a glass of Gardet (Grand Cru, however I understand this designation isn't as important as it is for Burgundy wines). The meal was about to arrive so I asked for my main wine, the Saint-Aubin Premier Cru, Les Frionnes...This stuff is divine- unbelievable smell and very good taste. Other wines seemed to be of similar standard, only gripe being that the glass they served it in was rather small so you had to ask for regular top-ups (I think I had 2-3 of them). The cappuccino was quite good, too.
You have to remember that this was the wine selection for business class. I dare not imagine what proper F wines will be like!
As for the food, the cold appetiser was nice but nothing exquisite, the lamb seriously good and dessert was a tad too light (most probably on purpose)- I'd rather have some buttery Arabic sweets instead.
Service was on a tray without the main course, which later substituted the appetiser.
I had a walk around the plane, C-class seating seemed a bit cramped (still very good considering most European airlines offer Y seating in business class for flights of this kind of length), Economy was also decent with 32" and PTVs (naturally we also had PTVs in F, but I was only interested in the Saint-Aubin
). Service up front was a bit slow but very professional and friendly. I was almost told off (in a very nice way mind you) for taking the trouble to walk to the galley and ask for something instead of pressing the call button
We reached DEL on time, were thanked for our custom went through passport control. By the time I had reached the conveyor belt (which couldn't have been more than 10 mins from the moment I left the plane), priority luggage was already there and ready to be claimed by the pax. EY staff had taken it off the belt in order for premium pax not to have to congregate with the hundreds of Y people irrationally anxious to get their stuff.
All in all, the best flight experience I've ever had. I'm sure the lots of FTers who fly intercontinentally all the time have seen better, but it was a relatively short flight and I'm guessing the EY experience must be in a global top-5 for flights of this length.
Last edited by graraps; Jul 10, 2005 at 5:20 am
Jul 10, 2005, 6:36 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Soon to be LEGT
Posts: 10,928
Forgot to mention another nice touch: Feedback mechanisms. Apart from onboard surveys available for anyone who wanted to complete them, the FAs asked people whether they had enjoyed their meal and just before we started descending the CSD went round the cabin and asked everyone whether they'd been satisfied with the flight. They seemed very attentive and I'm sure they take comments on board.
Jul 10, 2005, 9:21 am
#3
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: USA
Programs: UA/CO(1K-PLT), AA(PLT), QR, EK, Marriott(PLT), Hilton(DMND)
Posts: 9,538
I had the opportunity to fly EY earlier this year - like others that have tried it, the experience was not consistent. One flight was one of the best I have ever experienced, the other was somewhat Unitedesque. Overall though, I think EY is going to be a great airline.