Sydney the looong way; EY 789 J/F, EY A380 F, 16 hours in QR F Al-Safwa Lounge
Nov 2, 2015, 11:33 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,720
Nov 2, 2015, 11:49 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,720
Etihad award bookings in Business/First class cabins, even when made using AA miles, qualify for complimentary chauffeur pickups.
I was very pleased with the 2016 Cadillac Escalade they sent over.
'Slade interior
The Etihad counter didn't open until ~ 3.5 hours before the scheduled flight time.
Check-in was quick, and I headed over to the Etihad lounge. Nearly missed the entrance as it was sort of non-descript.
I was very pleased with the 2016 Cadillac Escalade they sent over.
'Slade interior
The Etihad counter didn't open until ~ 3.5 hours before the scheduled flight time.
Check-in was quick, and I headed over to the Etihad lounge. Nearly missed the entrance as it was sort of non-descript.
Nov 2, 2015, 1:21 pm
#18
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Nice to see this one getting going! I love Dulles, despite what anyone might say...
Any hints or lessons learned on getting the chauffeur service set up? I think I have it booked for my upcoming trip, but their website and confirmation email are not very convincing, and don't really contain any details...
Any hints or lessons learned on getting the chauffeur service set up? I think I have it booked for my upcoming trip, but their website and confirmation email are not very convincing, and don't really contain any details...
Nov 2, 2015, 2:20 pm
#19
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA Platinum, DL Silver, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 174
I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER!! I'm taking the 797 Business Studios in two weeks on the same route and am so excited. Looking forward to the review!
Nov 2, 2015, 3:18 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,720
Nice to see this one getting going! I love Dulles, despite what anyone might say...
Any hints or lessons learned on getting the chauffeur service set up? I think I have it booked for my upcoming trip, but their website and confirmation email are not very convincing, and don't really contain any details...
Any hints or lessons learned on getting the chauffeur service set up? I think I have it booked for my upcoming trip, but their website and confirmation email are not very convincing, and don't really contain any details...
Thanks MarylandFlyer244!
Nov 2, 2015, 3:38 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,720
Etihad First/Business Lounge at IAD
Like most, if not all, Etihad lounges, the IAD lounge sports similar design and color schemes. If you've been to one EY lounge, you've effectively been to all of them!
I like Etihad lounges because they're comfortable and tasteful. For reasons that I'll explain later, I think the Etihad lounge in Sydney is one of the best lounges that I've visited.
Entrance area, with huge plate of dates.
Business Center
Macs
The IAD lounge sports a second floor that is opened if the flight is full. My flight was full and it still wasn't opened, oddly.
Whew, at least those feet aren't bare.
Like most, if not all, Etihad lounges, the IAD lounge sports similar design and color schemes. If you've been to one EY lounge, you've effectively been to all of them!
I like Etihad lounges because they're comfortable and tasteful. For reasons that I'll explain later, I think the Etihad lounge in Sydney is one of the best lounges that I've visited.
Entrance area, with huge plate of dates.
Business Center
Macs
The IAD lounge sports a second floor that is opened if the flight is full. My flight was full and it still wasn't opened, oddly.
Whew, at least those feet aren't bare.
Nov 3, 2015, 1:56 am
#22
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
I'm also subscribed and can't wait to see the rest of this trip report!
P.S. iluvdoco, I'm very interested to hear about how your 789 first suite experience topped your apartments experience. I'd love to hear more about the 789 experience and why it was better
Thanks for the trip report - love the photos - and this is coming from a guy who for one takes horrible photos and can see the difference between a bad photo (most of mine) and a good photo
P.S. iluvdoco, I'm very interested to hear about how your 789 first suite experience topped your apartments experience. I'd love to hear more about the 789 experience and why it was better
Thanks for the trip report - love the photos - and this is coming from a guy who for one takes horrible photos and can see the difference between a bad photo (most of mine) and a good photo
Nov 3, 2015, 6:22 am
#23
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Of the TRs discussing this lounge, I don't think I have yet seen one where the second floor was open. It makes me wonder if they built the space expecting a future influx of more passengers - either by bringing the A380 or forming stronger alliances with other partners. Unless Saudia is filling the thing when they use it earlier in the day - we don't see too many Saudia reports, but I kind of doubt it.
Nov 3, 2015, 9:36 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,720
I'm also subscribed and can't wait to see the rest of this trip report!
P.S. iluvdoco, I'm very interested to hear about how your 789 first suite experience topped your apartments experience. I'd love to hear more about the 789 experience and why it was better
Thanks for the trip report - love the photos - and this is coming from a guy who for one takes horrible photos and can see the difference between a bad photo (most of mine) and a good photo
P.S. iluvdoco, I'm very interested to hear about how your 789 first suite experience topped your apartments experience. I'd love to hear more about the 789 experience and why it was better
Thanks for the trip report - love the photos - and this is coming from a guy who for one takes horrible photos and can see the difference between a bad photo (most of mine) and a good photo
Of the TRs discussing this lounge, I don't think I have yet seen one where the second floor was open. It makes me wonder if they built the space expecting a future influx of more passengers - either by bringing the A380 or forming stronger alliances with other partners. Unless Saudia is filling the thing when they use it earlier in the day - we don't see too many Saudia reports, but I kind of doubt it.
Sorry, just returned recently and have over 1,000 photos to sort through.
Nov 3, 2015, 12:14 pm
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,720
I indulged in the a la carte dining area prior to boarding.
Also checked out the buffet area. There's a fruit/cheese/Arabic mezze station, pictured below:
As well as a dessert station with chocolate covered strawberries.
Also checked out the buffet area. There's a fruit/cheese/Arabic mezze station, pictured below:
As well as a dessert station with chocolate covered strawberries.
Nov 3, 2015, 6:21 pm
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,720
Lounge attendants came around periodically to offer Arabic coffee and dates.
I decided to go with a bit of dessert first. The chocolate covered strawberries were ok...the strawberry itself was too soft.
Roasted curry cauliflower and potato soup
Some Arabic mezze from the buffet station
Pan-seared arctic char; mango sweet chili sauce, gingered snow peas, brown basmati rice pilaf. The plating could use a little work.
Gingerbread spice cake with orange cardamom cream (a bit heavy)
Milk and rice pudding with pear compote, crusted pistachios. I liked this a lot; the rice pudding had a different consistency than what I'm used to.
After my liberal gut-stuffing sampling of the menu, I made my way to board the 787-9. The Etihad Dulles lounge offers the ability to board directly from the lounge. Neat!
CONCLUSION: Beautiful lounge space, great service, but the food was a bit disappointing. I think the BA lounge has better food.
I decided to go with a bit of dessert first. The chocolate covered strawberries were ok...the strawberry itself was too soft.
Roasted curry cauliflower and potato soup
Some Arabic mezze from the buffet station
Pan-seared arctic char; mango sweet chili sauce, gingered snow peas, brown basmati rice pilaf. The plating could use a little work.
Gingerbread spice cake with orange cardamom cream (a bit heavy)
Milk and rice pudding with pear compote, crusted pistachios. I liked this a lot; the rice pudding had a different consistency than what I'm used to.
After my liberal gut-stuffing sampling of the menu, I made my way to board the 787-9. The Etihad Dulles lounge offers the ability to board directly from the lounge. Neat!
CONCLUSION: Beautiful lounge space, great service, but the food was a bit disappointing. I think the BA lounge has better food.
Last edited by iluvdoco; Nov 3, 2015 at 7:03 pm
Nov 3, 2015, 10:52 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,720
EY 130
IAD-AUH
Business Class
Seat 9A (Forward facing)
Liking the new Etihad uniforms! Very chic, very stylish.
New EY uniforms >> QR uniforms
By installing a First Class cabin in the 787-9, Etihad's design necessitates a business class galley which conceals the natural sweeping arches of the 787's foyer/entryway.
Compare to this picture of QR's 787 foyer that I took on a previous QR 148 flight.
I think QR does a better job of preserving the open-ness and natural lines of the 787, but at the cost of not having a First Class cabin!
IAD-AUH
Business Class
Seat 9A (Forward facing)
Liking the new Etihad uniforms! Very chic, very stylish.
New EY uniforms >> QR uniforms
By installing a First Class cabin in the 787-9, Etihad's design necessitates a business class galley which conceals the natural sweeping arches of the 787's foyer/entryway.
Compare to this picture of QR's 787 foyer that I took on a previous QR 148 flight.
I think QR does a better job of preserving the open-ness and natural lines of the 787, but at the cost of not having a First Class cabin!