I am a gold Etihad member and i have just booked a Return flight for my wife and i to Bangkok from Manchester, When i was weighing up the difference between flying with Etihad s and long transfers sitting in the lounge in AUH plus the Thai Lounge in BKK, I decided to book with Emirates and my decision was based on The Lounge's. After saying that , If all etihads Lounges was like Heathrow, i would not have a Issue. However, my wife will have enough air-miles to be upgraded to Business on the emirates flight