Originally Posted by RowH

Etihad lounge in AUH can be crowded. There is one shower each M and F (although I've only used the M, so I am assuming here!). Book your shower slot with the nice lady on the desk outside the restrooms. Maybe a wait of up to 20 minutes. Regularly cleaned and perfectly acceptable.

It's not an arrivals lounge, but is accessible after the travelators from the main concourse where arrivals and departure passengers mix. Go to the left after the travelators. It is signposted. Right takes you to immigration. You may or may not be allowed in without an onward BP in F or J, or an FF card. But you can get to the same point via the Abu Dhabi Airport (Transit) Hotel entrance. It's signposted too. Use the hotel lift and pass through the hotel lounge to the shared amenities on the same floor.

I think I've had to show a BP to book the shower, but I can't recall exactly. I've never used it on arrivals, only in transit. You won't need to show a BP to simply freshen up in the restrooms. You might like to do things properly and ask at reception, though.

Go for a window seat (any A or K). I don't know the A340s, but on the A330s there isn't much storage space at seat level. Only a miserably thin magazine holder. And no decent drinks tray. But you can store stuff on the floor adjacent to the window. You can't do this in a middle seat. And the aisle seats (anything not A or K) aren't half as private.