May 30, 2016, 6:01 am
Last edit by: MatthewLAX
Original discussion: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/etihad-airways-etihad-guest/1624033-f-lounge-auh3-open-still-waiting-2016-a.html
Review with 100+ photos - link (blog)
Review with 100+ photos - link (blog)
F lounge in AUH opened 30MAY2016
Oct 26, 2016, 12:15 pm
#302
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: Velocity Platinum, UA MM
Posts: 557
I'm still a little confused as to precisely where the new lounge is located.
After exiting transit security you end up in the duty free area where you can head off to the left to the departure gates & the existing business class lounge.
Is this in the direction where the new lounge is located?
After exiting transit security you end up in the duty free area where you can head off to the left to the departure gates & the existing business class lounge.
Is this in the direction where the new lounge is located?
Oct 26, 2016, 12:31 pm
#303
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
I'm still a little confused as to precisely where the new lounge is located.
After exiting transit security you end up in the duty free area where you can head off to the left to the departure gates & the existing business class lounge.
Is this in the direction where the new lounge is located?
After exiting transit security you end up in the duty free area where you can head off to the left to the departure gates & the existing business class lounge.
Is this in the direction where the new lounge is located?
Oct 26, 2016, 3:23 pm
#304
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: Velocity Platinum, UA MM
Posts: 557
What did confuse me also was that in the duty free area I did see signage for the first class lounge but it was in the opposite direction to where I needed to go to the gate for my flight to LHR so I continued thru and went into the regular business class lounge near gate 35.
Oct 27, 2016, 2:31 pm
#305
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: FRA
Programs: EY Guest Platinum; A3 Gold; Delta Platinum, BA Silver, IHG Gold
Posts: 484
I somehow missed it last month when I went thru AUH, mind you it was 2.30am! I'll make sure that once I clear the transit security check I'll look straight away for the entrance before the duty free area.
What did confuse me also was that in the duty free area I did see signage for the first class lounge but it was in the opposite direction to where I needed to go to the gate for my flight to LHR so I continued thru and went into the regular business class lounge near gate 35.
What did confuse me also was that in the duty free area I did see signage for the first class lounge but it was in the opposite direction to where I needed to go to the gate for my flight to LHR so I continued thru and went into the regular business class lounge near gate 35.
Oct 29, 2016, 12:11 am
#306
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,263
Visited the EY F lounge last week - superb food & service. The Emirates Palace Menu really hit the spot - best lounge food I have had, possibly barring CX F lounges at HKG. (certainly stratospherically better than the laughable BA Concorde Room at LHR, or indeed TG F at BKK, Emirates F at DXB etc.) Big ^^
Nov 4, 2016, 10:45 pm
#307
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: TK Elite, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver
Posts: 967
I was able to visit the EY F lounge yesterday. Elegant design and the staff in the restaurant were fantastic! Also got to try the Emirates Palace menu and specially loved the braised lamb 
Had to skip the dessert though coz I was already full. I asked the staff who showed me around the lounge about the new policy of 3 complimentary cigar as others have posted here, and she confirmed it.
Had to skip the dessert though coz I was already full. I asked the staff who showed me around the lounge about the new policy of 3 complimentary cigar as others have posted here, and she confirmed it.
Nov 26, 2016, 12:20 am
#308
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,652
I made my first visit to the lounge yesterday afternoon and was extremely disappointed by the entire experience.
I arrived at around 1240 for a 1420 flight, but was immediately told that I would need to leave in about 10-15 minutes so as to be at the gate for boarding promptly at 1305. I told them that was ridiculous since I didn't need 75 minutes to board in First Class, but she insisted that since it was an A380 I had to be there on time.
As a result, I also couldn't order anything from the menu (they said I needed at least 30 minutes to order and consume those due to the lounge being pretty full) and to my utter surprise they had no self-service or other ready snack options available. No nuts, no crisps, no packaged anything - nothing else to snack on if you have less than 30 minutes in the lounge. What a joke for a premium lounge.
One of the waiters suggested that I go to the old lounge instead which I did, and was able to have a quick bite from the buffet there instead. Went to the gate at 1325 and they were just starting boarding, after which we had a further 40 minute delay and only departed at 1500 (the boarding process was also a very poor experience but that is another story).
The entire experience is typically Etihad unfortunately. Over-promise and under-deliver. Very sad that the excellent on board product is complement by this disgraceful ground experience.
I arrived at around 1240 for a 1420 flight, but was immediately told that I would need to leave in about 10-15 minutes so as to be at the gate for boarding promptly at 1305. I told them that was ridiculous since I didn't need 75 minutes to board in First Class, but she insisted that since it was an A380 I had to be there on time.
As a result, I also couldn't order anything from the menu (they said I needed at least 30 minutes to order and consume those due to the lounge being pretty full) and to my utter surprise they had no self-service or other ready snack options available. No nuts, no crisps, no packaged anything - nothing else to snack on if you have less than 30 minutes in the lounge. What a joke for a premium lounge.
One of the waiters suggested that I go to the old lounge instead which I did, and was able to have a quick bite from the buffet there instead. Went to the gate at 1325 and they were just starting boarding, after which we had a further 40 minute delay and only departed at 1500 (the boarding process was also a very poor experience but that is another story).
The entire experience is typically Etihad unfortunately. Over-promise and under-deliver. Very sad that the excellent on board product is complement by this disgraceful ground experience.
Nov 26, 2016, 2:50 am
#309
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Etihad Platinum. Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 333
As a result, I also couldn't order anything from the menu (they said I needed at least 30 minutes to order and consume those due to the lounge being pretty full) and to my utter surprise they had no self-service or other ready snack options available. No nuts, no crisps, no packaged anything - nothing else to snack on if you have less than 30 minutes in the lounge. What a joke for a premium lounge.
I'm there again on 20 December for a 10:00 am flight. Let's see what, if anything, there is for the breakfast buffet.
Nov 26, 2016, 9:00 pm
#310
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,941
I still don't know what to think of the new F-lounge in Abu Dhabi.
For me, it is clearly inferior to the EK F-lounge (or even EK C-lounge). Except for the gym, which is an awesome addition to any airport lounge! But only 2 people per day use it, so I seem to be almost the only one thinking so.
I am right now sitting here for breakfast. Not sure if these mini portions here will allow me to "break the fast". The menu is short, there is no buffet (people are writing about it, but I never saw a buffet in here). Staff seem overwhelmed, although there is little traffic in the lounge. Quality of food is ok at best. Everybody looks stressed, though; not the atmosphere you want to create in a F-lounge.
Will give it further tries, but I am inclined to use the EY C-lounge in the future (if it were not for the gym).
For me, it is clearly inferior to the EK F-lounge (or even EK C-lounge). Except for the gym, which is an awesome addition to any airport lounge! But only 2 people per day use it, so I seem to be almost the only one thinking so.
I am right now sitting here for breakfast. Not sure if these mini portions here will allow me to "break the fast". The menu is short, there is no buffet (people are writing about it, but I never saw a buffet in here). Staff seem overwhelmed, although there is little traffic in the lounge. Quality of food is ok at best. Everybody looks stressed, though; not the atmosphere you want to create in a F-lounge.
Will give it further tries, but I am inclined to use the EY C-lounge in the future (if it were not for the gym).
Nov 26, 2016, 9:03 pm
#311
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,941
I made my first visit to the lounge yesterday afternoon and was extremely disappointed by the entire experience.
I arrived at around 1240 for a 1420 flight, but was immediately told that I would need to leave in about 10-15 minutes so as to be at the gate for boarding promptly at 1305. I told them that was ridiculous since I didn't need 75 minutes to board in First Class, but she insisted that since it was an A380 I had to be there on time.
As a result, I also couldn't order anything from the menu (they said I needed at least 30 minutes to order and consume those due to the lounge being pretty full) and to my utter surprise they had no self-service or other ready snack options available. No nuts, no crisps, no packaged anything - nothing else to snack on if you have less than 30 minutes in the lounge. What a joke for a premium lounge.
One of the waiters suggested that I go to the old lounge instead which I did, and was able to have a quick bite from the buffet there instead. Went to the gate at 1325 and they were just starting boarding, after which we had a further 40 minute delay and only departed at 1500 (the boarding process was also a very poor experience but that is another story).
The entire experience is typically Etihad unfortunately. Over-promise and under-deliver. Very sad that the excellent on board product is complement by this disgraceful ground experience.
I arrived at around 1240 for a 1420 flight, but was immediately told that I would need to leave in about 10-15 minutes so as to be at the gate for boarding promptly at 1305. I told them that was ridiculous since I didn't need 75 minutes to board in First Class, but she insisted that since it was an A380 I had to be there on time.
As a result, I also couldn't order anything from the menu (they said I needed at least 30 minutes to order and consume those due to the lounge being pretty full) and to my utter surprise they had no self-service or other ready snack options available. No nuts, no crisps, no packaged anything - nothing else to snack on if you have less than 30 minutes in the lounge. What a joke for a premium lounge.
One of the waiters suggested that I go to the old lounge instead which I did, and was able to have a quick bite from the buffet there instead. Went to the gate at 1325 and they were just starting boarding, after which we had a further 40 minute delay and only departed at 1500 (the boarding process was also a very poor experience but that is another story).
The entire experience is typically Etihad unfortunately. Over-promise and under-deliver. Very sad that the excellent on board product is complement by this disgraceful ground experience.
I make it a habit to never follow lounge attendants' advice regarding show up time at gate. I just ask for the legal cut off time and make sure I am there 3 mins before.
Nov 26, 2016, 9:35 pm
#312
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,829
For me, this is what made the LH FCT so special: they told us we could forget about the time, that they'd find us and make sure we made it. Brilliant. After a Porsche ride across the tarmac. were the last two people on the plane before the door closed. That's first class service.
Nov 26, 2016, 11:11 pm
#313
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Etihad Platinum. Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 333
I find it incomprehensible that there is no breakfast buffet. It's mind-boggling to say the least. For those who don't have the time to sit down for breakfast in the dining area, I honestly believe they are better off in the J lounge. This sounds like cost-cutting gone too far. Come on Etihad, get your act together and look after your First and Platinum guests!!
Nov 27, 2016, 2:11 pm
#315
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 28
Very disappointed to read about the cuts in lounge service, I'm basically only going with Etihad because they opened a new lounge and its very positive reviews.
Will be there at 11am and especially as its a Friday (next week) what can I expect in terms of passenger volume and services?
I'm a bit of a review geek so will post my experience.
Will be there at 11am and especially as its a Friday (next week) what can I expect in terms of passenger volume and services?
I'm a bit of a review geek so will post my experience.
