Etihad Regional CDG-LEJ-AMS
 

I had to go to a workshop in Leipzig so I started looking for trains, planes and automobiles. From BRU the cheapest option was Lufthansa for around 200 euro, which I thought was too much. Trains were no option (also expensive) and there were no buses. Hence I started to look from other airports and I saw that Etihad Regional was flying to Leipzig from AMS and CDG. Buying a return flight AMS-LEJ or CDG-LEJ was very expensive /(around 400 euros) but the open jaw CDG-LEJ-AMS was only 82 euro and a bit. Taking in accout transport to Paris and Amsterdam that would cost me a 140 euros. Sensible enough for me to try out Etihad Regional.

I had to start rom Brussels Zuid station where I took the IDBus, a subsidiary of the French railways. One-way was 19 euros and the bus was very comfortable (I had travelled on Megabus the week before and that was a whole different experience).
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/...f5573d1c0d.jpgDSCF6737 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/...99cd289a70.jpgDSCF6738 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Legroom was great, the fake wooden floor was quite nice.
The seat was very comfortable
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/...fd3feb4cce.jpgDSCF6739 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
The bus had a busmap
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7491/...80440a342a.jpgDSCF6742 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
also showing the arrival times
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/...f88f65c318.jpgDSCF6741 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Unfortunately, the way for IDBUs to keep prices low is travel via Lille which is quite a detour. Furthermore, the bus stooped there for half an hour, even with all passengers present.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7544/...5073ba278a.jpgDSCF6743 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
The bus station at CDG
CDG has a train station, this was the regional station
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3932/...fb48fbc957.jpgDSCF6745 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7488/...d2055ee817.jpgDSCF6746 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
To get to terminal 2D, I had to take the free shuttle, an automated train system
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7521/...4ac22ffae9.jpgDSCF6748 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
This is at terminal 2, together with the TGV station. The metro train has protection doors to avoid accidents
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3939/...db9c56e546.jpgDSCF6749 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Looking at terminal 2E where Air France has its base
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7551/...36a2651fce.jpgDSCF6751 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
The automated train between terminals, looks from thee seventies
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7523/...bde21a99fa.jpgDSCF6752 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Terminal 2D, indeed, old and quite dingy
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3954/...71e73061a4.jpgDSCF6753 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Terminal 2D is also the base of Easyjets flights, so there is a lot of orange
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5607/...1aca371f74.jpgDSCF6754 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Checkin had not opened yet so I went to a setting area and logged on to the free internet, courtesy of Hello Bank.
Checkin opened exactly two hours before the flight
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7486/...02ce505de9.jpgDSCF6755 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Checkin was smooth. The lady thought my Etihad card was a gold one but I corrected her. I am just a mere basic. But it was nice. I asked about the lounge and she directed me to the Sheltair Lounge where I could probably enter for a fee. As I had only one hour left, I thought 30 euros to be expensive for some drinks. And I thought I could find a beer after security so I let the lounge slip.
Security was dreadful. The machines seem to be randomly picking persons. I left feedback on the iPad kiosks.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/...47acbacd60.jpgDSCF6756 by Thinksamuel, on FlickrEtihad Regional uses Swissport as its handler. Although not related to Swiss, the logo bears some resemblance to the SWISS one. Given that SWISS and Etihad Regional are competitors, it struck me as funny. Anyway, there is no mention about Etihad Regional at all on the boarding pass, even no name.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3953/...d9f5427c39.jpgDSCF6757 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
After security there was nothing interesting, just an EXKI, two duty-free stores and a magazine shop. I went downstairs where my flight would leave where the seating area was pretty comfortable. Pitty there was nothing where to get a decent drink.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3932/...32b7ac663d.jpgDSCF6759 by Thinksamuel, on FlickrBoarding was done swiftly. The load was around 20 persons I think
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3951/...b918b12585.jpgDSCF6764 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7518/...b916d583a8.jpgDSCF6766 by Thinksamuel, on FlickrI had taken seat 1F which was a reversed seat, so you had a business lounge with 4 seats. Unfortunately, the seat did not recline and for weight distribution, they asked me to move to 14A. Legroom was quite ok.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3942/...62f81306bc.jpgDSCF6769 by Thinksamuel, on FlickrA whole row to myself. The seats are slimline but more comfortable than SN or LH.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5608/...e407096da2.jpgDSCF6770 by Thinksamuel, on FlickrThere was no inflight magazine, only the safety card and a barf bag
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7497/...39902c0815.jpgDSCF6774 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
At the start they distributed refreshing towels.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5598/...5f1247e03a.jpgDSCF6775 by Thinksamuel, on FlickrThe meal was a salami or cheese sandwich, which was quite tasty.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7575/...0cb8e7171b.jpgDSCF6776 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
There was no alcohol served so I took a coke.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/...eb8beb3519.jpgDSCF6778 by Thinksamuel, on FlickrAfter the food and drinks they came again with another drink. I took a coffee and that was the first Etihad branded thing on the flight.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5615/...06a06c27de.jpgDSCF6779 by Thinksamuel, on FlickrAfter a good two hours we arrived in Leipzig where we were parked at a remote stand, next to another Darwin plane in the old colors.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5616/...40bdec6099.jpgDSCF6780 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
A quick picture of the business saloon.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7559/...35b8a8230a.jpgDSCF6781 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
We were the last flight to land I think so it was very quiet.
After a few days I went for the return leg. The train leaves from Leipzig HBH and takes around 20 minutes. There is no surcharge or any of those idiocies that you see on some many other airports.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3953/...7a1937665e.jpgDSCF6828 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
View on the railway station at the airport.
The airport is cut through by a highway and rail
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7574/...29b46979a6.jpgDSCF6829 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
The checkin hall is located very far from the departure/arrivals hall and seems to be built for the growth
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3956/...ff2d09a837.jpgDSCF6831 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Checkin opened two hours before departure, there was only one counter

The boarding pass showed Etihad branding, although still not that fancy as the real Etihad BP's.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7569/...c3f67620b1.jpgDSCF6832 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
This is a maquette from the airport. The checkin area is located in the right side of the long building, the departure hall itself is located at the other side of the highway.
An old Lufthansa plane from the DDR time
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3952/...0dd054ce20.jpgDSCF6835 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
The long walkway to the departure hall. On the right see a galore of travel agencies
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7554/...3b3eaef81c.jpgDSCF6836 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
The departure/arrivals hall, before security
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3932/...dfca5f6b16.jpgDSCF6837 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Saturn, an electronics shop has a vending machine where you can get kindles,
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3937/...b91d20d106.jpgDSCF6838 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Outside the kiss and ride zone as well as a car park. The long walkways are n the building to the right
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7547/...90e42bef3a.jpgDSCF6839 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
FIDS, Leipzig has an interesting collection of companies
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/...dc7c1b1c97.jpgDSCF6841 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
After security I went upstairs. The non-Schengen flights passengers have to sit in a glass cage. There are two immigration counters there. I was staying in Schengen so I could hang out in the free part.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7512/...f6879c01ab.jpgDSCF6844 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
There are some nature exhibits as well as something about the GDR (although that one was landside)
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7557/...218a99d31b.jpgDSCF6845 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
The construction of the gates made it difficult to take pictures of planes
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3939/...d370915859.jpgDSCF6846 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Lufthansa lounge. Right next to it is the airport lounge.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3943/...7f3c13a6ba.jpgDSCF6847 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Boarding was from gate 2 so I had to go downstairs where there are three bus gates
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/...b53fb33325.jpgDSCF6848 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Turkish airlines to IST
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3946/...9d5fb4c380.jpgDSCF6849 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Germanwings to Dusseldorf I think
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5608/...55cd206891.jpgDSCF6852 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
DHL is into petrol delivery as well
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5615/...0d83505767.jpgDSCF6853 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Our plane was parked between another ER plane and a Eurowngs plane
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3936/...79347bd0d7.jpgDSCF6854 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Boarding from the rear
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3951/...1f2b11896f.jpgDSCF6855 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
I had taken seat 1F again. the legroom is just superb.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5600/...34bc140c10.jpgDSCF6858 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
Unfortunately I had to change again but this time I chose 2F. The recline was quite good so you had a lot of space.
Food was the same, although they gave out a second sandwich to get rid of it.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3940/...36c5b62c2f.jpgDSCF6863 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
The flight was very good and after an hour and a half we arrived at Schiphol. The taxi and bus ride were quite long and the baggage took a while as well.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/...2d7f77bed0.jpgDSCF6865 by Thinksamuel, on Flickr
After having collected my luggage I took the IC to Brussels.

Conclusion

Is Etihad Regional worth it? Definitely: they offer a nice product for a good price. To the contrary of LH/SN/IB et cetera race to the bottom, Etihad Regional goes the other way. The company certainly has to grow but I liked the product. From March 2015 they will fly form Brussels and I will gladly take them again. Weird is that they do not serve alcohol (is it then a dry airline) and they are to showing their brand a lot. I hope they will grow and become an alternative for my current Star Alliance companies.

I was surprised to see a UAE airline flying inter-Europe flights. I took my first flight on Emirates last month and was very pleased with it. It is odd that Etihad doesn't serve booze, while Emirates does (except on flights to/from Saudi Arabia).

This TR is about " Etihad Regional " a European Airline flying small puddle jumpers

NOT to be confused with

Etihad based In AUH flying long haul to many countries with a full service airline including intoxicating liqours

Etihad (not Etihad Regional this TR refers to) serves booze - I would even say it is very liberal with booze....

Interesting TR. I did spot an EY Regional last week at ZRH, wondering what their network is. If the price is right worth a try definitely.

Ah thanks for the clarification.

Wow - what a difference between the intra Europe product and the real Etihad product ex AUH.

• actual barcalounger seats
• actual plated catering without any plastic wrap
• glorious champagne

Aside from the actual logo and branding, these are two separate products.

I think there may be a few flights around the GCC that are dry (ie Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc)

Etihad Regional and Big Etihad obviously have two different products but ER is quite honest compared to other European carriers: They offer economy and premium economy, not business class*. So they do not create the false image of business class that you would expect from a top-carrier. Anyway, I sent them some questions about the product.

* On a sidenote: Air Serbia (another Etihad partner) seems to have real business class seats.

Which would be the honest thing to do by the all the rest of European airlines. Though even a Y+ definition with that legroom is a misnomer.