First Time Flying Etihad, An Honest Flight Review
From comfort to cuisine, unpacking my Etihad flight experience
If you didn’t know by now, Mike is a big aviation geek and loves trying out new airlines and airplanes - it’s one of his favorite parts about traveling.
And on his journey to Oman, he had double the fun.
Because, not only did he get to try out a new airline for the first time (Etihad), but it was on one of the newest planes out there, the Boeing 787-10.
In this blog, Mike will tell you all about what it’s like to fly with Etihad, what their service is like, if their food meets inflight expectations, and if you should be happy or worried if you have any Etihad flights coming up.
Curious to find out if Etihad Airlines is yay or nay?
Time to buckle up 🤓
Economy Class, But It Doesn’t Suck?
In Economy class, expectations should always be managed. This should also be in the case of Etihad, don’t expect any miracles. However, there are a few things that made this flight noteworthy.
Firstly, the plane that flew us to Abu Dhabi was 3 years old. 3 years old? That is far from new!
Let me tell you, the average plane you fly on is probably already older than 13 years.
Newer planes are usually better to fly with because there is a bigger chance that the seats & facilities are in a better state. Next to that, newer planes usually have some great features, like improved cabin air, better lighting, and usually better entertainment screens.
Now, the seats on our plane were of good quality. The seat itself was comfortable and you are provided a nice blanket and pillow if you want to get even more comfortable. There is enough space to store your belongings in the pocket in front of the seat, and a USB outlet is provided to charge your phones, tables, etc.
The entertainment screen was also of great quality. It even had some special features, stick around for a bit later in the blog where I tell you all about it.
Overall, a good 8/10!
Best Food In Economy, Ever!
Now, let's talk about the food—undoubtedly the best I've ever had in Economy & Premium Economy. On the flight to Abu Dhabi, the food choices that were offered included: lamb and mashed potatoes, chicken and rice & vegetarian pasta. I choose the first option.
This was de-li-cious.
Accompanied by a cucumber chickpea salad and a lemon cheesecake that deserves a standing ovation, it was an experience I didn't see coming. And yes, the real cutlery and the fact that you can get complimentary drinks like gin tonics and rum & coke were the cherries on top.
The only hiccup? The meal service began two hours into the flight. This made it more difficult to maximize your sleep on this 7-hour red-eye flight.
On our flight back to Amsterdam from Abu Dhabi, I wanted to try the other dish but the chicken and rice was replaced by chicken teriyaki. Don’t mind if I do!
Again. Etihad hit the home run with this meal. Not once, but twice did they serve me the best meal ever in (Premium) Economy class. It’s not often that you scrape the remaining sauce from the plate with your piece of bread.
Not only was everything delicious, but it seemed that every component of the meal could be reused. All the food containers were of reusable material, nothing was one-time-use plastic. And as I said before, the cutlery was from metal, so it could be cleaned and reused thereafter again.
Sadly, no breakfast service was offered. I was very curious if this would be another culinary masterpiece.
I guess they saved it for another time!
The hour-long flight from Abu Dhabi to Muscat was equally thoughtful, with a snack bag that hit just the right spot. The return journey mirrored this attention to detail, maintaining consistency in service and satisfaction.
Food: 10/10
In-Flight Entertainment (IFE): The Complete Package
Etihad's IFE system was something that I don’t see often. Their movie selection was as good as the other airlines. However, they had some interesting features that most modern airlines nowadays are missing.
Sharing movies with seat neighbors, chatting with friends across the cabin, and playing multiplayer games with other passengers is something that is usually not possible. Not with Etihad!
Since we were traveling as a party of 4, you can ensure that the ability to talk to each other through the In-Flight Entertainment and playing games, such as poker, together ensure that the hours literally fly by.
It's these little things that turn a flight into a memorable part of the travel experience.
IFE: 9/10
A Birthday to Remember
On our return, we celebrated a friend's birthday in the sky. After I asked the cabin crew if they could make a small gesture, they managed to get him a small cake, write a card, and get it signed by the entire crew, pilots included.
This in itself would’ve been great. However, during boarding, he swapped his middle seat with another friend for a window seat, and I wasn’t aware of this switch-up. So when the cabin crew asked for his seat number to deliver the small cake to, I gave the wrong one.
This resulted in him getting called a different last name, but he had to roll with it to avoid any awkward situations. Also, the signed card from the crew has the other’s friend's name on it!
Final Thoughts
Despite missing our initial flight back to Amsterdam in Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways exceeded our expectations with flying colors. From the comfort of the seats and the unparalleled quality of the meals to the exceptional service and innovative IFE, it was an experience that I wholeheartedly recommend. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or planning your first long-haul flight, I would highly recommend choosing Etihad.
Did you think flying Economy meant compromising on comfort and taste? Think again! Have you had a similar experience, or are you considering flying with Etihad after this review? Let us know in the comments, and until next time, safe travels!
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