This business class seat is a perfect ‘hotel in the sky’

The airline Etihad Airways

• The flight Sydney to Abu Dhabi (EY451)
• Aircraft Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
• Class Business, seat 5H, window, single rear-facing
• Flight time 14 hours and 20 minutes
• Frequency Seven flights a week between Sydney and Abu Dhabi with plans to increase services to 10 a week in July. The Gulf carrier is also increasing services between Melbourne and Abu Dhabi in March.

An Etihad Boeing 787-900.Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Checking in

After slowing its growth trajectory in recent years, Etihad became, if not the quiet achiever of the triumvirate of Gulf carriers, then certainly the quietest. Yet therein lies part of the appeal – Etihad is not a behemoth Emirates or Qatar. Add to that the opening in 2023 of the modern, user-friendly Zayed International Airport terminal, replete with new business and first-class lounges and the fact a Guggenheim Museum will soon join the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, and the case for flying Etihad really starts to take flight.

Baggage

Checked baggage up to 35 kilograms, starting with the “value” business class category (one of three), with one carry-on bag of up to 12 kilograms, plus one personal item of up to five kilograms.

The loyalty scheme

Etihad Guest. The airline’s partnership with Virgin Australia ends on June 30 this year following the latter’s new Qatar Airways’ tie-up. Virgin Australia Velocity members will therefore no longer earn points from Etihad flights.

Sustainability

The “national airline of the United Arab Emirates” has twice been named “Environmental Airline of the Year” by Airlineratings.com, “a testament to Etihad’s commitment to improving environmental practices.” *

The seat

The business suites offer a “hotel in the sky” feeling.

Etihad’s business class seats on this aircraft type are arranged in a 1-2-1 alternating backwards and forward-facing configuration. In contrast to Emirates’ lighter cream and walnut cabin tones, Etihad’s darker black and chocolate accents offer the ambience of a top-flight boutique hotel with the seats on the airline’s 787 Dreamliner aircraft introduced in 2023.

Each seat’s moody Arabian-style matte gold lamp, luxury pyjamas and soft slippers, by Armani/Casa in a “unique partnership” with Etihad can’t help but add to that agreeable “hotel in the sky” feeling. An Armani/Casa duvet, pillow and toppers add additional comforts to an already comfortable flat bed with its 73-inch (185-centimetre) pitch and 22-inch (56-centimetre) recline. It all makes for one snug designer cubbyhole with the unusual backwards-facing aspect of the seat configuration easy enough to adapt to, especially with the provided luxuries.

Entertainment

Etihad’s excellent film, TV, podcasts and music-stuffed E-BOX entertainment system is delivered on a 15-inch (38-centimetre) screen while Etihad’s Wi-Fi connectivity, which comes with pesky, fee-based “chat and surf” packages, is seamless. TV news and sport is also streamed live.

Food

Beautifully presented and an outstanding starter.

All of that Armani/Casa branding extends right to plating for tonight’s a la carte dinner service. I choose what proves an outstanding starter in the form of seared tuna with apple, celeriac and edamame with ponzu dressing. An almost equally terrific chicken biryani follows for main and then warm flourless chocolate cake served with raspberries and sauce Anglaise for dessert. Top-notch red and white wines are a multi-national range of French, Portuguese, South African, New Zealand and Australian drops.

Service

Courteous, polished and attentive, as befitting business class, with this flight crew perhaps a little more at ease – in a good way – compared to those other two big-shot Gulf carriers.

The price

From $10,137 for a return “value” business class return fare. There are two other pricier business class fare categories – “comfort” and deluxe”.

The verdict

Clever and classy minds have clearly been at work on Etihad’s pleasurable business class offering which now comes with the bonus of a spanking new home base airport terminal and Abu Dhabi’s continued rise as a stopover-worthy cultural powerhouse.

Etihad’s Terminal A lounge and bar.

Our rating out of five

★★★★★

The writer travelled as a guest of Viking Cruises and with the assistance of Etihad Airways. See vikingcruises.com.au; mandarinoriental.com; etihad.com

*For more information about air travel and sustainability, see iata.org

**Fares are based on those available for travel three months from the time of publication and subject to change.