THE ROUTE
Flight EY278 Abu Dhabi to Sydney
THE AIRCRAFT
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
THE LOYALTY SCHEME
Etihad Guest has reciprocal preparations with airways together with Virgin Australia. Points earned on Etihad flights may be credited to your Virgin Australia account, or you should use Etihad factors to e-book a Virgin Australia flight. New members of Etihad Guest obtain 500 bonus factors upon becoming a member of.
CLASS
Business seat, 6A
DURATION
13 hours 45 minutes
CARBON EMISSIONS
According to Etihad’s on-line carbon calculator, my flight emissions are 3021kg, which I can offset for $US43.46 ($61) by their partnership with CarbonClick.
FREQUENCY
Etihad flies each day from Abu Dhabi to Sydney.
HEALTH
Passengers are required to put on a masks. Once on board we’re issued with a well being package, together with sanitiser and a spare masks, in addition to our facilities package.
CHECKING IN
Easiest check-in expertise ever could sound like a giant name – however 10 minutes from automotive to the opposite aspect of safety has to be a report. That is as a result of in its house airport, Etihad would not simply have a devoted check-in counter for business passengers: it has a complete separate check-in facility. I stroll by the doorways to a sequence of counters the place a number of workers are free. Having accomplished on-line check-in, I’m instantly issued a boarding go, then go by business-class-only passport and safety checks with solely a handful of individuals in entrance of me. If solely each check-in expertise have been this straightforward.
THE SEAT
Seats are organized in a 1-2-1 formation, dealing with the entrance or the again in an alternating sample. I’m in a backward dealing with seat, with a width of twenty-two inches (55.8cm) and a mattress size of 73 inches (185.42cm).
BAGGAGE
Checked baggage 30kg with one carry-on bag of up to 12kg, plus one private merchandise of up to 5kg.
ENTERTAINMENT
Etihad all the time has a robust choice of films and TV exhibits and a fast browse reveals loads of choices that enchantment to me. What is a bit disappointing is that, not like some airways, Etihad would not supply its business class passengers free WI-FI. Paid choices vary from $US6.99 for an hour (100MB restrict) to $US29.99 for twenty-four hours (350MB restrict). This final choice works throughout connecting flights, which makes it a sensible choice for lengthy haul travellers.
SERVICE
The service on Etihad is all the time superb, however this crew is excellent. We have a late-night departure so when the attendant comes earlier than take-off to take my order for drinks, I clarify that I’m going to skip dinner and have a sleep as an alternative however will eat one thing later. She instantly asks if there’s a specific meal she will be able to reserve for me, earlier than wishing me a great relaxation. Throughout the flight the workers are consistently passing by the cabin and all the time preserving a watch out for passengers who may have help. Every request is attended to promptly and with a smile.
FOOD
The menu is designed to cater for passengers who’ve already eaten in addition to those that have not. In addition to the in depth dinner menu (three decisions every for starters, mains and desserts, in addition to a cheese course), the all-day menu contains breakfast choices equivalent to pastries, cereal and yoghurt, and scorching snacks together with a candy potato, lamb merguez and goat’s cheese tart. After my sleep I take pleasure in a wonderful steak sandwich, served with Emmental cheese and purple onion chutney.
ONE MORE THING
The leather-based facilities pouch is so trendy, I’m going to use it as a clutch bag.
VERDICT
An excellent inflight expertise.
RATING
★★★★★
Ute Junker travelled courtesy of Etihad Airways, see etihad.com
