Luxury Travel

Etihad First Class Lounge, Abu Dhabi International Airport

April 18, 2024

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Wednesday newsletters all the time characteristic a lodge or flight evaluation.

Today: Review of Etihad’s new First Class Lounge at Abu Dhabi International Airport

I just lately flew in The Residence onboard an Etihad Airways Airbus A380 from Abu Dhabi to London. The Residence is the one three room suite within the sky, geared up with a lounge, ensuite rest room with bathe, and a personal bed room. The uber-luxurious house is situated on the A380’s higher deck and might accommodate a most of two passengers a lounge. I’ll publish my YouTube video about The Residence this Saturday on my YouTube channel and my detailed evaluation of The Residence subsequent week on my weblog. Today, I’ll evaluation the Etihad Airways’ new First Class lounge in Abu Dhabi International Airport, the place passengers can spend their time previous to their flight in The Residence.

In this evaluation:

TERMINAL A AT ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Last November, Etihad Airways moved all its flights to and from the brand new Terminal A at Abu Dhabi International Airport, which was renamed to Zayed International Airport after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founder. Terminal A brings a significant enhance in capability for Abu Dhabi’s industrial aviation sector, greater than doubling the present passenger capability, with the brand new services with the ability to course of as much as 45 million travellers yearly. Terminal A will additional strengthen Abu Dhabi’s world standing as an aviation hub, able to dealing with 79 planes directly and 11,000 passengers per hour. The enhance in capability permits for airways to spice up their presence in Abu Dhabi in response to rising demand.

With 163 retail concessionaires – from Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Ferragamo, to the world’s first Muji airport retailer – Terminal A is a is a consumer’s paradise. When it involves meals and beverage, there’s something to accommodate all palates. Jones The Grocer, Taste of India, Starbucks and the Camden Food Co. are only a few of the manufacturers discovered contained in the Terminal. Additionally, Todd English’s first airport restaurant offers diners with a big selection of cuisines from world wide. For rest and rejuvenating previous to flying, there are two well being and wonder spas together with a 138-bedroom lodge plus a contemporary open-air lounge providing famend Arabic hospitality.

Terminal A’s design – from airside to landside, constructing to furnishings – was conceived and executed solely by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) to ship a premium journey expertise. The X-shaped constructing has 4 themed piers with a design impressed by Abu Dhabi’s desert, sea, metropolis and oasis pure landscapes, making it a really timeless piece of structure for generations to get pleasure from. It additionally options the Sana Al Nour, which is among the largest indoor public artwork options within the Middle East, standing at 22 m (72 ft) tall and 17 m (56 ft) large.

The inside of Terminal A might sound acquainted to some passengers since a scene within the movie “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” was filmed on the terminal earlier than it formally opened.

ETIHAD FIRST CLASS LOUNGE AT ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

When Terminal A opened, Etihad Airways additionally unveiled its new flagship lounges inside the terminal. Etihad’s spectacular new lounge advanced spans three flooring of Terminal A’s north aspect, nestled between Piers C and D. The Etihad lounges are accessible to friends flying in Etihad’s The Residence, First and Business Class and members of Etihad’s frequent flyer program with eligible tier standing. Guests flying in Economy Class who want to benefit from the unique lounge house should buy entry to Etihad’s Business Lounge topic to availability. The Lounge is conveniently situated with entry to 3 gates providing direct-lounge boarding on chosen flights, which means friends in premium cabins can board straight from the Lounge for comfort and velocity.

The First Class lounge presents a devoted reception foyer and a personal elevator to entry the Rooftop Lounge on the highest ground of the advanced. Here, a central walkway leads down all the size of the lounge, which is comprised of various luxurious seating areas alongside the large floor-to-ceiling home windows. One aspect of the lounge options a sublime parlor the place a collection of pastries and desserts on show. A signature tea expertise is obtainable right here as properly, together with an array of tea ceremonies and a signature espresso presentation. On the opposite aspect, the lounge’s eating room presents an elevated eating expertise with à la carte eating and a positive wine choice really helpful by in-house consultants. During my keep, I select the lobster machboose ravioli, served with peppers, spinach, basil and spiced butter, which tasted wonderful.

For the final word rest and indulgence earlier than flying, First class Private Suites can be found for friends to work, calm down and dine in full privateness. The Private Suites are complimentary for friends flying in The Residence and obtainable for reserving by all different First class lounge friends.