Friday newsletters at all times characteristic luxurious journey contests, ideas, or information.
Today: How to ebook The Residence, Etihad’s A380 three-room suite?
Just a few weeks in the past, I posted my content material (YouTube video and weblog overview) about my Abu Dhabu to London flight in The Residence, the world’s most unique First Class cabin. Exclusively obtainable on Etihad Airways’ A380 plane on routes between Abu Dhabi, London, New York and shortly Paris, The Residence is the one three-room suite on a passenger plane, that includes a non-public bed room, ensuite toilet (with bathe), and a lounge. The uber-luxurious house is positioned on the A380’s higher deck and might accommodate a most of two passengers.
The Residence was first launched by Etihad in 2014, with one-way tickets between London and Abu Dhabi beginning at $20,000 USD. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in 2020, Etihad saved its A380 plane and the way forward for The Residence appeared unsure. However, with the resurgent journey demand, Etihad introduced again a small variety of its A380 plane in 2023, The Residence together with them, albeit with a unique comfortable product (extra on that under).
With the return of the A380, Etihad has made The Residence extra accessible to the final touring public. Pre-pandemic, Etihad offered The Residence as a separate, exorbitantly costly journey class in addition to Economy, Business Class, and First Class. But since its post-pandemic re-introduction, The Residence can now not be booked straight and is just supplied as an improve choice to a First Class ticket, to be paid with miles or money.
In this weblog article:
The Residence arduous & comfortable product
Guests of The Residence can get pleasure from a terrific arduous product, the one three-room suite on a passenger plane, that includes a non-public bed room, ensuite toilet (with bathe), and a lounge. But as already talked about, Etihad modified the comfortable product of The Residence since its post-pandemic re-introduction. The facilities and culinary providing are actually the identical as in First Class and also you now not get the pre-pandemic particular perks akin to butler service and customised menus. That stated, passengers of The Residence nonetheless get a couple of further perks over First Class passenger:
- An escort by means of Abu Dhabi Airport
- Access to a non-public room within the Etihad First Class Lounge at Abu Dhabi Airport
- One extra merchandise on the onboard menu (afternoon tea)
- Enhanced tableware and glassware onboard
Book The Residence with money
Passengers with a First Class ticket on Etihad’s A380 could make the improve to The Residence by way of Etihad’s name middle or on-line, both on the time of reserving or by means of Etihad’s “manage my booking” part. When making the improve on-line, The Residence will pop up as a alternative through the seat choice course of. Etihad doesn’t publish the price for an improve from First Class to The Residence, nevertheless it’s way more affordable than it was once. For instance, a fast search exhibits that First Class passengers on the Abu Dhabi to London route might to improve to The Residence for round $2000 USD (7,310 AED) whereas the price for an improve to The Residence on the Abu Dhabi to New York route is round $4000 USD (14,660 AED).
Book The Residence with miles
Passengers with a First Class ticket on one in all Etihad’s A380 routes also can improve to The Residence with miles by way of Etihad’s frequent flyer program Etihad Guest. Etihad has not formally printed a chart with the variety of miles want for an improve, however a fast search exhibits that an improve from First Class to The Residence will price you round 300,000 Etihad Guest miles on the Abu Dhabi to London route and round 600,000 Etihad Guest miles on the Abu Dhabi to Paris route. That’s a staggering quantity of miles after all, however it may well make for a once-in-a-lifetime expertise after all.
Major restriction for reserving The Residence
A significant restriction that it is advisable to watch out for is that the improve from First Class to The Residence is just supplied to passengers that booked their First Class ticket both in money or miles straight by way of Etihad. First Class award tickets which might be booked by way of the frequent flyer program of a accomplice airline (akin to AAdvantage by American Airlines) can’t be upgraded to The Residence.
*** Follow me on Instagram, YouTube, X or Facebook for a every day second of journey inspiration ***