Review Etihad Airways Business, Abu Dhabi - Milan
General Impression: 
Before the Flight :
Check-in Process: in Transit
Security Control:
Lounge:
Information:
Boarding @ Gate:
Staff @ these points: 
Boarding in Cabin:
Welcome Drinks:
Punctuality: , 1hr 39min delay
, 1hr 39min delay
During the Flight :
Food presentation:
Food quality:
Drinks:
Service Procedure:
Amenity Kit:
IFE System:
Seat Quality:
Legroom:
Lavatories:
Cleanliness:
General Atmosphere:
Announcement Pilots:
Announcement Cabin:
Cabin Crew:
After the Flight :
De-Boarding:
Baggage Delivery:
—-
= bad, a lot of work needs to be
done
= poor, you will be busy with
corrections
= good & normal, nothing
special
= high level, but the icing on
the cake is missing
= topnotch, leave me here!
= Half a Point/sheep
—-
On the Ground:
We arrived almost 30 minutes early from Colombo Airport and were in transit in Abu Dhabi. As our flight outbound flight to Milan was delayed, we had around 3 hours transit time.
The new airport in Abu Dhabi is beautiful but the ways are looooong.
Priority screening at security was closed but the general queue was very short and we were through security in about 5 minutes.
All lanes are equipped with the newest screening machines where you can leave everything in your bags.
Staff (official police) and not the private security company was absolutely unfriendly, harsh and they insulted passengers for nothing. They loved to do some power play.
Once through security we went to the Etihad Airways Business Class Lounge in the Terminal which can be found between concourse C and D.
As already reviewed and reported it is one of the biggest Lounges we have ever seen. The lounge stretches itself over 4 floors including a rooftop! Bar. On the main floor there is the
dining/restaurant area where you are served at the table and there is the spa area. One floor up there is a resting area, a game room, family area and a bar area. Another floor higher there
is the big bar area and another dining area and as said on the top there is a rooftop bar.
The F&B selection was simply amazing. Also that early or late in the morning, the F&B looked great, was fresh and tasty. Staff was very friendly and welcoming and went the extra mile.
An absolutely stunning new lounge.
We were at our departure gate around 5 minutes prior the indicated boarding time and boarding started exactly at the indicated time.
Priority boarding was conducted and the agent also checked the boarding passes but insisting economy class passengers were also boarded
Announcements for boarding were clear and understandable.
At the aircraft door we were greeted by the cabin manager and another crew member who were checking the boarding passes.
Other cabin crew members were in the cabin. On this flight it showed once more, that the crew makes the difference.
The cabin crew was in the cabin but friendliness or passion definitely looks different. They clearly couldn’t be bothered — and it showed all over their faces.
The seats were already equipped with a very comfortable and fluffy pillow, a mattress, a blanket (unfortunately not with the new Armani Casa blankets, with the old ones.) and a small bottle
of water, the noise cancelling headsets and the menu card in the lecture rack.
The amenity kit was placed on the console next to the seat and included earplugs, eye mask, toothbrush as well as body lotion, lip balm and humidity mist. The crew also distributed slippers
for a 6 hours night flight.
Once installed in the seat and seated, the crew came by and asked for a welcome drink. We were able to choose from fresh orange juice, rosé champagne, water or lime/mint.
Once everyone was on board, the crew also passed with hot towels. We were sitting on the ground for more than an hour but the crew didn't made it to take the meal orders on the ground.
Meal orders were taken after take-off and you could choose an aperitif after take off and items from the all day dining.
The main service on this flight would be breakfast and Etihad offers 4 hot meal choices and many other items for breakfast. You also had the choice of a quick meal and a last minute drink.
As I wanted to sleep on this night flight (Dep: 3:49AM / ARR 7:53AM) I didn't take anything after take-off and opted for a breakfast prior to landing.
Inflight:
The Etihad business class on this Airbus A350-1000 is huge and has a total of 44 business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration in a single cabin between door 1 and. 2. The cabin is massive
and it seems almost to big. As there are no overhead compartments in the middle and only on the sides, space is limited when full.
The seats would be very comfortable and offer enough privacy. The seats are little suites with a closable sliding door.
All business class seats are fully lie flat and you have enough shoulder space as well as legroom space.
Unfortunately this airplane was in a very very poor cabin condition. On my seat the cushion was deflated. The tray table was broken and could not be used. You had to eat from the side console. Many other seats were broken und the IFE also had its issues with switching off and on. One of the only two lavatories in Business Class had not running water and the crew placed water bottles for washing the hands. Sending out an aircraft in such a poor state from the home base is a poor operational decision. The cabin crew offered compensation in miles for the deflated seat and broken tray table and IFE.
After take off, once the fasten seat belt sign was switched off, the cabin crew came to take the order for breakfast and started with their inflight service for those requesting something.
Thanks to two mattresses I managed to get around 3 hours of sleep and around 1,5 hours prior landing the crew started with the breakfast service.
The cabin crew in general wasn't good at all. Only one single flight attendant on the right isle did a great job and interacted with the passengers and was smiling. All other crew members did not smile at all and were cold and grumpy. Compared to all other flights this was the worst cabin crew.
I had some fresh fruits, a Birchermuesli and some danish for breakfast with a fresh orange juice and a delicious coffee latte.
The tableware and glasses Etihad Airways uses are from Armani Casa. The design is amazing. They use the appropriate style of glasses for their drinks.
Also on this flight the catering was really good. All the food was tasty, fresh and of high quality. It was just delicious. The coffee Latte was simply perfection!
Announcements were clear and understandable from the cabin crew as well as from the flight deck.
The inflight entertainment is good. Mine switched on and off several times during the flight.
The screens would have a good size and resolution for business class. The screens are touch screens but you can also choose the handheld devices to navigate.
Etihad Airways has a fantastic selection of movies, films and series as well as the newest blockbusters.
The aircraft would have been equipped with WiFi and the prices Etihad Airways offers are very moderate with 9.99$ for the entire flight.
As Etihad Airways guest, you can choose a free package for messaging only and that worked perfectly fine.
Toilets were super clean throughout the entire flight and the cabin crew checked them super regularly and stocked and cleaned them all the time.
As mentioned above, only one lavatory was fully functional, the other one had no running water and the crew placed some water bottles in the lavatory to wash your hands.
After the Flight:
In Milan we arrived at Terminal 1. Unfortunately only one bridge was positioned at the aircraft for disembarkation.
Immigration was no problem at all as all automated electronic gates were open.
Bags were delivered 20 Minutes after arrival on the baggage belt. Priority bags were delivered first.
Summary:
So far, one of the worst flights we've had with Etihad Airways.
The aircraft was in poor condition – especially considering it was operating out of their home base. Many seats were broken, the IFE wasn’t working properly, and one of the two business class
toilets was out of order.
The crew seemed completely unmotivated, didn’t even manage a smile, and honestly just didn’t care. That’s rare for me to say – but I was genuinely glad when the flight was over.
Etihad’s A350-1000 has for us one of the weakest business class cabins out of their fleet. The cabin seems huge with 44 seats and looks massive but it feels cramped due to the lack of
overhead bins and limited storage space.
Otherwise, the seat itself is actually quite comfortable, and thanks to the sliding doors, each one feels like a small suite with decent privacy.
The catering, on the other hand, was excellent – fresh and delicious.
Notes:
- Paul the Sheep does not get any benefits from the Hotels/Airlines etc.
- Paul will always pay for the services in order to be able to rate freely and truly about the experiences.
- If you are interested in more details, please send me a private message and I will be happy to share.