Etihad F - SYD to LHR

[Cerca]

Hey all

I have the good fortune to be travelling F to London in a few months - will be my very first time with Etihad! Anyone with experience travelling F who can offer me some advice on how to maximise the experience?

Cheers

 

[bam71]

Hi Cerca,

Looks like no one has responded! Are you on the A380?

 

[Cerca]

Hey Bam71, not to worry. Yes, I am on the A380.

I can report back on my experience after I fly.

 

[bam71]

Am about to do my second trip on the A380 F Etihad. Just back to Abu Dhabi though. I much prefer it to F on their 787's or other aircraft. Its a bit "special"

 

[RooFlyer]

So you'll be in an Apartment? Best First, anywhere!

I put some pics and comments up here. (Only SYD-AUH)

Only one negative from my own experience. the bed was a little hard. If you don't prefer a firm bed, if there are empty apartments in the cabin, ask the person who makes up your bed if they can put an additional mattress on (they are only thin).

Don't forget that you aren't restricted to the fixed menu; you can ask for something that just takes your fancy and the chef does what he/she can.

You'll have a great flight!

 

[boomy]

The EY lounge in SYD is nice but small and gets crowded before the A380 flight. Try not to eat and drink too much there before the flight, you'll have 14 hours to enjoy better menu onboard.

Once you're onboard just enjoy the best F product out there. You'll have dedicated chef who will prepare anything from the menu at any time or can use ingredients on the menu to prepare other dishes you may wish to try. You can ask for a tour of the residence, they may or may not allow, depends on the CSM.

The new F lounge on AUH is absolutely stunning. I've been there 2.5 hours recently and could easily spend more time inside.

Don't forget to book CD in SYD and LHR:
https://www.etihad.com/en-au/plan-and-book/book-chauffeur/
If your booking done via AA you may have some problems as the rules changed recently but otherwise should be fine.

I've done couple of TRs you may find useful.
This one is SYD-LHR but features the old F lounge.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/showthread.php?t=72803&page=1

Another is MEL-LHR with review of the new F lounge.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/showthread.php?t=77832&page=1

 

[Globetrotter]

Hey all

I have the good fortune to be travelling F to London in a few months - will be my very first time with Etihad! Anyone with experience travelling F who can offer me some advice on how to maximise the experience?

Cheers

I've flown Etihad First a couple of times. I much prefer the 787 Suite to the A380 apartment. I found the bed uncomfortable and the vibration from the crew walking up and down the aisle was very annoying. The seat only reclines so far which makes sense given you have a separate bed but I found it annoying and uncomfortable after a while. I sound like a snob lol but I did have an amazing experience in First on the 787 even though it wasn't a huge bedroom! Nevertheless on all flights the service and food was outstanding.

 

[Atleastonce]

Hi Cerca. You will love the Etihad F product, and I agree with previous posts, don't eat too much before the flight, the food and menu on board is amazing. We were lucky enough to be upgraded at the gate AUH to BNE and thoroughly enjoyed the F experience.

 

[Moindardt]

I've flown Etihad First a couple of times. I much prefer the 787 Suite to the A380 apartment. I found the bed uncomfortable and the vibration from the crew walking up and down the aisle was very annoying. The seat only reclines so far which makes sense given you have a separate bed but I found it annoying and uncomfortable after a while. I sound like a snob lol but I did have an amazing experience in First on the 787 even though it wasn't a huge bedroom! Nevertheless on all flights the service and food was outstanding.

I totally agree. I found the bed hard on the A380 but the 787 bed was fantastic. We were lucky enough to have the suites behind us empty so had one for sleeping and one for everything else. In saying that, we are talking about incredibly minor points on what is probably the best experience in the sky.

Do not eat in the lounge before. In fact don't eat the day before. Just enjoy it.

 

[boomy]

Speaking of the bed, I also found it too firm on my first flight but the solution is very simple - asking the FA to add another mattress, problem solved. Btw on the A380 pax can request the crew to prepare it prior to takeoff. It's an awesome feature I like to use especially on the second leg (to LHR) since there are often long delays in AUH before takeoff and it's more comfortable to chillax in bed watching TV.

The bed on B787 is comfortable but I don't like the tinted windows which, at sunrise, fill the cabin with annoying green light. Admittedly my best sleeps on EY were on the B777 with the planetarium ceiling.

 

[Cerca]

Thanks guys for the amazing info. Really looking forward to the experience.

Silly question about the chauffeur service, is it just from my place to the airport? Does it also cover LHR to my hotel?

 

[Cerca]

The EY lounge in SYD is nice but small and gets crowded before the A380 flight. Try not to eat and drink too much there before the flight, you'll have 14 hours to enjoy better menu onboard.

Once you're onboard just enjoy the best F product out there. You'll have dedicated chef who will prepare anything from the menu at any time or can use ingredients on the menu to prepare other dishes you may wish to try. You can ask for a tour of the residence, they may or may not allow, depends on the CSM.

The new F lounge on AUH is absolutely stunning. I've been there 2.5 hours recently and could easily spend more time inside.

Don't forget to book CD in SYD and LHR:
https://www.etihad.com/en-au/plan-and-book/book-chauffeur/
If your booking done via AA you may have some problems as the rules changed recently but otherwise should be fine.

I've done couple of TRs you may find useful.
This one is SYD-LHR but features the old F lounge.
EY Apartments vs. LH First Class

Another is MEL-LHR with review of the new F lounge.
EY / CX / JL F reviews

Awesome reviews, boomy!

 

[Moindardt]

Thanks guys for the amazing info. Really looking forward to the experience.

Silly question about the chauffeur service, is it just from my place to the airport? Does it also cover LHR to my hotel?

I assume it still is the same, which covers both pickup and drop off.

 

[Nizar]

EY F Apartments is pure class. You'll enjoy it. Space available is second to none. Food and service is top notch. Only perhaps downside is the IFE, I find it to be significantly inferior to QR/EK/QF etc. Just a very limited range of watchable movies I have found. So if flying SYD-LHR with the return in quick succession on the way back you may find yourself out of options.

 

[Atleastonce]

Thanks guys for the amazing info. Really looking forward to the experience.

Silly question about the chauffeur service, is it just from my place to the airport? Does it also cover LHR to my hotel?

Last time I travelled to LHR I used the chauffeur to my London hotel.