Etihad Boeing 777-300ER Economy Review (Sydney-Abu Dhabi)

Etihad Airways Boeing 777 at Kuwait International Airport
An Etihad Airways Boeing 777-300ER. Photo: Matt Graham.

Many Australians choose to fly with Etihad Airways to Europe for its convenient connections via Abu Dhabi and its competitive airfares. The airline also partners with Virgin Australia, meaning you can earn and redeem Velocity points, enjoy Velocity status benefits and earn status credits flying Etihad.

Last decade, Etihad rapidly expanded its fleet and network. There was just one problem: it was losing a lot of money.

The national carrier of the UAE has since scaled back its network and cut a lot of costs in an effort to return to profitability. Etihad’s flights to Perth and Brisbane were unfortunately casualties of this process. But with the airline now making money again, and the opening of Abu Dhabi International Airport’s flash new Terminal A in 2023, Etihad is now ready to expand again.

Etihad still flies daily from both Sydney and Melbourne to Abu Dhabi, using a mix of Boeing 777s and 787s. I recently flew from Sydney to Abu Dhabi in Economy on Etihad’s Boeing 777-300ER. In this review, I’ll share my Etihad long-haul experience from the perspective of a Velocity Frequent Flyer member.

Flight Details

Flight numberEY451
RouteSydney (SYD) to Abu Dhabi (AUH)
Aircraft typeBoeing 777-300ER
Class of travelEconomy
Seat number53K
On-time performanceWe arrived one hour late
Star rating3.5 stars out of 5

The route

EY451 route map from SYD to AUH

Flight Cost

I redeemed my Velocity Frequent Flyer points to book a one-way Economy Reward Seat from Sydney to Abu Dhabi. The cost was 56,000 Velocity points + $197.39 in taxes & carrier charges.

I was travelling during a peak school holiday period. Given I also booked only two months in advance, I was pleasantly surprised to find a reward seat at all on the date I wanted to fly!

I was able to save a lot of money by using my Velocity points. So I was happy with the value here.

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Airport Experience

This was a popular flight and there were a lot of people checking in. The queue moved quickly, but the agent took a while to check me in as he seemed to be having some sort of trouble with my booking. After a few phone calls, he handed me a boarding pass and I was on my way through immigration and security.

Etihad check-in counters at Sydney Airport
Etihad check-in counters at Sydney Airport. Photo: Matt Graham.

Etihad invites its Business Class passengers and Etihad Guest Gold and Platinum frequent flyers to use the Air New Zealand lounge. This invitation extends to Velocity Gold and Platinum members flying with Etihad out of Sydney.

The Air New Zealand Lounge was a calm oasis during the middle of the afternoon, with a great selection of buffet food, barista-made coffee and bar service. The space had lots of natural light, as well as clean bathrooms, showers and a designated kids play area. I really liked this lounge.

Air New Zealand lounge, Sydney
The Air New Zealand Lounge in Sydney. Photo: Matt Graham.

As lounge access isn’t a standard inclusion with an Etihad Economy ticket, the lounge experience won’t affect my rating for this flight. But I’ve mentioned this as it may be of interest to those eligible for lounge access.

Before boarding, I also decided to check out The House Lounge using Priority Pass. This was Etihad’s old lounge at Sydney Airport and still has the look and feel of an Etihad Lounge. This was much smaller and more crowded than the Air New Zealand Lounge. It had a small buffet and bar service available, but you had to pay extra for plated meals or use of the showers.

The House Lounge at Sydney Airport
The House Lounge at Sydney Airport. Photo: Matt Graham.

I headed over to the gate when the airport screens showed the flight as “boarding”, but boarding hadn’t actually started yet and was delayed a bit. There were two priority boarding lanes, but the signage was a bit confusing and didn’t match the overhead TV screens.

Boarding for EY451 at Sydney Airport
The signage at the boarding gate could have been a bit clearer. Photo: Matt Graham.

We sat on the aircraft for another 40 minutes after the scheduled departure time before pushing back. I think the captain made an announcement advising the reason for the delay, but it was barely audible and unfortunately couldn’t hear a word of it.

The Hard Product

Some airlines use a 3-3-3 layout in Economy on their Boeing 777s. Etihad, like the other major Middle Eastern carriers, has opted for the tighter 3-4-3 option.

Etihad Airways Boeing 777-300ER Economy cabin
Etihad’s Boeing 777-300ER Economy cabin. Photo: Matt Graham.

As a result, the seats (and aisles) are a tad on the narrow side… but there is some relief available if you’re willing to pay a bit extra.

The first rows of Economy Class, as well as the exit rows, have more legroom and are sold as “Extra legroom” seats (previously “Economy Space”).

Etihad Airways Boeing 777 Economy Class
Etihad Airways Boeing 777 Economy Class. Photo: Matt Graham.

Due to the curvature of the plane, the last five rows of Economy Class are in a 2-4-2 configuration where there isn’t enough space to add a third seat by each of the windows. My travel companion and I each paid $50.80 (in AUD) to reserve seats in one of these pairs.

There are several pairs of two seats at the back of the Etihad 777
There are several pairs of two seats at the back of the plane. Photo: Matt Graham.

I think this was a worthwhile investment as we had a little bit more space and didn’t have to share the row with a third person.

It also just so happened that 53J/K, where we were sitting (as well as 53A/C) were the only rows in our section of the plane with personal air vents. I often find the cabins on Middle Eastern airlines to be a bit on the warm side, so that was a nice surprise.

Etihad also offers the option to bid for a neighbour-free seat or row. Although this flight was close to being full, one passenger must have booked a row of three for themself and was comfortably sleeping across those seats for much of the flight. I must admit that, during the middle of the flight, I was slightly jealous! 😉

The standard Economy legroom was reasonable, and the Etihad Boeing 777 Economy seat itself was quite comfortable. It had plenty of padding and support, and an adjustable headrest.

Etihad Boeing 777-300ER Economy Class seats
Etihad Boeing 777-300ER Economy Class seats. Photo: Matt Graham.

Overall, while the cabin was starting to show its age a bit, it was clean and serviceable.

There was a charging outlet and USB port on the back of every seat. The USB port worked, but to be honest, it charged my phone so slowly that it might as well have not been there. There was also a cup holder that didn’t actually fit the paper cups Etihad was using on this flight.

Each seat had a personal in-flight entertainment screen. It’s not the most modern system and did seem a bit slow to respond at times, but it did the job.

Etihad 777 IFE screen
Etihad’s Boeing 777-300ER in-flight entertainment system.

There was a good selection of entertainment available, including a fantastic music library. However, I found that the content library wasn’t nearly as extensive as on airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific. In particular, the selection of TV shows was perhaps a bit lacking. The six live TV channels were great, though!

The airline provides free in-flight messaging for Etihad Guest members, which otherwise costs USD9.99 (~AU$15). Unlike on some airlines, your Etihad Guest number does not necessarily need to be linked to your booking to access this benefit. I was able to access the free Wi-Fi chat even though my Velocity number was on my boarding pass.

Etihad charges USD24.99 (~AU$38) or 3,000 Etihad Guest miles to get free Wi-Fi for the entire flight.

Etihad wifi options
Etihad’s in-flight wifi options.

The Soft Product

Waiting for me on my seat were a blanket, a substantial pillow and an amenity kit that converts into a carry bag. The kit contained an eye mask, earplugs, hand cream and a sanitising wipe.

Etihad economy class amenity bag
The contents of Etihad’s Economy Class amenity kit. Photo: Matt Graham.

On this flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi, Etihad served two main meals. There was also a mid-flight snack around seven hours into the flight.

Even in Economy, Etihad provided printed menus. This was the menu for the first meal service and mid-flight snack on EY451:

EY451 economy class food menu
EY451 Economy Class menu – dinner and snack services.

And this was the menu for the second meal, as well as the drinks list:

EY451 economy menu
EY451 Economy Class menu – pre-arrival meal and beverages.

Dinner was served soon after we reached our cruising altitude. I chose the soy chicken, which was served on a tray with a bread roll, salad and mousse for dessert. I was impressed that it came with metal cutlery.

Soy chicken with nasi goreng, choy sum and toasted sesame seeds in Etihad economy class
Soy chicken with nasi goreng, choy sum and toasted sesame seeds. Photo: Matt Graham.

The meal was tasty and I enjoyed it along with a great view of the Australian outback.

Flying over the Australian continent on EY451
Flying over the Australian continent on EY451. Photo: Matt Graham.

My travelling companion ordered the beef for dinner. This is what it looked like:

Braised beef with mustard, mash potato, greens and carrots in Etihad economy class
Braised beef with mustard, mash potato, greens and carrots. Photo: Matt Graham.

The meal came with a choice of complimentary drinks including beer, wine and spirits, although the alcohol pours were comically small. The photo above shows the red wine that my seat neighbour received before taking any sips!

During both main meal services, the cabin crew had run out of the vegetarian option before reaching my row. Admittedly, I was sitting towards the back of the plane. But you may wish to pre-order a special meal if you have specific dietary requirements.

The in-flight entertainment system had a section where you could theoretically order more drinks at any time. This system wasn’t activated, but I was able to get another drink by pressing the call bell or walking to the galley.

Etihad drink ordering on the IFE
Etihad’s food & drink ordering system wasn’t activated.

There was also a small self-service snack station in one of the galley areas with chips and Oreos available throughout the flight, as well as water and orange juice.

Whiskey and crackers in Etihad economy class
Complimentary drinks and snacks were available throughout the flight. Photo: Matt Graham.

On many other airlines, flight attendants will regularly come through the cabin offering cups of water between meal services. On Etihad, however, the crew did not proactively offer any drinks outside of the meal services.

In general, the crew looking after the Economy cabin on this flight were efficient and did their jobs professionally, but just didn’t seem overly enthusiastic. To be honest, I can’t really blame them when they likely had just worked another flight from Abu Dhabi to Sydney the previous day.

After passing the western Australian coastline, we enjoyed a long sunset out the window…

Watching the sunset on EY451
Watching the sunset on EY451. Photo: Matt Graham.

Soon after, the mid-flight snack was served along with tea and coffee. This was a satisfying (albeit slightly soggy) sandwich with cheese and crackers, a Kit Kat and orange juice. For some reason, this came with a single plastic fork.

Cheese & spring onion sandwich with cheese & crackers as a mid-flight snack on EY451 in economy
Cheese & spring onion sandwich with cheese & crackers as a mid-flight snack. Photo: Matt Graham.

We received supper around 2.5 hours before landing, at what would have been 5 am in Sydney but was 10 pm in Abu Dhabi. This meal was very similar to the dinner we had after take-off, with a near-identical mousse dessert – just in a different flavour. I did enjoy the meal though, which was again tasty and substantial.

Stir-fried chicken in oyster sauce in Etihad Airways economy class
Stir-fried chicken in oyster sauce for the pre-arrival meal on EY451. Photo: Matt Graham.

I’ll just make one final comment about recognition for Velocity Frequent Flyer members. My Velocity Platinum status was recognised well on the ground in Sydney. But once I boarded the plane, it seemed to make no difference.

This isn’t a complaint and I don’t necessarily expect anything. It was just noticeable because I often receive a personal welcome from the purser when flying Emirates in Economy as a Qantas Platinum member. Emirates also doesn’t charge Qantas Platinum members to select a seat.

Arrival Experience

Due to our delayed departure out of Sydney, we landed in Abu Dhabi an hour behind schedule. The onboard crew never apologised for or even acknowledged this delay.

We arrived at the brand new Terminal A at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport. This is a modern, spacious terminal that is clearly a big improvement over Etihad’s old terminal. Immigration and customs were an absolute breeze, and my checked bag was already on the luggage belt when I arrived there.

I had booked a connecting Etihad Coach service from Abu Dhabi to Dubai on the same ticket as the Sydney-Abu Dhabi flight. This is a complimentary service for Etihad passengers.

Because of our late arrival in Abu Dhabi, I unfortunately missed the bus that I was originally booked on. Even though the flight and bus were on the same ticket, Etihad did not rebook me onto the next bus. So when I tried to get on the next available bus, the agent initially wouldn’t let me on because my ticket was for the earlier one. Many other passengers from other delayed inbound flights were also initially refused boarding.

I did end up getting on that next coach after a long wait, but the whole boarding process was a bit of a shambles and took so long that we departed 20 minutes late. As there was no traffic in the middle of the night, we at least made up that time en-route.

Etihad Airways Boeing 777-300ER Economy Class
  • Airport Experience
  • Hard Product
  • Soft Product
3.5

Final thoughts

Overall, Etihad Airways offers a perfectly fine long-haul Economy Class experience. That said, I don’t think it’s quite in the same league as the likes of Singapore Airlines or even Emirates. The lack of in-flight entertainment content was one example of this.

I found my Economy seat comfortable enough, but I’m glad we paid for one of the pairs of seats at the back of the cabin where the aisle is wider and it felt a bit less cramped.

I wouldn’t hesitate to fly Etihad Airways in Economy again if the price was right. I’m just not sure that it would be my first choice when flying to Europe, given the many other competitive options available. If I did pick Etihad again, I might try to fly on one of their newer Boeing 787s, Airbus 350s or Airbus A380s next time.

 

You can leave a comment on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum.

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 90 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.
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Community Comments

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There was definitely no menu when I flew in November and December. Meals were a mystery! They were fine though, and while I've previously been hungry on Etihad flights, that wasn't the case for any of the four legs I flew.

I had decided against those seat rows because I thought they would be noisy - close to the toilets or galley. Was that not the case?

(I am not 100% sure I was on the same type of plane, but it sounds familiar.)

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My wife took return economy flights on Etihad from Melbourne in September/October last year (so 4 legs, 4 different flights and has sworn (actually in multiple ways) that she will never fly with them ever again. I understand that parts of her experience which I won't detail here were unique to her flights but other parts mirror the review: staff that do the bare minimum ("professional" but disinterested), no drinks offered between meals, shortage of food options, mediocre entertainment system, ageing aircraft. Added to which he found the seats on every leg uncomfortable. I'm glad that Etihad is concentrating on profits over service – good for them but you can only cut back so much before people notice. We travelled together from Athens to Barcelona on budget airline Vueling and she said that this was a better flight and travel experience in every way which tells me something.

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I flew with Etihad before COVID. I remember there were no amenity kits and menu. Now you are so lucky that Etihad has improved a lot - it has got amenity kits, menu, large amount of food. That was much better than my flight!

I read the forum and heard the aviation geek complained about Etihad had reduced the inflight service and forced pax to buy snacks. However, I was surprised that they offered more food than I thought. More free snacks so that we did not have to worry about buy snacks. Phew! Haha! I felt FULL!

Yeah it was disappointed that it was difficult to select seats because I did not want to pay extra for the seat selection. It isn't normal to charge AUD50 for that seat selection. I did try to ask the check-in staff to change seat for me. They did try their best for me but no available.

Yeah I agree, if you fly with 787s, it has got more movies than 777s - maybe due to storage limitations on Boeing 777's old hard drives. Still the same before COVID-19. Won't fly with Etihad's 777s again in the future. It's odd that most 777s fly to USA. What a long flight hours with few inflight entertainments there.

Yes I agree, I will fly Etihad if I was able to get that lower price - between $900 to $1200 to europe. Always fly with 787s and A350s. I paid about $1200 to europe outside school holiday and both planes were FULL.

It was an interesting flightpath - from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi - we took off from Melbourne then flew across Great Australia Bight, then pass over Perth and then straight on to Abu Dhabi.

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