Overnight sensation with Etihad’s First Apartments aboard the Airbus A380

Flying first class from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow on Etihad Airways' A380 is a class above other carrier's offerings.

Cabin crew pose with Etihad Airways' first Airbus A380 which was rolled off in Hamburg in September last year. Roland Magunia for The National
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While there has been much international hype about The Residence – Etihad Airways' US$20,000 a ticket luxury offering on its new superjumbo – the airline's first class product has gone unnoticed. On its 787 fleet, the airline has adopted a conventional first class product, similar in space, comfort and amenities to its regional rivals. But on its A380, Etihad has created a cabin class leader with its First Apartments.

Boarding from the top deck for a direct flight from Heathrow to Abu Dhabi, the first class cabin is at the front of the aircraft. Formed of nine suites and The Residence, each 39 square foot cabin features a large recliner seat and ottoman bench, that folds out into an 80-inch bed. Both are decked out in Poltrona Frau leather.

The suite's amenities include massage functions, the ability to change seat firmness, a chilled minibar, a range of custom mood lights, vast storage units and even a large vanity mirror filled to the brim with toiletries and La Lobo skincare products. The A380 currently only flies to and from London once a day, leaving Abu Dhabi at 2.35am. Being a night flight, Etihad focuses its menu on the breakfast service just before landing, however the carrier offers an all-day-dining à la carte menu with a variety of midnight snack dining options prepared by the chef, who introduces himself to you on boarding.

The food is plated on the finest bone china. If nothing appeals from the menu, the chef will prepare something special in the on-board kitchen.

There is also a shared lounge which has space for six to sit and a fully stocked bar. One criticism – because it is located past the entrance galley towards the rear of the aircraft, you have to pass through a feverish team of cabin crew preparing the food for the rest of the upper deck.

However it was this hard-working crew who were the highlight of the flight for me. From silver service to turndown, they foresaw every requirement. I was woken in my suite two hours before arrival for a hot and steamy shower with fluffy towels and warm bathroom floors. Back at my cabin, fresh tea was waiting before I was served a breakfast of freshly baked pastries and eggs cooked to order with a morning newspaper.

q&a check in and chill out

Jonny Clark reveals more about Etihad’s First Apartments on board its A380:

Is there a chauffeur service?

Yes, whether travelling in business or first, Etihad offers to take you direct to and from the airport. In Abu Dhabi, the airline benefits from a private and speedy dedicated check-in area.

What about the in-flight entertainment?

Each apartment is fitted with 24” flat-screen TVs and noise-cancelling headphones. There are more than 750 hours of in-flight entertainment, including the latest blockbusters, classic films and TV boxsets. A great bit of design engineering means that the TV can swivel from the wall, meaning that passengers can watch the TV whether in the seat or lying on the bed.

Which of Etihad’s planes feature the First Apartments?

The “Apartments” are only in the A380; there is a smaller version being rolled out on the 787s. There is currently only one A380 in service, with four more being delivered this year. The airline will start flying its A380s to New York and Sydney later this year.

Why is there a new wave of seats and separate beds in first class?

According to Anthony Harcup of Acumen Design Associates, one of the three design firms that make up the Etihad Design Consortium responsible for the A380, it is a “key differentiator” to ensure the airline leads the first class sector. “We were required to create vast amounts of mock-ups from the small mechanisms right through to entire cabins,” he adds.

business@thenational.ae

* The writer was a guest of Etihad Airways.

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