Information on Etihad Airways Flights

Etihad Airways is the second-largest international airline in the United Arab Emirates after Emirates. It has a hub in Abu Dhabi at Zayed International Airport, and connects to global destinations in the U.S., Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia. Etihad has its own loyalty program, Etihad Guest, but is not a member of a global alliance. It has more than 20 codeshare partner airlines, which allow passengers to earn miles when flying.

Etihad classes and cabins

Etihad has three classes: economy, business and first, with an option for first class travelers to book one of the airline’s spacious residences. The larger planes in the fleet allocate at least half of the space to business and first class, and Etihad tends to cater its better services to the higher class cabins rather than the economy passengers. In my experience, Etihad is significantly better if you can afford business or first class, while the economy cabin can feel stressful.

Economy class

Etihad’s economy class is its most basic cabin, with traditional upright seats and seat-back screens. The cabin is divided into 3 zones based on proximity to the exit, and it’s possible to pay additional for extra legroom seats, exit row seats, or bulkhead seats. Etihad also has a program where passengers can bid on “neighbor-free seats,” which can be worth it if you want some space.

Etihad puts a lot of emphasis on its premium cabins and services, and tends to skimp on the economy experience. Last time I flew Etihad from Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles, I was in a bulkhead seat and I found the economy cabin chaotic and uncomfortable. Longer flights, especially overnight, are not the most pleasant in economy, which is something to consider when booking.

On long-haul flights, economy passengers have access to movies and TV shows on the seat-back screens and have an option to purchase WiFi packages. Passengers also get a choice of 3 dishes, all of which are Halal and one of which is always vegetarian.

Anyone traveling with children can take advantage of family check-in and boarding, children’s meals, and children’s activity packs. Economy passengers have the option to add an airport lounge or to upgrade after booking, which is a good way to make the flight more relaxed.

Business class

Business class is a big focus on Etihad’s planes, although each aircraft type has a slightly different design and layout. On long-haul flights, all of the business class seats become lay-flat beds (and on 9+-hour flights you get a pair of pajamas). On short-haul flights, the seats comfortably recline.

Business class passengers are served 3-course meals that feature both traditional Emirati dishes and international cuisine. The amenity kits feature products by Giorgio Armani and ESPA, a nice perk when you need to freshen up, and guests get a pair of slippers to wear onboard. You can watch movies or TV with noise-canceling headphones, which is helpful if it’s loud.

Before boarding, business class travelers can use the airport lounges, which are especially good in Abu Dhabi (and have showers). Onboard, business and first class passengers on A380 planes can hang out in a shared lounge that serves snacks and drinks in the air.

First class

First class passengers get to ride in complete comfort in private suites with lay-flat beds. Onboard, there’s an extensive food and wine menu, with the option of wine pairings with each course. After the meal, the beds are made up by the flight attendants and each passenger gets a pair of pajamas to wear to sleep. Like in business class, the chic amenity kits include products by Giorgio Armani and ESPA.

On the ground, first class travelers get access to the first class lounge, which includes showers and a fitness center. The fare also includes chauffeur service in Abu Dhabi to and from the airport.

The Residence

First class passengers can score use of one of Etihad’s coveted residences. The small cabins, available onboard the airline’s A380 planes, are actually 3-room suites that can house up to 3 passengers. Each residence has a bedroom with a double bed, a living room and an ensuite shower room.

Flying in a residence comes with a lot of perks. Passengers have meals served in their living room at any time (no waiting on a trolley to come down the aisle) and the menu is extensive. When you’re ready to sleep, the flight attendants prepare the bed and give you a set of Giorgio Armani pajamas. There are 2 TVs, 1 in each room, and they can be watched separately if you’re a couple.

The amenity kits feature products by Giorgio Armani and ESPA, and all residence passengers have access to free WiFi. Other highlights include a private suite in the airline’s lounges and chauffeur service in Abu Dhabi.

To book a residence, passengers need to first book a first-class ticket and then use the seat selection option to upgrade to a residence for an additional fee.

Etihad and partner lounges

In Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, Etihad has several lounges, for both first class and business class. The lounges are located in Terminal A and can be accessed by priority customers as well as those with status. Economy passengers can pay to access the business class lounge.

Those flying to the U.S. have the option of an additional lounge located after U.S. immigration and customs in Terminal A. It is not as big or well-equipped as the other lounge, so it’s worth checking out both.

Outside of Abu Dhabi, Etihad has dedicated lounges in London’s Heathrow, New York City’s JFK Airport, and Washington Dulles. The airline has partnerships with local lounges in dozens of other international airports. Check online for a list when traveling. If a lounge is closed when you want to visit, Etihad will automatically credit you 3,000 bonus Etihad Guest Miles.

Flying from Abu Dhabi to the U.S.

One unique thing about flying from Zayed International Airport to the U.S. is that you will go through American immigration and customs before departing Abu Dhabi. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is located in the airport (the only one in the Middle East) and is available for most flights going to the U.S. It can mean extra time at the airport, but it makes it much quicker when you land back home.

Booking and check-in process

Online check-in opens 30 hours ahead of departure, which is earlier than a lot of other airlines. Because it’s not exactly 1 day ahead of the flight, it’s helpful to set an alarm for when check-in opens, especially if you still need to pick a seat. It’s recommended to check in online using Etihad’s website or app so you can get a digital boarding pass.

If you can’t check in online or it won’t issue a digital boarding pass, don’t panic. Some passengers may need visa or passport checks before they can get a boarding pass. If that happens, try to arrive at the airport a little bit earlier than usual to ensure you can properly check in. I was once bumped off an Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi simply because I checked in later than many of the other passengers.

Etihad’s self-service bag drop is located in Zayed International Airport Terminal A. In other international airports, passengers should head to one of the check-in desks to drop off luggage.

Those who want to visit Abu Dhabi, but aren’t going there as part of a trip can book a free stop-over in the city when traveling on Etihad. Use the reservations page online to select a multi-city trip or select one of the airline’s stop-over packages, which include hotels.

Seat selection and fees

In economy class, you can select your seat for free if you book a Comfort or Deluxe fare, or if you have a silver, gold or platinum status with Etihad. Passengers can pick a seat during the booking process, on Etihad’s website with your reservation number, or during online check-in. I recommend picking a seat in advance since Etihad can’t guarantee that everyone on the same booking will get to sit together.

Those who can’t select a seat for free can opt to pay for one. The fees vary based on the cabin and type of seat. Seats in the economy cabin are divided into forward zone, middle zone and rear zone. The more forward the seat, the more expensive the fee.

Checked baggage policy and fees

The checked bag policy on Etihad is somewhat convoluted and can be confusing if you need to bring along extra luggage. All passengers are allocated one checked bag, unless you opt for a hand luggage-only fare. The weight of your checked bag is based on your cabin and fare, which means you can bring more if you pay more.

Extra bags are charged by weight for certain destinations and by flat fee for others. Look for the chart on Etihad’s website to see the charges for your destination. A big consideration is that Etihad charges significantly less if you pay for your additional bags online before check in opens. It can be as much as 65 % more at the airport. Status members can use Etihad Guest miles to pay for bags.

Boarding process

Boarding on Etihad is done by class rather than group or zone. It begins with first class travelers and moves down the fare classes from there. Passengers can pay extra for priority boarding. Economy boarding tends to be a free-for-all since there are no groups, so consider adding that priority option if you want to board early. Status members on Etihad also have access to priority boarding.