Etihad B787-9 First Class IAD-AUH
Etihad has had a tumultuous past few years. Their A380 revolutionary “Apartment” and “Residence” set a bar so high few others would even attempt to match it. However financial woes brought about by malinvestment in other airlines along the Covid era led to a significant reduction in Etihad services including retirement of the A380. First class was all but eliminated across their network except for a few key routes on B787’s which included a single US route out of IAD, Washington D.C. Ever since my first Etiahd experience in the “Apartment” I’ve wanted to fly sitting backwards in first class on their 787.
The trip had been planned. Etihad had just received their first A350-1000 and it was flying out of my home town airport ORD. I was booked and was excited to go. Then a week or so before Etihad released award space on the IAD-AUD route WITH a United business class connection. A quick decision, ditch A350 J for B787 F.
The trip to IAD was on a United 787-8. Nice seat, nice ride, nothing served, well maybe water.
Etihad had closed it’s lounge in IAD for Covid and contracted with Virgin Airways to use it’s lounge. While not the Virgin Club in JFK, it was useful to spend a few hours watching aircraft taxi in at the International Terminal.
Food and drink is ordered by a QR code menu at each table. The prices were awesome.
Sure I have some time before EY130.
Excitement time.
It’s always kind of surreal when you walk into a cabin for the first time after seeing pictures of and wondering what it is like. While certainly not as impressive as the first class cabin on their A380, this B787 cabin is somewhat unique. In fact there are only a handful of carriers that have an international first class cabin on a B787; British Airways, Etihad, Oman and a couple of Chinese carriers. Ofcourse the “widebody” B787 and A350 just aren’t as spacicous as the real widebody B747 and A380, even without overhead storage bins. Completely different feel.
While the cabin was fairly stark, the washrooms were stylish as on the A380.
Home for 13 hours.
And yes, the reverse view is fabulous.
As was the TV view.
The pod is well designed including a storage compartment under the tv and ottoman.
And even a little bling.
This is a fully enclosed suite that provided the best rest I have ever had on an aircraft. Yes the skies were smooth this flight, but I can’t recall sleeping as long or as deep on a plane before as on this flight.
Sweet dreams…nice touch. Quality bedding, mattress pad, duvet and multiple pillows.
But in order to get this tired I needed an awesome meal. And boy was it. Here’s the menu.
Nuts, olives and these green crunchy peppercorn things and…
I skipped champagne and went straight to my good stuff. A fabulous Bordeaux.
Can’t think of a better way to spend an evening.
Time to get down to business.
Finally, more than 3 blinis. Beautiful classic presentation sans vodka which was considered.
Arabic Meze was next which probably wasn’t my favorite but certainly plentiful.
I ordered the Beef Filet with a hunk of butter, and was I glad I did. It included a hunk of perfectly cooked beef as well.
Pretty sure I had a dessert as well but think I was in a coma by this point so no photo.
Let me not forget the amenities on this flight which included an AcQua di Parma kit with typical contents as well as a new Covid safe travel kit that included masks and other santizing stuff. Masks were not requried on this flight, at least the 2 fabulous FAs did not enforce it. First class received free Wi-Fi which worked well. And a box of chocolates before bed.
Yes it’s time to eat again. Breakfast was served, even though it would be about 5:30PM when we landed in Abu Dhabi shortly. It was a substantial and delicious breakfast.
Arriving in Abu Dhabi offered some photos of the surrounding area as well as the original aircraft I planned to fly to Abu Dhabi and one that was totally unexpected.
This was a fabulous flight, checking all the boxes. The Flight Attendants were great, very attentive and fun. We talked about points and flying first class. I was alone up front this flight. So I was well taken care of. This will be a repeat at some point!
