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This report covers my two recent flights en route from Abu Dhabi to Belgrade:
– Etihad Airways First Class from Abu Dhabi to Geneva
– SWISS Business Class from Zurich to Belgrade
Abu Dhabi to Geneva
Operated by one of the few Etihad 787-9s still equipped with first class (with 8 spacious suites), the flight was one of the best I have ever experienced. The three cabin crew (one Romanian, one Brazilian and one Tunisian) working in first class were well behaved, formal and professional, yet interacting with and anticipating any passenger needs. After boarding, I was escorted to my seat and offered a glass of Charles Heidsieck 2006 rosé wine along with traditional Arabic coffee and dates. We offer champagne and wine refills throughout the flight. Before take-off, the cabin manager (a beautiful South African lady) personally greeted the 3 first-class passengers.
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| Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi First Class Lounge |
First class and seats are amazing, very spacious and elegant. Even with the doors closed for complete privacy, the seats don’t feel claustrophobic. The seat/mattress was comfortable when fully down and the two large pillows provided were so soft I wanted to take them home.
The food is very good: the menu is not that extensive, but the quality of each dish is comparable to a fine dining restaurant. Good points for the beef tenderloin, perfectly cooked, juicy and tender, honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. The omelet I had for breakfast was also really good. When flying in Etihad First Class, you can order from the onboard menu at any time during the flight. Strangely, there was no in-flight chef on this flight.
The pajamas were supplied and designed by local UAE brand A Friend Of Mine: Inspired by traditional Emirati clothing, I found these pajamas to be very soft and comfortable. Acqua di Parma products are included in the travel kit.
In my opinion, this first class offering is more elegant than what Emirates offers. Some improvements:
No amenities provided in toilets; WiFi quality and speed could be better (200MB free for first passengers). Champagne might be enhanced (Etihad Airways offers Charles Heidsieck 2006, including Brut and Rosé, while Singapore Airlines, for example, offers Krug in First)
Other than that, it was a near perfect flight. The First Class Lounge & SPA at Abu Dhabi Airport deserves a mention, beautifully designed and worth spending at least 2 hours to fully enjoy the dining/upscale restaurant style experience.
Zurich to Belgrade
The flight was operated by a fully loaded A220-100. The food during the flight was ok and the crew was friendly and professional. Other than that, it’s been a very peaceful ride.
Share your travel experience by submitting a trip report to exyu@exyuaviation.com
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