Review: Etihad Airways First Class Apartments A380 (JFK-AUH)

To kick off my 10-day odyssey around the world in pursuit of one million SAS EuroBonus miles, I needed to position from the US to Asia. Originally, I was planning to fly Starlux Airlines from the West Coast to Taipei but, through what I believe to have been an act of divine intervention by the beneficent award flight gods, a first class award ticket on Etihad’s A380 became available on the day I needed it.

No less fortuitously, Etihad was offering a 40% bonus on Citi ThankYou Points transferred to its frequent flyer program. Without a second’s hesitation, I transferred the required points and booked a seat.

And boy oh boy, I’m glad I did. This flight was superb. The star of the show was the apartment itself which, after ten years in service, still stands head and shoulders above most of its competitors. The service was excellent and so was the food and, while the drinks were nothing to write home about, they complemented the meal well enough.

There’s lots more to go over, so let’s get into the review.

How I Booked My Etihad Airways First Class Ticket

I paid 200,000 Etihad Guest Miles and $510 in taxes and fees for a one-way ticket from New York JFK to Abu Dhabi. Since there was a 40% transfer bonus between Citi ThankYou and Etihad Guest, I transferred 145,000 ThankYou Points and, seconds later, saw 203,000 Etihad Guest Miles appear in my account.

145,000 points and $510 isn’t cheap, but considering the relative scarcity of these award seats and the fact that the equivalent cash ticket retails for more than $9,000 one way and $15,000 round trip, I felt good about the redemption.

My flight details were as follows:

• EY2
• New York (JFK) – Abu Dhabi (AUH)
• Departure: 1:40 PM, November 4
• Arrival: 11:25 AM, November 5
• Scheduled Flight Time: 12h 45m
• First Class, Seat 4A

Check-In, Boarding & Takeoff

I landed at New York JFK around 10:30 AM after an early morning Delta flight from Chicago O’Hare. That gave me two hours before boarding that I was able to spend in the succinctly named Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club with Etihad Airways. Review forthcoming.

At 12:35, I made my way to gate A6 and was treated to partially obstructed views of our beautiful A380. 

One of the reasons I like JFK’s Terminal 4 is the sheer number of wide body jets on display. I passed an Emirates A380, Singapore A350-900ULR, and Xiamen 787-9 (not pictured).

I also got a side-by-side view of Air India’s lovely old livery (in the back) against its utterly insipid and charmless new livery (up front). If Air India paid more than the $20/month premium subscription it’d cost for ChatGTP to come up with this, they were robbed.

When it came time to board, I noticed that whereas in the past I’ve seen A380s with two or even three jet bridges, here we had just one. That meant all 400 or so passengers were boarding on the same jet bridge, which, I was told, delayed us leaving by a few minutes.

On the other hand, the lower-level jet bridge allowed me to ascend one of the A380’s staircases which I get an unreasonably big kick out of.

Upon getting settled into seat 4A, I was offered a welcome drink, and opted for a carrot juice, which arrived a few minutes later with a ramekin of dates and a hot towel.

At 2 PM, we pushed back from the gate and taxied onto the runway. We taxied, and taxied, and taxied, and at 2:36 PM, began our runway roll. The A380 is so astonishingly well sound insulated, I could hear a flight attendant on the other side of the cabin clear her throat mid takeoff. Man, I love this plane.

Etihad Airways First Class Apartments Cabin & Seats

It’s hard to overstate just how visually arresting Etihad’s A380 first class cabin is. That’s partly because it’s exceptionally uncommon to see a 1-1 configuration on a widebody aircraft—it caused me somewhat of a doubletake, even though I knew what to expect walking on.

It’s also because the space looks nothing like 99% of other first class cabins, and more closely resembles office cubicles than a commercial aircraft.

The cabin comprises nine first class suites that Etihad terms “apartments” (which, considering their size, is not just marketing doublespeak) as well as the famous Residence, a much larger suite with a proper bed and ensuite shower.

I was seated in 4A which, along with 4K, are the best seats in the cabin. The layout on these A380s is a little confusing, with seats alternating between forward facing and rear facing, and between closer to the aisle and closer to the window. Here’s my personal ranking in order of most to least desirable, which prioritizes window proximity and forward-facing orientation:

1. 4A and 4K – Forward-facing seats close to the windows (my preferred seat type)
2. 3A and 3K – Rear-facing seats close to the windows (also preferred but rear-facing)
3. 2C and 2H – Forward-facing seats close to the aisle (next best choice but aisle-facing)
4. 1H, 5C, and 5H – Rear-facing seats close to the aisle (least preferred due to rear-facing and aisle proximity)

Of course, whichever seat you end up in, you’re in for a treat, as every apartment is equally gargantuan, containing a plush leather seat opposite a 6’7” long bench (with two additional seatbelts) that converts to a bed.

The seat is 30 inches wide and infinitely adjustable, so I had no issues lounging comfortably for several hours. 

Just below the right armrest are tactile seat control buttons. 

Underneath the hinged top of the right armrest is a small storage well and a touch screen with more granular seat controls, including those that adjust cushion firmness and toggle a massage function, as well as open or close the seat’s three windows.

On the wall immediately above the armrest is a headphone jack, HDMI port, and two USB 3 ports. Just above the ports it’s a touchscreen IFE remote that can be unlatched. 

Further to the right of the seat is a push-to-open swiveling storage compartment where you’ll find Etihad’s headphones and immediately below this compartment is a universal power outlet. Below that is a small push-to-open drawer, ideally sized for an iPad.

Below the drawer is a push-to-open minibar, containing Sprite, Coke, and Voss sparkling and still water.

Further to the right around shoulder level is a light up vanity.

There’s also a small surface that can be extended to hold any beauty products one might need while making use of the vanity.

Below the vanity is a push-to-open drawer where a feather pillow is stored. It can easily accommodate other items as well.

Under the bench and running its entire length is even more storage space, large enough to accommodate at least three carry-on bags. 

Around halfway along the bench is a second touchscreen IFE remote. It’s covered by the bench but, when converted to a bed, is easily accessible and allows the user to control the IFE screen from the bed.

Further along the bench is another set of controls. These allow the user to swing out the IFE screen such that it’s viewable from the bed, adjust the apartments second lamp, and, if they’re flying with a companion, lower the partition between seats 4A and 3A or 4K and 3K. 

Keep in mind that when I mention the partition, I’m referring to the relatively small panel adjacent to the bench in each seat. I can’t see lowering it being of much practical use beyond giving companion travelers the ability to hold hands when they’re both in their respective beds.

We haven’t yet touched on the doors yet, so let’s quickly discuss them. When this product was released in 2014, the 5 and a half foot doors at the entrance to each apartment offered virtually unprecedented privacy. Nowadays, they’re not quite as remarkable as they once were, but they still provide good privacy. 

Adjacent to the doors is a narrow coat closet containing a wood hanger. 

Across from the doors and to the left of the seat are three windows and a lamp with three brightness levels.

The windows have two shades, one blackout and the other sheer, which lets in a softer light when closed.

An enormous tray table slides out from the left armrest and is more than large enough to accommodate a second diner.

Here’s my 13-inch laptop on it for reference.

Across from the seat is a 24-inch IFE touchscreen. It’s relatively crisp, but not particularly responsive to touch. That’s not a huge issue since, given its distance from the seat, it’s generally more convenient to use the remote.

Phew. Now that we’ve covered the details, I have two overall thoughts on this seat.

First, it looks really, really good, despite its age. I’ve seen 18-month-old products in worse shape than this 10-year-old seat.

Second, the space is, somehow, both thoughtfully laid out and poorly utilized. Small details, like an additional headphone jack on the wall to make watching TV from the bed easier, or copious amounts of storage that blend seamlessly into the space make the space feel very well thought out. On the other hand, the fact that, despite the suite’s size, it contains a very firm bed that’s no bigger than what you’ll find in much smaller seats, or the fact that these seats lack individual air vents, makes me feel like the designers should’ve thought harder about how best to organize space.

Besides these critiques, I have nothing but praise for Etihad’s apartments. Despite their age, they still outmatch nearly every other first class product out there.

Amenities

Shortly after getting to my seat, I was presented Etihad’s beautiful Giorgio Armani-branded amenity kit.

The brown pebbled leatherette folio includes a compact toothbrush and toothpaste, an eye mask, and a pair of dark flight. There were a pair of reusable silicon earplugs, which I far prefer to the disposable ones you get on most flights. A pair of Armani-Etihad-branded slippers and viscose-polyester pajamas were also provided. I don’t like synthetic fabrics, and though these pajamas were soft, they also felt staticky, clingy, and hot.

Beauty products were provided by luxury skincare brand ESPA and included a small tube of moisturizer and lip balm, as well as a bottle of facial mist and a bottle of something called “Pulse Point Oil” which, according to ESPA, is meant to “add an instant sense of calm” to one’s day. It certainly smelled nice, though I’m still waiting on that sense of calm to take hold.

Entertainment & Wi-Fi

The core of Etihad’s inflight entertainment is a 24-inch touchscreen. As I mentioned above, it’s not very responsive–unsurprisingly given its age–though the picture is crisp.

The screen swivels out such that it can be viewed from the bed. 

Each seat also comes with noise cancelling headphones. They’re plasticky and tinny, so bring your own if you have. 

Etihad’s E-BOX entertainment system is generally pretty good. There’s a broad selection of movies and TV shows, as well as live TV and radio.

The inflight map is fine, but I object to the intermittent ads shown every 15 seconds or so.

The tail and nose camera are cool at first glance, but have the resolution of a potato and are thus not particularly enjoyable to watch for extended periods.

Wi-Fi on Etihad’s A380s is provided using Panasonic hardware. I was getting nearly 20 Mbps down throughout the flight, which is extremely impressive on this long a journey, and service only cut out once that I noticed.

As a first class passenger, I was given a voucher entitling me to free internet throughout the flight, but other passengers can pay $4.99 for a messaging pass or $24.99 for a surfing pass, both with no data limits. On shorter flights like those between Abu Dhabi and London, internet costs $2.99 and $9.99, respectively. 

Lunch Service

Food and drink menus were waiting at my seat when I boarded, and, not having eaten since the night before, I hungrily scanned the options seconds after settling in.

The food options looked great. The drink options were respectable but not quite what I’d expect on a great first class flight. 2016 Billecart-Salmon champagne, for example, is far nicer than anything I’d drink at home, but falls short of the Taittinger, Krug, Dom Perignon, Armand de Brignac, or, of course, Salon that you’ll find in other top tier first class cabins. The wine list, too, was respectable, but doesn’t offer the sort of over-the-top indulgences being poured by regional rivals Emirates and Qatar.

Nonetheless, I greatly looked forward to my meal: harira soup to start, Chilean sea bass as a main, and a cheese plate to round things out. I also ordered a glass of 2020 Domaine des Senechaux from Chateauneuf-du-Pape and a glass of 2018 Devillard Le Renard Pouilly-Fuisse, a white wine from Burgundy.

About 15 minutes after takeoff, a flight attendant stopped by to drop off an aperitivo sans alcohol of olives, warm nuts, and wasabi peas.

A few minutes later, my tray table was covered in a white tablecloth and two warm rolls, along with butter, olive oil, salt and pepper shakers, cutlery, and glasses were set down.

Moments later, I was poured a glass of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. It was too cold initially but tasted much nicer after a few minutes.

The harira soup, a North African tomato-based soup, was hearty, warming, and richly spiced.

I quickly drunk the soup and the wine and was soon offered a palate cleanser of yuzu sorbet.

Before my main was served, the flight attend stopped by to pour me a glass of 2018 Devillard Le Renard Pouilly-Fuisse.

My Chilean sea bass arrived, accompanied by leek, asparagus, and a nondescript green mash. Fish on a plane is a gamble, but this one paid off. Delicate, moist, and well-seasoned.

My cheese plate in lieu of dessert was average. The menu didn’t specify the cheeses on offer and the flight attendant didn’t know either, but they tasted like cheddar, Emmental, Brie or Camembert, and a goat cheese that looked a lot like Humboldt Fog. Aside from the goat cheese, I was unimpressed.

Bed

By the time I’d finished dinner, it was around 5 PM in New York. Hardly bed time, but since I wanted to get on Middle East time, I decided to attempt a nap. When I returned from changing into my Etihad-Armani pajamas, the bench in my apartment had been transformed into an 80.5″ bed. 

The sheets are crisp cotton and the duvet is a thin layer of down. Both were comfortable. I quickly settled in and continued watching my movie (extra points to anyone who can figure out what it was).

At the risk of coming off unbearably entitled, let me briefly explain why I don’t think this bed is very good.

First, it’s extremely firm. Like, sleeping bag on the floor of your friend’s basement firm. Second, it should be bigger. Yes, it’s more or less the same size as other first class beds. But given how much more room Etihad had to play with compared to other first class seats, they could’ve made this bed far more substantial. 

I just don’t understand the case for a separate seat and bed. Are passengers frequently switching back and forth between the two during flight? Are they demanding bedtime stories from flight attendants, and do the flight attendants need somewhere to sit while they deliver them?

Bathrooms

There are two bathrooms for nine first class passengers, one of which contains a shower, which I’ll review in the next section. Both lavatories were kept visually clean throughout the flight, though they did smell slightly but noticeably of sewage.

The lavatory without a shower is much roomier than the shower suite, and even has a fold-down seat on which to put clothes or toiletries. 

Soaps, moisturizing lotion, and a room mist are all provided by ESPA.

Shower

The shower suite needs to be reserved ahead of time but given the fact that each passenger is allotted 5 minutes of water and sessions tend not to last more than 20 minutes or so, I didn’t have any trouble finding a suitable slot close to landing.

The suite was prepped for me and upon entry there was a bathmat and towel, as well as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and a shower cap waiting for me.

The shower itself isn’t huge, but should accommodate most people. If you’re over 6’2, you might have to slouch a bit.

A helpful light-up gauge near the shower knob lets you know how much hot water you have left.

In case you manage to shampoo and condition your hair in the allotted five minutes, you’ll find a hair dryer tucked away above the sink.

Though you won’t get the spaciousness, the heated floors, or the numerous amenities that you’ll find on Emirates’ A380, the Etihad shower does beat its competition in one critical area: water pressure.

Obviously I’m drawing this conclusion after only three experiences with Emirates’ showers and just one shower on Etihad’s A380, but the difference was so stark I think it’s worth mentioning.

Lounge

The lounge, dubbed “The Lobby,” is located on the A380’s second deck, between business and first class. It comprises to semicircular couches facing a coffee table, and there’s a liquor menu from which lounge visitors can order.

Behind one of the couches is a cabinet displaying alcoholic beverages (though by the time I took pictures of the lounge, drinks had already been removed in preparation for landing) and a countertop with a small basket of snacks.

At the rear of the lounge is an IFE screen playing live TV.

I haven’t yet come across an onboard lounge that actually feels like a good use of space. Etihad’s A380 lounge is no exception. It’s stylish enough, but it feels more like a small waiting area than a true lounge, with limited seating and little privacy.

Since there isn’t an actual bar here, I can’t imagine many people using the space to relax or socialize. The search continues for an onboard lounge that offers any value beyond the novelty of being onboard a plane.

Service

This flight had a few of the warmest, most attentive flight attendants I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Every interaction was seamlessly orchestrated, with my needs were anticipated in real-time: drink refills arrived precisely as my glass emptied, meals were served with impeccable timing, and plates were cleared just as I finished eating.

Landing in Abu Dhabi

We began our descent into a very sunny Abu Dhabi at 11:30 AM local time, touched down just after 11:50, and pulled up to the gate 10 minutes later.

Conclusion

Etihad’s First Class Apartment still ranks as one of the most spacious and distinctive first-class products in the skies. A few things—namely the firm bed, the lack of individual air vents, and a drink selection that didn’t wow—were minor drawbacks, but they didn’t detract substantially from the overall experience. The service was outstanding, and the apartment still feels impressively modern for a 10-year-old product. All in all, it was a fantastic way to kick off my journey.