Anyone have any update on the etihad first lounge in Abu Dhabi?

[Jobeki111]

Hi guys
im heading through here in feb for my honeymoon and excited to experience the a380 first apartment!! I saw the ausbt article with first lounge opening early next year. Does anyone have any updates? thanks guys!

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Hi guys
im heading through here in feb for my honeymoon and excited to experience the a380 first apartment!! I saw the ausbt article with first lounge opening early next year. Does anyone have any updates? thanks guys!

Not looking good for you sadly Jobeki111.

"Etihad’s customer relations department has confirmed to me today in an email, that there is no immediate plans to re-open the First Class lounge, and the lounge is unlikely to open before the middle to late 2016 at the earliest."

Update On Etihad's New First Class Lounge Abu Dhabi - One Mile at a Time

 

[ChrisFlyer]

What's the point in even opening the lounge then if Etihad is moving to the new terminal in mid-late 2017? They'll have inconvenienced first class flyers for (years?) to get maybe 12 months of wear out of the new lounge before they'll need to open another one...

 

[Fiches Mouser]

What's the point in even opening the lounge then if Etihad is moving to the new terminal in mid-late 2017? They'll have inconvenienced first class flyers for (years?) to get maybe 12 months of wear out of the new lounge before they'll need to open another one...

What are the odds that this is actually their strategy?

Do we know if they've even started construction on an F lounge? If that's the expected opening date, then I can't imagine so.

 

[RooFlyer]

I went through AUH a few months ago and was quite happy with the 'premium' lounge. I recall it as the original First Class lounge I visited several years back.

Some pics and comments on the AUH lounge here.

And, for the OP, some pics and comment on the A380 First Apartment here

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

I went through AUH a few months ago and was quite happy with the 'premium' lounge. I recall it as the original First Class lounge I visited several years back.

Some pics and comments on the AUH lounge here.

And, for the OP, some pics and comment on the A380 First Apartment here

RooFlyer did you spend any time in Abu Dhabi or Dubai? I will be there next year flying f on etihad and will have a 4 day stop over on the way to Europe. What are some of the must see things? Any tips?

 

[RooFlyer]

RooFlyer did you spend any time in Abu Dhabi or Dubai? I will be there next year flying f on etihad and will have a 4 day stop over on the way to Europe. What are some of the must see things? Any tips?

I wrote with pics about some of the things I did in Dubai in this trip report . A trip into the desert is very popular - 4WD, with dinner set up there; with 4 days I'd think it was a 'must do'. Also the Burj Khalifa at night (do both night and day - book ahead).

For some reason Abu Dhabi hasn't interested me as much as Dubai or Doha.

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

I wrote with pics about some of the things I did in Dubai in this trip report . A trip into the desert is very popular - 4WD, with dinner set up there; with 4 days I'd think it was a 'must do'. Also the Burj Khalifa at night (do both night and day - book ahead).

For some reason Abu Dhabi hasn't interested me as much as Dubai or Doha.

Thanks i'll take a look

 

[darraghk]

This is encouraging, it seemed as if it wouldn't open until the new terminal was ready.

https://twitter.com/EtihadAirways/status/694040013428797440

 

[Fiches Mouser]

This is encouraging, it seemed as if it wouldn't open until the new terminal was ready.

https://twitter.com/EtihadAirways/status/694040013428797440

View attachment 64305

Exciting! Does seem like a huge waste though, considering the new Midfield Terminal Building opens (but will inevitably be delayed) in 2017.

And did anyone know this was happening?

At Midfield, there will be eight gates that will accommodate A380s and premium guests will go directly from the lounge to the flight.

(via Abu Dhabi Airport's Midfield Terminal on track to open in 2017 | The National)

Awesome news!

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Also, this DYKWIA made me laugh: https://twitter.com/EatStayFly/status/694073874934140928

 

[DavidFlynn]

FYI: Etihad's today confirmed that yes, Platinum members of Virgin Australia's Velocity frequent flyer scheme will have access to the new First Class lounge (Virgin Australia wasn't cited on the list of eligible partner airline Platinums in the press release t'other day).

 

[NZflygirl]

FYI: Etihad's today confirmed that yes, Platinum members of Virgin Australia's Velocity frequent flyer scheme will have access to the new First Class lounge (Virgin Australia wasn't cited on the list of eligible partner airline Platinums in the press release t'other day).

Thats great news. (Not that I'm platinum). I do feel for WP not being able to access the SQ silver kris lounge in SIN, so was hoping EY would show some true partnership commitment and let them in to EY F and they have

 

[Fiches Mouser]

FYI: Etihad's today confirmed that yes, Platinum members of Virgin Australia's Velocity frequent flyer scheme will have access to the new First Class lounge (Virgin Australia wasn't cited on the list of eligible partner airline Platinums in the press release t'other day).

That is absolutely awesome, thanks for confirming that David. Almost, almost enough to make me fly EY in Y or J to Europe, rather than SQ.

 

[DavidFlynn]

That is absolutely awesome, thanks for confirming that David. Almost, almost enough to make me fly EY in Y or J to Europe, rather than SQ.

Yeah, SQ J is pretty hard to best, especially on the 777-300ERs.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Yeah, SQ J is pretty hard to best, especially on the 777-300ERs.

Ridiculous statement: I was sitting in SQ F (777) the other day, looking back into J and thinking just how good it is. Comes very close to F, and is sometimes (god forbid) preferable if you don't need F's super-attentive service.

EY J misses the mark in a lot of ways, but is closing the gap. This fixes a big issue (even though it has only been temporary) I have with VA WP.

 

[DavidFlynn]

Ridiculous statement: I was sitting in SQ F (777) the other day, looking back into J and thinking just how good it is. Comes very close to F, and is sometimes (god forbid) preferable if you don't need F's super-attentive service.

Not all at ridiculous: I recently did SQ F SIN-LHR then returned in J and had exactly the same thoughts. Spent some time in J just contemplating how 'different' it was to F, and pondering the where and why of those differences. Came away thinking that SQ J could well pass for F on some airlines.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Not all at ridiculous: I recently did SQ F SIN-LHR then returned in J and had exactly the same thoughts. Spent some time in J just contemplating how 'different' it was to F, and pondering the where and why of those differences. Came away thinking that SQ J could well pass for F on some airlines.

It's really like F lite. F without the pampering.

 

[Jousams]

It's really like F lite. F without the pampering.

When I flew the new SQ J last time there was a problem with the rear aerobridge so everyone boarded through the front. The amount of people who thought the mini J cabin (I was in row 11) was F was really funny. There were also quite a few why "would you pay for first when business is like this" comments.

 

[IainF]

Also, this DYKWIA made me laugh: https://twitter.com/EatStayFly/status/694073874934140928

That is the man formerly known as "Boss Reggie" or "Shaun Bryan".
Some people have previously questioned his statements about his travel.
A google search of his name brings up things about his background that are a little different to what he claims.