Abu Dhabi Terminal A - Etihad and other lounges

[clifford]

I'm hoping to give that lounge a miss when I'm transiting AUH next week, as I'm VA Plat and hopefully will be in the First Class Lounge for an hour or two on my way to GVA.

Haven't been to AUH since the new lounge opened, but the old first class lounge was very nice indeed.

 

[SYD]

The previous J lounge was notoriously bad for shower wait times also. Gees, you’d think they would have taken the opportunity to improve things.

The old F lounge did have a buzzer system - so hopefully they’ve at least carried that over?

 

[LDN via BNE]

It's a nice enough lounge, but as a flagship lounge in a new terminal, it seems like such an afterthought.

Incredibly long, oddly narrow, with certain sections only accessible by taking escalators on one side to the top floor, and then descending escalators on the far side of the lounge.

 

[Benjifliesnorth]

I definitely broke a sweat running from one side to another one level to another and then finding out I was stuck at a dead end bc one section of it is the beginning or the adjoining F lounge and guarded by a few staff baracading the lift entrance and access.

The upper levels were very very empty with no one in sight vs the ground levels where the buffet/bar is…. with all that space you’d think they could have put in a few more self service shower rooms like Emirates in Dubai

 

[bernardblack]

I'm hoping to give that lounge a miss when I'm transiting AUH next week, as I'm VA Plat and hopefully will be in the First Class Lounge for an hour or two on my way to GVA.

Samesies! I am going through en route SIN-xAUH-CDG next week, and with about a week left on my Velocity Platinum before I soft-land to Gold. So (barring a last-minute equipment swap) I'll get to sample the 35K business seat, the 781 business seat, and the AUH First Lounge.

 

[Kazb61]

We found the business lounge to be super overcrowded , and toilet facilities really inadequate for the number of people crowded in. From our first look at it , think the old one was superior space and food wise . Etihad are really making the choice to fly with another carrier easier !!

 

[SCM]

I was there earlier this year in Feb/Mar, it was not yet so crowded (at least upper levels), and I found the top level buffet and bar absolutely stunning quality, and in general the quality of everything was beyond anything I've see in APAC or EU.

However I could already foresee the problems they would have with toilets and showers once the lounge had more patrons, I think it's quite silly what they've done in terms of these facilities.

SQ J lounge bar and food maybe not quite as fancy, but at least you will never be waiting for a toilet or have a waittime to use shower longer than 30mins.

 

[Blinky]

I’m flying Etihad in March, so it shouldn’t be too busy. From the YouTubes I’ve seen of the lounges, they look sensational. Singapore has been the best lounge I’ve been to, but this could easily be better. I am flying J with a Platinum card, so will definitely checkout the F lounge.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I've been through AUH a dozen times over the past year.
New terminal feels nice and new, and if you have access to F check-in/F-Lounge, then things are great.
No queues, no waiting.

Without access to F facilities...I'd probably fly another airline.

 

[SCM]

I've been through AUH a dozen times over the past year.
New terminal feels nice and new, and if you have access to F check-in/F-Lounge, then things are great.
No queues, no waiting.

Without access to F facilities...I'd probably fly another airline.

I'll be at the F lounge in a bit over a month, could you answer a simple Q - are there any sleeping-related facilities there? I read that the F lounge doesn't have much, and you have to go to the J lounge to access many things.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I'll be at the F lounge in a bit over a month, could you answer a simple Q - are there any sleeping-related facilities there? I read that the F lounge doesn't have much, and you have to go to the J lounge to access many things.

F lounge is a quiet space. If you walk right through the lounge to the back there are some sorta-kinda-semi private chairs with ottomans that I've seen people sleep on. If you're in AUH for more than 6 hours and need a bed - I'd book a hotel.

 

[papeto]

Went to the new J lounge in December last year and June this year as a Velocity Gold. On both occasions got a shower, so must have been one of the lucky ones. Food and beverage (esp the champagne) is really good and puts Qantas Sydney lounge to shame. Decor and interior was a bit old school I thought and they could have done it better. Overall the new terminal is a massive improvement other the old one and I would consider transiting through AUH again. Without access to a lounge there is a substantial number of F&B options.

 

[acumen2020]

We had two visits here in May, one of about 4 hours, the other 2 hours. The lounge is quite impressive, although the 3 levels can be a bit coughbersome and only a tiny reception desk upon entry, so no sense of 'arrival'. Ground floor has many excellent, segmented dining options, level 3 is a little quieter with an extensive bar, buffet and games room. It's a very long, narrow space though, but open and airy. We witnessed it go from quiet to busy. When it's quiet, there are too many staff walking the floor looking bored. Could not access a shower either time, without over an hour wait near the showers! Overall, an excellent lounge in an impressive terminal. The ground experience and Etihad Chauffeur for F & J is a very pleasant experience.

 

[Benjifliesnorth]

Note: Velocity Gold members departing from Abu Dhabi with EY in economy will utilise the Etihad Al Dhabi lounge Terminal 1

Oh no. When did Velocity sneak in this change for gold members flying EY in Y? They will now be using the secondary lounge that Etihad Guest Silver members use to (but they subsequently get access to the newly refreshed Business Lounge now).

 

[ChrisFlyer]

View attachment 402282

Note: Velocity Gold members departing from Abu Dhabi with EY in economy will utilise the Etihad Al Dhabi lounge Terminal 1

Oh no. When did Velocity sneak in this change for gold members flying EY in Y? They will now be using the secondary lounge that Etihad Guest Silver members use to (but they subsequently get access to the newly refreshed Business Lounge now).

It's an old rule that they haven't updated on paper, but Velocity Gold works for access to the 'real' Etihad business class lounge in the new terminal. I don't know how you would even be able to get over to that old terminal if flying Etihad from the new terminal. VA should probably update its website...

 

[clifford]

It's an old rule that they haven't updated on paper, but Velocity Gold works for access to the 'real' Etihad business class lounge in the new terminal. I don't know how you would even be able to get over to that old terminal if flying Etihad from the new terminal. VA should probably update its website...

Well EY certainly grants VA Plats access to the new First lounge at AUH. I know as I was there a couple of weeks ago. So no problems for Golds to access the new Business lounge there.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Well EY certainly grants VA Plats access to the new First lounge at AUH. I know as I was there a couple of weeks ago. So no problems for Golds to access the new Business lounge there.

Indeed, and I can corroborate that first-hand. A contact of mine was recently flying EY through AUH with VA Gold and I asked them to confirm the lounge situation for me, given I've also now dropped down to Gold. They had no issues accessing the EY business lounge with VA Gold flying EY economy.

 

[AFF Editor]

I visited the Etihad First Lounge last week and put together this review:

The Best Lounge You Can Access with Velocity Status

Access to the excellent Etihad Airways First Class Lounge in Abu Dhabi, with its brilliant service, would have to be one of the top perks of Virgin Australia Platinum status.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[TMP]

It really is a calm oasis - lucky enough to have been there a few times and I really appreciate how quiet and private it is.

 

[SCM]

Just transiting through Abu Dhabi for a nice 14 hours, thought I'd post this up here instead of making a new thread.

Arrived just a hair after midnight. I had a 6 hour booking at the AUHotel, so went there straight away. Don't make the mistake of lining on on the ground level, take the escalator up to the actual check-in desk which is much bigger.

The AUHotel was perfect in all aspects for a quick sleep in transit. It's nothing fancy for sure - but it has enough space, and all the facilities you could want inside the room. Had a great shower, the room aircon goes down to an amazing 5 degrees which I have never even seen before (perfect if you're always hot like me). It has a very comfy bed, very nice pillows - basically perfect for a sleep when you're tired.

6 hours is all I needed to feel very refreshed, they do a call about 5-10 minutes after your checkout time to see if you want to extend or otherwise remind you to vamoose, which I promptly did.

Went to the first class lounge (VA plat, otherwise flying in J), no issue at all getting in as they promptly checked my ticket and no questions asked. After taking the elevator up, reception staff member gives me a brief tour and explanation. I immediately feel under-dressed compared to the few, but very clearly wealthy people there, but no matter - you won't get any funny looks from other patrons nor comments from staff, who are all very professional and very nice indeed.

The lounge has very few people at all times for it's size - by design I am sure. Indeed, it feels roomy and spacious, really quite nice. The service is great, and there are plenty of staff members to bring you anything you want, in any part of the lounge, at any time. There is a restaurant section, and also a relatively quick rotating selection of plate dishes you can take as well at anytime, but there seems to also be a much larger selection of alacarte menu items than is printed on the menu - just be sure to ask for what you like, and they will promptly make it.

At the very end of the lounge is the quiet sleep pod area. You will want to have eyeshades if you utilise these (I guess they are likely to also have them to give out), but otherwise they are semi-private and at the quietest end of the lounge.

Most of the toilets have showers in them as well - so you don't have to queue for the business lounge showers (assuming there is a queue, at the time I was here, there wasn't - but I have seen it in the past). I don't think I ever encountered a single person in the toilets the entire time I was here as well - just again, to drive the point home that this is a very uncrowded experience.

Of course the first lounge is also connected to the business lounge, so you can just walk over if you want to go to the bar to check out the whisky selection for example. I walked between them many times without issue, even as reception staff rotated.

Make no mistake, this is not the giant fancy first class lounge Emirates has as a contrary example.

However I have to say, this is a truely pleasant, elevated lounge experience - if you're after a definitely not crowded, relaxing, quiet and elegant experience with stellar service, amenities and food, then this is definitely it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Flying internationally, I think this is a truly out of this world benefit of VA plat - especially if you fly to Europe a lot like myself, and if you take long transits. I could very happily work here for a whole day.