Anyone actually done Residence/Apartments?

[SOPOOR]

Anyone actually done one of these?

Have seen heaps of youtube videos on them but last i looked it was something like 2,000,000 miles to redeem

Would love to try but not at 2m miles/points

 

[RooFlyer]

I did Apartment a few years ago.

Nice, but a couple of issues such that I wouldn't recommend it.

1) bed was rather hard - amazing when its a separate bed, not a converted chair
2) No personal air vents, so with door closed it got very warm.

Otherwise great!

 

[jase05]

Anyone actually done one of these?

Have seen heaps of youtube videos on them but last i looked it was something like 2,000,000 miles to redeem

Would love to try but not at 2m miles/points

Sadly no but I almost pulled the trigger on it last year. EY had BKK-AUH-LHR return for $6900 in J for the BKK legs and F for the LHR legs. Once you have F booked you can upgrade to Residence for another $3500.
Apparently though the residence gets no extra service and gets the F meals and none of the extras so whilst nice to try it I don’t think you get the full experience of what it once was

 

[liamsal]

Did SYD-JFK return in 2018 on points and was fantastic. Highlights were definitely the lounge in AUH and the service. Honestly couldn’t fault anything.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I flew both Residences & Apartments in 2023.

Residence is the same as normal apartments first class except:
- Your own private bathroom+shower onboard.
- Your own private double bed which is separate to your F seat/bed. This bed is a proper bed like in a hotel. Separate TV in the bedroom.
- Someone will escort you to/from the aircraft (e.g., you can be first to board).
- You get a private lounge within the AUH first-class lounge dedicated to you.
- You receive both a bathrobe and pyjamas onboard (first only gets PJs).

If you're flying solo - EK F is better than EY F, but if you're travelling with someone you'll have much more fun on Etihad.

For ~$3500 AUD extra above and beyond the first class ticket, it's a great deal to check the box.
Note that it's an ancillary add-on -- so you won't earn extra miles for Residence.

Put into perspective, to compare - if EK F is 10/10 and EY F is 9/10 - QF would be 6/10.
(Neither EK nor EY are 10/10 - just a want to show how QF compares vs them).