Passengers for whom the flight experience holds an allure must try traveling in Etihad Airways first class, where luxury meets elegance. Since the meaning of traveling in Etihad first class goes beyond the basic premium facilities such as priority service and baggage allowance, passengers also get access to lounges at the airport, upscaling their overall experience of luxurious traveling.
It won’t be wrong to say that lounge access is the essence of Etihad’s first class, because a chunk of high-class travelers book first class in Etihad just to have some fun and a great time in the Etihad Airways first class lounge before embarking on a journey.
If you are also headstrong to book Etihad first class flights to make the most of its premium services and lounge access, you should first learn which aircraft types Etihad offers this premium seating facility and on which routes, since Etihad’s first class experiences vary based on aircraft type and route.
Does Etihad Have First Class?
Yes, Etihad Airways offers the sumptuous first-class seating primarily on international routes. However, Etihad is also working on featuring first class seats on its aircraft that usually operate on shorter and domestic routes. For the time being, Etihad has first class only on international flights for select routes and wider aircraft such as Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
As said, the availability of Etihad first class depends on the route and aircraft type. Thus, it is important to have knowledge of routes where Etihad flies first class and which aircraft types are used on those select routes.
1. Where Does Etihad Fly First Class?
Etihad Airlines first class flights are also popular for their vast network of routes, which has been consistently expanded every year since Etihad started operating its first-class flights from Abu Dhabi to Toronto recently. Now, the airline is working on kicking off another route with a destination in North America, from Abu Dhabi to Charlotte, NC.
In contrast, the popular routes where Etihad flies first class flights are to destinations New York and London. Here we have given an overview of how often Etihad operates its first class flights on its international routes.
Etihad First Class Routes |
Number of Flights Operating |
Abu Dhabi (AUH) – London (LHR) |
Two Flights Per Day |
Abu Dhabi (AUH) – New York (JFK) |
Regular Flights |
Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Paris (CDG) |
Minimum One Flight A Day |
Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Toronto (YYZ) |
Minimum One Flight A Day |
Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Casablanca (CMN) |
Minimum One Flight A Day |
Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Geneva (GVA) |
Minimum One Flight A Day |
Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) |
Minimum One Flight A Day |
2. Does The Etihad A380 Have First Class?
Yes, Etihad A380, which is popular for offering the possible best experience of premium traveling, has a first-class facility. In fact, it offers two products of first-class seating: The Apartment and The Residence. Check out the facilities and amenities offered on the Etihad A380 first class products.
- The Apartment: The Apartment suite gives a lavish experience of traveling on Etihad first class A380 because passengers get generous vanity space and personal wardrobe despite having a separate armchair and an ottoman that transforms into a 7-feet long bed. Generally, it is located on the upper deck of the Etihad Airways A380 fleet. A total of nine First Class Apartment suites, rich in amenities like mini-bar, onboard shower, and personalized service, equipped with sliding doors, are available on an A380 flight.
- The Residence: Etihad’s First Class The Residence suite is even more luxurious and quite special because it is the one and only first-class suite in the world to offer a three-room suite on a passenger flight. Etihad’s The Residence features everything from a living room to a bathroom with onboard shower access that a home usually has. Moreover, passengers also get a dedicated lounge on the flight.
3. Does Etihad Have First Class On 787?
Etihad Boeing 787 Dreamliners do offer first class seating, but not on all routes and aircraft. Typically, Etihad 787 first class is available on long routes where its 787-9 variant operates, while its 787-10 variant does not have Etihad first class 787 seating.
Instead, it has business class seats. Etihad Airways first class suite on Etihad first class 787 flight is in a 1-2-1 seat configuration, comes with a sliding door for privacy and an ottoman that lies flat to turn into a bed, featuring a large high-definition screen for entertainment. Other amenities like personal minibar, gourmet dining, and designer loungewear are also offered.
What Does Etihad Airways First Class Include?
Needless to mention, Etihad Airways has one of the best first class facilities in the world, thanks to the flagship Etihad Airways first class suite. It may sound fascinating, but it is true that first class passengers of Etihad start receiving the VIP treatment right after booking the ticket or entering the airport, as the airline takes complete responsibility to make the journey extremely cozy and convenient.
Its amenities are something that can not be shrugged off, as they include benefits like private seats, gourmet dining, complimentary chauffeur service, in-flight entertainment, lounge access, and more, striking a chord with travelers who prefer top-class comfort and convenience rather than being cramped on economy seats. Here is the breakdown of amenities on Etihad first-class flights to elevate the experience.
- Access to Lounge: After booking first class Etihad Airways, passengers automatically qualify for access to premium lounges at the airport. If there is a time in the flight’s departure, passengers can unwind and enjoy the relaxation areas and a refreshing shower after accessing the lounge.
- Chef-inspired Meals: Etihad’s first class premium experience is incomplete without fine dining with à la carte menu and premium wines. Moreover, the concerned passengers can also enjoy Halal non-veg dishes paired with non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. Special dietary can also be pre-ordered on first class flights of Etihad.
- Spacious Seat: Etihad Airways first class seats play a vital role in making the first class experience comfortable to an extent with their feature of lie-flat to transform into beds, providing a 7-feet-long area to sleep peacefully. Moreover, its layout of a 1-1 configuration allows direct access to the aisle. The seats in first class are equipped with a large drawer for shoes, armrests, an ottoman, and also give access to a lavatory, gourmet dining, and a minibar.
- Private Suites: It is exceptional that Etihad Airways has made it possible to offer a private suite of three rooms on the flight. This marks an incredible achievement to bestow the most luxurious experience with an edge of privacy.
- Leisure Bedding: The bedding facility of Etihad on first class adds a layer of leisure to the traveling experience, as it offers cotton sheets, pillows, a plush throw blanket, and a duvet for warmth
- Chauffeur Transportation: The complimentary chauffeur service of Etihad Airways from and to the airport marks a big difference between its first class and other airlines’ first class experiences.
- Entertainment: In-flight entertainment has been enhanced in Etihad first class with noise-cancelling headphones and a large TV screen with access to movies, TV shows, music, and games.
- Priority Services: So that first class passengers feel special, they are provided with priority services at the airport with dedicated check-in counters for a faster process, expedited security check, and boarding the flight before other class passengers, allowing them to settle down with enough time before departure.
- Onboard Shower: The onboard shower is one of the rare first-class amenities offered by a few airlines in the world, and Etihad is one of them. The shower facility is absolutely free for First-Class passengers, but it has a 5-minute water limit. In addition, the crew takes care of fresh towels, heated floors, and a Bulgari amenity kit for skincare as part of the shower facility.
- Baggage Allowance: Passengers often complain about baggage limit when they can not keep all of their important stuff while traveling but it is not with Etihad first class passengers who enjoy the free baggage allowance of 64 KG or 140 pounds and up to checked baggage with a weight limit of 32 kg or 70 pound for each and linear dimension under 70x50x38cm.
- Special Amenity Kit: For the utmost care of first class passengers’ lifestyle, Etihad provides a special amenity kit bag designed by the renowned brand Giorgio Armani, containing ESPA skincare products, slippers, sleepwear, hairdryer, and more.
How Much Is A First Class Ticket On Etihad?
If you are also seeking an answer to Etihad Airways first class ticket price, you must know that there is a specific pre-defined cost for the first class booking because it entirely depends on various factors that influence the Etihad Airways first class price. The factors that decide the Etihad Airways first class cost are:
- Route: The most crucial factor in deciding the Etihad Airways first class cost is the route. The longer the route, the higher the price. Thus, popular destinations and origins of Etihad first class flights heavily influence its price.
- Booking Time: Since advance booking is always cheaper than booking closer to the departure date, booking time also significantly influences the price.
- Availability: If there are only a few first class seats left, there is a chance that the Etihad first class ticket price will be high.
- Travel Schedule: The price of Etihad first class flights often increases during the peak times. Thus, the travel schedule also holds potential to influence the flight price.
Although there is no certain amount listed for the price of Etihad first class, an average reckoning of Etihad Apartment booking on long-distance round-trip flights lies between $12000 and $15000.
How Much Is First Class On Etihad?
Here are the estimated prices of an Etihad first class ticket for some popular routes.
Etihad First Class Flight Route |
Approx Price (One-Way) |
Approx Price (Round-Trip) |
Abu Dhabi (AUH) – London (LHR) |
$9,000 |
$14,000 |
Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Singapore (SIN) |
$4,500 |
$7,000 |
Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Geneva (GVA) |
$7,000 |
$11,000 |
Abu Dhabi (AUH) – New York (JFK) |
$9,500 |
$15,000 |
How To Book Etihad First Class?
Passengers can now easily book an Etihad first class flight using any of the methods, including via the official website, through a travel agent, or using miles. By allowing these methods, Etihad Airways has added a string to its bow. Without further ado, start following your preferred method’s steps to get your Etihad first class ticket.
1. How To Book Etihad First Class via Website?
- Open URL of Etihad Airways’ website on your preferred browser.
- Tap on the “Book” button and start the reservation process.
- Select the “Flights” option.
- Input your travel details, including Departure, Destination, Number of passengers, and Date.
- Choose cabin class as First Class.
- Click on the “Continue” button to search for flights.
- Pick a flight from the available options for your itinerary.
- Make payment for the Etihad Airways first class ticket amount to confirm your reservation.
2. How To Book Etihad First Class Through Travel Agent?
- Make a phone call to AwareTravels on its toll-free number +1 (800) 419-9920.
- Once you get connected, share your travel requirements.
- Provide your correct details to the travel agent.
- Review all reservation details before confirming.
- Make a payment for the amount quoted for the Etihad first class ticket booking.
3. How To Book Etihad First Class With Miles?
- Navigate to the official website of Etihad.
- Now enter details of your journey, such as route and date.
- Choose First Class as your class of service to book Etihad Airways first class.
- After searching for the flights, now find flight options labeled as “Guest First” award space.
- Now, sign in to your Etihad Guest account to redeem your earned miles to book the flight.
How To Get Upgraded To First Class On Etihad?
Though there are multiple ways to get upgraded to first class on Etihad, the most effective way to do so is bidding for upgrade or using elite status of Etihad Guest program. However, upgrades to first class on Etihad are always subject to availability. If no first class suite is available on the flight, there is no way to get upgraded but if there is, you can use the following methods.
1. Using Miles
- Log in to your Etihad Guest account.
- Select “Upgrade Now” or access Manage My Booking.
- Enter your reservation number and last name.
- Choose a First Class cabin for an upgrade.
- Select miles in the payment method.
- Confirm the payment, and so does the upgrade to Etihad first class.
2. Bidding
- If you have received an invitation from Etihad through an email, you can bid for upgrade up to 4 hours before departure.
- Make a bid and submit it online through the Manage Your Booking section.
- The higher you bid, the higher the chance of getting upgraded to first class on Etihad.
- Use your credit card or Etihad Guest miles to pay the amount.
- If your bid qualifies for upgrade, the bidding amount will be debited from your card or account.
- You will need to collect your upgraded boarding pass during check-in at the airport or online.
3. At The Airport
- Passengers can inquire about upgrades at the airport’s check-in counter.
- If upgrade to first class is available and possible, passengers can directly purchase upgrade by paying through their debit card, credit card, or Etihad Gues Miles.
Conclusion
Purchasing an Etihad Airways First Class ticket is nothing short of splurging, but it is equally worth it. Its free premium services, which include chauffeur transport, à la carte menu dining, lounge access, onboard shower, priority boarding, baggage allowance, and more, are a testament to its worthiness.
This blog has accentuated the amenities offered in the Etihad Airways First Class suite and the process of booking and upgrading the Etihad first class flight ticket, but if you need further assistance, call +1 (800) 419-9920.
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4. Get United Airlines First Class Flight Tickets and Benefits
5. Know the Price of Emirates Airlines First Class Flight
FAQ’s
Yes, Etihad first class lounge upgrade at AUH is worth it because it offers a luxurious and relaxing pre-flight experience along with various other premium amenities, including a la carte dining, spa massage, cigar bar, and more.
Etihad A380 first class has a total of 9 Apartment Suites.
The cost of an Etihad First Class Apartment booking depends on route, demand, and time, but a general overview is $6,000 per passenger.
Etihad first class booking cost between $4,500 and $15,000, depending on the specific route, time of booking, and demand.
Points required for Etihad first class booking depend primarily on the distance and route of the flight. Generally, 40,000 miles are required for an Etihad first class flight with a distance up to 500 miles.
The most expensive ticket on Etihad Airways is for The Residence Suite, which features three rooms, and it may cost around $70,000.
Access to Etihad first class lounge is given to the passengers of Etihad First Class cabin and Etihad Guest members with Platinum status.
On Etihad first class Apartments, the best seats are said to be 4A and 4K because they are close to windows and facing forward.
The best seat on Etihad A380 is considered to be 4A and 4K due to their location near the window and forward-facing.
A ticket of Emirates A380 first class can go up to $40,000 or even more starting from a few thousand Dollars.
Yes, Etihad first class has showers to offer a refreshing traveling experience. Is Etihad First Class Lounge upgrade AUH worth it?
How many first class seats on Etihad A380?
How much does Etihad first class Apartment cost?
How much does Etihad first class cost?
How many points for first class on Etihad?
What is the most expensive Etihad ticket?
Who can use the Etihad First Class lounge?
What is the best seat on Etihad first class?
What is the best first class seat on Etihad A380?
How much does Emirates A380 first class cost?
Does Etihad first class have showers?