Arguably the pinnacle of commercial aviation is The Residence, which debuted in December 2014, and is exclusively available on Etihad’s A380s. This is a three room suite at the very front of the upper deck, which has a living room, bedroom, and private bathroom with shower. On top of that, the suite comes with a…
Continue reading: BOOKED: I’m Flying The Etihad Residence To Sydney!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
@ Leo -- There's no expiration for the fare as of now, though it could always be pulled.
How many miles will you get out this? Which FFS will you be crediting them to?
@ ringingup -- I can credit at the rate of 400% to either Etihad or American (though on American it unfortunately doesn't count towards status).
is this why you keep posting about how much work you do on-board flights, for proof in an audit about deducting 100% of the fare?
Would etihad even let a gay couple share the residence bed?
In general, I understand that flying in a bed hundreds of people have boinked in is no different than a hotel room, but still. For some reason it just seems dirtier on a plane
Nice work lucky! Enjoy the trip. I'm sure this comment thread will shortly be filled with jealous haters complaining about spending $7000 on basically one flight. Just ignore them.
Jealous of, and excited for you! Can't wait to read the review. And here I was thinking that my next international trip to London on Qantas/Singapore Suites in first was exciting.
It's great that Etihad P fares started earning miles in AAdvantage up through mid-last year they did not earn any miles at all!
Does this mean an overnight in Cairo? If so, have you considered going into the city and giving the new St Regis a try? Frankly, I would be more excited for a St Regis review; though, I will be curious to read your opinion as to whether the Residence experience is actually significantly superior to that offered by the Apartment.
@ Ben -- Is it that The Residence doesn't comfortably sleep two people or that you wouldn't be comfortable sharing it with Ford? Do you expect that anyone (airline, other customers, government authorities) would have an issue if the Queen and I shared the Residence? Does the living room have a bed that the second person could use, similar to The Apartments?
If we booked for two people and both included our AA numbers, would we both earn 400% mileage? Given that we have 4.1 million AA miles, the value of incremental AA miles for us is about zero, so I'm not sure that it really matters....
@ Gene -- I don't think anyone would have an issue with it. The problem is that there's only a double bed, and it likes it might even be smaller than that. It's my understanding that the living room couch doesn't turn into a bed, which I find rather strange. So if you're traveling with someone it almost seems more comfortable to have two Apartments, so both people get a bed. And yes, I think both people would earn full miles. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
@ Imperator -- I had no clue there was a St. Regis. I'll be sure to check it out in the future. Unfortunately I'm visiting before it opens.
Great work and research to make it happen for a cheaper price point. Looking forward to your review
"So I combined an outbound in The Residence with a return in business class out of Thailand (back to Cairo). "
Lucky: How did you do this ? with the multi city ? Have a great trip !
@ Mike S. -- I had to book with a travel agent to get that, and it had to be a travel agent who could issue tickets in Egypt. So that was a further challenge.
You could also credit the miles to Air Berlin (OneWorld). You'll get 400%, and they do count towards status.
This is AWESOME!!! If there's award availability in F for that AUH-SYD flight, hopefully Ford can snag it so both of you can be on the same flight. I'm almost certain EY would be ok if you guest him to your Residence since he's already on the upper deck in F.
Looking forward to your review!
Awesome for you! Flew in First Class Apartment on EY last year and it was a great experience.
How will you be connecting from Sydney to Thailand? It would be a good opprotunity to try out Thai's a350 Business class
@ Hugh B -- I booked the return for way later this year, so am not taking that right away. My hope after getting to Sydney is to review Virgin Australia business class to LAX.
I still can't work out your routing. Is it CAI-AUH-SYD then BKK-AUH-CAI? Are you flying the return legs?
Niiice. Any chance you might start doing instagram stories to get us a more live look at things? Cheers
Fly via Mumbai please! I would like to see a review of the GVK lounge on the domestic side. Without exaggeration, I believe it's the best domestic FF/business class lounge in the world.
Lucky, I read this everyday, and this is one of the most exciting times I've opened a post. Very excited, I know you always document everything in detail, but with this being such an incredible experience, any chance of an even more in-depth review? Like a whole trip report just for the one flight?
Keep up the great work, and much love from London,
Matt
Awesome deal Lucky!
Too bad I'm based in the US so it doesn't make sense for me to go do it.
Oh my goodness you are finally doing this
How much time will you be able to spend in the Residence lounge?
And will you request specific movie or food for the flight?
Thank you!
I had a recent overnight flight on Etihad in the first/apartments. Flight attendant accidentally smashed a glass on the floor - shards everywhere. First was full, but the Residence was empty. And they refused to move me into it preferring to lay down some blankets on the floor and hoping I wouldn't cut my feet. (Couldn't even downgrade me to business as that was full too). They really protect the Residence and make some poor health and safety decisions doing so. Customer service has since failed to respond to me. Hope you get better treatment than I got.
@ Kayeung3 -- I'll certainly arrive at the airport early! 🙂 They haven't contacted me yet, so I'm curious to see what they offer in terms of letting me customize the experience.
Would amex travel have been able to ticket this for you? Presumably one of their travel offices in the middle east can issue out of Cairo? Just curious to see if you could have paid with MR and gotten the 50% off!
@ Dan C -- It's a good question, and I'm not 100% sure. I'm not that confident that they'd be able to use Egypt as the point of sale, though I certainly could be wrong. I also didn't have enough Amex points to test that out.
Hi Lucky,
Great to hear this news. And I agree with Scott above. Would love to see you start using Instagram stories on your trips. The frequent, informal pictures are always fun. Separate but related... do you have a personal snapchat you use only with friends?
Matt
@ Matt -- Thanks, I'll see what I can do! And nope, don't use Snapchat (technically I have an account because I signed up at some point, but don't think I've ever sent a snap).
Ah perfect, I thought you might be keen to tie in the new Virgin Australia J class in with this one. I'll be taking it for the first time in May, and it's meant to be great.
They're also flying the configuration BNE-LAX, MEL-LAX and MEL-HKG if I'm not mistaken - if you can't find award space on the SYD-LAX leg.
Also worth testing the new Qantas J seat transcon to Perth or Asia, if you want to go Aussie mad.
Given this is how you earn your living isn't this a legitimate business expense?
This is absolutely awesome, for two reasons!! Firstly, reviewing such a massively premium product without having to be comped by the airline. Secondly, finding such a cost-effective (I use the term loosely...) way of doing it is a major achievement.
I can't wait for the detailed trip reports!
Appreciate the transparency and that you're still writing for us commoners 😉 . Sick to my stomach reading a different blogger's $32K review on it.
@ Evan -- Of course not, haven't you been reading the comments section? I'm a trust fund baby and don't work. 😉
This is super cool. I know the focus of your site is miles/points, but it's also really fun to experience these unusual products through your reviews. Looking forward to it!!
Hi Lucky ,
Love you and your amazing blog!
Maybe it's time to add on a quick run to PPT or / and IPC?
Many Aussies would love to see a successful award booking from AA award booking from Australia to PPT IPC. If anyone could pull it off it would be you.
Also if I can offer you a personalised tour of Melbourne I would be blessed if your accepted☺️. (P.S, I am in a wheelchair so you can run away if you think I am some sort of wierdo / nutjob).
Thanks for all the info and remember where only running from ourselves♥️.
Perhaps you can do Kuwait 777-300 First?
Lots of Love,
Michael
My partner and I will be in MEL in October. We're too old to run, so you'd be stuck with us if you gave us a tour! HINT HINT HINT... 🙂 🙂 🙂
How about trying a new hotel in Sydney rather than the miles and points favourite, the Hyatt?
To be fair most of the choices aren't great and in need of renovation however the Raddison Blu was renovated last year and I think is the best value in town.
The Blue in Wooloomooloo has recently become an Ovolo (used to be Taj) so SPG affiliated and whilst I haven't been there since it switched it's a pretty unique property (former warf). Rooms on the botanic gardens side are the pick and the walk through the botanic gardens to the Opera house is one of the great pleasures of Sydney.
For Android, the play store for Snap Chat says it's rated for Teen.
And looking at it, see why.
Have enough accounts, will pass on that.
Will read your reviews though.
Looking forward to your review of Etihad's business class product, as much as your review of The Residence. This will be your first time trying both, right?
Ben..vielleicht machst du eine Ausnahme und machst dieses Mal ein 2-3min Video
The youngest member of boarding area has beaten you to the punch on both of those products!
Hope you manage the Virgin SYD-LAX business class flight. Thinking of flying MEL-LAX with them next year and would love a review!!
So cool Lucky! Just two things:
1) Would make things more clear if you included in the text the final routes and also the fact that you could only do this because a travel agent in Egypt helped you book it (us noobs would kill ourselves trying to do this same thing using Etihad's website)
2) YES PLEASE use Snapchat or InstagramStories, would LOVE to live vicariously through your travels.
Cheers mate!
I'm curious if the Residence ever flies empty? Is it in extremely high demand?
Did you book a stopover in AUH? If you're flying in the residence you do get two free nights in a suite that retails at over 1k per night?
@lucky @ Mike S. — I had to book with a travel agent to get that, and it had to be a travel agent who could issue tickets in Egypt. So that was a further challenge.
Could we know which travel agent you use for this service? Thanks
@lucky: Really glad you booked this and will review it, especially independently and not as an airline freebie. Given the recent cutbacks in the First product, especially in the AUH lounge, I can't wait for a fair review. And I hope your butler's cute. 😉
I haven't seen anyone mention it before, but is it possible for my +1 on the residence to use an apartment for at least part of the flight?
Just had a look at the availability for the residence and oddly while the residence is available every day from the 25/6/17 to 3/7/17 ( the time I looked ) from Sydney to Cairo when booked as part of a Cairo to Sydney and then return Sydney to Cairo around the prices you mentioned. However when you try and book the Sydney to Cairo flight in the residence on each day from the 25/6/17 to 3/7/17 they are showing as sold out. Is there any reason as to why they are not willing to sell the residence from Sydney to Cairo on the same days as it is showing as available as part of a return itinerary?
This is absolutely the most hedonistic venture I have seen. 7:000 USD, and out of Cairo???
You should try out the PIA Premier experience to LHR and see how it adds up compared to their normal business class that supposedly is "like a first class experience"
very cool, can't wait for your trip and the report that will follow. curious how the Residence would price out of Colombo to JFK.
Good luck with booking virgin Aus Syd to lax- I've flown the coast to coast service on the a330 (same seat) and it was really amazing
Hello!
Your latest articles say that you're in Abu Dhabi. I'm in Abu Dhabi as well and traveling soon and would really like to meet you in person since I'm so fascinated by your blogs and especially the latest article about how you became a travel blogger.
Have fun on your trip to Sydney!
Hi Lucky,
Great find and coverage on your experience. Thanks for the insight. One question though.
How did you manage to find the deal? Did you search individually from all major hubs to Sydney on the Residence?
Love your blog
Which travel agent did you book through in Egypt? Hard to find who is reputable?