Etihad has revealed the seating plan for its upcoming Airbus A330-900neos, including a small first class cabin and a familiar staggered business class seat.
@ PhilBob -- Hah, well, it's not in service yet! And my general goal is to fly every airline in the world in first class that offers that class of service, and not necessarily every single first class aircraft type out there. That being said, up until this point I do think I've flown every first class "variant" out there.
This one should much easier and cheaper to book than either Starlux or Air CIV though!
I like that Etihad are going down this route as it makes taking F from start to beginning far more likely
@Lucky Does it count toward your first class check list only if you’ve visited the carrier’s flagship first class lounge (provided it has one and likely only accessible for long- or mid-haul flights) on at least one of the first class variants? I’m guessing that is part of your completionist’s criteria. (By the way, I always thought it was “completist,” but I guess both terms are valid.)
Commercially logical given the cabin would be configured that way anyway, and the hard product difference between first and business has been shrinking for years. It is a bit sad though, that intercontinental first class has been reduced to 'the business class bulkhead seat with better service'...
Well once you go lieflat there nothing more to go on hard product anymore.
A back breaking 270 recliner?
Bigger TV, more space, more privacy? Exactly what business+ is already offering.
Was gonna say, from a hard product focus, this really is just Business+ (if they wanted to differentiate further, it should go from 1-2-1 to 1-1-1, and have a true divider between cabins.)
They are the cheapo ME3.
Don't expect much. Their oldest and newest product is miles apart.
Just like EK they are cashing out on their reputation and bling soft products.
JX could have at least a partial partition. It doesn't look like something that would break the bank.
So basically like Cathay's Aria Studio.
Yeah, you don't need to fancy a door, but the shell of the seat extending towards the armrest would've been nice for privacy when either working or resting.
Singapore's Regional Business can use one; not really a fan of the shell wrapping around by the windows which blocks your view.
I think that's what I meant! Starlux's A330neo Business Class is basically like Cathay's Cirrus product as the shell doesn't fully wrap around the seat.
Or are you referring to something else?
We might be thinking of different parts of the same thing (or maybe not? Lol).
I was thinking that this new Etihad cabin has a partial partition that hangs above the ceiling right above the F middle seats (3rd photo). And it offers a nicer separation than what you see in Starlux F, where the middle seats look rather exposed despite having a slightly taller shell than the J seats. So Starlux could have added something like that.
Fair play! I thought you meant the shell of the seat and talking about their A330neo Business Class.
The walls of their First Class are slightly taller than Business, so I don't think another partition would've helped nor would've been a wise expense.
Hi, @lucky. I’m much more likely to try A330neo first class on Etihad than on Air Côte d’Ivoire. I’m sure you’ll get on both well before most anyone else. 🙂
I know the focus here is often on the new products, but given your decades of reviewing F and J products, I wonder if you might cover the top five or ten first class that have been retired (like the old A380 Singapore Suites or the 747-400 Lufthansa seat and bed combo).
Hope you’ve been enjoying your time in JX F and in Japan. Looking forward to your initial-impressions/thoughts review.
What is the obsession with airlines putting wide F seats in and then taking up 40% of that width with a useless sideboard? Why have all that real estate that could make a fabulous bed (akin to JALs) and then waste it all.
The “sideboard” is where the legs of the person in the row behind go. So on ground level this space is not available for the respective seat, except as a sideboard or something similar.
"...is where the legs of the person in the row behind go"
That's how it is in J. In F your seat spans 3 windows and your cabin has enough space for your feet without needing to tuck them up in a cubby hole.
The 'F' seat here is basically just the J seat with a modified ottoman and screen, a bigger seat and smaller sideboard would require totally redesigning the suite with a custom seat and presumably cost a lot more. This is not a proper F product designed from the ground up at the end of the day.
Just realised that when I was looking at the pics again. Hence more of a business+ (same seat but no cubby hole). It is a shame that they are going this direction but I suppose it is better than no F at all. If it is priced accordingly it isn't too bad but is basically just the same as GF/WY J in terms of available space for a bed/seat.
Seems just as fine as any product out there. The ground experience and soft product are the differentiating factors now...
I think the fact Etihad is not going to be able to charge full F prices for this seat clearly disproves that.
I find what a lot of cash F buyers are paying extra $$$$ for is privacy and cabin separation more than an amenity kit and some mediocre airplane food, so this product seems to fail there.
All business class is predictable, just in different color combinations.
I agree, what more can you do?! Aside from CMF, all you can really do is improved comfort & storage options, tech and that's pretty much it!
I'm still waiting for curtains in lieu of doors.
At least with First, there's still more you can do to revolutionize the experience. The Peacock Suites concept is the perfect example.
Ben, reading this article left me with one important question and I am curious about your answer. I agree with you, Etihad sure tries to sell a business plus hard product as first class. But so does Starlux. And so does Cotê d'Ivoire.
That brings me to my question: where exactly do you draw the line between Business and First Class? Is it the hard product? Is it the soft product? Is it the pricing? I would bet - and carefully reading your reviews back me up - that the business class experience on Etihad is better than the first class experience on Air India or TAAG Angola. Which makes a First Class truly a First Class?