By the time we landed we really just wanted to go straight to the hotel and sightsee, since we only had one night in Abu Dhabi (and Ford and Matt both hadn't been to Abu Dhabi before), but first we wanted to check out the arrivals lounge (it opened in September 2014), which I haven't…
Continue reading: Review: Etihad Airways Arrivals Lounge Abu Dhabi
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
For Etihad, yes as that's where you get your Chauffeur. Most others no, I would rather get to my destination as quickly as i can.
Depending on the time it can be nice to grab a quick sandwich there before driving to Dubai, or wrap it up and take it to go. The last thing i want is to drive an hour, have to check-in, and then realize i am now hungry....
Used an arrivals lounge once at LHR. Was in town for ~24 hours for work. Landed at 7am and needed a place to shower before a noon meeting. Was also a great place to relax while I waited on a colleague who was flying in from Chicago.
For someone going right to the office its a great addition. For someone ready to start a vacation, I agree there's not much of a point.
Since I'll be landing late here in Oct, I think i'll skip it and head directly to the hotel but I'm glad you reviewed it. At least I know the option exists!
I think the current EY livery is gorgeous as well, though I think it looks even better on the 787. Hopefully you'll review F on that aircraft at some point - I thought it was great and very intimate. Also curious to see the livery on the A350 that they're getting delivery of, either this or next year.
I find arrivals lounges in London particularly useful since most flights originating from the US East coast arrive in the early morning but hotel check-in isn't until the afternoon. Shower, breakfast, massage, read the local paper, perhaps a nap, then Heathrow Express into the city. Perfect way to start a vacation.
If you are connecting to another flight at AUH in less than 24, can you use the arrival lounge, get a wet shave, then later go to the First Class departure lounge and get another spa treatment, such as a 15 min massage?
"It’s the first “real” arrivals lounge operated by a Gulf carrier" -- nope. It's the only Arrivals Lounge in the UAE, as Emirates shuttered their own arrivals lounge in Dubai a long time ago. But Qatar offers a dedicated arrivals lounge in Doha.
This was the only disappointment on my JFK AUH trip. I figured l would get a shave in the arrivals lounge so as not to waste my 5 minutes of shower water. Upon checking in to the lounge, l was told the barber was at lunch. Really? Several of us guys from the JFK flight were turned away as a result. I thought it very poor scheduling.
A bit off-topic, but if I am arriving in AUH at 1am and continuing to MEL at 10pm same day I am not entitled to use the chauffeur service? I booked this via AA. It is two awards, but I think this is booked on one ticket. Am I correct?
Cheers
Thenewone
the lounge was great. We used it coming in from Almaty. We were there around 9:30pm. I enjoyed it. Etihad is a fantastic airline and do everything first class!
Flight from GVA arrived at 05:40, so this was an awesome place to shower, shave, and have a relaxing breakfast before taking the chauffeured car to the hotel. Looking forward to our next visi .
I have also used the arrivals lounge in a couple of occasions when arriving to AUH. Maybe even the same barber. It is always nice to freshen up if you have anything but a hotel room or your own house to look forward to, so arrival lounges make sense for a limited audience
I am flying Business LHR to AUH on the 19th November. This will be my first middle eastern airway and its business class already looks considerably better than anything offered by BA or Virgin or just about anybody else.
This is a privately funded flight to see my sister who lives about 20 minutes from the airport and while it is not one of the apartments or the residence I am still excited about all of the plaudits and reviews that I have read.
Just a heads up. I had paid F ticket on EY - BKK-AUH-JFK. (J on BKK-AUH sector as no F offered). Booked to have 18 hrs in AUH to see city and play golf as part of legal thru ticket which EY issued. Came of flight to use Arrivals Lounge and was denied. Very poor experience with lounge dragon. Policy she kept saying. So I could eat and drink and drink in F lounge as transit passenger but not take a shower in Arrivals Lounge. Really. They need to up game on front facing staff.