For the next portion of my Iceland to The Residence via Cambodia trip, it was time to fly Etihad Airways’ Airbus A321LR first class on the 6hr40min flight from Phnom Penh Techo (KTI) to Abu Dhabi (AUH).
Continue reading: Review: Etihad First Class Airbus A321LR (KTI-AUH)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Wow looks really nice. Was there any issues at the Abu Dhabi Airport with the situation there or was it pretty much business as usual?
An interesting thought came after I read this review, I really think the price tag needs to be in high consideration when you compare products, things can be labelled the same thing, but have entirely different packaging and costs.
For example, this EY F product feels like how BA "First" is more of a business+ product than a full-fledged offering as well. Given BA F pricing is very aggressively low, often I see it as low as $5k for US to LHR, it doesn't command the same premiums that AF LP or SQ F do. Although it is worth nothing that EY's widebody F product and Apartments/Residence are more similar to AF/SQ level F products than BA's.
And because of that I think it's logical to compare it within the same price context. At the end of the day, consumers don't pick solely on branding/marketing of first vs business, they're really focused on the pricing and comparing options in that sense.
I flew this aircraft in Business a few weeks ago. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by the hard product.
The seat is actually not as thin as you think (as did I). I checked and the seat is built like a semi-circle with thinner side but thicker middle section, sort of like convex lens.
It is actually more spacious for sleeping than most wide body aircraft out there, especially for side sleepers due to the wide space near your hip/knee (you can see from the photos) and large feet compartment.
Also, I found out that I already got the miles credit of the flight I was flying on and could use 1200 miles for WiFi which was unexpectedly nice.
The only thing which felt weird was the very wide angle during take off and landing but that's going to be case for any herringbone (or reverse) in a narrow body.
It sure was amusing to watch the Economy passengers go through the cabin and wonder looking around in amazement (I presume because of the narrow body plane they didn't expect it). Children were very excited and one boy said to his parents that he will only fly in these "seats" next time haha.
A really interesting review Ben, thank you so much. All that product on the Airbus looks to have set the benchmark exceptionally high. It will be interesting to see if EY retains the number one World Ranking position this year too.
CORRECTION …. I’m half asleep presently. I was thinking about Qatar and not Etihad at the time, silly me …. 🙁
Flew business on an Etihad 321, service was great but the seats really need some more padding.
It's interesting how premium cabins, for the first stage of my miles-and-points obsessed life (say, 2011-2019) seemed like they could only get better. Then they plateaued, with better tech and DOORS being the only real improvements.
Now to some degree they're declining because we're seeing the proliferation of the A321LR/A321XLR. And it's probably a net win on a route like Phnom Penh to Abu Dhabi that would never have sustained a 777, but on MAD-IAD and many others it's a net loss.
There is something about this that doesn't feel right. Yes, the otoman is great, there are sliding doors,,blah. blah. But, there is not even a curtain that separates FC from BC. There is no dedicated FC bathroom. Caviar or not, this does not feel like real FC It is FC "on the cheap".
Au contrare, my fine feathered friend, for I, seeing as I am a retiree and on no "particular schedule" will go quite happily, darlink.
I see this is Guest Aero… Pardon, I meant ‘operating’ (as in, grounded), not mere passenger ‘choice’ whether or not to book/fly, etc. Have you been asleep the last week+? Your PM is sending fighter jets… Cyprus, much?
Ahh, OJ ‘Diamond’ Aero… phew! (Your impersonator is above.) Will QR keep #1 if they basically have to cease operations?
Dear Ben,
Carsten Spohr wants to introduce an ultra-Light tariff, no cabin bag at all.
“Impersonation is the highest form of flattery”.
Once again Ben, is allowing a fake account impersonator to misappropriate my login. My only official account is as the AeroB13a ‘Diamond’. I will continue to report the fake profile until Ben, puts measures in place to stop this practice.
Surely Ben, realises that it completely devalues any comments which article readers may wish to post. One is minded to conclude that Ben, is allowing the practice to deliberately increase his click count revenue.
How does an airline devote itself to religion? People have beliefs. Things don't. An airline is most assuredly a thing.
That Guest Aero could never be genuine …. the real Guest Aero would not spell “Au contrare” like that. More like this …. Au contraire, yes?
I flew the business class on the 321LR to BKK last December and I thought it was immaculate, crew on Etihad are always a highlight and found the menu to be extensive and seat to be very impressive