Shocking (But Not): Etihad Will No Longer Have Their Own Lounge In London

So it was the subsidies making them better than US airlines. Not superior management skill.

The lounge is nothing comparable to Qatar Airways Premium Lounge in the same terminal.

How long before they use the Emirates lounge 😀

The lounge will become a dump and overcrowded just like every other No. 1 lounge I have been to. It will almost certainly become a priority pass selection, as most if not all No. 1 lounges are. It is a shame to see the airline with the residence go like this. Is it bad that I want to see them collapse spectacularly in the future?

There's nothing premium about the other No 1 Lounges in London.

If they close their London lounge I don't see the point of them maintaining keeping any other lounges open outside AUH.

Yikes. Maybe the NY lounge is next.

They invested a huge amount in a lounge at LAX too which offers an excellent product

As far as I’m aware it’s only available to customers flying on etihad or Alitalia, meaning it’s closed most of the time as their flights depart within an hour of each other

No1 lounges are open to everyone at a fee

Hi Ben,

Re: "The Etihad employees in the lounge will be fired, and will be replaced by contract employees," that might not happen. We have laws to protect employees when a company outsource's a service. The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE). In short it usually means employees have to be taken on by the new employer on same terms and conditions as if they were still working for the old employer.

There might be some legal arguments as to why TUPE does not apply but that will be for NO1 lounge to argue about!

@ John there are no Etihad staff at Heathrow apart from possibly a station manager. They are entirely handled by a third party

@Icarus - it won't actually matter who employs them. The TUPE protections are based on the job they do and where they do it, so the staff should hopefully be fine.

@Icarus - HI Icarus - As Seat1c said it does not matter on who employs them - all that matters is the job they do/service they delivery.

Further lounge outsourcing (possibly of everything outside AUH?) to follow soon according to ABT under a new ‘The House’ brand - https://www.ausbt.com.au/etihad-is-closing-its-london-heathrow-t4-business-first-class-lounge

I find it really strange how airlines like MH & GF can have their own lounges in LHR & make them work, BUT an airline like EY cannot. Go figure!
I am really unsure who they'd use if they did go & close their SYD & MEL lounges as they don't have many options to choose from.
It's truly a shame as Etihad as a brand & airline was impeccable a few years ago & then they started all their cost cutting & their service & product has gone down free-fall, including loosing loyal frequent flyers & guests.
Personally, I will not pay for a mediocre product, when the competition is truly fierce!

If I may suggest a little correction to the headline:

Etihad Will No Longer Have Its Own Lounge In London

While people use "Their" as a gender-neutral pronoun when writing about people, it really makes no sense to apply it, as here, to an airline. Etihad is simply a singular neuter company.

I hope this could mean that Qantas swoops on their space in MEL & relocates the Qantas international business lounge there from the 'dungeon'!

We flew First with them at Xmas LHR-AKL and the London lounge was a disappointment. The food was rubbish, drink was not premium. So no loss there.

@ David

Depends. British English is much more open than US English on this point: depending on the circumstances a reference to a corporation can be either singular or plural and still be “correct”.

Though I’m always mystified why some people feel the need to point out hard-and-fast grammar “rules” which, it usually turns out, are nothing of the sort. Especially if the meaning is, as here, completely unambiguous.

As a general rule, English is not particularly consistent but it is sufficiently flexible that meaning is usually clear. Isn’t that enough?

There we go - 'The House, home of Etihad Airways and other leading airlines';
https://www.albawaba.com/business/pr/etihad-airways-and-no1-lounges-launch-%E2%80%98-house%E2%80%99-1194574

Update from Business Traveller:

“- The lounge will also continue to be used by the premium passengers of a small number of other airlines and, subject to availability, will be available for purchase by passengers of other airlines.
- From launch, guests will enjoy a new, white-linen dining experience and a more extensive bar service, including freshly squeezed juices and smoothies, world coffees and a more sophisticated wine list.
- Over the next year, the lounge will be reconfigured to include new lounge areas, bar, dining room, and reading room, as well as upgraded showers and prayer rooms. The new bar will also offer a comprehensive cocktail and mocktail list.”

@ David

Never trust ignoramuses on spelling, specially if raised and customized in the US. All government agencies & private companies are plural in English ( whether US slang follows is another matter ), thus Her Majesty's Government have elections every so often, the Police are to help public order, EY were an excellent company & Lufthansa are to grow further market share. On a sidenote, the United States are a world power both because of this rule & because of their name in plural.
Citizens & privates can speak about themselves in plural, Kings and Queens always in plural, Presidents and PMs depending on their power and command of good English.

What a shame, I’ve used the Manchester lounge and although small was great. Looks like Etihad are going out of business

Etihad will end up like Gulf Air...just a matter of time unless the "merger" happens.