I’d like to think that I’ve flown virtually all of the world’s best first class products. However, there’s one aspirational commercial aviation product I hadn’t yet flown — the Etihad Residence. It’s not really fair to call it a ”first class” product, but rather it’s more of a hybrid of first class and private travel.
Continue reading: Introduction: The Flight Of A Lifetime
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Lucky, I'd be interested to know what your opinion of Virgin domestic business class (Sydney to Melbourne) was compared to domestic Business/First in the US with major carriers?
I am very much looking forward to the rolling trip reports on your big trip. This site always helps me through the periods between travel!
Lucky please tell me you are going to post these quickly, otherwise i think half of your audience will die from the wait!
Hi lucky can you share the Egyptian travel agent you used? Still curious how you got the open jaw (cai-auh-syd then back bkk-auh-cai) in the residence any on one leg when I try via Etihad website I can get a return at similar costs but can't get the open jaw to price.
Lucky - Would you mind telling us which Egyptian travel agency you used to book this?
This is getting really boring. Just get on with your review of the residence. Today's installment is so void of interest. Then are you planning to write an entire set f 7 articles about your first leg of the trip?? ZZZZZZZZZZ
Here's another request for Ben to share his experience with finding an Egyptian travel agency.
YES!!! I'm ready for this. From the Etihad Residence to Virgin Australia business class this is going to be an excellent series!!
You're really dragging this out. It's not like you're the first person to ever review The Residence.
I'm curious why you opted to fly SYD-MEL-LAX when there is a SYD-LAX nonstop on Virgin Australia. Is it harder to find award availability on the SYD-LAX route versus the MEL-LAX route?
@ Joey -- For my date there was only availability for Melbourne to Los Angeles, so I didn't have much of a choice. Otherwise I would have done the nonstop.
@ chabon -- I always write an intro to my trip report series. If you're not interested in them, they're easy enough to skip, no? After all, they have "Introduction" as the first word in the title... no clickbait here!
@ Carlos @ Imperator -- A friend helped me out here because he had a contact at an Egyptian travel agency. However, I don't believe they're looking to take on clients for these types of tickets, so think it was more of a favor than anything.
@ Ben O -- Indeed, the open jaw won't price through the website, but rather only through a travel agent.
@ AussieBen -- Will be sure to share my thoughts on Virgin Australia's domestic business class. Aside from the lack of wifi (which I know they're working on installing), I thought the experience was far superior. Better food and also MUCH better service than we get in the US.
May I know why you decided to book with a travel agency based in cairo to book the ticket ? while I think you will be able to to do it online.
'a worthwhile investment' is a curious description of your experience, what kind of return are you expecting on this investment?
@ waleed -- Because in order to get this cheap fare I booked an open jaw from Cairo to Sydney in the Residence and returning from Phuket to Cairo in business class. There was no way to book this directly through Etihad's website.
@Declan
It's worthwhile to him because of the juvenile, millions-of-posts way in which he covered it.
Showed a distinct lack of class through this whole thing. Hope the temporary page views are worth it benlucky.
Agree with Adam, Ben's really dragging this out. Another major blogger reviewed the Residence (AUH-JFK, I think) in just 1 or 2 posts.
@Dave with all due respect, the reviews from "that other blogger" were nothing worth waiting for. Ben's reviews are very well written and include many more pictures and details. I am also eager to read the full review, but perfection takes time 😉
@Ben Thank you so much for your answer, I am a big fan of cairo premimum fares I might require the name of the agency 😉
Wow amazing how many haters are on this site now. If you don't like the manner in which he posts stop reading the damm blog. Sick of all the bitching !!!!
A slight Correction Ben. I hope you meant " and then from Sydney back to the US" and not "and "them" from Sydney back to the US." 🙂
Love the blog, but what happened to the formatting? Extra bullets, and multiple Continue here links. Is it just me?
Just a thought about the 25,000$ one-way fare for The Residence: isn't it close to the cost of a similar leg on a private jet? Just wondering. Thanks.
Lucky,
Which travel agency do you use in Cairo? I want to purchase business class tickets to SFO around Jan 6, 2018.