I’ve reviewed Etihad’s Premium Lounge Abu Dhabi before. The lounge opened less than two years ago, and it’s shared between first & business class passengers. Eventually Etihad is supposed to open a first class lounge, though that has been delayed (seemingly) indefinitely.
In the meantime I quite like the Etihad Lounge Abu Dhabi, even as a first class passenger. It has a partitioned off section for first class passengers with more attentive service. Furthermore, as a first class passenger you receive a 15 minute spa treatment in the Six Senses Spa, as well as a treatment at the Style & Shave Salon. It’s quite nice to get a back rub and a razor shave before hopping on a longhaul flight.
Etihad Premium Lounge Abu Dhabi Airport
So while I look forward to the first class lounge eventually opening, I think the solution they have for first class passengers in the meantime is quite nice. I won’t review the lounge beyond that, given that I have nothing to add to the previous review.
Etihad Premium Lounge (First Class Section) Abu Dhabi Airport
What I will cover, however, is Etihad’s new mini-lounge, which is located past the US Pre-Clearance facility.
For several years now, Etihad has run a US Pre-Clearance facility in Abu Dhabi, where US-bound passengers clear customs & immigration prior to getting on their flight. At first the facility was a disaster and was consistently causing huge flight delays.
The problem is that if one or two people are being held up or are delayed, the entire plane needs to wait for them. So delays of a couple of hours became the norm.
Etihad’s facility seems to be getting better over time, and I was curious to check it out again.
Our flight was scheduled to depart at 3:20AM, so we left the main lounge at around 2:15AM.
The entrance to the US Pre-Clearance facility is located just past the main lounge, and requires taking an escalator to the facility.
US Pre-Clearance facility Abu Dhabi Airport
Nowadays there’s a separate queue for premium passengers. On the plus side, the facility seemed nearly empty when we were there. Etihad has a flight to New York and San Francisco around the same time, though I guess both flights were quite empty this time around. Or perhaps we just waited long enough so that most people had already cleared the facility.
US Pre-Clearance facility Abu Dhabi Airport
There was a Global Entry kiosk, so within 30 seconds I had the standard Global Entry slip printed. However, in Abu Dhabi you have to talk to an immigration officer even if you have Global Entry, though it was painless — I was through within a couple of minutes.
After that there’s yet another security checkpoint, exclusively for US-bound flights. It’s much more involved than the first checkpoint, as you actually have to remove all the liquids from your bag, and you even have to power on your laptop. Fortunately the queue was short, so we were through quickly.
US Pre-Clearance facility Abu Dhabi Airport
From there it was back up the escalator, where on the right we found the Etihad Lounge.
US Pre-Clearance facility Abu Dhabi Airport
Again, this lounge is meant to be a mini-lounge, exclusively to use once you’ve gone through the Pre-Clearance facility. I commend Etihad for operating this lounge, as it’s quite an investment for just a few flights a day for a period lasting just a couple of hours.
Etihad US Pre-Clearance Lounge exterior Abu Dhabi Airport
Our boarding passes were verified as we entered the lounge, and we were informed that boarding would be announced.
Etihad US Pre-Clearance Lounge entrance Abu Dhabi Airport
The lounge was larger than I was expecting, but still on the tight side, when you consider the number of premium passengers Etihad has on two US-bound flights. The design was very similar to Etihad’s other updated lounges (like the one at London Heathrow), so quite impressed me.
At the far end of the lounge were several couches.
Etihad US Pre-Clearance Lounge seating Abu Dhabi Airport
Then along the back wall of the lounge was a counter with some high-top seats.
Etihad US Pre-Clearance Lounge seating Abu Dhabi Airport
There was another area with some dining tables.
Etihad US Pre-Clearance Lounge seating Abu Dhabi Airport
Etihad Lounge US Pre-Clearance Abu Dhabi Airport
And then in the far corner was another seating area with several more couches.
Etihad Lounge US Pre-Clearance Abu Dhabi Airport
One corner of the lounge had a roped off area, which I assume was for passengers traveling in The Residence. I thought the setup was rather hilarious. While The Residence is usually all about privacy, this area is completely exposed and even has a velvet rope, which attracts quite a bit of attention.
Etihad The Residence Lounge US Pre-Clearance Abu Dhabi Airport
There was also a small business center, or perhaps more accurately just a single iMac on a desk.
Etihad Lounge US Pre-Clearance Abu Dhabi Airport
The lounge also had a nice selection of light snacks available.
Etihad Lounge food Abu Dhabi Airport
These included fresh fruit, some small canapés, desserts, finger sandwiches, etc.
Etihad Lounge food Abu Dhabi Airport
Etihad Lounge food Abu Dhabi Airport
Etihad Lounge food Abu Dhabi Airport
Once settled in the staff came by to offer us drinks. I recognized the staff from the other lounge (they rotate between lounges). We ordered some champagne, which was Moet, due to their sponsorship of the Grand Prix, which was also going on in Abu Dhabi.
Etihad Lounge chapagne Abu Dhabi Airport
At around 2:40AM the staff walked around the lounge proactively offering Arabic coffee and dates, which I thought was a nice touch.
Etihad Lounge Arabic coffee & dates Abu Dhabi Airport
While boarding was scheduled to begin at around 2:30AM, it was 3AM before boarding was called.
We turned right out of the lounge.
Etihad US departures gates Abu Dhabi Airport
Then we turned left, where the two gates for the New York and San Francisco flights were located. This was Etihad’s first ever A380 flight to New York, though aside from the posters in the gate area, there were no other festivities.
Etihad US departures gates Abu Dhabi Airport
Etihad A380 New York launch poster
The gate area looked super empty for a ~500 seat A380. Come to think of it, I’m not sure how the departure gate would even accommodate ~500 people.
Etihad A380 departure gate for New York
Etihad A380 departure gate for New York
The Etihad A380 looked gorgeous as always, parked at the terminal’s far gate.
Etihad A380 Abu Dhabi Airport
Finally at 3AM boarding was announced, starting with first & business class.
Etihad A380 departure gate for New York
And boy was I excited for the 14+ hour flight in Etihad’s A380 First Class Apartment!
Etihad’s US Pre-Clearance Lounge Abu Dhabi bottom line
While in the past my experiences with Etihad’s Pre-Clearance setup in Abu Dhabi were abysmal, since especially at Abu Dhabi, there are a number of great lounge options available to any passenger with a credit card with lounge access, I was impressed this time around. Now, this might partly have to do with the fact that both of the flights using the facility were really empty, or that we passed through it pretty late in the process. Either way, everything just seemed more functionally set up than last time.
While I prefer airports without Pre-Clearance (since I have Global Entry), this was a facility I was actually fine with.
Given that Etihad uses the Pre-Clearance facility, I was also impressed by the lounge they built for US-bound flights. Previously having to sit in the gate area as a first class passenger for upwards of an hour sucked. This new lounge at least makes that time a bit more enjoyable.
Have you used Etihad’s Pre-Clearance facility lately? What was your experience like?
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