Etihad A380 The Residence: The Pinnacle Of Commercial Aviation

Hello from France, as I just flew Etihad Airways’ Airbus A380 The Residence on the 6hr50min flight from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Paris (CDG), as part of my review trip.

It goes without saying that I was absolutely giddy about this flight. For those not familiar, The Residence is Etihad’s three-room private suite on the A380, which is a step above first class. Etihad has changed how it monetizes this product over the years, and it’s now much more affordable than in the past.

For example, from Abu Dhabi to Paris, it’s possible to upgrade to The Residence for around $1,600. This assumes you’re confirmed in first class and booked directly through Etihad (so a partner award ticket wouldn’t qualify). As a point of comparison, back in the day it was sold as a completely different product, and was priced astronomically (we’re talking $25K+ one-way). Admittedly the soft product was also a bit more differentiated, and I reviewed the experience at the time.

So, how was the experience in The Residence this time around? Well, absolutely incredible, I must say. Quite honestly, this experience is in a league of its own when it comes to commercial aviation, and I can’t say enough positive things, from the hard product to the soft product.

While I’ll have a full trip report soon, in this post I’d like to share some initial impressions…

Etihad’s The Residence ground service is exceptional

Etihad really makes you feel like a VVIP when you’re flying in The Residence. Upon landing in Abu Dhabi in Etihad’s A321LR first class, I was met by the lovely Milos, who would be taking care of me for my roughly two hour layover in Abu Dhabi.

At the exit of the plane I was met not only by Milos, but also by a porter, as well as a golf cart driver, who transported me to the transit security checkpoint. Then it was just a short walk to the Etihad First Lounge, where I was escorted into one of the private rooms for guests in The Residence.

It’s really amazing how well they coordinate all of this. Milos wanted to make sure I made the most of my time, so he recommended that I place a meal order, and then go enjoy a 30-minute spa treatment, so that my meal could be prepared in the meantime.

Sure enough, that’s exactly how it went. I enjoyed a 30-minute facial in the spa that’s located within the lounge…

…and then arrived back in the lounge to be served a full meal.

Milos asked if I wanted to board first or last, and I asked to board first. The A380 bound for Paris boards directly from the lounge, so I was fetched exactly on-time.

What amazed me is once again just how seamless they make the whole thing. When he told me I’d board first, he meant it — when I arrived at the gate area in the lounge, there were dozens of people waiting to board, but they held boarding until the passenger in The Residence gets on.

Seriously, what an impressive ground experience! Similarly, upon arrival in Paris, they also offer a special arrivals experience, where you’re met by someone who helps you clear immigration, etc. (it’s the same service the city’s top hotels use for their guests).

Etihad’s A380 The Residence is a one-of-a-kind cabin

There are first class suites on airplanes, and then there’s The Residence. Etihad’s A380 First Class Apartments are pretty incredible, though The Residence takes it to the next level. It’s located at the front left of the first class cabin, and creatively takes advantage of the extra space at the front of the upper deck.

As you enter The Residence, there’s first the living room, which is a loveseat of sorts. It has two sets of tray tables, two separate sets of recline, and a large ottoman. This in and of itself would be a huge first class suite, of course.

Then there’s a hallway leading to the bedroom and bathroom.

Yes, The Residence has its own private, fully enclosed bedroom. Folks, I’ve had just about every commercial aviation experience out there, but having a bedroom on a plane is most definitely a “pinch me” moment. Even though I had flown in this before, I couldn’t help but be amazed, both by the advancements in aviation over the years that allow something like this to be a thing, plus at how lucky I am to experience this.

Then there’s the private bathroom, with a sink, toilet, and a shower. So while the other nine first class passengers have to share one shower, you get your own shower. No matter how many times I shower on a plane, this never gets old!

Both the living room and bedroom have TVs with an extensive entertainment selection, and Wi-Fi is also free for first class passengers.

Now, to be balanced, I should point out two things:

• The Residence can accommodate two people, though I maintain that if traveling with someone, I’d prefer two First Class Apartments; the bed just isn’t wide enough to comfortably accommodate two people, and the living room can’t be converted into a bed
• After flying Etihad’s new A321LR first class, you definitely notice that the tech isn’t quite as good on the A380, in terms of charging options, lack of bluetooth audio, etc.

Etihad’s The Residence food, drinks, and amenities, are good

What are food and drinks in The Residence like? Nowadays they’re identical to what you’ll get in first class, with a small number of modifications. First, there’s special plating and cutlery, matching what Etihad offered in The Residence back in the day. Second, they cater special champagne — on this flight, it was Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes D’or 2009.

I was on a flight departing at 2AM and arriving at 7AM, so the airline has a “lounge and grill” concept for after takeoff, plus a full breakfast prior to landing (of course there’s dine on demand, so really you can have whatever you’d like whenever you’d like).

After takeoff, service began with drinks and a trio of snacks.

Then I of course elected to have the signature caviar service, which has a modified presentation in The Residence. Cool!

I love Etihad’s “lounge and grill” concept, since you can basically customize your meal. I ordered the beef tenderloin with pommes frites and a bearnaise sauce (yes, I ordered meat!!). I was asked how I wanted it prepared, and I asked for medium rare. To my surprise, that’s actually how it was presented!

I couldn’t bring myself to have a dessert, as there’s only so much I can eat in a day! Then after a rest that was all too short, it was time for breakfast.

Of course I had to have breakfast with a presentation that’s exclusive to The Residence… in bed!

Having breakfast in bed on a plane?!? Honestly, I’m not worthy…

Etihad’s The Residence service is great

Back in the day, flying in The Residence came with a private butler, who was there just to take care of you. That’s not the case anymore, though service is definitely still differentiated compared to first class.

Marcel was taking care of me on this flight, and he was great — he was friendly, engaging, and had excellent attention to detail. It’s interesting how the service flow works nowadays. As I understand it, the flight attendant working The Residence is primarily there to take care of that passenger, but also helps the rest of the crew, as needed.

Service was well paced, and pressing the call button always provided for immediate service. Service isn’t necessarily overly attentive by design, because the door to The Residence is always closed, as a standard. So you don’t even want to feel like someone is always peeking over the suite door to see what’s going on.

Bottom line

Etihad’s The Residence is unlike anything else in commercial aviation, and it’s absolutely stellar. Admittedly it’s pricey, in the sense that you have to pay for first class, and then have to pay an extra cost to upgrade. However, truth be told, the pricing actually seems rather reasonable when you consider just how much extra you’re getting, and what an unrivaled product this is.

The Residence is a stellar experience, from the impeccable ground service, to the sheer amount of space you get, to the private shower, to the fact that you have a bedroom on a plane. This is simply a next-level commercial aviation experience, and if you have the chance to experience this, I can’t recommend it enough. At least it’s way cheaper than it used to be back in the day!

What’s your take on Etihad’s A380 The Residence?