I consider myself to be a connoisseur of airplane boarding music. Not only do I enjoy listening to it when boarding a plane, but I play it at home for hours per day, because it’s generally great music to have on in the background when working. Along those lines, there has been a major update to what has historically been one of my favorite airlines for boarding music.
The progression of Etihad’s boarding music
In the past decade, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has had three different boarding music tracks, and the last of those has just been unveiled. There’s the one that was introduced about a decade ago:
Then there’s the one that was introduced over five years ago:
And now Etihad has just introduced its brand new boarding track:
It’s not bad, but such a downgrade…
Etihad’s new 14 minute boarding music track is calming, upbeat, modern, and playful. It’s not bad, and if an airline that didn’t currently have boarding music introduced this, I’d be a fan.
But my gosh, Etihad’s boarding music used to be so good, and I feel like this just isn’t to the same level. Both of the old boarding music tracks had some flair to them that can’t help but make me think of the Middle East, and like I’m traveling somewhere far away and exciting. I’m not sure if that’s because of the instruments and type of music, or simply because I was so used to listening to this when traveling to & from the Middle East.
I’ll miss the old boarding music. Maybe next time I board an Etihad flight I’ll just listen to the better boarding music with headphones. Then again, who knows when I’ll fly Etihad again — with the carrier likely retiring the A380, there aren’t many reasons to fly the airline.
Ugh, I miss the old, over-the-top, lighting-money-on-fire Etihad… 😉
Bottom line
Etihad Airways has just introduced new boarding music. While objectively pretty good as far as airline boarding music goes, I can’t help but feel like it’s a pretty significant downgrade compared to Etihad’s old track. But worry not, old Etihad boarding music — I can assure you that you’ll continue to be played on repeat by me at home!
How do you rank the three Etihad boarding music tracks of the past decade?
(Tip of the hat to Chandan Bhat)
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