All over my assessment go back and forth, I had the danger to take a look at Abu Dhabi Airport’s new Terminal A, which is this sort of huge growth for the airport. I visited all of the lounges within the terminal, together with the brand new Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room, Etihad First Magnificence Front room, and Pearl Front room. On this installment, I’ll be reviewing the Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room.
The brand new Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room is quirky — it’s throughout 3 flooring, it’s extremely slim and lengthy, and the format is downright complicated. However I’ve to mention, on stability I believe it ranks the most effective industry magnificence lounges on this planet.
The living room has heaps of herbal gentle, never-ending seating, direct boarding from the living room to make a choice gates, and numerous facilities, starting from an exquisite bar, to rest rooms, to bathe suites. The meals possibly isn’t that thrilling, however it’s nonetheless just right on stability, personally. Let’s get into the assessment.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi location
For a newly built terminal, the Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room turns out oddly tricky to search out, without reference to whether or not you’re coming from the immigration checkpoint or the transit safety checkpoint. Beneath is a map of Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal A, to come up with a way of the format.
Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal A map
The Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room is positioned at the north facet of the terminal, between the C gates and D gates. Extra in particular, the living room is between gates C27 and D43 (sure, that sounds bizarre, however I believe the above map explains why this is). The signage within the terminal for Etihad Lounges isn’t essentially nice or intuitive.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi signage
In case you’re within the central a part of the terminal, the quickest approach to get to the Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room is to stroll in the course of the hallway for bathrooms, after which the living room is within the hall at the different finish of that. Sure, it’s a reasonably peculiar approach to get to a top class living room, eh?
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi route
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi external
While you input the living room, there are Etihad workers who will scan you into the living room.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi hours
The Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room is open 24/7, for the reason that Gulf carriers function flights all hours of the day and evening, so the living room by no means closes. With regards to crowding, you’ll be able to normally be expecting that the busiest sessions will likely be round nighttime and round 7AM, with the living room being in particular empty mid-morning and mid-afternoon (reflecting when the largest banks of flights are).
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi access necessities
The Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi is open to all Etihad industry magnificence passengers. On height of that, Etihad Visitor Silver contributors can get right of entry to the living room and not using a visitors, whilst Etihad Visitor Gold contributors can get right of entry to the living room with one visitor.
Etihad financial system passengers too can purchase get right of entry to to the Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room. I consider the present price is $120 or 16,000 Etihad Visitor miles for as much as 4 hours, or $150 or 20,000 Etihad Visitor miles for 4 to 8 hours.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating & format
K, so I’m going to wish everyone to concentrate for a 2d as we speak about the format of this living room, as it’s actually complicated. Particularly, there’s one a part of the living room that individuals would by no means even naturally come throughout, so let me provide an explanation for.
The Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room is really huge, and it’s unfold throughout 3 ranges. I don’t understand how many sq. ft it’s however it’s large. It’s additionally an excessively lengthy and really slim living room — I will’t assist however ponder whether idea simply wasn’t put into the living room when the airport was once first designed, or if that is intentional (for some peculiar reason why).
The living room is composed of stage 3, stage 5, and stage six. It is going directly from stage 3 to stage 5, so I suppose that stage 4 is skipped because of tetraphobia, or one thing? Around the 3 ranges, the living room is composed of an east wing and west wing, however the two wings aren’t attached on all flooring.
The 3 ranges are attached by the use of a collection of escalators and a collection of elevators at each and every finish of the living room (east and west):
You input the living room on stage 3 at the west facet; stage 3 has some living room area at the west facet, whilst there’s no east facet (I consider that is the place the Etihad spa will likely be positioned, which is opening sooner or later)
Degree 5 spans the entire duration of the living room, although the east and west facet aren’t whatsoever attached, and this implies the east facet of stage 5 persistently remains utterly empty; that’s since you input thru stage 3 west, then you definately’d wish to take the escalator or elevator as much as stage six west, then you definately’d wish to stroll throughout the living room, and then you definately’d wish to take the escalator or elevator all the way down to stage 5 east (transparent as dust, proper?)
Degree six is via a ways the preferred position (that is known as the Roof Front room), because it spans all of the duration of the living room; the Etihad First Magnificence Front room takes up a small portion of the east facet of stage six
So yeah, normally my advice could be to hang around on stage six if you wish to devour or drink one thing, because it’s the place the bar and one of the most primary buffets are positioned. In case you simply need to the quietest area, cross to the east facet of stage 5, as a result of I swear 99% of passengers by no means to find this space of the living room. What a unusual living room format, however we will be able to certainly make it paintings to our benefit.
With that ridiculously lengthy clarification out of the way in which, let’s get into the true assessment of the living room. Once you input the living room, you’ll see the escalator going as much as stage 5.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi escalators
In case you as a substitute stroll directly forward and to the left, you’ll to find Liwan International Eating, which is likely one of the living room’s all-day eating eating places. In principle this delicacies is meant to be extra catered towards Emirati and Center Jap specialties, however I didn’t essentially to find the differentiation to be that massive in comparison to the opposite buffet (I’ll communicate extra about the true food and drink afterward).
This space is composed of a wide variety of communal eating tables, cubicles, high-top seating, and extra. The world is certainly meant to have some Center Jap aptitude, however for my part I didn’t really feel the finishes on this a part of the living room have been in particular sumptuous.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
I recognize the constant quantity of herbal gentle during the living room due to floor-to-ceiling home windows, which is this sort of deal with, for the reason that many lounges really feel somewhat like dungeons.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Now let’s check out stage six (two ranges above the place you input), which is known as the Roof Front room. That is the biggest a part of the living room, and we’ll check out this area going from east to west. Proper on the east escalator is the doorway to the Etihad First Magnificence Front room.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi escalators
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi escalators
You’ll then first see numerous seating clusters, starting from living room chairs organized in rows going through the home windows, to sofas and different seating choices.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
There’s then the primary primary a part of the living room, consisting of cubicles, communal high-top seating, and extra. There’s just a small buffet of beverages and packaged snacks right here, so this isn’t meant to be the primary eating space.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
At kind of the midway level of the Roof Front room is the Constellation Bar, which is the living room’s surprising bar. That is adorned with a 172 piece, 25 meter lengthy glass lighting fixtures sculpture, depicting the Abu Dhabi skyline. It’s great that the bar has right kind cocktails and barista espresso, so that is certainly the most productive position in the living room to get the most productive beverages.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi bar
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi bar
The Roof Front room’s primary buffet is close to the bar, so there also are loads of eating tables on this space, in addition to sofas.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Previous the Constellation Bar is much more seating, organized in one row of tables, each and every seating two other people.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Within the very again of the living room is every other huge seating space, with comfy leather-based chairs, in addition to cubicles. This space has a tendency to stick lovely quiet, since the general public sit down close to the eating and bar space.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Now, let’s cross all the way down to stage 5 west, which is the a part of stage 5 you’re much more likely to naturally come throughout (because it’s what can also be accessed from the escalators via reception).
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi escalators
Degree 5 west essentially is composed of a protracted row of chairs going through the apron, in addition to the circle of relatives room and bathe suites.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
There also are another seating preparations.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Degree 5 east is actually essentially the most hidden a part of the living room, given how the general public would by no means naturally stumble throughout it. This additionally has rows of chairs (although in a special association), and you’ll be able to be expecting that you just’ll most often have this a part of the living room to your self. Degree 5 east additionally has the relief rooms.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi seating
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi meals & beverages
With the format of the living room out of the way in which, let’s check out the food and drinks variety in the living room. On stage six on the Roof Front room, you could have one of the most primary all-day eating buffets. Frankly the eating space isn’t large, given what number of people have get right of entry to to the living room.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Over breakfast, chilly choices integrated chilly cuts and cheese, a wide variety of veggies and dips, cereal, contemporary fruit, yogurt, pastries, croissants, and extra.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
There have been additionally just about 10 scorching choices, starting from ful medames, to scrambled eggs, to baked beans, to noodles, to sausage, and a lot more.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
The Constellation Bar has the entirety from barista espresso, to cocktails, to wine and beer, so that is principally a full-service bar. It’s all the time great when a industry magnificence living room gives barista espresso and right kind cocktails.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi bar
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi bar
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi coffee device
Then Liwan International Eating is positioned on stage 3, and is the opposite primary eating space. The buffet space is way greater, and virtually looks like what you’d be expecting in a lodge.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
I used to be anticipating somewhat extra differentiation when it comes to what was once being presented in comparison to upstairs, however it was once in large part an identical. The chilly choices have been nearly the similar, with the primary other being a couple of extra scorching Center Jap dishes.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
The living room additionally has a number of food and drinks stations on each and every surface, however the variety there may be very restricted. We’re speaking espresso machines, canned soda, bottled water and juice, packaged snacks (chips, cookies, and so on.), and entire fruit.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi espresso device
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi beverages
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi buffet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi bogs & showers
There are a number of bogs during the Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room, and so they’re repeatedly wiped clean. The cleaners are virtually somewhat too attentive, as they by no means appear to depart the bogs.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi toilet
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi toilet
The living room has 18 bathe suites, positioned on stage 5 west. They’re to be had on a first-come, first-served foundation.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi bathe suites
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi bathe suites
The bathe suites are compact however useful, and feature a sink, a rest room, and a walk-in bathe.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi bathe room
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi bathe room
The bathe has each a rainforest bathe head, in addition to a hand held one.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi bathe room
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi bathe room
The toiletries within the bathe suites are unbranded, which is somewhat sudden, given the level to which Etihad tries to spouse with luxurious manufacturers.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi bathe room
The one actual grievance I’ve of those bathe suites is that the air flow isn’t just right, so if you’re taking a scorching bathe, be expecting that you just’ll be sweating afterwards. That is this sort of commonplace factor in airport lounges, and I don’t know if it’s simply that tough to steer clear of, or if living room designers don’t put extra idea into it?
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi rest rooms
The Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room has rest rooms positioned on stage 5 east. Since stage 5 east is the hidden a part of the living room, many of us won’t ever to find those, except they know to search for them.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi rest rooms
Whilst those rooms aren’t totally deepest, they exceeded my expectancies when it comes to atmosphere. The comfort space is composed of semi-private rooms, each and every of which has a door, however the rooms don’t have floor-to-ceiling privateness. There are stars at the ceiling, and Armani / Casa bedding.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi rest rooms
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi rest room
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi rest room bedding
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi circle of relatives & video games room
The Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room has each a circle of relatives room and a video games room. The circle of relatives room is positioned on stage 5 west, and is meant for smaller kids. It’s a lovable area, however doesn’t have a lot in the way in which of toys or different ways to stick entertained (which is possibly intentional, since other people would possibly scouse borrow issues, or one thing?).
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi circle of relatives room
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi circle of relatives room
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi circle of relatives room
On stage six there’s a video games room, with desk soccer, air hockey, and virtual video games, for visitors of every age to revel in.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi video games room
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi video games room
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi video games room
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi smoking room
The Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room has a smoking room on stage six. The smoking room is small however sublime, and lines Chesterfield sofas, with the capability to seat round a dozen other people at a time. That doesn’t appear to be an excessively excessive capability all through top hours, however however, I’m no longer a smoker.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi smoking room
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi smoking room
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi smoking room
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi smoking room
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi spa
Whilst it’s no longer open but, it’s value noting that Etihad is within the means of opening a spa at Abu Dhabi Airport. The doorway is break free the lounges, although I’m guessing it’s going to one way or the other be attached internally as soon as it opens, because it’s in the similar basic space.
Etihad hasn’t printed any longer information about that, so it continues to be noticed what sort of therapies will likely be presented, how a lot they’ll price, and so on. It’s great to peer Etihad bringing again a spa idea, after shutting it down years in the past within the previous living room, as a part of a value slicing measure.
Etihad Front room Abu Dhabi spa
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi particular boarding
Any other cool side of the Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room is that it gives direct boarding to make a choice gates, permitting you to skip the terminal after your time in the living room. On stage 5 west there’s boarding for gate D43 and C27, after which on stage 5 east there’s boarding for gate C29.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi boarding
That is an important characteristic — there are double doorways at each and every finish, after which they open when boarding is able. Then you definately stroll directly down the jet bridge and onto the aircraft.
Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi boarding
You’ll be able to normally be expecting that Airbus A380 flights, in addition to make a choice different top class flights, leave from those gates.
Base line
The brand new Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi is excellent, and is a superb hub living room. At the plus facet, the living room is spacious, has loads of herbal gentle, has normally great design, gives direct boarding for make a choice flights, has an attractive bar, and has loads of facilities, like bathe suites, rest rooms, play rooms for children, and extra.
The living room isn’t highest, although. I’d say the living room has a just right however no longer wonderful meals variety, and the format could also be complicated (although you’ll be able to make that paintings for your desire).
On stability, although, I’d say this ranks a few of the height 10 industry magnificence lounges on this planet, give or take. Many airways combat with providing a super industry magnificence flooring product at their hub, given the quantity of call for, and this is likely one of the higher run industry magnificence lounges I’ve noticed. I’m a fan, and it’s in particular noteworthy what an enormous growth that is over Etihad’s earlier facility.
What’s your take at the Etihad Trade Magnificence Front room Abu Dhabi?
