Etihad First Class Apartments Flight Review: $15,000 Flight for Under $100
Introduction
Experience one of the world's most luxurious first-class flights—Etihad's First Class Apartments on the A380—booked for just ~$50 per person using points and miles.
Arrival & Check-In Experience
Airport Service
- Met with attentive service upon Uber drop-off
- Assistance with bags
- Directed to front desk
- Seamless check-in process
First Class Lounge
- Absolutely stunning facility
- Tip: Arrive early to enjoy all amenities
- Reviewers regretted not having more time to explore
The Apartment: Seat & Space Features
First Impressions
"It literally feels like a mini luxury apartment in the sky"
Seat Specifications
- Spaciousness: Extremely roomy private cabin
- Customization: Adjustable firmness (soft or firm settings)
- Massage function: Lower back and lumbar massage controls
- TV system: Swivels out from wall for optimal viewing; push back to enjoy skyline views
Storage & Organization
- Ample storage compartments
- Space for camera equipment (Osmo camera)
- Phone storage
- Clothing storage for pajamas and personal items
- Everything stays tidy until disembarkation
Charging Capabilities
- Two USB ports per seat
- Universal outlet
- No issues keeping devices charged
Seating Configuration for Couples
Book seats 3A and 4A together to:
- Dine across from each other
- Create a double bed by connecting seats
- Enhanced couple's experience
Welcome Service
Initial Greeting
- Welcome drink
- Warm towel
- Dates served (traditional Emirati hospitality)
- Preparation for upcoming meal service
Dining Experience
Menu Overview
Extensive options with gourmet presentation rivaling fine dining restaurants
Starter Course
Sweet Potato Kale Soup
- Surprisingly creamy
- Very flavorful
Mocktails
- Mango Mojito (ordered multiple times)
- No alcohol missed
- Delicious and refreshing
Caviar Service
- Served thousands of miles in the sky
- Ultimate luxury experience
Main Courses
Red Grouper (Seafood option)
- Reviewer's first choice (always picks seafood)
- Pretty good quality
- Restaurant-quality presentation
Beef Tenderloin
- Juicy and tender
- Cooked to perfection
- Exactly to preference
Dining Setup: Able to sit across from each other, enhancing the experience
Dessert Service
Blood Orange Cake
- Beautifully moist
- Served with almond crumble
- Fresh berries
- Vanilla ice cream
- Tasted freshly baked
- Served warm
- "Loving every bit of this. It is so good."
Barbie Cake (Flight attendant's recommendation)
- Multiple layers of colorful frosting
- Soft and moist (not dry like typical airplane/hotel cakes)
- Complex flavor profile
- Bakery-quality presentation
- "It's 100% giving Barbie"
- Exceeded expectations
Overall Food Quality
- Restaurant-level presentation
- No dry cakes (common airplane problem)
- Fresh-tasting
- Complex flavors and textures
- Generous portions
Onboard Shower Experience
Shower Specifications
- Limited water supply (like Emirates)
- On/off switch to conserve water
- Sufficient time for full shower
- More spacious than Emirates shower
- Better for larger passengers
- More room to move around
Personal Reflection
"I can't believe I'm now going to experience two showers in the sky... If you would have told me a year and a half ago that I would be comparing shower experiences on flights, I would have thought you were crazy."
Comparison:
- Emirates bathroom: Larger overall
- Etihad shower: More spacious shower area specifically
Amenity Kit: Giorgio Armani
Packaging
"The biggest amenity kit I've ever seen"
- Giorgio Armani branded
- Reusable bag (fits laptop!)
- Can be repurposed as laptop case
Contents
Clothing
- Giorgio Armani pajamas (super comfortable and cozy)
- Socks
- Eye mask
- Slippers (nice, cozy, kept feet warm entire flight)
Toiletries & Skincare (ESPA Products)
- Hand and body lotion (very creamy, moisturizing, thick consistency)
- Hydrating spa face mist
- Restful pulse point oil (aromatic rollerball with eucalyptus and lavender)
- Nourishing lip treatment (provides gloss and shine)
- Rest and recovery night balm
Other Items
- Toothbrush with Colgate toothpaste
- Earbuds with protective case
Skincare Routine
Perfect vanity setup with excellent lighting for in-flight skincare routine before landing
In-Flight Entertainment (IFE)
Content Selection
- Extensive movie library
- New releases available
- Multiple genres
- "Something for everybody"
Control Options
- Touchscreen: Responsive screen at seat
- Remote control: By seat for easy browsing without moving
Ordering System
- Order food and beverages directly from IFE screen
- Simple menu navigation
- Flight attendant delivers within minutes
A380 Special Feature
Views from the tail camera
Wi-Fi Performance
Speed & Reliability
"I am very impressed with the speeds. They're actually very, very good."
Capabilities:
- Work tasks completed successfully
- Social media browsing
- Video playback (unusual for in-flight Wi-Fi)
- Significantly better than typical first-class Wi-Fi
Comparison: Most first-class flights only allow basic Google searches; this allowed full video streaming
Bed & Sleep Experience
Bed Setup
- Flight attendants make the bed
- Very comfortable mattress
- Lots of space
- Note: Some reports said bed was "too firm," but reviewers found it perfect
Couple's Sleeping
- Double bed created by connecting seats 3A and 4A
- Sleep next to travel companion
Lighting
- Two adjustable lights behind seats
- Dimmable controls
- Can adjust brightness level
- Perfect for nighttime reading
Lavatory & Vanity
Vanity Features
- "Like no other"
- Spacious countertop for products
- Exceptional lighting (typically terrible in airplane lavatories)
- Perfect for freshening up before landing
- Ideal for testing ESPA products
Product Quality
ESPA products were "very nice on the skin"
Flight Duration & Experience
Time Perception
"This is the fastest seven-hour flight I've ever been on"
- Time flew by
- Soaked up every moment
- Enjoyed each aspect of the experience
Booking Details: How to Book for Under $100
Cost Breakdown
- Retail price: $15,000+ per ticket
- Actual cost: ~$50 per person (taxes and fees only)
- Points used: 60,000 American Airlines miles total
Booking Strategy
- Flight: Etihad-operated
- Booking through: American Airlines
- Why it works: One World Alliance partnership
- Book partner flights using AA miles
The Power of Points
"Just $60 or so out of pocket for a flight that costs thousands of dollars. That's the power of points and miles."
Learning Resource
10x Travel Program (mentioned multiple times)
- Completely free of charge
- No upsells
- No hidden fees
- Learn how to earn and redeem points
- Bucket-list flights for less
- Budget economy travel strategies
- Link in video description
Key Tips & Recommendations
Arrival
✓ Arrive early to enjoy the first-class lounge
Seating for Couples
✓ Book seats 3A and 4A to dine together and create double bed
Food
✓ Try the mocktails ✓ Don't skip dessert—it's exceptional ✓ Order caviar for the full luxury experience
Amenities
✓ Use the shower to refresh before landing ✓ Take advantage of the ESPA skincare products ✓ Keep the amenity kit bag—it's functional and fits a laptop
Entertainment
✓ Use IFE screen to order food and drinks ✓ Test the Wi-Fi—it's actually fast enough for work ✓ Adjust lighting for nighttime comfort
Booking
✓ Use airline alliance partnerships to maximize points value ✓ Book through American Airlines for Etihad flights ✓ Taxes and fees are minimal compared to cash price
Comparison: Etihad vs. Emirates First Class
Emirates:
- Larger overall bathroom
Etihad:
- More spacious shower specifically
- Better for larger passengers
- More room to move in shower
Final Thoughts
Overall Experience
One of the most luxurious first-class products in the world, accessible through strategic points redemption
Value Proposition
$15,000 retail experience for under $100 out-of-pocket
Recommendation
Perfect for special occasions, honeymoons, or anyone wanting to experience ultra-luxury travel affordably
Additional Content
- Check out their Etihad Business Class flight review
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