On arrival you head for the Etihad premium check-in area left hand side of departure about in the middle of the terminal building (arrivals & departures are all on 1 level). We cleared Security here very quickly then walked to the right hand side of the Etihad desks and checked-in behind them there were a couple of desks with no queue. BPs issued and an invite to the lounge whos name escapes me, when visiting do look out for the stunning camel diorama and fish tank you will have plenty of time to observe both as the lounge is dry. There were ok food offerings soup sarnies and quiche washed down with red bull or coffee. In future I would check-in as late as possible the airport is a bit of a hell hole and the lounge isnt worth spending a great deal of time in. Time dragged on and the redbull didnt work I felt totally knackered by the time boarding was announced 40 minutes before departure.
We were first down the only walkway way to L1 so everybody boarded through FC. Quite a few pax onboard already, the flight having originated in MCT. No welcome at the door but the crew did look very busy. On sitting down the male crew member think he was Dutch offered us a drink and a glass of chilled fizz was gratefully received. The jolly lady Purser then introduced herself explaining she would be looking after us tonight and she was true to her word. Menus wine list DVD list and sleep suits were distributed along with more champagne (Charles Hiedsieck 95), Arabian coffee dates and mixed nuts (superb macadamias).Flight time was announced by the captain as 7 hours 15 and we pushed back about 5 minutes early, champagne glasses being cleared as we taxied. Very steep and fast ascent must have been a light loaded flight there were 9 PAX in FC. Service soon started and I had another glass of champagne in my hand, everybody in the cabin apart from us and the gent in 1A who had also boarded at AUH bedded down and declined refreshments. Another crew ratio of 1 to 1 well a bit more as the CSD was also helping out. The captain came into the cabin and started talking to the gent in 1A I assumed they were friends or colleagues but he then came to Mrs JP and I thanking us for choosing to fly BA never had that before. Tables were set about 30 minutes after takeoff canapes arrived after the hot towels. I stuck to the bone dry light Sancerre Edmond 2003 Alphonse Mellot throughout the meal as my stomach was going to object to being force fed at 3am in the morning. Dinner started with garlic bread and prawn and mango salad, the prawns were a little tough that couldnt be said of the Fillet of beef with mustard sauce that I had for the main. Best bit of beef I have ever had in the air beautifully pink and just shading an AA steak in domestic first from a couple of years back. I finished off with a passable pear and almond cake followed by an uninspired selection of English cheese.These being complemented by the fantastic Warres 1988 Colheita Port a real treat. I forced a glass of the desert wine down but I was failing fast so a glass of the Camus XO( it would have been rude to refuse) as a night cap. The next thing I knew the captain was saying 40 minutes to landing. The moment my eyes opened I was offered OJ. By the time I had had a wash and brush up my seat was made up and we had about 30 minutes to run. The crew would have still served me a full breakfast if I had wanted but to be honest I was still full from Dinner so I opted for a coffee.
We landed a little early after very little time in the stack and onto the 777 remote area across the road from Park and fly. There was a bus waiting by the steps before the seat belt light was off. Onto the bus through passport and customs and into the T4 arrivals lounge in under 20 minutes. The walk had shifted my dinner so I tucked into a full english along with a couple of litres of highland spring.The food wasnt as good as the outbound but the crew were fantastic another very enjoyable experience.
