V-Flyer

Hi all

Thought I would ecapsulate the three Etihad sectors we flew last month in one TR.

MEL-AUH
AUH-MAN
MAN-AUH

We booked this trip at short notice, just over a week in advance, and chose Etihad on fare and that they are partnered with Virgin Australia so would get miles. As a bonus I had just had my Velocity FF status matched to Gold as part of a promotion they are doing here to lure punters to Virgin - so 50% extra miles.

After booking I did some research into Etihad, I know I should have done this first, and fouind they had some very mixed reviews in all classes however I need not have worried.

All Business and First fares qualify for limo transfers - so at the appointed hour the limo turned up and took us to the airport. Check in in Melbourne was quick and easy and we were given fast track vouchers and Air New Zealand lounge invites. As a number of airlines use this lounge I wanted to get their early to get a good spot - mission accomplished as the lounge did indeed fill up quickly. Nice lounge but the best time of day is morning as their breakfast offering is very good but at all other times is just OK.

We decided to leave early to have a bit of a walk about before the flight - as the escalator up was broken and everyone had to use the lift. Co-incidentally we happened to be passing the gate when boarding commenced and so straight through the priority lane and were the first onboard. Etihad had a priority lane on each sector and it worked well.

BPs checked and we were escorted to our seats and assisted with hand luggage stowage. Bubbles offered and accepted. The cabin layout is quite odd at first with every seat having direct aisle access without having to climb over anyone. In effect meaning the only seats that are together are those in the middle. However the seat was comfortable in both seat and bed mode - I was in an aisle seat and thought I would be disturbed but I wasn't.

Service was excellent, although the OH didn't get his first main meal choice on both outbound sectors (despite them taking orders from front of cabin on first sector and then rear of cabin on second). It was the taste of arabia selections he missed out on which I had and they were very good. The chicken on this sector was superb.

The IFE selection was OK - nothing beats EK - but for some reason I couldn't access most of the selection in the guide. CC came over to help and she reset it. No change. I decided to sleep and managed a good 6 hours. On waking I went back to the IFE and still couldn't get most of it - again the CC reset it for me. Only them did I notice the 'exit kids menu' label - once I had done this a whole new world of IFE opened up to me. I blame the bubbles for the lack of concentration.

Breakfast, as were all meals, was on demand and actually very good. The updated cabin fitout is nice with the black and cream stripes on the blankets and curtains and tan cloured seating.

This sector was on a 346 where as the AUH-MAN and return were on 330s with the old fitout of light blue and noticeably smaller seats (width wise).

The Etihad lounge at AUH is rather pleasant although it did get busy for an hour or two (reviews had slated the lounge)Although it was busy there were still seats one just had to share blocks of four armchairs with other pax). There is a Spa which does a number of 15 minute treatments and they have very nice showers - superb rain showers loveley after a long flight. The food offering was breakfast on both occasions which included some of the best hoummus I have had in a very long time - along with more traditional western fare.
No announcements are made in the lounge which keep it peaceful.

The Etihad lounge at MAN is even better. Small but with similar furniture to AUH, leather armchairs etc. but with a dining area and cooked to order food and full waiter service throughout - you can help yourself but they offer to bring everything. A bit of a walk down a long winding corridor but definitely worth it.

We used the limo service to get to and from the OHs family in Derby - very civilised. (100 mile radius of Manchester free).

After the reviews I was expecting the worst but was pleasantly surprised with the overall quality of the service and offering. Etihad are very similar to EK in that the crews are all multinational but seem to work well together. I would certainly fly with them again. Although I have complained about our internal connection back to MEL - see my TR on VA30.

We travelled on our newly acquired Australian passports and it was weird having to go to the 'wrong' queue and be stamped into the UK. Although I did get a very nice and chatty immigration agent who welcomed me home as opposed to the OH who was just grilled on why he was coming to UK.

This did also mean we could claim back the extortionate VAT on departure (well posted claims in a box at MAN - have to wait and see what happens). Due to the exchange rate being in our favour we were able to invest in your economy - in particular a certain Mr Ted Baker - so much cheaper than here.

Thank you for the TR.