EY12 LHR-AUH 20 JAN 12 (BUSINESS)
Posted: 01 Mar 2012, 13:35We had stayed at the Skyline on Bath Road the previous night, always our choice of LHR hotel, which was a bargain when we booked months before, and had a good night there, although being picked up by the airline car meant getting up at 4.45, so it was really only half a night! No matter, we were going on holiday and more importantly meeting up with our son and his girlfriend who live and teach in Ho Chi Minh City, neither of whom we had seen for over a year.
The car was a little late arriving but we had a call from the driver saying he was on his way and would be with us in 5 minutes – which he was in a very smart Mercedes people carrier. Luggage loaded we set off for T4, which took all of 10 minutes. Some might say using the inclusive car for such a short journey a waste, but we live in S.W.Wales so would have been outside the mileage limit and anyway had visited the out-laws in N.London the previous afternoon, so it saved us the cost of a cab!
Anyway, we arrived at T4 and Pearl Business check-in was empty. We had our bags checked through to Bangkok and chose our seats for both the Etihad flights – despite having chosen on-line previously – so clutching our Fastrack and Lounge passes, off we went. The queues were very short anyway, but with our Fastrack we were through in seconds and found our way to the Etihad Lounge, where we were welcomed and shown around. Back massages duly booked we had some breakfast and settled down with a glass of champagne and the newspapers. The massages were very thorough and enjoyable and after another drink the flight was called.
Boarding seemed to very efficient and we both really liked the staggered configuration in the cabin. The suite was clean and comfortable, maybe a tad narrow for more well built passengers and possibly even a little short for some, but we fitted in just nicely. Some of the features I really liked, like the massage facility, the way it reclined into a bed, the table and the larger screen, but I did miss the PJs and the duvet. Being in the A seat right at the front of the cabin, it was very private and I was extremely happy we had chosen Etihad – especially given we’d saved a packet over our originally booked Thai flights. Of course when I saw the fabulous enclosed suites in First, I lusted after one of them, but I’m not sure I’d feel it was worth another £5,000 for the two of us, even if we were prepared to spend that amount – which we weren’t! Anyway, we were offered champagne, then a refill, menus were handed out together with an amenity tray and post take-off drinks orders taken. No travel pack provided. We pushed back on time and were off.
The drinks came around with some sort of hot canapé, which was lovely I’m sure, but not vegetarian so I can’t really say. Then I think I must have fallen asleep, since I was suddenly aware that they were clearing away some meal trays. They operate a totally on demand meal service and we were about 4 hours into the flight so I was a little hungry. I approached the Food and Beverage Manager and asked about lunch. I only wanted the delicious sounding Meze, but sadly for me, they had all been eaten or allocated – so I must have been asleep when they came to take orders. I had soup instead – pumpkin if I remember and a small individual loaf that was wonderful. They also brought me a delicious lemon/mint soft drink that was to die for.
After watching a little TV my husband came and sat with me and they brought us both a couple of these lovely lemon drinks and a huge bowl – each – of spiced mixed nuts – oh they were wonderful. Throughout the flight I noticed that each and every time a passenger went into the toilets, a crew member would go in afterwards and spruce it up. It was always clean and fresh and best of all had a window!
All too soon we were approaching Abu Dhabi. I was sad the flight was over, but we still had another two flights before we would get to our destination. Security was a doddle with the Fastrack card although it would have been even better had my husband not realised in the lounge that he’d left his watch behind after scanning. Back he had to go, and wonder of wonders someone had handed it in. Would that happen here I wonder? Our flight to Bangkok was delayed nearly 2 hours so instead of the 90 minutes we were expecting, we had time for another massage in the lounge, a foot massage this time, which is open 24 hours a day and a very decent dinner buffet was set up there too.
The next leg later.
