My Review: Etihad First Class Apartment A380 Was a Dream

Updated on August 27th, 2026 at 06:01 pm

The Etihad First Class Apartment on the A380 stands among the most aspirational First Class experiences in the sky, rivalled only by Emirates and Singapore Airlines. A private suite with its own bed, armchair, wardrobe, minibar and vanity unit, it’s less a seat than a caravan at 40,000 feet.

A Long-Awaited Experience

When the First Class Apartment launched nine years ago, I was a young graduate, and such luxury seemed a distant dream.

At the time, Business Class was a rare indulgence for me. Fast forward five years, and I seized the chance to book this extraordinary product on a promo deal to Seoul, the most I had ever spent on a flight at the time.

Originally scheduled for June 2020, the trip was derailed by the pandemic. Even after rebooking for 2021, further cancellations and Etihad’s eventual retirement of the A380 seemed to end all hope.

Imagine my thrill when Etihad announced the return of these aircraft after nearly three years in storage.

• 9 First Class Apartments plus The Residence, a two room suite for up to 2 guests, at the front of the upper deck
• Complimentary chauffeur service to and from the airport on paid First Class tickets
• Full dine on demand menu, with caviar served as standard on long-haul First Class routes
• Amenity kits featuring Giorgio Armani and ESPA products, plus Armani loungewear
• Complimentary Panasonic wifi for First Class passengers
• Two First Class restrooms, one with a shower (5 minutes standard, extendable to 30 minutes by request)
• Access to the dedicated Etihad First Class Lounge at Abu Dhabi

Etihad Chauffeur Service

Flying on a paid Etihad First Class ticket includes complimentary chauffeur service to and from Abu Dhabi. Booking was seamless via the app, which initially suggested a pickup just two hours before departure. I adjusted it to three hours for some proper lounge time, and confirmation arrived within minutes.

The day before my flight, my driver reached out via WhatsApp to confirm the details. Impressively, companions not flying First Class can also ride along.

My driver arrived at my Hyatt 15 minutes early in a seven seater Mercedes.

My booking confirmation clearly listed 1 passenger and 1 piece of luggage, so I didn’t quite understand why they sent a seven seater instead of a regular sedan. But I had nothing to complain about.

Though an older model, the vehicle was immaculate, equipped with bottled water and refreshing cold towels.

I was dropped off just by the entrance to the First and Business Class check-in area.

Zayed International Airport Terminal A

Having just opened in November 2023, this was only my second visit to this airport, and it delivered a smooth, delightful experience.

Bright, modern and airy, its X-shaped design features four piers themed around city, desert, sea and oasis. The layout ensures seamless passenger flow, minimising backtracking, and the main concourse is a visual marvel of elegant arches and curves.

As the world’s first airport with nine biometric screening facilities, it offers an efficient journey through security. Seeing the project completed was particularly sweet, knowing an engineer friend of mine had worked on it.

First Class Check-In

Etihad’s dedicated First Class check-in is as premium as you’d expect. Head straight past the Business Class check-in.

To the right end of this is the First Class area.

I like that they kept the space open so you can fully take in the stunning architecture.

I was welcomed with a drink while my documents were processed.

A minor hiccup arose with my lack of an eVisa printout, but the staff quickly resolved it, and I breezed through the exclusive First Class security area.

Etihad First Class Lounge

I had just over two and a half hours before departure to check out the rest of the First Class offering on the ground. The Etihad First Class Lounge is an oasis of calm with understated elegance. I indulged in a complimentary massage and a leisurely lunch, making the most of the wait before boarding.

Boarding the First Class Apartment

It took a good 10 to 12 minutes to reach our designated B gate, as our aircraft wasn’t at one of the three gates able to board directly from the lounge.

I’ve flown A380s several dozen times by now, and to this day I still get a tingling sensation seeing one I’m about to board.

Boarding began slightly ahead of schedule, with clear organisation ensuring efficiency despite an almost full A380 load.

Inside Etihad First Class Apartment A380

Walking into the First Class Apartment cabin felt surreal, the closest comparison being my first time in Singapore Suites: a true sanctuary of exclusivity. Ambient music and a spa-like atmosphere set the tone.

I was greeted at the door and escorted in.

Within seconds I was greeted by another First Class crew member offering me champagne or any drink of choice.

You realise why this is now called an “Apartment”: there’s just so much to unpack, you almost don’t know where to look first.

The crew noticed me photographing everything and proactively offered to take one of me, which I was only too happy to oblige.

Etihad First Apartments Layout

This First Class cabin consists of 9 Apartments in a 1-1 layout at the front of the upper deck, plus The Residence, a two room suite occupying the very front left side and accommodating up to 2 people. In total, the cabin can host 11 guests.

Suites 1H, 3A, 3K, 5C and 5H are backward facing. The remaining 4 and The Residence are forward facing.

Note that the SeatGuru depiction of the seat map is off with the orientation. The correct seat map looks like this:

What Are The Best Apartments?

Really, this is the point where you start nit-picking for the sake of nit-picking. There are simply no bad choices, they ultimately provide the same comfort.

For me personally, I chose 4A on this occasion. My preference in general would be either 3A, 3K, 4A or 4K, simply because these are the suites where the chair is aligned closest to the window, and I like windows.

If you’re travelling with a partner, these are also the suites that can have their dividers opened up to form partial double bed pairs, with 3A and 3K, and 4A and 4K. Additionally, 1H and 2H can also double up.

Whilst both sides of the cabin mirror each other, another subtle difference I noted is that the A/C side of the cabin has lighter cream leather tones, whereas the H/K side is more dark chocolate.

Apartment Features

Diving deeper into the nooks and crannies, here are the features available in each suite.

The personal wardrobe is on the door side, and is actually rather generous in width, so you can easily hang a few things up.

Right beside your seat is a substantial drawer that opens up, which can fit your phone, tablet, camera and probably most ladies’ handbags.

Underneath that is your own minibar, and unlike Emirates, it’s actually semi-chilled.

Here you’ll find sparkling or still bottles of VOSS water, two colas and two Sprites, kept chilled by an ice pack placed underneath when Etihad prepares the cabin for each flight.

Beneath the ottoman, which converts into the bed, you can store a full sized carry-on. Mine was on the bigger end and fit snugly.

There are various other storage areas which simply push open, some already holding bedding.

To the side of your armchair you’ll find the main IFE controller, essentially the same one used in Business Class, which controls the entertainment as well as a few physical buttons for seat positioning and the electric window shades.

[CONFIRM: still no line on your wifi experience here despite the photo caption. Worth a sentence either way since both competitor pieces cover it.]

A flap opens up to reveal a touchscreen that controls the lighting elements within your suite, as well as a built-in massage function, which was truly excellent.

Last but not least, when you’re in First Class, you need a vanity unit, and Etihad goes all out with this one.

I mean, we can’t have your hair out of place in First Class now, can we.

Restrooms & Shower In Etihad Apartments

There are two First Class restrooms at the front of the cabin, one of which contains the shower.

These are stocked with additional ESPA products and all other amenities you could possibly need. Unsurprisingly, they’re immaculately maintained.

The shower room isn’t as opulent as Emirates A380 First Class, and there’s only the one of them rather than two, but I actually think Etihad’s colour scheme is far more stylish, with signature lighting creating a soft, relaxing environment.

Like Emirates, your shower water is timed to 5 minutes, but you can book a 30 minute slot if you can fit that into your flight plan.

Etihad First Class Amenities Are Another Level

Before take-off, I received an amenity kit that was nothing short of extraordinary.

Etihad’s partnership with Giorgio Armani and ESPA elevates the flying experience with luxurious pyjamas, slippers and premium skincare products, all presented in a large leather folio bag. Just make sure you have space in your carry-on, because this thing is bigger than anything else I’ve been given on a plane.

The Giorgio Armani PJs are uber luxurious and partially silk. It’s remarkable that such indulgence is offered even on short flights, outshining competitors like Emirates, who don’t offer full First Class amenities on most European day flights, or even some Asian flights departing in the evening that don’t technically count as a “night flight” because they arrive in Dubai before 1am local time.

Etihad First Class Dining: A Culinary Highlight

Etihad offers full dine on demand, and means it.

One thing worth flagging up front: Etihad now serves caviar as standard on its long-haul First Class routes, but as this was a shorter regional sector to Mumbai, it wasn’t on my menu this time round. Worth keeping in mind when comparing notes with reviews of Etihad’s longer First routes to New York or London.

Etihad First Class Menu

The menu for this flight was as follow:

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Aperture: 2
Camera: LGE-NX9
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I requested to start my meal later into the flight, closer to landing, so I enjoyed a few more glasses of champagne and some snacks after take-off.

1 hour 45 minutes prior to arrival, the crew asked if they could set my table. The table slides out from the side of the armchair and is of a considerable size.

Notice how huge this wine glass is? You could empty half a bottle in there.

The Grand Prix themed menu was as follows: [CONFIRM: menu image or itemised list to go here, same as the KLM piece]

I loved Etihad’s commitment to catering and service, with four different choices each for mains and starters.

To start, I chose the Zaafrani Prawn: tandoori potato, tamarind chutney, charcoal coral.

The generous size and portion of prawns were impeccably plated. It was an exquisite way to start.

For the main, I opted for the Lamb Shank Rogan Josh: saffron rice and mash, roasted aubergines.

Once again, I was amazed by the portion, probably enough to share between two people. The lamb was tender, aromatic and deliciously spiced, so good that I ended up eating more than I thought I could.

To finish, I ordered Passion Fruit Bavarois, a sweet way to conclude the dinner.

By the time my final plates were cleared, we were 40 minutes from landing, but the crew still offered me hot drinks.

The sun began to set while I was eating. I spent the rest of the flight watching the flight map, until all too soon it was time to land.

Etihad Apartment Bed & Turn Down

I didn’t sleep on this particular flight, but I did on my return, and I’m including it here for the complete picture.

The crew are happy to make your bed whenever you prefer. The bed is over 6 foot, and the bedding provided is supremely comfortable.

The IFE monitor slides out for bed mode, with further suite controls within easy reach at the side.

Whilst not pictured, the product thoughtfully includes a slide out mini table extending from under the vanity unit, so you can keep a drink or water bottle within reach from bed.

Etihad A380 Destinations

Etihad’s A380 First Class network has kept expanding since this flight. As of writing, the A380 serves London, Paris, New York, Toronto and Singapore, with Tokyo joining the network via Narita in 2026 as the airline’s eighth A380 returned to service. Mumbai was only ever a temporary slot fill and no longer has First Class.

Etihad First Class Apartments Cost & Best Way to Book It

Looking at the next 6 months, Etihad is currently charging around £6,000 for a First Class Apartment return between London and Abu Dhabi.

If you connect onward to Mumbai, the cost drops to around £5,400, though as above, First Class is no longer offered on that sector. Flying Paris to Phuket brings the pricing down to a more reasonable £4,500, even though the AUH-HKT sector itself is in Business. Etihad Business Class is also fantastic in its own right.

I originally booked London to Mumbai in Business Class for £2,100 with stopovers. All sectors were scheduled on A350s or 787s, so First Class wasn’t even an option.

Then, two months later, I received email invitations to upgrade to First when the Mumbai sector was switched to A380s. The minimum bid was around £1,500 from London to Mumbai. I initially resisted, but a couple of weeks before departure I put in a bid of around £500 for this sector and secured it, a great deal compared to the outright £5,400 fare from London.

Airline scheduling changes can be a pain, but in this instance it worked in my favour.

Overall Thoughts

Flying Etihad First Class Apartments has been a truly phenomenal experience. I’m incredibly fortunate to end my year with one of the best and most enjoyable flights I’ve taken.

The crew and service were absolutely top notch, and the product itself is quite something. Etihad has designed something so spectacular and thoughtful that, more than a decade in, it’s still proving to be the one to beat.

Etihad is back in top form, and it’s a joy to witness their resurgence. If you have the opportunity, this is an experience worth every penny or mile. It most certainly earns a place in my Top 5 First Class Airlines, any guesses who it would knock out?

You can watch this flight on Million Miles Up, my YouTube channel:

Faze

Faze, founder of Wander Up Front and Elevate Your Stay, is a London-based travel specialist with a deep passion for aviation and unique destinations. With over 2 million miles flown, he has spent the last 8 years focusing on First and Business class experiences and travelled to 99 countries.

Faze provides straightforward, no-frills insights into premium airline products and services, sharing what matters to help travellers make informed choices.

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