Etihad AMS - AUH Review
Flight Time: 5 hours 55 minutes
Business Class
General Impression: 
Before the Flight :
Check-in Process:
Security Control :
Lounge:
Information:
Boarding @ Gate:
Staff @ these points:
Boarding in Cabin:
Welcome Drinks:
Punctuality: , 35 min delay
, 35 min delay
During the Flight :
Food presentation:
Food quality:
Drinks:
Service Procedure:
Amenity Kit:
Entertainment System:
Seat Quality:
Legroom:
Lavatories:
Cleanliness:
General Atmosphere:
Announcement Pilots:
Announcement Cabin:
Cabin Crew:
After the Flight :
De-Boarding:
Baggage Delivery: in transit
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= bad, a lot of work needs to be done
= poor, you will be busy with corrections
= good & normal, nothing special
= high level, but the icing on the cake is missing
= topnotch, leave me here!
= Half a Point/sheep
—-
On the Ground:
Well where to start. The worst ever ground experience we have ever had. Beginning with the check-in, the security control, the lounge and so on.
As we did hear and read about the chaos and mess at Amsterdam Schipol Airport, we did arrive 4 hours prior our departure time.
Check-in was in Departures 3, row 21. Once there, it was a huge mess, as several airlines were checking in at the same time in the same area. All counters were shown closed never the less
they were open. After a while we found the entrance for the Etihad Business class lane.
There was no queue for business class but unfortunately the baggage system did not work and we had to wait around 20 min until it was running again.
The Security Check was the biggest disaster. Luckily we were allowed to use the priority lane but even there the chaos was huge and we were waiting around one hour to get through.
Poor economy class guests were queueing for around 3 hours and the Amsterdam Schipol Airport staff who should have done crowd control was yelling at them where they have to go or to move.
A pure disgrace from the Airport in the whole organisation and an unacceptable non human behavior how passengers were treated.
Flying or transiting in Amsterdam, no thanks and we recommend to stay away from this airport.
Etihad has a contract with the Aspire Lounge 41 at Amsterdam Airport.
The next disaster.
We were actually happy we made it through security and went to the lounge. The lounge was super super packed and there was no seating space. After a few minutes we were able to get 2 seats.
The buffet was a disaster and looked like something just exploded on it. Choice of food was more than poor and the quality of it was low.
Also all drinks are from a dispenser except the wine and the coffee.
This lounge should not be allowed to be called lounge.
Staff also here unfriendly and super unprofessional. Out of the around 6 staff only the one at the frontdesk was wearing a uniform. The 5 others were working in jeans, shirt and some even in
a T-shirt.
Boarding started around 10 minutes after the indicated time on the boarding pass.
Boarding announcements were made according procedure and boarding was conducted nicely by respective groups. An agent even checked all boarding passes.
Announcements at the gate were super clear and the staff was friendly and attentive.
At the aircraft door we were greeted by the senior cabin crew member.
The crew was very friendly at the door and whilst boarding.
There was no cabin crew in the cabin for boarding. The crew only showed up out of the forward galley once 90% of the passengers were on board.
The seats were already equipped with headphones, amenity kits and a bottle of water.
The crew then passed with the welcome drinks (champagne, water or orange juice).
The menu cards were also already placed on the seats and the crew passed through the cabin after the welcome drink to take the orders.
Inflight:
The Etihad business class is actually a nice product. The 787-1000 has a total of 32 business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. The odds seat row numbers are actually flying backwards.
The seats are very comfortable and offer enough privacy. Unfortunately they do not have sufficient storage space at the seat itself.
All business class seats are fully lie flat and you have enough shoulder space as well as legroom space.
After take off the cabin crew started with the service.
After around 20 minutes an aperitif was served together with some nuts.
Around 50 minutes prior take off lunch service started.
The crew distributed the trays with your choice of first course and some bread, butter as well as the drinks you had to choose whilst ordering the food.
Afterwards the hot meal was served and then the tray was cleared. At the end they passed with cheese and/or dessert.
Presentation of the food was good but the quality was one of the worst business class meals we have ever had. The beef steak as well as the "famous" beef sandwich were not eatable. The beef
was so chewy that a chewing gum seems like butter.
Some of the food items were simply not eatable.
Not a single time were we asked for top ups of our drinks or if we wanted anything else. You either had to push the call button or try to get the attention of the crew.
The cabin crew were robots. No interaction with the passengers, no smiles, just doing the bare minimum and without passion or pride.
The inflight entertainment is good and the screens worked fine. They have a good size and resolution for business class. The screens are touch screens but you can also choose the handheld
devices to navigate.
Etihad Airways has a fantastic selection of movies, films and series. Even there weren't many new blockbusters recently they have them all on their IFE.
Around 2 hours prior landing the crew on the opposite aisle passed and asked the passengers sitting there if they would like to have something to drink or eat prior to landing.
On my side of the cabin no one passed and we had to use the call button to get something to drink.
Well, to be honest, I was rather disappointed with the service and quality Etihad Airways offered on this flight.
The service is way behind for example Qatar Airways and it is level with Lufthansa, BA and others.
Crew were robots, no interaction and the food was very poor.
The seats were the only top thing on board this flight.
After this experience, I wouldn't recommend Etihad Airways because of its service.
Let's see if they are better on the next flight from AUH to Johannesburg. Maybe they are better out of their home base.
Notes:
- Paul the Sheep does not get any benefits from the Hotels/Airlines etc.
- Paul will always pay for the services in order to be able to rate freely and truly about the experiences.
-If you are interested in more details, please send me a private message and I will be happy to share