Review Etihad Airways Colombo-Abu Dhabi / Business Class
Paul‘s 230th Flight Report
Flight: EY397
Route: CMB - AUH
Aircraft: Boeing 787-900
Travel Class: 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 DEP: , 45 min delay
, 45 min delay
Punctuality ARR: on time
on time
During the Flight :
Food presentation:
Food quality:
Drinks:
Service Procedure:
Amenity Kit: no amenity kit
IFE System:
Seat Quality:
Legroom:
Lavatories:
Cleanliness:
General Atmosphere:
Announcement Pilots:
Announcement Cabin:
Cabin Crew:
After the Flight :
De-Boarding:
Baggage Delivery: in transit
—-
= 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:
We arrived at Colombo Airport 2,5 hours prior the scheduled time of departure.
Before entering the terminal, there was a passport control and before getting to check-in there was a screening of all bags.
There was no queue at check-in and the agent was friendly and efficient.
After checking in our bags we headed to emigration. Also there no queue at the business / first counter.
Then we headed to the lounge.
The lounge was okay and had definitely enough seating capacity. The F&B selection was okay. They had a bar where you had to order all drinks and a buffet.
Drinks selection was good and also the food selection was abounded. The quality of the food was okay. They would not win a culinary contest.
Staff in the lounge was cold and rather grumpy. They couldn't have cared less and did the absolute minimum.
As Etihad did send two messages via the app that boarding starts and you should go to the gate, we made our way to the gate 10 minutes prior boarding.
Once we arrived at the gate and a gate change was announced to the other end of the terminal, but no more info from Etihad on that.
Security control is done before entering the gate. There was a massive queue as only two screening machines for 300 passengers was available.
Security staff was super grumpy and to be honest, a sorough security screening is different. They could not have cared less.
At the gate we were immediately boarded into the lounge and business class passengers were waiting in a separate area.
Staff at the gate was okay and they did their job.
Boarding started 20 minutes after the scheduled departure time and priority boarding was conducted.
At the aircraft door we were greeted by a cabin crew member who was checking the boarding passes.
The other cabin crew members were in the cabin and super friendly and helpful during the boarding process.
The seats were already equipped with a very comfortable and fluffy pillow, a comfy blanket and a small bottle of water, the noise cancelling headsets and the menu card.
No amenity kit on this flight.
Once installed in the seat and seated, the crew came by and asked for a welcome drink. We were able to choose from fresh orange juice, champagne or lime/mint.
Once everyone was on board, the crew also passed with hot towels.
After the safety demonstration the crew passed by to take the orders for the meal service. They asked for the choice of starter as well as the hot meal for the main service and the desert.
Inflight:
The Etihad business class is actually a nice product. The 787-9 has a total of 28 business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. On this air plane type the even 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, once the fasten seat belt sign was switched off, the cabin crew started very swiftly with their inflight service. The service was absolutely impeccable.
The service started with an aperitive including some warm nuts right after take off before they started with the main service.
The tableware and glasses Etihad Airways uses are from Armani Casa. The design is amazing. They use the appropriate style of glasses for their drinks.
For the main service the crew passed and set up the tables with a very nice embraided table cloth and set up the first course. You were also able to choose the first course as they offered 2
different starters. I did choose the traditional mezze platter whilst my better half did choose the chicken.
The starter was served with some bread and butter.
The plates of the first course were cleared and the main course was served. Etihad Airways offers 3 different choices of main courses on this flight.
I did choose the Fish and my better half the Asian vegetarian option.
The catering on this flight was really good. All the food was tasty, the right amount of spiciness and just very delicious.
The cabin crew on this flight was very friendly and interactive. They offered a very good service.
Announcements were clear and understandable from the cabin crew as well as the flight deck. The Arabic announcements were way to fast.
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 as well as the newest blockbusters.
The aircraft would have been equipped with wifi and the prices Etihad Airways offers are very moderate with 9.99$ for the entire flight.
As Etihad Airways guest, you can choose a free package for messaging only and that worked perfectly fine.
Toilets were super clean throughout the entire flight and the cabin crew checked them super regularly and stocked and cleaned them all the time.
After the Flight:
We are transiting in Abu Dhabi to our connecting flight to Zurich. Bags are checked through and we have 1hr 50minutes time. More on that experience in our next review.
Summary:
All in all, another great flight with Etihad Airways.
The inflight service was stunning and everything was delicious. The crew did an amazing job service and procedure wise and offered a personal service with a nice touch and were interacting
with passengers.
The seats on the dreamliner are super comfortable and also the rest of the hard products were able to deliver.
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