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Etihad has opened its long-anticipated Abu Dhabi First Class Lounge and Spa. The new flagship in Etihad's in-airport offerings was originally scheduled to open this time a year ago but suffered a number of delays.
Built to rival the standards of the world's most exclusive 5-star hotel and dining options, the new lounge is an ultra-exclusive enclave catering to Etihad's first class guests and flyers of The Residence, the private luxury three-room A380 suite.
“Our new First Class Lounge & Spa is the jewel in the crown of our new lounge offerings worldwide and represents the best of our home city of Abu Dhabi. It is a showcase of intelligent product design, innovation, and superlative hospitality and service. This is not just a lounge but the ultimate airline hospitality experience and one which perfectly mirrors Etihad Airways’ evolution into the best airline in the world.
“Continuing our journey of innovation, this new dedicated First Class environment demonstrates our on-going commitment to developing world-class products as we continue to reimagine travel.”
Spread over 16 different ‘zones,' the new lounge features:
- An à la carte restaurant
- Showcase bar
- Fitness room
- Cigar lounge
- Six Senses Spa
- Style & Shave barbers
- Nail bar
- TV room
- Secluded relaxation room
- Prayer room
- Children’s play room
Guests who will be flying The Residence have a small private lounge inside the larger complex, located next to the entrance. The exclusive lounge comes complete with a Savoy-trained Butler, hand-crafted Poltrona Frau furniture, a separate shower area, a prayer room and private dining.
Etihad has put together a website that covers all the details.
Who Can Access Etihad's New First Class Lounge?
As per the press release on Etihad's website.
The Residence, Etihad First Class, Etihad Guest Exclusive, Etihad Guest Platinum members (plus one guest), Etihad Airways Partner (EAP) airline First Class guests, EAP ‘Invitation only’ members (plus two guests) and EAP equivalent Platinum members (plus one guest).
Final Thoughts
Another lounge to add to my list of first class travel aspirations, the list of free amenities in Etihad's new lounge is my favorite attraction here. The actual layout could be any 5-star hotel in the world; it almost feels like a case of Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar trying to out design one another at the cost of personalized design in their premium lounges but that could just be my cultural taste not aligning with the Middle Eastern palate.
Overall, between the lounges undergoing revamping here in the US, and the construction of new premium offerings overseas, there are more options than ever for experiencing first class travel before you even get on the plane.
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