Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.
Today: Review – Etihad A380 The Residence (Abu Dhabi to London flight)
I recently flew in The Residence onboard an Etihad Airways Airbus A380 from Abu Dhabi to London. The Residence is a step beyond First Class and the only three-room suite on a passenger aircraft, featuring a private bedroom, ensuite bathroom (with shower), and a living room. The uber-luxurious space is located on the A380’s upper deck and can accommodate a maximum of two passengers a living room. The Residence is exclusively available on Etihad Airways’ A380 aircraft on routes between Abu Dhabi, London and New York.
The Residence was first introduced by Etihad in 2014, with one-way tickets between London and Abu Dhabi starting at $20,000 USD. Besides a flight in the world’s most exclusive cabin, passengers of The Residence also enjoyed amenities like private butler service, customized menus by onboard chefs, and access to exclusive airport lounges. While The Residence generated an enormous amount of global publicity for Etihad, the three-room suite was way above the budget of the traveling public, so it was empty more often than not (contrary to Etihad’s First Class suites, which sold very well).
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, Etihad stored its A380 aircraft and the future of The Residence seemed uncertain. However, with the resurgent travel demand, Etihad brought back a small number of its A380 aircraft in 2023, The Residence along with them. The spectacular hard product of The Residence remains intact, but nowadays, the three-room suite is sold as an upgrade to First Class passengers (either to be paid by miles or cash). Etihad has also eliminated the butler service and customized menus, and the amenities and culinary offering are now the same as in First Class.
Have you ever flown in The Residence by Etihad? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.
In this review (more information & photos below my YouTube video):
- Etihad First Class lounge at Abu Dhabi Airport
- Cabin
- The Residence
- Amenities
- Lunch
- Inflight entertainment & Wifi
- My score (verdict)
1. ETIHAD FIRST CLASS LOUNGE AT ABU DHABI AIRPORT
Passengers flying in The Residence have access to Etihad’s super-exclusive First Class lounge, which is located on the top floor of the airline’s brand-new lounge complex in Terminal A of Abu Dhabi International Airport. I have previously published a separate review of this lounge (with dozens of photos), which you can read here. For the ultimate relaxation and indulgence before flying, First class Private Suites are available for guests to work, relax and dine in complete privacy. The Private Suites are complimentary for guests flying in The Residence and available for booking by all other First Class lounge guests.
2. CABIN
The Residence by Etihad is located on the left hand side at the front of the First Class cabin on the Airbus A380’s upper deck. So, the three-room suite is across the aisle and in front of Etihad’s nine First Class suites (which are called Apartments).
The Residence is actually a very clever use of some wasted space on the A380. In the front of the A380’s upper deck is a large staircase, and the areas on both sides of this staircase can’t be used for seating because of the curving walls and narrow dimensions. Most airlines have struggled to find anything great to fill these spaces with and they came up with solutions like a tiny lounge (Qantas), a galley (Korean) or lavish lavatories with showers (Emirates).
However, Etihad made a smart move and turned the space on the right of the A380’s staircase into a lavish lavatory with shower while it transformed the space on the left into what is now known as the world’s most famous First Class plane seat, The Residence (and one that passengers are even paying for, resulting in extra revenue for the airline). To create The Residence, Etihad extended the front row First Class Suite on the left side into this wasted space, resulting in a three-room suite: the sitting room (where the First Class suite would have been), a bathroom with shower, and a bed wedged into the nook at the front.
The Residence shares the same cabin with the other First Class Apartements. However, just like with the First Class Apartments, The Residence has a double sliding door that, when closed, provides a fair amount of privacy. Also, the partitions around The Residence are higher than for any of the other suites, resulting in some extra level of privacy. Privacy is not complete though as other guests – on their way to the First Class lavatory – can still look over the door into The Residence’s Living Room.
3. THE RESIDENCE
The Residence is comprised of three separate spaces:
- The first room of The Residence – which is connected to the aisle by a sliding door – is called the living room. The living room features a two-seat reclining sofa upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather with two marquetry dining tables (which are stored in the armrests). In front of the sofa is a 32-inch LCD TV as well as an ottoman, with a chilled mini-bar underneath. A touchscreen control unit on the side of the sofa operates the retractable ottoman, the ambient and mood lighting, window shading, adjusts seat position and firmness, and activates the in-seat massage functions. The AC outlet and USB ports are also found on the side of the seat.
- A door and passageway separate the living room from the master bedroom. The bedroom features a Poltrona Frau upholstered 82 inch (208 cm) long double bed (so no queen nor king) with custom-made mattress, bedside unit, wardrobe, and under-bed stowage for hand luggage. The bedroom boasts its own 27 inch LCD TV.
- Between the living room and the master bedroom is an ensuite bathroom, equipped with a shower, lavatory and one sink, and stocked with toiletries.
While The Residence’s living room is quite a bit larger than the First Class Apartments, the bathroom and especially bedroom feel tight (because the space narrows towards the plane’s nose).
4. AMENITIES
Passengers flying in The Residence receive the same amenities are travelers flying in First Class:
- A First Class amenity kit. During my flight (last March), Etihad provided its old amenity kits designed by Italian luxury brand Acqua Di Parma. However, since then, the airline has introduced new amenities. Guests who now fly in The Residence or First Class are treated to a stylish Giorgio Armani and Etihad branded large folio bag – one of the largest amenity kits in the sky. Collectable in four colors, the bag can be used post flight to carry documents, tablets or even a 13” laptop, and aims to be a coveted accessory for all travelers. The large folio bag comes packed with goodies from ESPA.
- The Residence and First Class guests are also gifted bespoke Giorgio Armani and Etihad loungewear and slippers, presented in the large Giorgio Armani folio bag. The charcoal loungewear is soft to the touch, anti-wrinkle, and features a Henley neckline and bespoke tonal print inspired by the modern Abu Dhabi skyline, as well as matching trousers with pockets.
- Bose noise-cancelling headphones, which effectively suppressing cabin noise and engine drone (you’ll need to leave them behind at the end of the flight).
- Three stylish blankets (to be shared among The Residence’s two passengers).
5. LUNCH
Guests of The Residence get the same menu as First Class passengers, except for two differences: the menu is wrapped in a leather holder and afternoon-tea is an extra addition to the menu.
I choose the following selection from the menu:
- Signature Oscietra caviar service with traditional garnishes
- Starter: sweet potato & kale soup, with brazil nuts and crispy kale
- Main course: Steak frites, fillet of beef, frites, tomatoes, béarnaise
- Dessert: warm chocolate & vimto fondant, served with Laben ice cream, date batheeth crumb, berries
The food tasted great and was beautifully presented.
6. ENTERTAINMENT & WIFI
The Residence features two TV screens: a massive 32-inch LCD TV in the living room and a 27 inch LCD TV in the bedroom. The inflight entertainment features hundreds of hours of on-demand entertainment, with more than 300 TV shows as well as more than 100 movies, ranging from blockbusters to timeless classics and representing all corners from the world (Hollywood, Arabic, European, Indian and Asian Cinemas). Etihad Airways’ inflight entertainment system also features live TV channels (e.g. BBC, CNN).
Passengers flying on Etihad’s The Residence as well as First Class passengers get complimentary WiFi for the duration of the flight.
7. MY VERDICT
- Suite design: 8/10
- Seat comfort (upright): 9/10
- Seat comfort (bed position): 10/10
- Seat privacy: 10/10
- Food (quality): 8/10
- Food (quantity): 10/10
- Amenities: 8/10
- Inflight entertainment : 9/10
- WiFi: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Overall experience: exceptional 9.2/10
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