We booked the Etihad A380 Apartments to test the airline we had long wanted to try, returning home to London after a short break in Malaysia. The itinerary worked, the price made sense, and the chance to fly one of aviation’s most theatrical first class products was too good to pass up. Our seat was 3K, a rear-facing window Apartment on the upper deck, one of just nine in the cabin alongside the two Residence seats. This was a day flight from Abu Dhabi, so we planned to stay awake and enjoy every minute. Read on for how it held up.
In this review
Flight Details
Flight No: EY63
From/To: Abu Dhabi (AUH) to London (LHR)
Departure time: 08:10
Ticket Class: First
Flight time: 7 hours 7 minutes
Frequent Flyer Points: 7,000
Status Points: 7,000
Aircraft: A6-APF
Aircraft type: Airbus A380-800
Number of classes: 3 (First, Business, Economy)
Number of seats in flying class: 9 Apartments + 2 in The Residence
Seat: 3K
Position: Rear-facing, window-adjacent, upper deck
Airport Experience
We arrived into Abu Dhabi Zayed International on an inbound flight from Kuala Lumpur, which left us with several hours airside before the London departure. That gave us plenty of time to settle into Etihad’s first class lounge and make proper use of it. We grabbed a quiet corner, ate well, and barely noticed the hours pass, which says plenty about how comfortable it felt. We have written a separate review covering the lounge in detail, so we will not repeat ourselves here. It is worth seeking out before you board, particularly if you have a long connection like ours.
Read our full Etihad First Class Abu Dhabi Lounge Review
Boarding & Welcome
The crew were warm and attentive from the moment we boarded, clearly aware of which cabin we were heading to. That kind of recognition is exactly what you hope for on the Etihad A380 Apartments, and it started the flight well. The A380 is still a wonderful aircraft to step onto, with a scale and presence nothing else matches. The only slight disappointment was the visible wear in places, with a few bits and pieces showing the age of an aircraft that has been flying for over a decade. None of it affected comfort, but at this level I noticed it.
Seat
The Apartment is something to behold. Where rival first class products call themselves suites or cabins, this is the closest you’ll get to an enclosed private room built around a single aircraft seat. An extra-wide leather armchair faces a large leather bench opposite, and that bench converts into a full-length bed of more than 6ft.
There’s a vanity unit with a mirror inside, plus ample storage throughout. A large table folds neatly out from the armrest, the seat controls sit tucked under the opposite armrest, and a decorative cushion, soft blanket and slippers were waiting on arrival. The 24-inch 1080p screen sat directly opposite the seat. 5ft dividers and a sliding door with a grille enclosed the lot. Our 3K was rear-facing, which made no real difference to comfort.
What is the best seat on Etihad A380 Apartments?
If you are travelling together and skip The Residence upgrade, seats 3 and 4 are the best in the cabin. They sit away from the door and aisle, carry a removable divider, and come with three windows each. Pairs should book 3K and 4K, or 3A and 4A, so you can lower the divider and still see each other, sharing six windows between you. Avoid seats 1 and 5, which have the least favourable window configurations. At this price point, the view counts.
Onboard Experience
We were eating in our Apartments and chatting quietly when another passenger complained about us. The crew offered her a different seat, earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones, but she refused all three and hinted we should move instead. So we did, finishing our meal in the lounge area – when they go low, you go high.
The crew apologised repeatedly, making clear we had not been noisy and that the other passenger was unwell and wanted silence. It got a little awkward, but we reassured them it was not their fault and joked that she probably ought to book a private jet next time.
From there, the service only got better. The crew were attentive, obliging and made us feel like royalty, operating at the top of their game. Before landing, I took the famous A380 shower, called by the crew for my slot. Five minutes of warm water, fresh towels and proper toiletries left me feeling like I had just stepped out of my own bathroom.
Food & Drink
We skipped the caviar service on the Etihad A380 Apartments, which felt too early in the day, and the rest of the menu more than made up for it. The Wagyu Copa started things, followed by beef tenderloin with mashed potato and spinach, then a sorbet.
We took the cheese selection at the bar, where one of the crew offered to make us espresso martinis after telling us they made a mean one.
The second service brought steak frites at our seat. Every dish was excellent and beautifully presented. Before landing, the crew handed us a small box of chocolates. It felt like a private dining room at a highly rated restaurant, with service to match.
In-flight Entertainment
The 24-inch screen was large and well positioned within the suite. The weak spot was the film selection, which felt surprisingly thin for a flagship product. Noise-cancelling headphones came provided and worked fine. The upper deck of the A380 is already quiet, and quieter still with them on. Each first class guest receives a WiFi voucher valid for the full flight, covering streaming and browsing. It works on a single device only, and once redeemed it applies to that flight alone. The connection held up reasonably well until we reached Northern Europe, then became unusable for the final 90 minutes. A minor frustration on an otherwise polished product – at the time of writing, no deal had yet been announced with Starlink.
Arrival
We were given a fast track immigration card on arrival into Heathrow, though neither of us were eligible as we could use the e-passport gates. For travellers on passports from outside the UK or EU, that fast track ticket will move you through immigration far quicker, and depending on your tolerance for queues we would value it at somewhere between £50 and £100. Stepping off a long-haul flight having already showered onboard is a rare way to land, and it made the walk through the terminal feel surprisingly fresh.
BG1 Verdict
The cabin crew were so welcoming that they made the soft product worth every penny. The food was impeccable, given it’s essentially reheated airplane food. The Apartment remains one of aviation’s standout products, even with the odd sign of age, and the awkward dining incident was handled gracefully by everyone involved. The Abu Dhabi to London routing suits our regular trips to South East Asia, so we will certainly book it again. We also hope Etihad keep flying the A380 a while longer.
BG1 Tip
Pick your seats carefully at booking. The best Etihad A380 Apartments are 3 and 4, both window-adjacent and away from the door. Travelling as a pair? Go for 3K and 4K, so you can lower the divider, still half-see each other, and share six windows between you. We will be booking those next time.
Read our review of Etihad Guest
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