Etihad Airways’ Airbus A350-1000 features the airline’s brand new Business Class in a 1-2-1 configuration; every seat features a lie-flat bed, direct aisle access, and a door for additional privacy. On this incredible flight from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to New Delhi (DEL), I basically had most of the gorgeous cabin all to myself!
Flying Etihad Airways Business Class (A350-1000 · AUH-DEL)
- Flight Information
- Flying Etihad Airways Business Class
- Etihad Airways A350-1000 Business Class Seat
- Etihad Airways Business Class Amenities
- Departure from Abu Dhabi & Flying over Dubai
- Etihad Airways Business Class Menu
- Etihad Airways Business Class Dining
- Etihad Airways Business Class Bed
- The Final Note
Flight Information
Airline: Etihad Airways (EY)
Flight: EY224
Route: Abu Dhabi (AUH) – New Delhi (DEL)
Cabin: Business Class (seat 10A)
Date: July 2023
Scheduled Flight Time: 03h30m
Aircraft: Airbus A350-1000 (A35K)
Registration: A6-XWF
Flying Etihad Airways Business Class
Prior to my flight, I spent some time in the Etihad Airways First Class Lounge, which I was able to access based on my arrival from London-Heathrow (LHR) in The Residence, which was an unforgettable experience.
I was really excited for this flight because the A350-1000 features Etihad’s brand new Business Class, in a 1-2-1 configuration; the cabin is beautiful.
Every seat features a fully lie-flat bed, direct aisle access, as well as a door for additional privacy.
Etihad Airways A350-1000 Business Class Seat
You can’t really store your larger personal items anywhere in the seat for departure and landing, so they have to go up into the overhead bin, as the seat only features a few, smaller storage areas.
One of the storage areas also contains the In-Flight Entertainment remote, headphone jack, USB ports, and a power socket. Seat controls are located next to the armrest and wireless charging is available.
A main light (in Etihad’s signature style) is located next to the literature holder, accompanied by a smaller reading light. A bottle of water is waiting for you in a compartment under the armrest.
I was warmly welcomed by the crew and offered a glass of their Signature Lemon & Mint Juice, which is absolutely delicious.
Etihad Airways Business Class Amenities
Amenities on this flight include a comfortable pillow, thick blanket, and noise cancelling headphones. Because the flight was on the shorter side, there was no amenity kit.
Departure from Abu Dhabi & Flying over Dubai
We departed Abu Dhabi a few minutes behind schedule and the Business Class cabin was mostly empty on this flight – it really was only me and a few other people.
The departure was kind of boring since there wasn’t really a lot to see… until we were flying over Dubai. The flight route took us first north and then over Iran and Pakistan before we reached India.
A few minutes after departure, we were flying over Dubai and everyone on the right side of the cabin was able to see both Palms as well as the World Islands.
I briefly switched seats to the other side so I, too, could have a great view.
Etihad Airways Business Class Menu
The menu was distributed during boarding and main course orders were taken then.
Lunch on today’s flight began with a starter (two choices), followed by a main course (three choices), and to finish the meal, there were a few options for dessert.
As you’d expect, the beverage selection was extensive and consisted of water, juice, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and more. A separate alcohol menu was also available and featured champagne, wine, spirits, liqueurs, and beer.
Etihad Airways Business Class Dining
As soon as we reached cruising altitude, 38,000 feet, the flight attendants offered us a drink of choice as well as some mixed nuts; I selected Champagne.
Lunch began with a hot towel service and after which, the starters were presented.
For the appetizer I, naturally, went with the Arabic Mezze – it was okay but not as good as the one I enjoyed in the First Class Lounge a few hours prior. Some bread and butter accompanied the meal.
For my drinks, I asked for a glass of sparkling water as well as more of the delicious Lemon & Mint juice.
Since we were flying to India, for my main course, I went with the Indian option which was a chicken dish; it was absolutely tasty. The main course was definitely the highlight of the entire dining experience on this Etihad flight.
For dessert, the Vanilla Ice Cream was perfect, but rock hard, and I had to wait fifteen minutes for it to melt a bit. I also had an Iced Mocha and asked the crew to add some Baileys to it – the combination was phenomenal.
Overall, I really liked the pace of the entire dining experience because it was neither rushed nor too slow.
Etihad Airways Business Class Bed
After lunch, I converted my seat into a bed and was looking forward to resting for a bit before we reached New Delhi. The bed and bedding were super comfy and I had no trouble falling asleep really quickly.
The Business Class lavatory was basic but did contain some hand lotion, mist, and hand sanitizer.
It was kept clean throughout the flight.
The Final Note
As we were getting closer to New Delhi, the sun began to set.
After we landed, the IFE displayed some really cool statistics about our flight and when we reached the gate, the curtain between Business Class and Economy Class was closed so that premium passengers could disembark first.
As with any Etihad flight, the flight attendants were fantastic and constantly checked on the passengers. Since the flight was so empty in Business Class, it kind of felt like flying in a private jet – except it was much nicer, because Etihad’s new Business Class is amazing. Once again, it was another incredible flight with Etihad Airways.
