The Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 at Abu Dhabi International Airport, after the hoards left! After an 8 hour night wait (from just before midnight until 7:35am) in the Etihad Airways Premium Lounges at Abu Dhabi International Airport, I desperately needed my bed on the plane.
From all the people trying to sleep in the Premium Lounge at Abu Dhabi when I first arrived, Etihad Airways (unlike Qatar Airways) have difficulty scheduling fast connections for their numerous transit customers.
From all the people trying to sleep in the Premium Lounge at Abu Dhabi when I first arrived, Etihad Airways (unlike Qatar Airways) have difficulty scheduling fast connections for their numerous transit customers.
| Boarding Although there was a separate boarding line for Premium passengers, the queues, frustratingly, then mingled as we were approaching the plane, leading to a long wait. The A330-200 Plane On the plane I was shocked by what seemed like a cramped configuration of the Business Class seats. It was nothing like the Business Class seats I had seen in photos of their A380s. However, once I sat down I was relieved to find the seat could make a fully flat bed and the pre-flight drinks service was very elegantly handled, with you being offered a small personal tray with each of the drinks on offer, including champagne. I opted for the lemon & lime juice. The menu was also interesting with you being offered 'eat when you want to' in Business Class, the first time I have seen this. There were also breakfast or daytime options, a great idea when your body clock was as messed up as mine. The Flight I had ordered the noodle dish before we took off but decided to have a nap while waiting for it and woke 5 hours later. The Etihad Airways staff did not attempt to wake me and I was so grateful for this, much needed, sleep. The 'fur' lined quilt you were given really helped me sleep. When I did wake I ordered the noodle dish again and some champagne. However, some heavy turbulence then led to service being suspended. I watched 'Modern Family' while waiting. When the grouper & prawns came they were in tempura batter, despite there being no mention of this on the menu. The egg noodles were rather heavy too. It was good it was a small, stodgy, portion. Arrival We landed early at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh/Saigon) and had to wait for a stand, on the tarmac, for far longer than we were originally told. Not the best thing when you just want to get to your hotel and freshen up. 🐻🐻🐻🐻 (4 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - my disappointment about the seats lost them a 'teddy'. They would have lost more if it was not for the good sleep I got and the excellent crew. My tip: check the visa requirements for Vietnam before you travel. As a UK citizen I can only stay for 15 days using the visa exemption. However, I intend to return to Vietnam again after more than 30 days in Cambodia & Laos. |  The Business Class seats that looked far more 'claustrophobic' than I expected.  My refreshing juice & hot towel.  The unusual Business Class 'eat what you want, when you want' menu.  The ottoman that helped to made the fully flat bed. Note the psychedelic retro wash bag.  My tempura grouper & prawns, served on egg noodles, were a bit soggy. |
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