Il 1 febbraio, a Abu Dhabi, i CEO di Lufthansa Group e Etihad Aviation Group hanno annunciato un’importante collaborazione che include accordi di code-share e servizi di catering. Questa alleanza segna un passo significativo verso una cooperazione più profonda tra i due gruppi, con potenziali sviluppi futuri.
As I wrote about here, it seems like I was the only person in the frequent flyer community that was actually excited for this flight. On the plus side, because I’d heard so many negative comments, the bar had been set really, really low. After a few final stretching exercises in the Etihad US Premium Lounge, we headed over to the gate and on-board our 16-hour flight back home to San Francisco. It was well past midnight and I was half-asleep, so I remember having to do a double-take when I saw the exterior of the plane showing the Jet Airways livery.
We disembarked and navigated out way over to the Etihad Premium Lounge. While the First Class Lounge is under construction, there was a small section in this lounge roped off for First Class passengers. However, the section was filled so we ended up finding a seat elsewhere near the bar.
Even on partner mileage redemptions, Etihad provides chauffeur service for premium cabin passengers and this made for a relaxing start to our 24-hour journey home. Pick-up from our hotel was scheduled in advance, and I was very impressed with the logistics. Not only did we receive an email and phone call the day before to confirm, we also received about 2-3 text messages the day-of with updates on when the driver was expected to arrive. We jumped into the sleek Mercedes S-Class, which definitely stood out like a sore thumb as we drove through the streets of Hyderabad on the way to the airport.
You might be wondering why I’ve come out with another trip report with the word “fat” in the title. Well, as I mentioned in my last trip report, I live my life a quarter-pounder at a time. See, everyone prefers a certain style of travel. Some people like leisure trips, where they sit on the beach, sip margaritas all day, and polish off a couple books. Others travel for culture, spending their days at historical landmarks and museums. And others seek adventure, jumping off tall buildings and into shark-infested waters.
The hottest First Class product in the market today is probably the Etihad Apartments, which are currently only available on flights serviced by the Airbus A380. And those routes are limited currently to London and Sydney, with A380 service to New York commencing on November 23rd.The Etihad A380 features 9 First Class Apartments, along with 70 of it’s flat-bed Business Class Studio seats. And the best news? Award space on the A380 is WIDE OPEN!
I’m off to India in the coming weeks, and as excited as I am to visit a new country (and attend an Indian wedding), in true #AVGeek form I’m even more excited to fly a new airline.
But while my return flight from India is booked in First Class on Etihad, it’s worth noting that it will actually be on one of the Boeing 777-300ER planes wet leased to Etihad from Jet Airways. In other words, the seat, food, and service really won’t be the same as that offered on standard Etihad flights.
Etihad Airways has announced the launch of its own airline alliance, Etihad Airways Partners, featuring initial members such as airberlin, Air Serbia, and Jet Airways. The alliance aims to enhance customer choice with improved networks, schedules, and standardized frequent flyer benefits, simplifying the travel experience for members.
Etihad, Korean Air, and Virgin Atlantic have announced new routes to the US, enhancing travel options for passengers. This post outlines the details of these route changes and provides guidance on how to effectively use miles for booking flights, including tips for leveraging American Airlines miles.
