Flying Etihad Business Class on their 787-9 Dreamliner from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok offered an opportunity to experience whether the airline’s premium reputation still held strong, especially given the age of the aircraft. Given I’d just flown into Abu Dhabi from Cairo on their short haul business class product I was excited to see how they switched things up for long haul. Although Etihad is often overshadowed lately by the likes of Qatar and Emirates- but I had high expectations for comfort, dining, and service, the journey provided an ideal test of luxury travel at altitude.
Flight Details:
- Flight Number: EY400
- Route: AUH-BKK
- Departure Time: 14:43
- Arrival Time: 23:24
- Scheduled Duration: 6hr
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner
- Registration: A6-BLF
- Seat: 8K
- Cabin Class: Business
- Load Factor: Unknown
- Booked Via: Direct, Etihad Airways
- Frequent Flyer Programme: Etihad Guest
Boarding & Departure
My flight in Etihad’s 787-9 Business Class from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok began at their impressive business lounge, though unfortunately, my time there quickly came to an end. After leaving the lounge at gate C27, I headed towards my gate, C37. Abu Dhabi’s Terminal A was one of the nicest I’ve visited—spacious, airy, and pleasantly uncrowded.
The boarding gate itself was calm and quiet, featuring a diverse mix of passengers from backpackers to business travellers. Unfortunately, the gate agent’s slightly accusatory tone—repeatedly emphasising “only business class”—felt less than welcoming. Thankfully, the onboard crew completely redeemed this initial hiccup with their warm greetings and attentiveness from the moment I stepped aboard.
Etihad Business Class Cabin & Seat Experience
Settling into my seat, it was clear this 787-9 was a slightly ‘older’ aircraft, around eight years in service. Despite this, the cabin felt comfortable and well-appointed. The high-definition touchscreen was responsive, although the seat controls appeared somewhat dirty, which was a minor letdown.
After an efficient boarding and swift taxi, we were airborne. I had researched the aircraft registration, discovering an intriguing past incident from 2019 involving an autopilot software failure that led the plane slightly off course near Hong Kong. Fortunately, today’s flight promised smoother sailing.
The seat itself was well-equipped, featuring a massage function, an Armani-branded blanket, memory foam topper, and notably comfortable slippers—something I appreciated greatly. Storage space under the armrest was ample, and charging options included USB-A and a three-pin power outlet. The provided noise-canceling headphones were excellent, though I still wish more airlines would universally adopt Bluetooth connectivity for personal headphones.
Post-dinner, I laid the seat flat, using the provided bedding, and drifted quickly to sleep. The seat and bedding combination proved excellent, as I slept uninterrupted until gently woken by the crew during our descent into Bangkok.
Onboard Service
The crew quickly introduced themselves, offering hot towels and welcome drinks. Since I was beginning to feel a little run down, opting for fresh orange juice to boost my overworked immune system seemed sensible. I still took a curious glance at the wine list though, which seemed impressive—even if mostly lost on me.
Dinner Service on Board in Etihad Business Class
When dinner service began, I chose the steak with scalloped potatoes, beautifully presented alongside a crisp, fresh salad. Despite steak’s reputation for toughness at altitude, Etihad delivered a remarkably tender and flavourful meal—one of the best I’ve had inflight. Although traditionally paired with red wine, the Sauvignon Blanc on board was irresistibly good.
787-900 Etihad IFE
Departure out of Abu Dhabi was surprisingly gorgeous, a slight afternoon haze but otherwise clear and stunning views of the bright blue coastline below us.
Descent & Arrival
Our landing was firm enough to shift unsecured items, contrasting the smooth and calm flight itself. Although Etihad is introducing newer business class seats fleet-wide, this older configuration remains highly comfortable and pleasant, even lacking some privacy on aisle seats.
Final Thoughts on Etihad Business Class On Their 787-900
Overall, Etihad’s 787-9 business class delivered an elegant, comfortable, and enjoyable flight. From the crew’s exceptional service to the quality inflight dining, the experience certainly upheld Etihad’s premium reputation. It left me wondering why Etihad isn’t showcasing it’s cabin and crew more prevalently (at least in the UK) – rather than just sticking it’s logo on a football team shirt. Thoughts?
35Left Score:
Seat Comfort: 4/5
Cabin Cleanliness: 4/5
Boarding Process: 3/5
Crew & Service: 4/5
Food & Drink: 4/5
IFE/WiFi: 3/5
Value for Money: 3/5
Full Experience + Review
Since you made it this far, here’s the full experience and review from the 35Left YouTube Channel. I hope you enjoy it and please consider subscribing and leaving a comment if you do.
Until the next one… Keep Your Head In The Clouds!
Enjoyed this episode.
I particularly enjoyed the focus on the meal served – perhaps more emphases on meals could be a nice niche.
Also, the airport hotel and how you got there – the limo service for example, the tip about arranging it in the airport rather than hailing a taxi outside.
Keep being friendly and don’t stop smiling – its beautiful.