I have never considered what it would feel like to have my foot run over by a wheelchair before. I’m not sure anyone needs to ponder that. On the other hand, I should have perhaps considered that deserts are well known to get freezing cold in the night while the sun disappears for the night. On this segment of my 8 flight/6 day adventure, I get to experience both at Cairo International, but with a flight on board Etihad’s A321neo to check off my list ahead- would it be worth it?
Flight Details
- Flight Number: EY712
- Route: CAI-AUH
- Departure Time: 7:11am
- Arrival Time: 12:22am
- Scheduled Duration: 3hr 15m
- Aircraft: Airbus A321neo
- Registration: A6-AES
- Seat: 1A
- Cabin Class: Business (Short Haul)
- Booked Via: Direct, Etihad Airways
- Frequent Flyer Programme: Etihad Guest
The Cairo Terminal 2 & The Ahlein Lounge
Cairo Airport is a bit of a wildcard, and this morning was no exception. In stark contrast to my arrival experience at Cairo International Terminal 2, the whole process in departures felt more like organised chaos than anything streamlined.
Etihad also uses Terminal 2 at CAI, which is technically the newer one, though you wouldn’t exactly call it “modern.” After a 3 separate security checks and 3 document checks, I made my way to the gate. Thanks in large part due to a terrible nights sleep at my Cairo airport hotel (more on that here…) a brief stop at the Ahlein Lounge was in order for some much needed coffee. It’s Etihad’s contracted lounge partner here and you can also enter with Priority Pass. It’s pretty good, clean with a good selection of breakfast items- and supposedly had showers but they weren’t available at 4.30am when I was there at least.
Gate + Boarding: How Many People Can A Jet Bridge Hold?
The gate was fairly packed, and the terminal was cold – I’m fairly certain they don’t have any heating- so keep that hoodie available if you’re travelling at night or early morning. Boarding began about 15 minutes late with assistance passengers first, as is standard around the world. Business boarded next and all 8 of us had the privilege of standing for a further 15 minutes on the freezing cold jet bridge, dodging over zealous assistance staff pushing their way back and forth with wheelchairs as though it was our fault we’d been boarded already.
Once our time in Cairo Airport’s jetbridge purgatory was over and we were finally in the hands of actual Etihad crew members things started to feel like it was worth paying for the ticket. A bright and friendly greeting at the aircraft door from the crew warmed me back up, and I was directed straight to my seat in 1A. Bags stowed, welcome drink offered, and we were ready to go.
Pushback wasn’t for a further 30 minutes, delaying our departure further- again this is the fault of ground/assistance/boarding silliness rather than Etihad, but eventually we were on our way 45 minutes after schedule.
Wheels up just past sunrise, climbing out over a hazy city skyline.
A Full 180 – Onboard Seat And Welcome
The A321neo cabin on this short regional hop was fitted in a proper 2-2 business class layout — none of that blocked middle seat nonsense. With only 8 seats in total, it felt really intimate and the crew were exceptionally attentive as a result of the small cabin. My seat, 1A, had loads of legroom and a generous recline, more than comfortable for a flight of this length. The seat was a breathable fabric- it felt well-padded and wide, and it’s always a bonus to have a proper armrest and decent table setup.
Cabin finishes were classic Etihad — cream and gold tones, geometric patterns, and everything felt clean and well-maintained. No visible scuffs, and nothing that looked like it needed to be quietly retired. Even the lavatory was spotless.
Lighting was warm, and the cabin crew had the window shades up at boarding, which is a small detail but makes a big difference when you’re boarding into sunrise.
For a narrowbody flight, it felt premium. Quiet, calm, and a much needed world away from the chaos we’d just left behind in Cairo International.
Crew + Inflight Service
Etihad’s crew on this sector were, in a word, excellent. They hit that sweet spot between friendly and professional — warm without being overbearing. Service began shortly after takeoff with a hot towel and drink top-ups. No need to ask for anything twice; they were attentive but never hovering.
One thing I really appreciate about Etihad is how consistent their crew feel, even on shorter regional routes. In fact, this particular flight was better perhaps than the long haul service I’ve had of late (not to say it’s ever been sub par- but kudos to the crew on this flight). Sometimes airlines treat these connecting short-haul flights like afterthoughts, but here, it was clearly the same service standard you’d get on a longer flight.
Also worth noting — every interaction felt genuine. No script-reading or forced smiles. Just relaxed, human service from a crew that seemed to actually enjoy what they were doing.
Meal Service + Drinks
Now, I wasn’t especially hungry on this three-hour morning flight since my body clock was firmly in the middle of circadian low, but nevertheless decided on muesli, black coffee & juice for the sake of review if nothing else.
Alongside that came fresh fruit, yoghurt, and a croissant. Nothing earth-shattering, but solid quality across the board. Coffee was strong and actually decent (rare at 35,000 feet)- but the show-stopper was the fresh orange juice. I had 3 glasses without ever having to ask for a refill.
If you’re flying this route and you’re on the fence about booking business for the catering alone, this tips it in the right direction.
Inflight Entertainment
Being a short-haul A321, the onboard entertainment was via streaming Wi-Fi only- no seatback screens; and between the short flight time, my frequent dozing and breakfast being served, I barely had time to get it to work. My only attempt failed but can’t put that down to issues on board or my technical inability or not.
Supposedly, you had access to a decent content library including a few recent films, TV shows, and Etihad’s moving map. I didn’t dive too deep since I was more focused on the breakfast and sleep catch-up, but it’s a nice perk to have, especially for a regional route.
Wi-Fi was available for purchase, but I didn’t test it this time. Judging by Etihad’s usual offering, it’s passable for messaging but nothing you’d want to rely on for uploads or streaming.
Arrival and Immigration
We landed in Abu Dhabi about 30 minutes after schedule — not bad considering the delayed pushback in Cairo. It was a smooth descent and an equally smooth landing, with just a short taxi to a jetbridge gate.
Disembarkation was quick and efficient, as you’d expect with such a light load in business. The terminal itself felt like stepping into a different world compared to CAI — clean, high ceilings, impeccably clean, quiet, organised. No mess, no shouting, no chaos.
I was just connecting through here for my onward flight to Bangkok doing so was pretty straightforward- just a brief security check and I was in the main terminal at Abu Dhabi following the signs to the Etihad Business Lounge.
Final Thoughts…
It’s wild how quickly a flight can flip your mood. From freezing on a jet bridge in Cairo, dodging wheelchairs like an obstacle course… to sipping good coffee at 35,000 feet in a comfy seat with genuinely excellent service.
Etihad absolutely nailed this short-haul hop. The cabin felt premium, the crew were on point, and the breakfast was genuinely great. If you’re connecting onwards through Abu Dhabi or just flying this sector standalone, this is a solid way to do it.
Just… pack a hoodie and a boatload of patience if you’re flying out of CAI.
35Left Score:
Seat Comfort: 4/5
Cabin Cleanliness: 5/5
Boarding Process: 2/5
Crew & Service: 5/5
Food & Drink: 4/5
IFE/WiFi: NA
Value for Money: 3.5/5
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.
