Etihad Airways Business Class Review: Abu Dhabi to Chicago-O’Hare

Taking off from the Zayed International Airport's recently opened Terminal A in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was a special treat, especially considering I was flying on an Airbus A350-1000 in Etihad Airways’ business class, which offered sliding doors at each seat.

From on demand a la carte dining to a new triple-level lounge in the airport, traveling aboard Etihad, one of the national airlines of the UAE, is a unique way to learn about Emirati culture while also enjoying top-notch service.

Etihad's many partnerships with other airlines puts award flights more easily within reach for those who want to redeem their points and miles. Here is what to expect when traveling business class with Etihad.

Etihad offers chauffeur service in Abu Dhabi for business class passengers, which was easy to book online. My personal driver arrived right on time to take me from my city-center hotel to the new terminal. The driver dropped me off at the business class check-in area, which was bright and airy.

There was a short wait, and an agent from the first class check-in area flagged me over to check me in. All in all, check-in took two minutes. In addition, there were comfortable seating areas and even refreshments to enjoy before heading through security.

Terminal A, which just opened in November 2023, is bright and airy. It showcases enormous windows and an undulating roof sculpture that looks like the shape of the region's desert sand dunes.

After a little shopping, I made my way to the terminal's new Etihad business class lounge, which has three floors.

» Learn more: The guide to Etihad Guest Miles

Once I arrived at the Etihad Airways lounge for business class passengers, I asked the friendly check-in agent which floor they recommended and made my way to the suggested top floor. A full-service bar and buffet setup proved an interesting way to pass the time.

My flight was departing at 3:05 a.m., which was a difficult time to stay awake for, but surprisingly, I was hungry and helped myself to the large selection of salads and curries on offer. When it was time to board, there was no extra security check, and I was in my seat in minutes.

» Learn more: The best business cards for airport lounge access

The 1-2-1 layout in Etihad's business class meant the seats have spacious side counters and wireless charging surfaces, which worked brilliantly.

Several storage compartments allowed me to keep my belongings in order, and the enormous touch-screen monitor in front had a wide range of movies and TV shows. Even with a flight duration of 14 hours and 30 minutes, I had barely enough time to even scratch the surface of entertainment options.

The best part of the seat was the sliding privacy door that was unlocked by the crew after takeoff. This keeps movement in the aisle from disturbing passengers while trying to rest. I kept mine closed most of the flight except when eating.

Waiting near my seat was a large pillow, padded seat cover, blanket and beige Acqua di Parma amenity kit. It had hand lotion, lip balm, eyeshades and socks. Cushioned noise-reducing headphones were wrapped in a compartment to one side with a bottle of water.

I appreciated how often the crew offered to refill my water bottle, as I prefer to stay hydrated in flight.

» Learn more: Emirates vs. Etihad vs. Qatar

Etihad offers a dine-on-demand service, and I struggled to decide when I wanted to eat and when I wanted to sleep.

Not wanting to miss out, I decided to try a light snack after takeoff and ordered the Arabic mezze with a glass of Chardonnay plus an acai bowl for dessert.

Just what you want at 4 a.m., right?

It was quite tasty, and I liked how my flight attendant brought out a bowl of warm nuts before serving my food.

After the light snack, I reclined my seat into bed mode and slept for four hours. My plan was to sleep for eight or nine hours and then have a larger meal before landing, but I could not stay asleep.

So what do you do on an Etihad flight when you can’t sleep? Eat again!

I went to the galley to see if there were snacks available. Sure enough, a display of potato chips, chocolate bars and fruit was laid out. I grabbed a few snacks and informed the flight attendant I also wanted to order something more substantial.

Another glass of wine soon arrived along with a tray of lentil soup and a side salad. It was served at the perfect temperature and with a slice of lemon to squeeze onto it.

After this, my next course arrived, Indian paneer curry. Other options on the menu included a roasted chicken dish and local Emirati grouper fish.

Etihad has a new partnership with Armani Casa to supply its cutlery, dishes and glassware from the brand. It was very elegant and had the appearance of a fine restaurant.

For dessert, I ordered the cheese plate, which had cheddar, brie and blue cheeses with fresh fruit. After working a little on my laptop, I reclined my seat again to doze until landing.

I loved how the crew was from different parts of the world. In addition to the Lebanese flight attendant who took care of me, the purser was from Thailand, another flight attendant in my aisle was from Egypt and the pilot was from Ireland.

Etihad has a very international crew, and its uniforms, in hues of beige and purple, made them look like runway fashion models.

The bathrooms were clean and tidy the entire flight, and they had Armani Casa toiletries, although I was surprised and disappointed there were not more products like shaving or dental kits on display.

Another bummer was the lack of air nozzles at each seat, as the cabin was rather warm.

One unique feature about U.S.-bound flights from Abu Dhabi is that the airport has a preclearance facility. This means passengers complete U.S. customs and immigration formalities before boarding, allowing them to land in the U.S. as a domestic passenger.

Unfortunately, the new airport terminal meant that not all U.S. flights were eligible yet for this service, as the U.S. officers worked only during the morning hours. This added some extra time to my itinerary when arriving at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, but normally, this is an excellent reason to connect on Etihad in Abu Dhabi versus other area airports.

Redeem points and miles

In addition to paying cash for Etihad’s premium cabin, members of its own Etihad Guest loyalty program can redeem miles for the experience.

The airline uses a distance-based chart, which means the number of miles you need varies by flight. This flight clocks in at more than 7,000 miles, which means a business class seat requires 110,000 miles in each direction.

» Learn more: The best uses for Etihad Guest miles

Transfer travel rewards from airline partners

Another popular way to enjoy business class is by redeeming American Airlines AAdvantage miles, as Etihad is one of the carrier’s partners. A one-way business class flight from the U.S. to Abu Dhabi costs 70,000 miles based on its partner award chart.

You can also boost your Etihad points supply by transferring rewards from three credit card programs: American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Etihad offers an impressive business class product on the A350-1000. If you can’t redeem miles to fly on one of the airline’s first class A380 flights (complete with in-flight shower), this is the next best thing.

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