I Flew Business Class For The First Time, And Here's Everything I Thought
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Let me preface this by saying that I am an economy gal. Some of my fondest flight memories include having my elbow violently shoved by a drink cart and being seated so close to the airplane bathroom, I could hear every flush.
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I mention the above because I recently flew on Etihad's Business Class (average price = $2,676 USD) and want to tell you about it through the eyes of moi, someone who has never been exposed to that level of in-air splendor.
A warning before we continue that economy will seem especially cramped from now on. Scroll at your own risk.
I flew from Abu Dhabi to JFK on a nonstop 13-hour flight. My morning began with complimentary chauffeur service (hello, Mercedes-Benz) to the airport and a fast track pass through security.
And then, the boarding. Priority boarding means my derriere was seated right at gate open...and then I was immediately served a lemon mint juice and asked if I wanted a glass of champagne.
They also asked if I wanted coffee, to which I said sure, and then they say said, "CAPPUCCINO OR REGULAR?" Maybe that's not a big deal to people who fly business all the time, but I mean, wow. I'm pretty sure my eyes widened to a scary degree when offered the option.
AND! On your seat is a little Acqua di Parma case that holds a sleeping mask, toothbrush, toothpaste, teeny eau de toilette, and hand cream. There are also fancy headphones.
Another pre-boarding note is that you get business lounge access, aka free food and drinks.
Now let me walk you through the design of the seating pod itself.
It's a one-two-one layout with 32 seats total.
The plush leather seats are purposely oversized, which means you get SPACE. Like, passengers can outstretch their legs without fear of crushing under-seat bags.
There's even a little nook under the television that acts as a foot rest, which was a real game changer. I landed at JFK, and my hooves weren't swollen and didn't resemble sausage casings... No compression socks needed, bb!
Plus, no more feeling claustrophobic thanks to an overstuffed backpack that couldn't fit in the overhead compartment. If you know, you know.
There's also ✨ mood lighting ✨ and multiple compartments to your side for storage.
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This is a very small detail, but I absolutely hate having to reach into overhead storage to get any of the various things I forgot I needed for my flight: books, a laptop, chargers, etc. Having ample storage to the side felt oddly comforting because I knew all of my necessities were within reach.
You get a separate TV remote, which means none of that infuriating touchscreen nonsense, aka raising the volume doesn't involve holding your index finger in place for a full minute. My hand is cramping at the thought.
The remote also lets you adjust brightness and volume.
There is a FOOD MENU. Not your choice of bland chicken or watery pasta, but a tangible menu. With multiple options. Both food and wine.
All meals, snacks, and drinks were complimentary with the business class ticket.
First meal = fresh bread with olive oil and butter, a Mediterranean vegetable salad, a scrambled egg, beef pastrami, and English sausage wrap. Rating: 10,000/10.
There was even a delicious dessert of chocolate mousse cake with ganache. Sweet tooth still haunting you? Ask for a mini Häagen-Dazs pint. You can have that too.
I overheard three (three!) passengers order fish for their second meal, so I said to myself, Sure, let's give it a go. The meal: seared sea bass with warm buckwheat, kale, red peppers, pumpkin and salsa verde with bread, quinoa, and hummus on the side.
It was honestly delicious, and this meal (in addition to the first) was served with fancy plates and cutlery. Michelin-in-Flight has a ring to it, doesn't it?
They also offered beef tenderloin, pasta, and chicken options.
There was also a milk rose cake and a second cappuccino for dessert because when in business class, right?
But the pièce de résistance of Etihad's business class is — and I'm getting weepy just thinking about it — a seat that adjusts into a lay-down bed.
AnaMaria Glavan / BuzzFeed
I have a complicated relationship with sleep baseline, so I never get real rest in economy. I have a phantom pain in my neck at the thought of trying to recline my seat to get comfortable.
Plus, there's a privacy screen, so you feel truly cocooned and cozy. Plush blankets and pillows included.
My flight from Abu Dhabi to New York was 13 hours, and I slept soundly for SEVEN total. Uninterrupted snoozing. I woke up with no neck pain. None. It was divine.
I am not sleeping here but am pretending to do so in the photo for the sake of this post. I do not sleep wearing my glasses. Moving on.
And, drumroll please, the seats have built-in massagers *and* you can customize cushion firmness.
This was such a cool feature. I made the cushions super firm when I was sitting and typing away on my laptop, but was able to soften them when I laid flat for shut-eye.
TL;DR: Flying the Etihad Business Class was a top-tier experience, and, oh my word, I now understand the meaning of luxury. I'm pretty sure I'm ruined for life.
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BuzzFeed was provided this ticket free of charge; however, we were under no obligation to give a positive review.
