Flying Pearl and Diamond Zone on Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways is the national airline of the UAE, and the pride in the product is clear from the attitude of its staff. Cabin crews are attentive and well trained, and the guests, as the passengers are referred to on Etihad Airways, are made to feel a bit special too.

However, quite aside from the smiles and confidence of the staff, there are very practical reasons to take the Etihad offering in first and business class seriously, or Diamond and Pearl Zone as the airline styles its premium services.

Let us start with Abu Dhabi airport, the Etihad hub. This is a small but extremely convenient airport. You step from your courtesy limousine and walk ten yards to the dedicated premium passenger entry gate, from there it is a few more paces to passport control and then the Etihad lounge is tucked away just to your right.

New airport lounge

Needless to say this is a new lounge dedicated to the airline's Diamond and Pearl Zone guests. There is waiter service and unlimited beverages, plus snacks and sandwiches, Internet access and a comfortable seating area. When your flight is called it is but a two minute walk to the Duty Free Shops and departure gates.

On board the very modern Airbus A330-243 guests are quickly shown to their seats in the spacious cabin, and served drinks before takeoff. The toilet bag is by Bulgari in Diamond and Aigner in Pearl. The television screen is 10-inches in Diamond and 8-inches in Pearl, with the advantage of video-on-demand for Diamond guests.

A340-500 coming soon

From July 1st Etihad will introduce the Airbus A340-500 on the Heathrow route with the very latest in premium service comfort, including revolving seats in the Diamond Zone and extra leg-room for all guests. This new aircraft will enhance an already strong product.

Food and beverages are of the high international standards that you would expect. But the cabin staff do not disappear as soon as the last meal is distributed, they keep returning to ensure that nobody's glass remains empty for long.

If you are flying at night then the extra leg-room and larger seats in the premium classes really come into their own. This experience is never going to be like sleeping in your own bed but all things are relative and trying to sleep bolt upright or bent double in economy is not something that passengers forget.

Door-to-door complimentary limousines are also a very pleasant way to travel. And the guests in Etihad Airways' premium classes have unlimited mileage. The limousine driver said he had actually been as far as Scotland to pick-up a guest though most were from within the M25 London district.

Limousine both ends

No need then to struggle with your baggage to the airport, just wait for the limousine to come and pick you up. Just like everything else at Etihad Airways this is well organized and efficient, with a phone call the night before just to check that the address is correct. When traveling from Dubai you also have the option of a baggage check-in at the Etihad office on the Sheikh Zayed Road.

Landing in Abu Dhabi is a joy as the airport is amazingly fast at processing passengers. You have an e-gate which accepts the same cards issued in Dubai; a baggage area Duty Free for arrivals; and the limousine desk is just on the right as you go out.

It also took AME Info only 55 minutes to get back to the office in Dubai Media City. Perhaps understandably people from Abu Dhabi are starting to take a pride in their airline as does everyone associated with it.