Long-haul flights are usually something to endure. You survive the airport, queue for security, wrestle with an overpriced sandwich and spend the next several hours wondering if your lower back will ever forgive you. So when Etihad invited me to fly Business Class from London to Cambodia via Abu Dhabi, I was fully prepared to swoon over the luxury. What I wasn’t prepared for was how quickly I became accustomed to it. Within an hour of arriving at Heathrow, I was sipping Champagne, eating Arabic mezze for breakfast, and wondering whether I could justify never flying economy again. And that was before I’d even got on the plane.
Lounge and boarding experience
After a glorious turn in Etihad’s Business Class lounge (mezze for breakfast, divine), I breeze to the gate thanks to the fast-track security pass included in my ticket. My first flight to Abu Dhabi is on Etihad’s double-decker Airbus A380, a plane that’s become an aviation celebrity. People stop to snap pictures of it through the windows. The entire upper deck is reserved for premium passengers, meaning Business Class, First Class and The Residence, Etihad’s famously over-the-top three-room suite. There’s even a circular lounge area that feels somewhere between a cocktail bar and a private members’ club. Being ushered through a dedicated tunnel and realising the entire deck is dedicated to premium cabins adds to the feeling that you’re somewhere special.
Cabin design and seat comfort
Etihad’s cabin design looks like someone took inspiration from a Rolo dessert. Browns, camels and creamy tones run throughout the aircraft, making it feel warm and cosy rather than corporate. My seat is enormous. At 20 inches wide, it converts into a fully flat bed and has enough storage compartments to lose several possessions before landing. The best part? Everything is intuitive. No frantic button pressing. No accidentally launching yourself into an obscure seating position. Just one tap between upright, reclined and bed mode.
Champagne and amenity kit
Moments after boarding, a member of cabin crew appears with a tray of drinks. Water? Juice? Champagne? I opt for a breakfast Champagne. Not only is it Champagne, it’s Telmont, one of the best I’ve had on an airline. My drink arrives in an Armani/Casa flute, while much of the tableware, bedding and cabin furnishings have also been designed by the Italian fashion house. Then comes one of the true Business Class rituals: inspecting the amenity kit. Etihad’s arrives in a stylish leather-look pouch packed with Espa products. Normally these kits end up forgotten in a drawer at home, but the hydrating facial mist quickly becomes one of the most-used items on my flight.
Dining experience
Etihad has a great reputation for inflight dining, and after one meal it’s easy to see why. I start with Arabic mezze before moving on to grilled cod with herb potatoes and brown shrimp butter. It’s genuinely restaurant quality. Everything arrives beautifully presented, perfectly cooked and packed with flavour. There is even a faux candle to add a little romance. A full-bodied Bordeaux from the airline’s wine list seals the deal and suddenly I’m sitting at 35,000ft in culinary heaven.
Sleep quality
Business Class seats often promise the world when it comes to sleep. Some deliver a glorified padded shelf, but Etihad’s genuinely works. I stretch out, fall asleep surprisingly quickly and wake up several hours later feeling like I’ve cheated the laws of long-haul travel. Arriving refreshed after a seven-hour flight feels almost unnatural.
Cons: WiFi and temperature
Was there anything I didn’t love? Very little. But my biggest gripe is the WiFi. I was surprised it wasn’t included as part of the Business Class ticket, especially given that some airlines – notably JetBlue – now offer complimentary WiFi even in Economy. On Etihad, a long-haul Surf package costs $24.99, which feels a little steep when you’ve already paid for a premium cabin. Another minor bugbear is the cabin temperature. Unlike Economy passengers, Business Class travellers can’t control the airflow above their seats. At various points, I fluctuate between feeling like I’m in a Scandinavian winter and a Middle Eastern summer. The bathrooms are also unexpectedly dark, with lighting that feels more trendy cocktail bar than airline lavatory. And while the entertainment system is extensive, I’ve seen slightly larger libraries elsewhere. None of them are deal-breakers, but perfection remains frustratingly elusive.
Other flights and verdict
The flights between Abu Dhabi and Phnom Penh take place on a Boeing 787-9 rather than the mighty A380. The plane is smaller but the experience remains largely the same, which is exactly what you want. Menus change on each flight, giving the chance to sample several dishes across the journey. The standout is a bowl of seafood Hokkien noodles loaded with prawns and calamari. The cocktails also deserve a mention. In fact, Etihad’s Old Fashioned is so good it tops one I’d ordered at a swanky London bar a few nights previous. By the time I land in Cambodia, I understand why Etihad has such a loyal following. The seats are comfortable, the food excellent, and the service strikes that difficult balance between attentive and effortless. Most importantly, it makes an incredibly long journey feel surprisingly short. Cambodia is every bit as memorable as I’d hoped. The flight there comes remarkably close.
Pricing
Etihad Business Class tickets for return flights from London Heathrow to Phnom Penh start from £3,153 per person in July.
