Our recent family trip from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Toronto (YYZ) began with an exciting first leg: flying Etihad’s Business Class on their Boeing 787-9 from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow (LHR). A major highlight was the chance to experience the brand-new Terminal A at Zayed International Airport and its much-anticipated Etihad Business Class lounge, both of which were absolutely fantastic and set a high bar for the ground experience.
Onboard, we generally received great service. One unexpected drawback on this particular flight, however, was that the privacy doors on our Business Studio seats were disabled and could not be closed. Despite this, the comfort of the lie-flat seat was undeniable, especially for our 2.5-year-old son, who impressively made full use of it and slept soundly for most of the journey to London.
This review will focus specifically on our experience with Etihad’s 787-9 Business Studio on the AUH-LHR segment, covering everything from the new terminal and lounge to the inflight service and that all-important seat.
Abu Dhabi’s Terminal A & Premium Ground Experience
Our journey began at the much-talked-about new Terminal A at Zayed International Airport (AUH), and it was, in a word, absolutely fantastic. Etihad has clearly invested in creating a distinct and elevated experience for its premium passengers right from the curb.
Business and First Class travelers benefit from a completely separate entrance, leading to a dedicated check-in and security area. This immediately sets a more exclusive tone. We’re not sure if it was the specific timing of our flight or standard procedure, but upon reaching the premium terminal entrance, a concierge immediately approached us, took our luggage, and personally walked us to the check-in desks.
What followed was almost surreal: we were the only passengers in the entire premium check-in and security zone. This was absolutely wild to me; it felt less like being in a bustling international airport and more like a private flying experience. While our documents were being processed, we were offered complimentary refreshments, including traditional Arabic coffee, juice, and water.
With no queues, navigating security was a breeze. From the moment we arrived at the terminal entrance to clearing security, it took us roughly 15 minutes in total, and the only reason it even took that long was because we needed a quick diaper change for our son! This seamless, private, and swift process was an incredibly impressive start to our Etihad journey, well before we even stepped into the lounge.
The Etihad Business Class Lounge
After the remarkably smooth security process, we swiftly made our way to the Etihad Business Class Lounge. The first impression is one of sheer scale – it’s an absolutely massive lounge, thoughtfully spread across approximately three floors, with several distinct zones to explore and relax in.
A convenient touch right at the entrance was the luggage concierge service, where we could securely drop off our carry-on bags, allowing us to navigate the expansive lounge more freely. Our first stop was the main restaurant area for breakfast. This section offered an extensive buffet-style breakfast with a wide variety of items to choose from, complemented by live cooking stations adding to the fresh offerings. Made-to-order coffee and a selection of grab-and-go items were also available, catering to different preferences and time constraints. We thoroughly enjoyed an awesome breakfast to kickstart our travel day.
For families, a standout feature was the dedicated Kids Play Room, which we found located on an upper level. It provided a welcome space for our son to play and burn off some energy before the flight.
The lounge also boasts excellent private shower suites. These were essentially full bathrooms, impeccably clean and stocked with luxury amenities and fresh towels, allowing me to take a quick, refreshing shower before our flight.
Given its vastness and varied amenities, the Etihad Business Class Lounge in Terminal A is truly impressive – so much so that it could warrant a separate detailed review! After spending about two very comfortable hours exploring, dining, and relaxing, it was time to head to our gate for boarding.
The Redemption
Our entire journey from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Toronto (YYZ) for our family of three was booked as a single award ticket using American Airlines AAdvantage miles.
Each Business Class seat cost 70,000 AA miles plus $259 USD in taxes and fees. For the three of us, this totaled 210,000 AA miles plus the associated fees. This is a standard and quite reasonable rate for partner business class awards from the Middle East to North America on the AAdvantage chart.
I accumulated the miles primarily through credit card welcome bonuses and strategic spending on the AAdvantage eShopping portal. Leveraging these methods can make premium cabin family travel significantly more accessible.
I managed to find award availability for three business class seats relatively close to our travel dates – just two weeks before departure! We located this availability using the award search tool Roame.travel, which can be a great resource for complex partner searches.
The booked itinerary involved two segments:
- Abu Dhabi (AUH) to London Heathrow (LHR) on Etihad Airways.
- London Heathrow (LHR) to Toronto (YYZ) on British Airways.
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The Etihad 787-9 Business Studio (Our “Suite” in the Sky)
Stepping aboard the Etihad Boeing 787-9, we were welcomed into their impressive Business Class cabin, featuring the newer Business Studio seats. These are arranged in a 1-2-1 staggered configuration, ensuring that every passenger has direct aisle access – a huge plus when traveling with family.
Each Business Studio seat is designed for comfort and privacy, transforming into a fully lie-flat bed. Etihad provides luxurious Armani Casa bedding, which was incredibly soft and comfortable, making a real difference for anyone looking to rest or, in our case, for our son’s nap on this approximately 7-hour day flight.
For our family of three, our seating arrangement worked out well. My wife occupied a window seat, while my son and I were in the two center aisle seats directly across from each other. These middle seats feature a substantial divider that can be raised for privacy or lowered to interact, which was perfect for allowing me to see my son and ensure he was okay during takeoff, landing, and while he slept.
A practical tip for those traveling with toddlers or young children in these spacious Business Class seats: consider bringing an approved toddler airline seat belt harness. Once your child is strapped into the large seat, it can be difficult to physically reach them to ensure they remain secure, especially if they are active sleepers. A harness can provide that extra peace of mind.
Pre-Departure Rituals & Festive Touches
As we were getting settled into our Business Studios, a friendly flight attendant came over to offer us pre-departure beverages. Given the early morning departure, I opted for Etihad’s classic Lemon Mint Cooler, which was very refreshing. We got an orange juice for our son, and my wife also chose the Lemon Mint Cooler.
Soon after, the flight attendant returned with amenity kits. The adult kits contained the usual high-quality essentials for a long flight. A particularly nice touch for families was the special DC Super Heroes themed kit for our son, which included some coloring activities and a water bottle – he was thrilled!
We were also handed the dining menus. It was a pleasant surprise to see that not only did Etihad offer on-demand dining options for Business Class, but because we were traveling during the Christmas holiday period, there were also some limited-time festive options available, adding a special touch to the culinary offerings.
Etihad Business Class On-Demand Dining
Shortly after takeoff from Abu Dhabi, having woken up around 3 AM for our 8 AM flight, both my wife and our son understandably decided to get some rest. The quiet cabin and the comfortable lie-flat Business Studio seats were perfect for this. While they napped, I reclined my seat, settled in with a movie from the extensive entertainment selection, and decided to try a couple of items. I ordered a Gingerbread Latte – a delightful festive touch available due to our holiday season travel – and paired it with the famous Etihad Steak Sandwich from their all-day dining menu. The sandwich certainly lived up to its reputation; it was served nice and toasty, and the meat was very flavourful. It was a great, cozy start to the approximately 7-hour day flight.
Later, I converted my seat into a fully flat bed as well, snuggling into the comfy Armani Casa bedding while continuing to enjoy my movie. It was a very relaxing atmosphere, with both my wife and son fast asleep as we cruised towards London.
Thanks to Etihad’s dine-on-demand service, we could choose to have our main meal whenever suited us. We opted to eat later in the flight. For our main courses:
- I ordered the Traditional Cheese Omelette.
- My wife chose the Breakfast Shakshuka.
Both dishes were well-prepared and enjoyable – nothing overly extraordinary, but they tasted genuinely good and were satisfying. Our son simply ate bits from my plate.
There was a minor, amusing mix-up with my order. The flight attendant initially brought me a Hazelnut Pastry Crown instead of the omelette. Since it had already been plated, he very graciously asked if I’d like to have it anyway, in addition to my correct main. I accepted, and it turned out to be an amazing dessert – a sweet hazelnut pastry topped with ice cream. Though it was a bit too sweet for my personal taste (I couldn’t finish it all), it paired beautifully with a strong black coffee. This was a nice example of proactive service recovery.
A little while later, my wife, feeling peckish, ordered the Assorted Samosas from the all-day dining menu, and she reported they were great and hit the spot!
Overall, the dining was flexible and satisfying, with the festive drink options and popular signature items like the steak sandwich adding to a very enjoyable culinary experience.
The Verdict: Etihad Business Studio AUH-LHR
Our Etihad Business Studio experience on the Boeing 787-9 from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow was, for the most part, a truly enjoyable first leg of our journey to Toronto. The standout highlight was undoubtedly the ground experience at the new Zayed International Airport – Terminal A. From the incredibly seamless and private premium check-in to the expansive and well-appointed Etihad Business Class Lounge with its excellent breakfast, luggage concierge, and even a kids’ play room, Abu Dhabi has set a new high bar.
Onboard, the Business Studio itself offered a comfortable and private space, with quality Armani Casa bedding that allowed our 2.5-year-old son to sleep soundly for most of this 7-hour day flight – a huge win for any parent. The dine-on-demand concept was well-executed, with enjoyable meals, standout items like the famous steak sandwich and festive gingerbread lattes, and thoughtful touches like the kids’ amenity kit. The service was generally attentive and friendly.
The most significant letdown on this particular flight was the disabled privacy doors on our Business Studio seats, which unfortunately couldn’t be closed. While the seat itself was still very comfortable and private due to its design, the inability to use the doors detracted from the full “suite” experience one might expect.
Despite this, considering the excellent ground services, the overall comfort of the lie-flat seat for our family, and the quality of the food and beverages, this Etihad segment was a strong start to our American Airlines award redemption. It provided a comfortable and largely premium experience, making the 7-hour flight to London feel relaxed. While the door issue was a notable disappointment, the many positives, especially departing from the new Abu Dhabi terminal, still made it a valuable and enjoyable part of our journey.
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