The author of the review, who is a travel enthusiast, recently flew first-class on Etihad Airways from London to Abu Dhabi. They were initially excited to experience Etihad's "Residence" suite, but their enthusiasm was short-lived. The lounge at London Heathrow's Terminal 4 was underwhelming, with a construction wall blocking access to the lounge.
Upon boarding, the author was impressed by the luxurious suite, which featured a private bedroom, a large TV, and a minibar. However, they found the entertainment system to be disappointing, with limited options and slow Wi-Fi.
The author was also impressed by the catering, particularly the Arabic Meza, which they considered to be the best they had ever had. However, they found the bed to be extremely hard and the seat to be firm and upright.
The author's biggest disappointment was with the service, which they found to be impersonal and lacking enthusiasm. They were served by multiple crew members, which detracted from the experience, and the crew didn't seem to be enjoying their work. The author also found it strange that the purser called them by their first name instead of their surname.
Despite the luxurious amenities, the author left the flight feeling underwhelmed and not particularly impressed with Etihad's first-class product. They preferred the lounge in Abu Dhabi, which offered impeccable service and a beautiful spa. Overall, the author found Etihad's first-class to be lacking in comparison to other Middle Eastern airlines, such as Emirates and Qatar.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The flight was from London Heathrow Terminal 4 to Abu Dhabi.
2. The airline was Etihad.
3. The flight was on an Airbus A380.
4. The reviewer was traveling in first class.
5. The reviewer had not been to London Heathrow Terminal 4 in four years.
6. The lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 4 was under construction.
7. The reviewer was given a tour of the first-class suite by the flight attendants.
8. The first-class suite had a separate bed, a minibar, and a TV.
9. The reviewer was served Arabic mezze, which they said was the best they had ever had.
10. The flight had free Wi-Fi, but it was slow and the reviewer couldn't load a single picture on Instagram.
11. The reviewer had a palate cleanser that was made of yogurt.
12. The reviewer had a main course, but didn't specify what it was.
13. The catering on Etihad was impressive, but not the best the reviewer had ever had.
14. The reviewer was served by four different people, which they didn't think was a first-class experience.
15. The crew didn't come by the reviewer's seat to ask how the flight was before landing.
16. The purser called the reviewer by the wrong name throughout the flight.
17. The reviewer had a shower on the plane, but didn't say how it was.
18. The reviewer had pre-landing french fries and carrot juice.
19. The reviewer spent an overnight in Abu Dhabi before connecting to a flight to Muscat.
20. The first-class lounge in Abu Dhabi had impeccable service, a beautiful spa, and fantastic ala carte dining.
21. The reviewer was vegan and the lounge staff made special meals for them.
22. The reviewer didn't include their connecting flight to Muscat in the review.