Hi all, I got convinced by a TA to buy a well priced Business Class return from Melbourne to LHR on Etihad.

Hi all,

I got convinced by a TA to buy a well priced Business Class return from Melbourne to LHR on Etihad. 777s on all sectors. Usually I fly BA, Qantas or Cathay.

I read the AusBT review (thorough, thankyou) and contrasted it with the many reports of overheating the cabin and varying service levels on Flyertalk and elsewhere.

Admittedly, a little late to make any changes (!) but thought I'd ask for any thoughts from the experienced folk here?

Thanks, J

Treat the experience as something new and different and you should be ok. Service, however can be hit and miss, especially with new planes and new staff being taken on. Lounges in Abu Dhabi and London are good and you should get chaffeur service, unless this has been extracted as part of your cheap fare, which is also probably due to the fact that you are not flying on the A380 from Abu Dhabi to London. 

Etihad are an excellent airline in Business and First Class. It is their Economy that is terrible.

My experience on business with them (BNE-SIN and BNE-AUH return, AUH-FCO return) have nothing but extraordinary. 

Thanks for the feedback all! 

I'll report back on how I found it :)

J

I hope it was a Very good price, 777 travel any class is no substitute for an A380. Etihads Business seat when fully reclined is not 180 degrees, first air pocket you hit and you'll slide forward. I cant stand 1st or Business with economy passengers barging through, to get to the rear, these more expensive options should be in a world of their own upstairs as on Emirates A380, next trip do Emirates and you'll Never look back.

Just a quick follow up to my original post...

I had thoroughly enjoyable flights with Etihad. The service was friendly, the aircraft immaculate and I had a very comfortble flight (slept for nine hours on the Melboure to Abu Dhabi leg). 

The only slight 'negative' for me was the underwhelming business lounge in Abu Dhabi with tiny shower rooms (there didn't seem quite enough of these).

Compared to my last flight on BA - streets ahead!