Velocity Plat using the First Class Lounge in Abu Dhabi

Hey Guys! 

So I am going to get my Velocity Plat status soon and will be flying with Etihad after getting it so I am extremely excited about using their First Class Lounge! In fact this will be the First time I will be in a First Lounge usually its Business. 

So I was wondering if anyone has visited the First Class lounge with their FF and with a J ticket as I have a few questions. 

1. Their website states that the Spa is for their guests travelling in F but can you pay for a Massage? 

2. Their wording on their website is a bit confusing in regards to their cigar club they state For cigar aficionados, we have the First Class Cigar Lounge, with nine best-in-class varieties of cigars paired with a large selection of single malt whiskies and Cognac. does that mean their Cigar Lounge is First Class or only open to First Class passengers and Plat FF are not welcome?

3. Do you have any suggestions for the lounge? Ie. Sometimes there are facilities/items not advertised but rather just done by word of mouth please share if there are any. 

4. I also wont have my card by then but in the past I have just logged onto my account at a SilverKris Lounge and they gave me access. Does you status come up on the EY Boarding Passes like it does with SQ? 

Thank you for your time and help! 

You can't get into the Etihad First Class Lounge on Platinum Velocity.

Haz1003: While that used to be the case, the Etihad first class lounge has been welcoming Velocity Platinum members since July 2016 and continues to do so.

I stand corrected, last time I flew through Abu Dhabi was last year.

asbindia -

I've just transited through AUH twice in the last week travelling in J on EY, and accessed the F lounge as a VA Platinum with no issues. Yes, your VA status appears clearly on your EY boarding pass, so I would not anticipate that you would need your membership card to gain access.

The lounge itself is superb - a quiet, refined, understated and elegant contrast to EK's bling-laden barn up the road. Service was extraordinarily warm and attentive, but the highlight for me was the food and beverage offering - true 'restaurant quality' cuisine (probably on a par with the QF F lounge), accompanied by exceptional wines/champagne and mixed drinks (75 spirits).

I was given the impression that I could have paid for a massage, but I just wanted a shower so didn't explore this further. The cigar lounge seemed open to all patrons regardless of class of travel.

Overall, an extremely relaxing way to spend time before a flight, as indeed was the EY premium lounge at MEL, which must rank as one of our best business-class lounges - a la carte dining, great drinks, quiet jazz in the background and an abundance of helpful staff.

Enjoy your trip.