Etihad 787-9 Business Class Studios: A Review from New York to Abu Dhabi
by Krish Patel
The Middle East is home to some of the world’s best airlines. Among some of the top carriers on that list are Emirates and Qatar Airways. However, a third player with a strong presence in the Gulf region also offers a luxurious Business Class experience. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways doesn’t aim for a “wow factor” like Qatar’s Qsuites or the Emirates A380 Business Class product, but is still a very competitive option for travel to the Arabian Gulf region and beyond.
Check-in, the Lounge, and Boarding
I arrived at JFK’s Terminal 4 just shy of three hours prior to my flight’s 10 PM departure and checked in at the dedicated Etihad counter. There were dedicated queues for First and Business Class, neither of which felt super crowded. In roughly five to six minutes, a friendly agent gave me my boarding pass stamped with a TSA PreCheck mark.
Etihad has partnered with the Chase Sapphire Lounge in JFK’s Terminal 4, meaning that First and Business Class guests can access the lounge. When I arrived, a lengthy waitlist of passengers had already formed. The waitlist rule doesn’t apply to those traveling in the premium cabin with Etihad.
The lounge is cozy, modern, and comfortable. It offers quite a few comfortable seating options that display pops of bold colors and embrace the signature Chase Lounge aesthetic. The living room-style coziness and inspiring artwork are features that I wish more lounges adopted.
While the lounge itself is stylish and comfortable, its size was certainly not a strength. In fact, the space is on the smaller side, measuring at 7,600 square feet. It was super difficult to find an open seat, but I managed to snag one in the center of the lounge after doing a bit of searching.
In terms of food and drink options, it’s possible to order food directly to any seat in the lounge thanks to an easy-to-scan QR code. There’s also a gorgeous cocktail bar decked out in brassy gold accents, as well as a drink station and buffet. During my time in the lounge, the buffet selection didn’t look as impressive compared to my first visit back in 2024. The food looked a little less inspiring, nor was it individually plated as small bites.
After a short lounge visit, I walked over to the A gates, where many international flights at JFK depart. First and Business Class passengers were both able to board in Group 1, which I took advantage of in order to get enough footage of the cabin.
Cabin Design and Seat Comfort in Etihad Airways Business Class
Etihad has three different configurations on its Dreamliners, with the 787-9 deployed on the New York route featuring 28 Business Class Studios. The seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration and alternate by row, facing forwards or backwards. The forward-facing seats are positioned against the large dimmable windows.
Etihad chose its cream color palette with shades of white, brown, and gold to complement the cabin. The seats are made of a soft cream fabric and super comfortable despite having been around for several years now.
In terms of privacy, the seats feature dividers and walls, but lack a closing door. Compared to other Business Class cabins like United Polaris, British Airways Club World, or Qatar Qsuites, the Etihad Business Studios feel a bit more exposed.
All Business Studios come with an adjustable golden sconce lamp, which helps add a sense of luxury and coziness to the cabin. Found below the reading lamp is a storage unit, which contains a bottle of water and headphones upon boarding.
Built into the side storage unit is a headphone jack for the entertainment system and a universal outlet.
Situated at the front of each lie-flat pod is the E-BOX entertainment screen. It can be controlled using the touchscreen or IFE remote. Right below the screen is a decently sized footwell and room to store shoes or a small bag.
Adjacent to the entertainment display is a coat hook and tray table, which is composed of a thick wooden piece. The table is sturdy and can be pushed inward to allow for easy access to the aisle during meal times.
The side console is composed of a flat surface and built into it are the seat controls, IFE remote, and two USB-A outlets. Sadly, Etihad hasn’t installed USB-C charging ports in the Dreamliner’s Business Studio.
There are two lavatories for Etihad Business Class passengers, which are kept clean and spacious. Inside is plenty of counter space adjacent to the sink and a foot pedal to open the trash. You’ll even find a window inside the lavatory, which is always a nice touch.
Two and a half hours into the flight, I reclined my seat into bed mode. The bed was very comfortable, and I slept well for almost five hours. However, I found the area around the foot to be tighter on the Dreamliner than the A380, which I flew on the New York route a year and a half ago.
Food and Drink in Etihad Airways Business Class
Etihad Airways offers dine-on-demand in Business Class, meaning travelers can eat whatever they want whenever they want. Once I boarded, I perused through the menu and took a look at the inflight dining options. The first page showcases the alcoholic beverage selection, and flipping it over is the dinner selection, all day menu, and non-alcoholic drink selection. Mocktails, warm teas, and iced coffees at 30,000 feet? How impressive!
Prior to pushing back from the gate in New York, a warm flight attendant came through the aisle and asked if I’d like to have something to drink. I kindly said yes and ordered a glass of lemon mint juice, Etihad’s signature beverage. A few minutes later, that same flight attendant returned and brought me a refreshing cold towel.
Immediately at cruising altitude, I was offered another beverage, this time along with warm nuts. I selected the Butterfly Effect mocktail, which was very tasty. There’s no mocktail I’ve been served on a flight that looks as pretty. You can easily tell that the crew put forth a lot of effort to create a beverage pleasing to the senses.
I was given the option of dining after takeoff or a little later into the flight. I decided to eat right after departure and started off with the Arabic mezze. Etihad’s mezze course includes assorted Middle Eastern light bites such as hummus, grape leaves, and tabouleh. The selection was accompanied with a side salad and generous portion of bread. I love the ceramic dinnerware and salt and pepper dish. The Giorgio Armani logo on it adds a luxurious touch.
There were four entree choices printed on the menu, of which I selected the beetroot cutlets. They were warm and tasty and paired well with the fragrant rice provided on the side.
Dessert was a decadent hazelnut and dark chocolate cake with salted caramel, mango and passion fruit sauce, and fresh berries. The cake was rich, moist, and served at a nice cold temperature. To go along with the sweet dessert, I requested a cup of jasmine tea from the crew.
I woke up in the middle of the flight ready for breakfast. The buckwheat muesli was a light option on Etihad’s “All Day” menu. It was served alongside a bowl of yogurt, fresh fruit, breakfast pastries, and condiments such as butter and jam. Everything on the tray was very tasty, with the absolute best part being my iced latte. Etihad is one of few airlines to offer such impressive coffee drinks in the sky. I don’t know how they pull it off, but it’s extraordinary.
Hungry passengers could also help themselves to a snack basket set up by the crew in the galley. The snack items inside were packaged, with sweet and savory options such as peanuts, chocolates, and fruit bars.
Amenities & Service in Etihad Airways Business Class
Once I arrived at my seat, I found a heap of amenities waiting. The selection of curated items included the luxurious bedding made in collaboration with Armani and an Espa amenity kit. I love the dark sand dune patterns on the amenity kit, which are inspired by the local desert environment in Abu Dhabi.
Loungewear and soft slippers were offered upon request prior to pushing back. Both are sleek offerings that enhance the quality of relaxation inflight. Etihad probably has my favorite inflight slippers out of any airline.
Given that this is a long haul flight, the expectation is that there’s plenty of content to keep us entertained. Etihad’s E-BOX entertainment system is stocked with several movies and TV shows. It does a great job keeping new releases and maintaining a selection of favorite classics. Found among the entertainment offerings are several on-demand games, podcasts, and playlists for music. Additionally, free messaging for all Etihad Guest members is available on the airline’s 787s.
The inflight service was friendly, but didn’t impress me as much as my Etihad Business Class flight the year before. For much of the flight, the crew kept to themselves and were not very proactive. I’d normally expect top tier service on one of the Gulf carriers, but that’s not what I saw on today’s flight.
Booking and Pricing for Etihad Business Class
One-way cash fares for Etihad Business Class between New York and Abu Dhabi start at $3,000 and exceed $7,000 during peak travel times. Travelers can also book Etihad’s Business Class using the airline’s Guest Miles program, or via a partner program such as American Airlines AAdvantage or Air Canada Aeroplan. American AAdvantage is only a transfer partner of Citi and Marriott, which gives you less options for transferring points compared to Air Canada. Meanwhile, Air Canada has several transfer partners such as Chase, American Express, and Capital One. If you have an eligible credit card such as the Capital One Venture Card or Amex Platinum, then booking through Air Canada using Aeroplan miles might be the better option.
Overall Thoughts
The Etihad Airways luxury was certainly evident on my ultra long haul journey with the airline. From lie-flat studios in the sky to exceptional food and drink, Etihad’s Business Class is truly a product worthy of praise. But, the service on my flight could have used some improvement. While the crew were friendly, they were not exceptional compared to the others I’ve had on Middle Eastern airlines. If you’re traveling from the United States to the Middle East and beyond, then Etihad is a solid choice for luxury travelers.