Airport Lounges

Review: Etihad Business Class Lounge Abu Dhabi AUH

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Review: Etihad Business Class Lounge Abu Dhabi AUH

If you’re just tuning in…welcome! You’re amidst the journey of a lifetime, one that is taking my family around the world on a surprise trip for my mom’s 75th birthday. One of the big reasons why we routed through the UAE from Singapore was so that my mom and dad could experience the Etihad Apartment. It was a big goal in planning the trip was that they would be able to fly around the world in the best possible cabins. Securing two apartments was a big part of that goal and it ended piecing together perfectly. While they both had access to the Etihad First Class lounge, I did not. So they briefly went in it to check it out, and then we all went to the Etihad Business Class Lounge to hang together before our flight. It ended up being pretty cool because my dad and I were able to get straight razor shaves while we waited – BYAH!

I’d visited the Etihad Business Class Lounge Abu Dhabi 2 years ago before flying Etihad’s Pearl Business Class to Johannesburg. The biggest difference since then is that they’ve built the First Class lounge and those passengers have the option to visit it instead. Other than that…everything pretty much is the same.

The Deets:

  • When: April 2017
  • Where: Abu Dhabi AUH
  • Access: Etihad Business Studio + First Apartment
  • Lounge features:
    • Spa
    • Shave Experience
    • Buffet Dining
    • Coffee Bar

Seating:

You won’t have trouble, even during heavy periods, finding a place to sit. The lounge is enormous with various options. From dining tables to couches.

If you need a work station. They have you covered

Food:

I didn’t sit down and eat much this time around. A few bites of fruit while I awaited my turn for a shave. Last time I was here I order off the menu and it was quite good.

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Spa and Shave

Located in the back right of the lounge there is a Shave Experience as well as the Six Sense Spa. Last time I was here I had a massage and thoroughly enjoyed it. This time around my Dad and I enjoyed a shave – while I loved the process, I had very sensitive skin and it was pretty irritated afterwards. If I were to do it again…I’d request the shave in just one direction ( he went with and against the grain for extra smoothness)

Overall:

This is a very nice business class lounge. Having the Six Senses spa, shave, and style experiences in the back of the lounge give it a good extra umph! The coolest part was that my dad and I were able to treat ourselves to a straight razor shave in a fancy lounge in Abu Dhabi. Pretty cool!

 


You don’t have to stop here. Check out how we paid $5k and took a $125k Surprise trip Around The World to celebrate my Mom’s 75th

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Flights:

Hotels:

Lounges

Afternoon Tea

TIPS:

Affiliate link via CardRatings

4.8
4.8/5

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great starter card that earns Premium Ultimate Rewards that can be transferred into over a dozen partners many of which are US based. 

Welcome Offer

60k Points after $4k spend in 3 months

80k offer in branch currently – I think this should be online soon

Annual Fee

$95

Points Earned

Transferrable Chase Ultimate Rewards

Super solid welcome offer.

If you carry this card alongside Chase’s cashback cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠and Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the business versions: Ink Business Cash , Ink Business Unlimited you can combine the points into Preferred account and transfer into hotel and airline partners

Annual fee is quite low at $95 a year + you get a 10% anniversary bonus on points + $50 hotel credit in Chase travel.

  • 3x on dining
    •  including eligible delivery services for takeout
  • 3x on select streaming services
  • 3x on online grocery purchases
    • (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
  • 5x on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards – Chase Travel Portal
  • $50 Annual Credit on hotel stays purchased via Ultimate Rewards/Chase Travel
    • The begins immediately for new cardmembers and after your account anniversary for existing cardmembers
  • 10% Anniversary Bonus
    • Every year you keep the card, your total spend will yield a 10% points bonus. If you spend $10k in a year, you’ll get 1k bonus points
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred® continues to redeem at 1.25c in the Chase Travel Portal and the slew of other benefits remain in tact including primary rental car insurance, purchase protections, etc.
  • Points are transferrable to 13 Ultimate Rewards partners
  • Redeem in the Chase Travel center for 1.25 cents per point
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Suite of Travel and Purchase Coverage
    • Primary rental car coverage is my favorite

There is currently an 80k offer after $4k spend in 3 months available in branch, and up to 90k after $6k spend in 6 months. I suspect some version of this will be online soon if you don’t want the hassle of going into a branch.

We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists the best ever offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.

Historically 60k is a very, very good offer. In 2021, we saw the offer hit an all time high of 100k. Who knows if that will ever come back. .

Main Cast: 

Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.

Supporting Cast:

Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on. 

4 Comments

  • […] a perfect way to travel Down Under. On the way, you can book a stopover in Abu Dhabi. Or relax in Etihad Business Class Lounge for a couple of […]

  • James July 9, 2017

    Owh…. I see…. you’re correct, I mixed up apartment and residence. Thanks

  • James July 9, 2017

    Questions:
    1. Isn’t the apartment available for 2 persons/couple?
    2. Couldn’t get to 1st class lounge as their guest?

    • Miles July 9, 2017

      Hey James – great questions. The apartment is one per, but I believe you’re thinking of the residence which is for 2 people. And I could have joined them as a guest, but it costs $100, and IMO isn’t worth it.

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