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As a connecting flight on Etihad Airways Flight EY451 originating in Sydney, I didn’t need to check in for the connecting flight from Abu Dhabi to Geneva because the boarding pass had already been issued at check-in in Sydney. An easy pass through the transfer security at AUH allowed plenty of time to enjoy Etihad’s exceptional Business Class lounge at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport. Located airside across three levels, the lounge offers multiple dining, work, and rest areas, plus a game room and a full-service spa where you can book massages and body treatments between flights, as well as short massages.

: The glamorous entrance to the Etihad Business Class lounge spa

: Inside the Etihad Business Class lounge spa at AUH

Boarding for the B787 aircraft was efficient and completed early. The Business Class configuration on this aircraft was 1-2-1, with window seats alternating between facing forward (odd rows) and facing backward (even rows). Some people find this layout odd, but it allows extra foot space when the seats are fully horizontal. Despite a departure time of 00:05, a fine meal service was offered soon after takeoff or later if that was the passenger’s request. Typical on board an Etihad Airways flight, no detail is too small; for example, to people aware of proper food service, having the cheese course served as a transition from the main course to the dessert, rather than as a dessert option itself, shows the airline to be meticulous in its service standard. As always, Etihad’s flight attendants plan their work around the passengers’ preferences, not the other way around. A large screen lets you enjoy the E-Box entertainment system’s hundreds of films and television shows, as well as the advanced map options for following the flight in a variety of ways.

: The discreet entrance to the Etihad Business Class lounge at AUH

: Time spent in the Etihad Business Class lounge is a sweet treat

A fully flat bed is a godsend on overnight flights, and that was the case on this flight, which arrived in Geneva on time at 08:10. For travellers without citizenship in a Schengen country, there can be some trepidation about what the Immigration queue will be like on arrival at a European airport. In this case, it was neither a short wait nor a particularly long one. Hopefully, once Schengen governments allow passengers already registered on the EES system to avoid waiting in the same queue as first-time arrivals, entry at a kiosk should be extremely easy. This is already supposed to be the case, but not every airport permits it yet.

The game room in the Etihad Business Class lounge at AUH

Always looking for ways to enhance the passenger experience, Etihad also offers stopover packages for passengers connecting in Abu Dhabi, which has grown to become an alluring destination in its own right. From the stunning Louvre Abu Dhabi and the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre to Ferrari World and the Sir Bani Yas wildlife sanctuary, there are sights to see, attractions to visit, and tastes to experience. As Etihad itself states, it’s never just a flight.

For more information, visit etihad.com.