The Etihad business class lounge in Abu Dhabi is located at Terminal 3. I had heard that this lounge had deteriorated in terms of food quality and even described as a “cattle call.” That’s a definite exaggeration, though the lounge did on occasion get very crowded.
- Etihad Business Class Lounge Dulles (IAD)
- Etihad Business Class Washington to Abu Dhabi
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When I arrived, I made a bee-line for the spa. I’d spent 12 hours on a plane and wanted a shower and facial.
Etihad business class lounge spa
The spa is located on the far-right corner of the lounge, past the buffets and computer station. You can’t miss it.
There were two spa attendants when I arrived and after a brief look at the menu, I settled on the radiance facial. I asked if I could shower first and the attendant said, “certainly!” and walked me towards the shower rooms. She offered me a toothbrush or shower cap, then showed me how to lock the door.
The shower room was spotless. It made me think of the British Airways lounge showers I visited on my very first trip to a business class lounge and I shuddered at how grimy it was.
The shower room was stocked with towels, bath amenities, a hairdryer, and a laundry basket. The bath products were some of the best I’ve ever used. I don’t think my hair has ever been softer.
After showering and changing, I headed back to the check-in desk, where the attendant put away my bag and walked me to another room for my facial.
My skin gets crack powder dry on planes and it doesn’t help that despite knowing better, I always end up eating a few peanuts. While I’m not allergic, eating them turns my skin into sandpaper. So having a facial to reverse that damage is pretty nice.
The facial was great and left my face plump and glowing. I highly recommend it if you’re passing through. At $28.59 it wasn’t outrageously priced either.
Etihad lounge shower rooms
You don’t need to visit the Six Senses Spa for a shower. The Etihad lounge bathroom, located right before the spa entry, has nine shower rooms.
These rooms felt slightly more spacious than the ones inside the spa. That’s probably by design since there is no place to store your belongings.
The lounge showers feature the same amenities as the ones in the spa.
Etihad business class lounge food
The food is a point of contention for many who have visited the Etihad business class lounge. Apparently it has been downgraded in recent years and people are not happy. I honestly didn’t find much to complain about.
There was tons to choose from, with multiple food and drink stations serving up kebabs, pasta, salads, and dessert.
I visited the lounge twice during this trip and had both breakfast and dinner. I sampled a bit of everything and found the food to be high-quality. Except for the pasta, which was dry, undercooked and cold.
Etihad business class lounge Wi-Fi
The Wi-Ffi at the Etihad lounge sucked, plain and simple. I ended up using the airport Wi-Fi instead, which had a much better signal. I had the same issue at the Etihad lounge in D.C. – Etihad, if you’re listening: Get a better Wi-Fi signal!
Etihad business class lounge seating
The Etihad business class lounge in Abu Dhabi is pretty large and has tons of seating in an open layout. There are plenty of couches to lounge on, a bar, and individual seats throughout.
There’s also a business center with computers and a printer. If the printer is down, by all means, don’t be like this guy and make a huge ruckus about it while referring to the lounge staff as “slaves.”
While there is no place to sleep, you can probably get some shuteye in the semi-private tv nooks. These feature large chairs and the area is sectioned off with high partitions.
I ended up dozing off there for a few hours, using my carry-on bag as a footrest while simultaneously keeping it safe.
The only negative aspect of these TV nooks is that 1.) the seats are too close to the TV’s and 2.) there’s virtually no place to plug in your electronics. What I ended up doing was opening up the console, unplugging the light and replacing it with my phone charger.
Family Room at the Etihad Business Class Lounge
Like the Dulles lounge, the one in Abu Dhabi also features a family room. It’s almost identical, with lots of colorful decorations and toys to keep the kids happy.
The more I travel outside the U.S., the more realize how much better families are accommodated abroad. There’s an inherent dislike for kids on planes that I haven’t encountered elsewhere.
It wasn’t until I traveled with kids for the first time last summer that I noticed a huge difference. When I see things like a dedicated playroom for kids at an airport lounge, it reinforces this idea.
Final thoughts
The Etihad lounge in Abu Dhabi is a nice place for a layover and exceeded my expectations. Yes, the place can get crowded, but there are a few spots where you can sort of escape the ruckus.
The fact that it has a shower rooms and a spa with reasonably priced services is a huge plus. It’s definitely worth a visit if you need a quick spa treatment to alleviate stress after a long flight.
While some people complain about the food, I found the buffet to be so extensive that I had no trouble finding something good. Another common complaint is that it doesn’t have sleeping rooms or private spaces to relax. While that’s certainly true, I can’t imagine sleeping rooms being very practical (or accessible) in a lounge that gets this much foot traffic.
If you find yourself in Abu Dhabi on a layover, definitely check out the Etihad business class lounge, if you can. Passengers not traveling on Etihad can buy a pass to the lounge for $100 -$250, depending on how long they’re staying. Alternately, they can redeem 14,100 – 35,100 Etihad miles. I wouldn’t recommend either option, but it’s something worth noting for those who are curious.
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