***Guy reviews Etihads's $32,000 airline suite **

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Etschell

you would not have liked my last flight where turbulence knocked out the wifi system.

That's OK, on an Etihad Business class trip to India they lost power to a my whole section of Business. No seat controls, no video, no electrical appliances of any kind...

A breaker kept tripping and the captain came back to apologize. I didn't get concerned until he said it had done it on the last flight too. You'd think they'd investigate a major electrical issue before clearing the aircraft for service.

[BNA/LION]

WOW! Looks like a Five Star travel option.

[fusionstorm]

That $32K is good for 2 people in the suite, so the tariff isn't quite as bad as ppl are making it out to be.

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

That's OK, on an Etihad Business class trip to India they lost power to a my whole section of Business. No seat controls, no video, no electrical appliances of any kind...

A breaker kept tripping and the captain came back to apologize. I didn't get concerned until he said it had done it on the last flight too. You'd think they'd investigate a major electrical issue before clearing the aircraft for service.

I see a strongly worded letter being sent to a certain airline's executive board...

Originally Posted by fusionstorm

That $32K is good for 2 people in the suite, so the tariff isn't quite as bad as ppl are making it out to be.

Maybe, but that bed was not big enough for two people!! I know one person can take the cabin seat and the other can have the bed as he suggested but for that money you should get a KING bed let alone a QUEEN

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

I see a strongly worded letter being sent to a certain airline's executive board...

Etihad wouldn't even comp miles for it. This event, coupled with their price schedule and inability to be on time for anything, has caused me to go out of my way to fly other carriers. I used to fly them in the GCC twice a month, but they were never on time (12 late flights in a row is a pattern, as much as 3 hours late). We only use them when there are no other options, and we're not alone.

Etihad bought 49% of Al Italia, Air Berlin, and Jet - all three marginal performers or near bankrupt and have dumped huge resources into bringing them up to 'standard'. Simultaneously, they focused on the ultra premium market. They seemed to have lost track of operational efficiency in the middle of all that and have become a mediocre airline (Delta's DXB to ATL flight was much better than Etihad AUH to ORD, and Delta wasn't that good).

Fly Emirates, Qatar Air, or Oman Air for the best service to the GCC. Save most of that $32K for something durable (an AP dual time comes to mind for me).

[FrankNYC]

For flights longer than 6 hours I have to do business class (bad back). I travel to Europe and Asia once a year (from NYC) and it costs 5K to Asia for business (instead of 1.2k coach) and 4K to Europe (instead of $800).
It kills me to pay the extra $ but the alternative is to dread the flight instead of looking forward to my trip/vacation.