My round-the-world journey came together just weeks before departure, centered entirely around the opportunity to fly Etihad’s famous First Class Apartments, which have become more difficult to book over time. Along the way I also enjoyed some other favorite redemptions, such as Air France business class, Qatar Airways Qsuites, and finally Japan Airlines 777 first class back to North America.
The highlight of the entire trip and the main reason for planning it in the first place was to experience Etihad’s A380 Apartments. What I never expected, however, was a last-minute upgrade at the gate to the Etihad’s ultra exclusive The Residence for my seven-hour flight to Abu Dhabi.
Those seven hours were nothing short of extraordinary. From the sprawling three-room suite to the exquisite dining and flawless service, the entire experience was absolutely awesome, and easily the best premium flight I’ve ever taken.
Booking Etihad First Class
| First Class | Aircraft | Route | Flight Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| EY 32 | Airbus A380-800 | Paris to Abu Dhabi | 6 Hours 55 Minutes |
I booked this itinerary through the American Airlines AAdvantage program that included a first class flight from Paris (CDG) to Abu Dhabi (AUH), followed by an onward business class flight to Muscat (MCT). The total cost came to 62,500 AAdvantage miles plus US$224 in taxes and fees.
As I mentioned, I was unexpectedly upgraded to Etihad The Residence after checking in for the flight. Etihad doesn’t allow The Residence to be booked directly with cash or points. The only way to access The Residence is to book a First Class Apartment ticket, and then either pay for a cash upgrade or be lucky enough to receive a complimentary upgrade. It’s still not clear to me why I was selected for an upgrade, but I certainly wasn’t going to question it.
American Airlines AAdvantage miles can be earned by transferring RBC Avion Rewards points at a 1:0.7 ratio. While this transfer rate isn’t ideal, it’s the most straightforward way for Canadians to accumulate the miles required for a redemption like this.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite card earns 1.25 Avion points on all travel purchases. Avion points can be redeemed against travel purchases or transferred to popular frequent flyer programs.
Check out our RBC Avion Visa Infinite card review for more details.
35,000 Avion points
$0
$665+
$120
Yes
–
If you have access to U.S.-issued credit cards, Citibank is the only bank that offers co-branded American Airlines credit cards where you can earn AAdvantage miles directly with the program. In addition, Citi ThankYou Points can be transferred to AAdvantage at a 1:1 ratio.
A drawback of using AAdvantage to redeem for Etihad First Class is that flights are only available within 14 days of departure, meaning you’ll need to be comfortable securing your seat at the last minute. An alternative is Etihad’s own Etihad Guest program, which offers access to a much wider range of award availability, though this program comes with its own set of limitations.
I wrote a complete guide on redeeming for Etihad first class award flights, detailing every step of the booking process for both programs.
Ground Experience
Etihad doesn’t operate its own lounge at Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Instead, first and business class passengers are granted access to the Paul Maxence by Extime Lounge in Terminal 1.
This business class lounge is used by a handful of airlines that don’t operate their own lounge at Paris (CDG) and is one of the better contract lounges I’ve come across.
As an Etihad first class passenger, I was escorted to a private VIP section of the lounge reserved exclusively for those who are traveling in first class. While this doesn’t quite match what a dedicated Etihad first class lounge would be, it’s a nice touch that the airline offers a separate, private area for its most premium passengers.
Inside the VIP lounge is a cozy seating area with some large windows along the far wall that provide plenty of natural light and some nice views of the aircraft activity on the apron.
A light breakfast buffet was set up in the VIP lounge, offering items such as crepes, yogurt, fresh fruit, and croissants. Guests could also help themselves to coffee from a machine, as well as juices and other refreshments stocked in the fridge.
The lounge’s main area features a large buffet with a wide variety of food, hot dishes, and a well-stocked selection of spirits and other alcoholic drinks.
I have absolutely no complaints about the Extime Lounge at Paris–CDG. It’s one of the better non-airline lounges I’ve visited, and I really appreciate that Etihad provides first class passengers access to a private VIP area. When traveling in first class, every aspect of the experience should feel elevated, and I found this lounge to be the perfect spot to relax while waiting for my flight.
Cabin Arrangement
The Etihad Airbus A380 first class cabin is situated at the front of the aircraft’s upper deck. It features a total of ten fully enclosed seats: nine Apartment suites and a single Residence suite. Arranged in a 1–1 layout, every seat offers direct aisle access for utmost privacy and convenience.
The aircraft features two bathrooms on the right side for the nine passengers in The Apartments, including one equipped with a shower. My seat, 1A in The Residence Suite, is considered the one of the world’s most exclusive airline seats, offering a private living room, a separate en-suite shower bathroom, and a bedroom with a double bed.
Between the first and business class cabins, you’ll find the onboard bar and lounge. This space is accessible to both first and business class passengers and is intended to be a social space for passengers to gather for a drink from the bar during the flight.
The first class cabin is arranged in a staggered seating layout, where each row alternates between forward- and rear-facing seats, positioned either closer to or further from the aisle. While privacy shouldn’t be a concern since all seats are fully enclosed, seats in rows 1, 2, and 5 are located away from the windows and closer to the aisle. Therefore, I think the seats in rows 3 and 4 are the ideal choice, as you’ll be situated beside the window and further away from the aisle.
If you’re traveling with a companion, the best seats are 3A and 4A or 3K and 4K, as the partition between these seats can be lowered to create a more spacious, shared area for two passengers.
I had originally assigned myself seat 4A before I had been upgraded, which is one of the forward-facing seats closer to the windows.
Seat
As a First Class Residence passenger, the initial impressions of the cabin, seat, and service are beyond anything I could have imagined and comes as close as possible to the feeling of flying private while still on a commercial passenger jet.
I was immediately welcomed by the crew member assigned to my seat, as guests in The Residence receive a dedicated attendant whose sole responsibility is looking after that single suite.
Even though this cabin and aircraft are nearly a decade old, few airlines can match the spaciousness of these first class seats, as a 1–1 layout on a widebody is something you’ll still only find on one other airline in Singapore Airlines’ A380 First Class Suites.
The Residence is built to accommodate up to two guests, with two spacious leather recliner-style seats greeting you as soon as you step inside.
Two people could easily settle into the suite with plenty of space to spare, but since I was traveling alone, the amount of room I had to myself was immense, and that’s before even considering the private bedroom and bathroom.
In addition to the two oversized seats, the suite features a long bench stretching nearly the entire length of the cabin, a massive entertainment screen, and an array of other lavish amenities.
Tucked in beneath the armrest are a few seat controls that adjust the recline and the window shades. The seat tilts back into a slightly reclined position, but it doesn’t lie fully flat since the suite includes a separate private bed.
Between the window and the seat are storage compartments containing the seat’s connectivity panel, which includes a universal power outlet, two USB-A charging ports, a headphone jack, and an HDMI port. The compartments also feature a touchscreen panel for controlling the suite’s lighting and window shades.
In another storage compartment, you’ll find the handheld entertainment screen controller, a pair of noise-canceling headphones, and a voucher for complimentary Wi-Fi.
Since The Residence suite can accommodate up to two passengers, the second passenger seat also has their own set of seat controls for adjusting the seat recline and a connectivity panel for charging devices and connecting headphones.
Directly across from the seat is a long bench that can be used as a footrest and a large entertainment screen.
Inside the bench, you’ll find several storage compartments for placing a few personal items, along with a mini-bar drawer stocked with bottled water and soda.
The privacy offered in Etihad first class apartment and suites is exceptional, with walls built to about head height creating a secluded space. With a maximum of just nine passengers in the cabin, the chance of experiencing any disruptions is minimal.
Each suite features sliding privacy doors, and once inside The Residence, I never felt the need to step out, as I had my own private bedroom and bathroom.
A doorway off the living room opens into a narrow hallway leading to the bathroom and bedroom. This door can be closed to add an extra layer of privacy, and thanks to the A380’s whisper-quiet cabin, the bedroom becomes a very peaceful place to relax.
Bed
What is undoubtedly the highlight of The Residence is the bedroom, which features a full double bed. It’s easily the most comfortable sleeping arrangement on any airline, with an actual mattress, soft sheets, plush pillows, and the privacy of your own enclosed space that allows you to rest completely undisturbed.
Walking in and seeing the bedroom for the first time was nothing short of surreal, and I couldn’t help but chuckle quietly in disbelief at what I was experiencing as I settled in for a nap after my meal.
A large 27-inch screen is positioned at the foot of the bed that has two headphone jacks, just like in the living room, allowing two people to enjoy a movie together.
Amenity Kit
The first class amenity kit is presented in a Etihad-branded leather folio and includes a set of loungewear, slippers, and skincare products from ESPA.
The loungewear and slippers were provided by Giorgio Armani and are exceptionally luxurious and a significant upgrade over the standard business class offerings.
Contents of the amenity kit included a dental kit, earplugs, an eye mask, and a selection of skincare products from ESPA.
Bathroom
The ensuite bathroom matches the size of the other first-class bathrooms on board, with the added benefit of it being exclusively for use by just the passengers seated in The Residence. It features a sleek black design and is stocked with additional ESPA bath products for your use.
Inside the private bathroom is also a walk-in shower, that can be used once during the flight.
The Residence passengers have ten minutes of running water, with the remaining time displayed on a dial. The water can be turned on and off as needed, allowing you to extend your shower time.
After my nap, the flight attendant prepared the shower for me, placing a mat on the floor and setting out a bath towel and robe for me. Though the flight was only seven hours, it felt wonderful to freshen up before landing.
Dining
As you would expect, dining in Etihad First Class is a lavish experience, offering an extensive menu of food and drinks available for on-demand service.
Shortly after boarding I was handed the menus for the flight which were presented in two leather folders.
At this point, I was offered a pre-departure drink and requested an Arabic coffee and a lemon-mint beverage, which were served with some dates and a warm towel.
The dining menu is on-demand, allowing you to order anything you like at any time during the flight. It offers a huge selection of dishes, including Etihad’s first class signature dish of Oscietra caviar.
The drink menu was equally as impressive, offering a wide range of champagne, wine, beer, spirits, teas, coffee, mocktails, and juices.
Shortly after takeoff, as I browsed the menu, I was served a post-departure snack mix along with a refill of my lemon-mint drink.
As one does when flying in first class, starting with the caviar service almost feels like a requirement. The flight attendant explained to me that passengers seated in The Residence are treated to a special plating of caviar that consists of a very generous serving of caviar along with Balik-style smoked salmon, which is apparently considered by most aficionados to be the best smoked salmon in the world.
Following the caviar service, I was brought a palette cleansing sorbet before the main course arrived.
Since I was flying on a Middle Eastern airline, I opted for the local option on the menu: a lamb shank boukhari served with fragrant rice. While the caviar presentation may have been the highlight of the service, this dish was a definite winner in its own right, bursting with authentic Middle Eastern flavors.
I kept dessert simple with a bowl of ice cream, which for me is always the perfect way to wrap up a meal.
Finally, I was offered another warm towel along with a small box of chocolates from Dubai-based Marzam Chocolate Makers.
The meal service in Etihad first class was without a doubt the best meal service I’ve ever experienced on any flight. The food quality, the meticulous attention to detail, and the exceptional service from the crew were all flawless. It was everything you’d expect from Etihad first class, and my only disappointment was not having another seven hours to try some other items from the rest of the menu.
Business and First Class Bar and Lounge
Like Emirates’ Airbus A380, Etihad also features an onboard bar and lounge on its A380 aircraft, which is accessible to all first and business class passengers throughout the flight.
While I love the concept of an onboard bar and lounge on any aircraft, I think Emirates is still the only airline that executes it well. Unfortunately, I found Etihad’s lounge to be somewhat of a missed opportunity.
Unlike the Emirates bar and lounge, which felt bright and open with a variety of seating and a staffed bar, the Etihad lounge was more minimalistic, with a circular seating arrangement around a central table and only a self-serve area where passengers could mix their own drinks. The space is noticeably darker, and the absence of windows makes it feel more enclosed.
If you wait long enough, one of the cabin crew may offer to make you a drink or take a food order, but the absence of a bartender means this area isn’t exactly lively. I never saw any other passengers use this space during the flight.
Entertainment
Entertainment Console
Etihad’s E-BOX entertainment system is one of the best, with The Residence featuring two large screens including a 32-inch display in the living room and a 27-inch display in the bedroom. The extensive library offers hundreds of movies and TV shows, from the latest Hollywood releases to classics across Arabic, European, Indian, and Asian cinema. There are also around half a dozen live sports and news channels available.
The TV selection features a solid mix of HBO and Apple TV series, which is always appreciated.
I was so immersed in the full First Class Residence experience that I never ended up watching anything. Instead, I kept the screen on one of Etihad’s A380 onboard cameras for the entire flight.
Since The Residence can accommodate up to two passengers, two sets of noise-cancelling headphones are provided. I didn’t use them myself, so I can’t speak to their quality, but they appeared to be perfectly adequate.
Wi-Fi
Etihad first class passengers receive a voucher for complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the entire flight.
Connecting to the Wi-Fi was easy. Once on the Wi-Fi portal, all that was needed was to navigate to the voucher code entry page and input the provided code, instantly granting access to free Wi-Fi for the duration of the flight.
For passengers in cabins without complimentary Wi-Fi, I thought the two available Wi-Fi plans to be fairly priced, especially the Surf Pass, which offers unlimited data for the entire flight at just US$9.99.
I found the Wi-Fi speed to be satisfactory for some light browsing and messaging, but it isn’t sufficient for streaming video or any other high-bandwidth activities.
Conclusion
It should come as no surprise that the Etihad Residence is an extraordinary product. Even more than a decade after its debut, no other commercial airline first class experience comes close to matching the sheer amount of personal space, amenities, service, and overall luxury it provides.
I imagine the Etihad Residence is as close to flying private as possible on a commercial airliner, and easily the most exclusive first class experience available today.
While it was hard not to get swept up in the hype surrounding this product. This was without question the best flight I’ve ever taken, and what many in the points and miles community consider the pinnacle of first class redemptions. I am still not entirely sure what circumstances led to my upgrade, but I feel very fortunate that I had the opportunity to experience it myself.
Jeff Jamieson
Latest posts by Jeff Jamieson (see all)
- Review: Etihad Airways First Class “The Residence” (A380) - Nov 12, 2025
- Guide to Flying with Your Pet - Nov 10, 2025
- Review: The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort - Oct 15, 2025
- Review: Turkish Airlines Business Class (A350) - Oct 1, 2025
- How to Book Etihad First Class With Points - Sep 19, 2025
