Etihad brings flagship Airbus A380 — with private onboard Residence — back to the US
The world's most exclusive commercial aircraft cabin is officially returning to the U.S.
Etihad Airways announced Wednesday that it would once again fly its flagship Airbus A380 to New York starting April 22, 2024. The carrier will deploy the A380 on one of its two daily frequencies to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) for the duration of the summer season, with the following schedule:
- Flight 102 from New York to Abu Dhabi: Departs at 3:30 p.m. and arrives at 12:30 p.m. the next day
- Flight 103 from Abu Dhabi to New York: Departs at 3:10 a.m. and arrives at 9:30 a.m.
Etihad will also upgrade its second-daily frequency between New York and Abu Dhabi, operating this flight with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that features a first-class cabin. (As part of the move, the airline will downguage service between Washington, D.C., and Abu Dhabi to a "regular" 787 Dreamliner that doesn't feature first class.)
The double-decker A380 doesn't just represent a massive capacity increase on one of Etihad's key routes, but it also brings a major upgrade to the passenger experience for flyers in all cabins, especially those with the deepest pockets.
That's because Etihad A380s feature the so-called Residence product, which is essentially a three-room private cabin at the front of the first-class section.
The Residence is the most exclusive cabin in commercial aviation, and it offers up to two passengers an extra-spacious suite, a private bedroom and a private lavatory with a shower. No other product — not even Emirates' game-changer first class — comes close to offering as much privacy and space as Etihad's Residence.
Back in the day, Etihad used to curate an elevated experience for those who dropped tens of thousands of dollars to fly in the Residence. This included a private lounge, a special onboard menu adapted to your dietary preferences and restrictions, and a personal butler dedicated to serving you.
But nowadays, the airline has largely scaled back much of the Residence's "soft product." While the physical suite remains, the ground and onboard service largely resemble what passengers should expect in first class.
To celebrate the return of the Residence to the U.S., Etihad is offering some discounted — albeit still pricey — upgrade offers for those who already booked first-class tickets. Residence upgrades are available from "just" $2,990 through Dec. 12 for travel from April 22, 2024, through the end of the schedule (excluding June 14-24).
Standard one-way Residence upgrade prices on the New York route will be $4,520 per person. It wasn't immediately clear if passengers could upgrade to the Residence from first-class award tickets.
The good news is that even for those who don't want to splurge for the Residence, the return of the A380 should bring a noteworthy upgrade to the passenger experience. The A380 features nine "Apartments," Etihad's best first-class product.
In business class, travelers can enjoy one of the 70 lie-flat "Studio" pods. There's even an onboard bar, dubbed "The Lobby," where first- and business-class passengers can relax during the 14-hour flight.
The A380 also features 415 economy-class seats; note that Etihad doesn't offer a premium economy cabin.
Etihad's A380s were parked in long-term storage at the outset of the pandemic. Some aviation observers thought these planes would be permanently retired, but the airline brought them back this summer for service to London.
Now, the airline is breathing another life into its superjumbos, with service to New York becoming the airline's second A380 destination since the pandemic.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.