Review: Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi to Doha in Economy

This is my review of a recent flight on Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi (AUH) Terminal A to Doha (DOH) in Economy. 

Etihad Airways EY395
Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Doha (DOH) 
24 Jan 2024
Depart: 16:45 (scheduled) 16:38 (actual) 
Arrive: 16:50 (scheduled) 16:42 (actual) 
Duration: 1h 03m 
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Seat: 7D (Economy)

This trip to Doha came up at relatively short notice recently. It was unusual for several reasons, so I wanted to review it here. 

Most of my travel with Etihad Airways is long-haul and usually in Business or First. I have also held either Platinum or Gold Tier status in Etihad Guest for the last eight years.  

However, most of my travel with Etihad Airways was booked last year using Etihad Guest Miles. As a result, I did not earn enough Tier Miles to retain Gold status and was recently downgraded to Silver Tier.  

So, this is a review of what travelling in short-haul Economy on Etihad Airways with entry-level elite status is like. 

How did I book? 

One-way Etihad Guest Seats cost 7,000 Guest Miles and AED 295 in Economy and 20,000 Guest Miles plus AED 665 in Business. 

That’s expensive, considering cash tickets were available at AED 320. I booked a cash ticket and earned 375 Etihad Guest Miles and 500 Tier Miles for this trip. 

I was also offered an upgrade during online check-in for about AED 700. That seemed unnecessary for such a short trip, so I declined the offer. I was also keen to experience the Etihad regional economy seat and product for the first time. 

Check-in at Terminal A

I checked in online for this flight but could not get the boarding pass as a document check was required. 

At Terminal A, as a Silver Tier member flying Economy, I was not eligible to use the dedicated Etihad Airways First and Business Class check-in area in Zone A & B. 

Instead, in Zone C, a number of priority check-in desks are available to Silver Tier members flying Economy. These priority check-in counters are available to the following passengers: 

• Etihad Guest Silver Members 
• Flex Ticket Holders 
• Government Employees 
• Senior Emiratis Basma Programme 
• Homat Al Watan 
• ADNOC Employes 

While many people have access to the priority check-in in Zone C, there was no line when I arrived, with several desks staffed. I was seen straight away by a friendly agent and checked in quickly.

Departure Immigration & Security 

Terminal A has two separate departure channels. There is one for GCC & UAE nationals and a second for all other passengers. Your boarding pass is scanned at the entry to both channels. The line then feeds into a set of e-Gates. The e-Gates are now the default for all passengers.

Security and bag screening took ten minutes to clear. This was in the middle of the day in the middle of the week, with five security lanes open. I would not be surprised if the process took longer during the evening peak. 

Ten minutes is short in the grand scheme of things. However, the time spent waiting was a helpful reminder that one of the significant advantages of Gold Tier status is access to a separate priority security screening lane.

If you are interested in pursuing Gold, read my article on the benefits of Etihad Guest Gold Tier status here. There is a second article on what you must do to earn Gold.  

Lounge hopping

Although I was travelling on an economy ticket, I could visit the Etihad Business Class Lounge due to my Etihad Guest status. One of the upsides of the move to Terminal A is that Etihad Guest Silver Tier Members now have access to the Etihad Business Class Lounge. Previously, they were sent to a contract lounge in the old terminal.  

I also popped into the Pearl Lounge using my Lounge Key for entry. This is the only other lounge in Terminal A, and it is used by all other airlines flying out of Abu Dhabi. 

My impressions of both the Etihad Airways Business Class Lounge and Pearl Lounge reviews will be posted shortly. 

Boarding 

By the time I reached the gate, boarding had already started. Priority boarding is not one of the benefits of Etihad Guest Silver status, so I was in one of the last groups to board. However, this was not a full flight, so the process was relatively relaxed. 

Slimeline seats 

The A320 is fitted with slimline seats. Etihad Airways started fitting these seats in 2019, so the design is nearly five years old. The seats are upholstered in an attractive brown and grey fabric with light blue trim. The look is elegant and appears to be ageing well.

I sat in 7D, an aisle seat in the second row of the economy cabin. This is a regular economy seat but the slimline design means there is still a few inches of space at knee level.

I was able to select the seat for free as a Silver Tier member. However, I would have had to pay for an extra legroom seat at the bulkhead or an emergency exit row. I got lucky and had a whole row to myself on this short flight.

These seats have a small rectangular extendable tray table. In addition, there is a coat hook at every seat while the recline button is located between the seats rather than on the armrests. 

Each seat has an adjustable headrest with an impressive range and sturdy wings that would provide comfortable support if you wanted to nap. 

While the seats look great, they are on the thin side and do not have a great deal of padding. It was okay for an hour-long flight, but I did not find it very comfortable, particularly around the lower back. 

Inflight entertainment 

Etihad’s A320s do not have seatback screens in Economy. However, the E-Box streaming service is available. 

E-Box has an extensive range of moves, TV shows and audio, and a great moving map and flight information. I ended up watching an Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby episode featuring Qasr Al Sarab. It was neat to see behind the scenes of a hotel I have stayed at several times. I knew desalination was an essential part of our water supply. However, I was still surprised to learn that the UAE has over 70 desalination plants. 

There was a USB-A socket for every seat. However, there were no other power or plug options. The lack of a UBS-C socket will be a problem in the future. The USB power also was only switched on when the seatbelt sign was turned off. 

I was also surprised that there was no ledge or holder on which to place your device. When these seats were first announced, the plans included an adjustable phone and tablet holder at every seat. I am curious to know if my aircraft is an anomaly or if the plans have changed. The wear and tear on an adjustable device holder could be an issue. 

Food & drink 

The cabin crew must move fast on these short flights to complete the service. We were airborne at 16:50, and I was served a snack bag ten minutes later. 

The bag contained a small cheese sandwich, savoury Masala Sticks, a mini KitKat and a small water bottle. For an hour-long flight, it felt like more than enough. 

I was particularly impressed by the quality of the sandwich. The portion of cheese was generous, while the bread was soft and fresh. I enjoyed it, which is a rare experience with airline bread! 

It was a good flight

I enjoyed this short flight with Etihad Airways, and not just because of the bird’s eye view of Doha’s Hamad International Airport we were treated before landing. It was a smooth, comfortable journey. Etihad Airways’ short-haul Economy is a solid product.

However, the trip really brought home one of the main benefits of Etihad Guest Gold status. I particularly missed access to the priority immigration and security screening. It would have only saved ten minutes on this trip. However, scaling up across a whole year of travel Gold status could save a couple of hours waiting in line. That is a substantial benefit and one I plan to reattain during the course of this year.