Etihad Economy Space: Is it worth paying for?

This post contains everything you need to know about the Etihad Airways Economy Space seat found on the 787, A350 and A380 aircraft.

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I have to be honest. The first impression of Economy Space underwhelmed me. However, now I always pay for it, whether flying independently or with the family. Read on to find out why. 

What is Economy Space? 

Economy Space is Etihad Airways’ extra legroom seating option available in Economy class. These are regular economy seats with up to five inches of extra legroom. 

The seats are at the front of the economy cabin. Etihad removed one row of seats to provide the extra legroom.

This is most definitely not a Premium Economy product. It does not include priority boarding, pre-departure drinks, better meals, or extra checked luggage. The in-flight service is identical to that in the rest of the economy cabin. The only benefit is the extra legroom.

Emergency exit rows in the economy cabin are also branded Economy Space. These seats come with even more legroom, but there are restrictions regarding age and ability, so they are not suitable for everyone. 

Which planes and routes have Economy Space? 

Economy Space seating is now available on all Etihad Airways long-haul aircraft, including the 787 and the new A350. 

How much does it cost? 

The cost varies by destination and tier status. In general, you pay more for longer flights. 

Examples of current standard one-way pricing: 

• 670 AED – New York
• 520 AED – Sydney 
• 450 AED – London, Paris
• 260 AED – Istanbul 
• 120 AED – Mumbai 

Etihad appears to have an almost indefinite 50% off promotion on Economy Space seat selection. More often than not, you will be paying the promotional rate. 

Examples of current promotional one-way pricing: 

• 340 AED – New York
• 260 AED – Sydney 
• 230 AED – London, Paris 
• 140 AED – Istanbul 
• 60 AED – Mumbai 

One thing to keep in mind, the seat selection fee is charged per leg. A return trip connecting through Abu Dhabi would entail four-seat selection fees per passenger. The cost would add up even with a discount, particularly for a family or group travelling together.  

Etihad Guest status benefits

Etihad Guest Silver, Gold and Platinum Guests can reserve Economy Space seats at a discount. 

• Platinum: FREE for member + 50% for up to 9 guests
• Gold: 50% off for up to two guest
• Silver: 30% off 

Unfortunately, these discounts do not stack on top of the frequent 50% off promotion. As Economy Space seems to be a permanent promotion, it is a little disappointing that the discount does not come on top. 

Can you pay with Etihad Guest miles? 

If booking with Etihad Guest Miles, paying for the entire reservation is possible, including extra legroom seats using miles.

How do you book? 

There are two ways to book these extra legroom seats. 

The first option is to select seats during the initial booking process. This will appear after inputting the passenger information. You can choose seats and have the cost included in the overall price for the ticket.  

Alternatively, you can select an Economy Space seat via Manage my booking. Once logged in, click on the ‘Select Seat’ tab to choose and pay for the reservation.  

My experience

My first impression was a little underwhelmed. The headrests have elegant branding but otherwise, look like regular economy seats. However, the extra space and legroom became immediately apparent once I sat down in the seat.

The first time we travelled in Economy Space, we were wrangling an excited toddler. The extra space to manoeuvre him and all of the luggage that travels with a young child was very welcome.

We had a good point of comparison as we had been in standard economy seating on the outbound flight from Abu Dhabi. The difference was very noticeable. The outbound flight had felt like a tight squeeze, particularly when the passengers in front reclined. Economy Space felt spacious even with the seats in front reclined.

Is it worth paying for Economy Space?

The answer is an emphatic yes if you are getting an elite discount. An extra AED 230 for seven hours of extra legroom feels like good value.

I am less sure about the value of paying full price. A family of four would pay AED 3,600 on a return trip to Europe or AED 7,760 on a return journey from Europe to Australia. That’s not a small amount of money. It feels closer to Premium Economy pricing – and Economy Space is most definitely not a Premium Economy product.