Inaugural Flight Review: Etihad A380 First Class Apartment to Toronto

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When an airline launches a new international route, especially one featuring a premium product like the Etihad A380 First Class Apartment, the inaugural flight often feels like a celebration—complete with exclusive swag, upgraded inflight service, and an electric buzz among aviation enthusiasts. On June 24, 2025, Etihad Airways made waves in the aviation world by launching its flagship Airbus A380 service from Abu Dhabi to Toronto. I had the rare opportunity to be onboard this historic Etihad inaugural flight in none other than the airline’s iconic First Class Apartments. From world-class dining to a private suite in the sky, here’s what it was like to experience this unforgettable luxury flight aboard the Etihad A380.

EY 21
Airbus A380
Abu Dhabi – Toronto (AUH – YYZ)
Duration: 14h 40m
Seat: 3A

Introduction

The Etihad First Class Apartment on the Airbus A380 is consistently ranked among the most luxurious first-class flight experiences in the world. Designed for travellers seeking unmatched privacy, space, and comfort, this ultra-premium cabin redefines what it means to fly first class. Unlike traditional first-class seats, the Etihad Apartment offers a separate, fully flat bed and a reclining leather armchair, creating a spacious suite that rivals the interiors of private jets.

Top features of the Etihad A380 First Class Apartment include:

• Sliding doors for total privacy during your flight
• A full-length wardrobe, vanity mirror, and personal minibar
• Access to an exclusive onboard shower with luxury amenities
• A gourmet dine-on-demand à la carte menu, available anytime
• A fold-out table for in-flight dining with a companion

With just 9 suites per aircraft, this cabin offers an exceptionally quiet and exclusive atmosphere, perfect for long-haul travellers who value discretion and luxury. The Etihad A380 currently operates on select routes from Abu Dhabi, including flights to London, Paris, Singapore, and now Toronto, making it one of the most aspirational ways to fly first class to Canada.

Prior to this inaugural flight, I had already experienced the Etihad Apartments on four occasions—as well as The Residence (PMB Review)—so I was familiar with the “seat” itself. Still, each flight brings subtle variations in service and dining, and I was especially curious to see how Etihad would elevate the experience for such a high-profile inaugural flight.

Etihad First Class Apartment – Booking Process

Award bookings on Etihad First Class can only be booked in one of 2 ways: American Airlines AAdvantage miles, and Etihad Guest Miles. There are Pros and Cons to each one; the following table outlines them:

While I’d love to recommend using Etihad Guest miles due to their generous award availability, the program comes with some real risks. Yes, change fees are low—but any modifications require new award space to be available, and tickets expire one year from the date of original issuance.

That said, one significant upside is that banks frequently offer transfer bonuses to Etihad Guest, which can significantly reduce the cost. For example, a recent 40% bonus from Capital One reduced the price of my ticket from 200,000 to 142,857 Capital One points—a great deal for a First Class Ticket.

Etihad First Class Apartment – Ground Experience

Since I had booked my ticket through Etihad Guest, I was eligible for a complimentary chauffeur service from anywhere within the UAE to the Abu Dhabi airport. The driver arrived promptly at 8 pm at my hotel, the fantastic Four Seasons Abu Dhabi. An Audi A6 vehicle was provided.

Zayed International Airport, the new official name for Abu Dhabi’s airport, just recently opened in November 2023 and is a true architectural marvel!

A mere 30 minutes later, we arrived at the airport, and I was greeted by Etihad ground staff who offered to help with my luggage. Since I only had a carry-on, I took my own luggage to the First Class check-in area.

Check-in formalities were quick; I proceeded to the dedicated immigration and security area, to the beautiful Zayed International Airport, and to the First Class Lounge.

Etihad First Class Apartment – First Class Lounge

The Etihad A380 First Class Apartment experience begins long before takeoff, with a serene and exclusive lounge setting. This is where I headed, straight to the dedicated First Class Lounge on the top floor of the Etihad lounges.

The lounge is divided into three distinct areas: a la carte dining, self-serve dining, a lounge area, rest areas, and VIP Rooms for Residence guests.

The lounge is tranquil, and during each of my visits, it has never become busy, unlike the Emirates First Class Lounge in Dubai, for comparison. With over five hours to spend in the lounge, I began with some dining, which I must say was quite fabulous—the perfect prelude to the Etihad A380 First Class Apartment experience.  Here is the menu:

Once dining was finished, it was time to take advantage of the complimentary 15-minute spa treatment that all first-class passengers receive. It’s important to book this early, as it tends to fill up quickly; there are also many paying customers from the business class lounge competing for the same slots.

After an enjoyable 5 hours relaxing in the lounge, it was time to head to the gate and see what festivities were happening. Note that, unlike a Residence passenger, Etihad does not provide any escort to the gate. Once we arrived at the entrance, we had a photo shoot with the Etihad media team:

Before boarding the aircraft, there were luggage tags for all passengers to take, presented in a Toronto A380 Box. It was finally time to board and see what awaited us on the aircraft:

Since my seat 3A was located in First Class, I proceeded right to the upper deck.

Etihad First Class Apartment – On Board Experience

Boarding an A380 always brings a grin to my face—it feels like stepping onto a flying cruise ship. Entering through the upper deck door and turning left, I make my way down the intimate First Class cabin to my seat: Apartment 3A. Seat selection is crucial on this aircraft—only four of the eight Apartments offer the ideal experience: 3A, 4A, 3K, and 4K. These are positioned closest to the windows, offering enhanced privacy and three windows instead of just one. Additionally, seats in rows 3 and 4 can be combined into a luxurious double suite.

Once we were on board, we were handed out lots more inaugural swag, adding to the excitement of flying in the Etihad A380 First Class Apartment: tote bag, stickers, special designed menu, postcard (that were collected after and posted out), an Etihad A380 fan, amenity kit with pyjamas, and a certificate.

We had some onboard festivities before we pushed back from the gate with fellow avgeeks and lots of champagne flowing!

It was clear the flight attendants and Etihad staff that was on board were as excited as we were for this inagural flight!

Etihad First Class Apartment – Features

The Etihad A380 First Class Apartment is hands down my favorite seat on any aircraft, period.  It’s exceptionally wide, allowing you to shift positions comfortably or even sit cross-legged with ease. Instead of a traditional legrest that reclines from the seat, the design features a bench that slides forward to support your legs, a setup I find far more comfortable. The bench also includes two extra seat belts, making it suitable for hosting a guest or enjoying a meal with a companion. When fully extended, it converts into a bed. Much like Singapore Airlines Suites, the Etihad Apartment offers a separate armchair and a standalone bed, creating a truly first-class, home-in-the-sky experience.

What sets the Etihad A380 First Class Apartment apart is its unmatched privacy and thoughtful design, outfitted with a range of premium features, including:

• A large dining table is perfect for in-flight meals or work
• Two dimmable lights plus an additional reading light
• A massaging leather armchair with adjustable seat firmness
• A personal wardrobe for hanging garments
• A 32” HD television (not 4K) that swivels for optimal viewing in bed mode
• A vanity mirror with subtle lighting for convenience
• HDMI input to connect and stream your own content
• High-quality noise-cancelling headphones
• A cooled personal minibar—unlike Emirates’ unchilled version

My only real complaint? Limited storage. While the suite excels in comfort and luxury, it could use a bit more room to tuck away personal items.

Etihad First Class Apartment – Bathroom & Showers

At the front of the upper deck, First Class passengers have access to two bathrooms—one of which includes a shower. A common criticism is that the shower suite feels a bit cramped, and I’d agree when it comes to the overall space. However, the shower itself is surprisingly roomy, and in my experience—after dozens of in-flight showers—it offers noticeably better water pressure than what you’ll find in Emirates First Class.

Flight attendants don’t always proactively ask if or when you’d like to take your shower, so it’s best to request a timeslot shortly after boarding, especially if you already know when you’d like to use it. Personally, I prefer showering during the final quarter of the flight. When you’re ready, a flight attendant will prepare the shower suite for you, complete with premium bath amenities by luxury brand ESPA. You are given 5 minutes of run time for the water, which is on par with Emirates. If the First Class cabin isn’t full, you can request more time up front.

Etihad First Class Apartment – Pyjamas and Amenity Kit 

Etihad Airways recently upgraded its first and business class inflight amenities by offering Giorgio Armani products. For first class passengers, the following items were provided:

• Specially designed Giorgio Armani sleepwear and comfortable slippers. This is a huge upgrade from their previous pyjamas and slippers.
• A large leather Giorgio Armani/Etihad branded folio large enough to accommodate a laptop (my favourite item!). This is one of the largest amenity kits in the sky.
•  All in-flight essentials plus luxurious ESPA hand cream, rest and recovery balm, facial mist, lip treatment and pulse point oil.

While I collect sleepwear from my air travels, amenity kits are normally thrown in the basement. However, I’ll actually be using the Etihad amenity kit products, including the much improved sleepwear and the leather folio for my laptop.

Etihad First Class Apartment – Dining

Dining aboard Etihad First is nothing short of exceptional—easily the best in-flight cuisine I’ve experienced. For this inaugural flight, even the menu felt elevated, shimmering under the light with embedded gold flakes in the paper. Take a look:

The dining and drink experience aboard The Apartments was exactly what I expected from Etihad Airways: perfection. We started off with some Caviar in the Residence Suite:

This was followed by a delicious scallop appetizer:

Followed by a delicious soup.

After this was a palate cleanser, which is so rare to see served on an airline.

For the main course, I went with the Grouper, which was cooked to perfection.

This was followed by a date and fig pudding that was done exceptionally well.

Later into the flight, I enjoyed some Iced Latte, Green juice, Steak Sandwich, and finally the Milk Saffron cake.

The dining experience on this flight was just like any other Eithad First Class flight, near perfection, and still remains my favourite dining experience in the sky!

Etihad First Class Apartment – Service

The quality of service an airline exhibits can make or break a flight experience. I’ve flown many flights, such as ANA First Class, where the hard product excelled, but the service was lacklustre, leaving a sour taste in my mouth, and I have no desire to fly it again. Conversely, good service can make an otherwise poor, hard product enjoyable! So, the quality of service is of utmost importance.

The baseline standard I expect in the first class is a flawless, personalized experience that enhances exclusivity. This isn’t business class, where a robotic experience is acceptable; this is first class.  I’m happy to report that Etihad delivered on all fronts of its soft product and rivals the experience I continuously receive on Emirates and Singapore Airlines First Class.

Bottom Line

Etihad’s First Class Apartments aboard the A380 remain one of the most luxurious and well-rounded first-class experiences in the sky. From the elegance of Zayed International Airport and the tranquil First Class Lounge to the privacy and comfort of a fully enclosed suite, the experience is consistently exceptional. The onboard service was polished and personable, the food among the best I’ve had in the air, and the signature shower and Armani-branded amenities elevate the experience even further.

While there are a few minor drawbacks—like limited in-suite storage and a slightly cramped shower space—the overall product is world-class. Whether you’re flying for the novelty of the A380, the allure of the inaugural route, or simply to indulge in a truly first-class experience, Etihad Apartments deliver in every category.

For those booking with miles, keep in mind the trade-offs between Etihad Guest and AAdvantage, but if you can find a transfer bonus, this aspirational product becomes even more within reach.

In short: this isn’t just a flight—it’s a destination in itself.