Review: Etihad Business Class B787-10 AUH-SIN: Underrated

After flying Etihad’s incredible first class product from Washington (IAD) to Abu Dhabi (AUH), I was curious how their business class would stack up. Of the Middle East carriers’ business class products, Etihad is often overshadowed by Qatar, known for its infamous Q-Suite. I flew Etihad Business Class B787-10 AUH-SIN for my second straight red eye.

Etihad Business Class B787-10 AUH-SIN Seat

I have to say that I love Etihad’s cabin. Their colors, from the tans to subtle oranges and golds, make the design feel very premium. The seating is arranged alternating rear vs. forward facing. I personally do not mind facing backward on board, but if you do, be careful in your seat choice. 

The seat itself is incredibly similar to Qatar’s Q-Suite minus the doors. Seats alternate being along the window and aisle, so I would recommend picking one along the window for more privacy. Once in the seat, it felt similar to United Polaris business class regarding space and storage. There was plenty of countertop space for belongings and a storage compartment, great for the headphones. 

The tray table was incredibly steady and large, coming down from the side. Plenty of seat controls were on a small screen, including custom lighting and adjusting the seat. I am always a fan of when the seat has a massage function. The primary screen was large and great for watching movies and shows on board. 

Shortly after takeoff, I wanted to head to bed. Once reclined, the seat was more spacious than I had expected, with plenty of space for my feet. Since the flight was only a bit longer than seven and a half hours, I wanted to maximize rest. 

Upon boarding, a plush blanket was left on the seat in addition to a nice amenity kit from Acqua Di Parma. While not a comforter, the blanket was warm and large enough to do the trick during the flight. The eye mask in the amenity kit was also great for blocking out the light during the meal service that I slept through.

Food and Beverage

I was most curious about the food. During boarding, a flight attendant came throughout the cabin to take orders. Since dine-on-demand is also available in business class, I asked if I could have my meal before boarding. Easy enough, she took my order and told me it could be made about an hour before we landed in Singapore. 

Additionally, during boarding, champagne and orange juice were offered. Pre-departure drinks are not much effort compared to the benefit they bring to passengers, so I wish more airlines still offered them. 

After takeoff, I had some tea as I got ready to go to bed. No chocolate like first class, but still plenty nice. 

After waking about 3 hours before landing, the head pursuer noticed and asked if I would like my meal now. I started with the Arabic Mezze, which should not be surprising if you read my Etihad first class or lounge review. The actual food was nearly identical to first. The significant difference is that the portions were quite a bit smaller. Further, the food in business class was served on a tray. Regardless, the presentation was still elegant. 

I followed the mezze with beef tenderloin, which was really good. I preferred how this steak was cooked over the first class steak I had on the prior flight. The main course was a highlight of this meal service. 

Finally, I wrapped up a fruit plate, a cheese plate, and a decaf cappuccino. It was a great conclusion to the meal.

As for drinks, there were countless alcoholic and soft drink options available on board. It is very safe that you will eight go hungry or thirsty while on board Etihad Business Class B787-10 AUH-SIN.

Etihad Business Class B787-10 AUH-SIN Service

The service on board was surprisingly a mixed bag. Since we had a remote gate, I was taking pictures of the plane’s exterior while going up the stairs to the plane. The head pursuer noticed and firmly informed me I could not film on board. While this was not my plan, besides the photos for this review, he certainly could have gone about it friendlier. 

Conversely, the flight attendant in my section of the aircraft went above and beyond her protocol to deliver a great experience. In addition to being willing to serve my meal closer to landing, she also had conversations with multiple passengers. Although it was no first class service, this flight attendant certainly displayed her willingness to provide a great experience. 

The bathroom was frequently cleaned, which demonstrates great service. It was also fun that there was a window.

The Last Point

Etihad Business class had the most polished meal service I have had in business class. The food and drink were great, not just for airplane food. The seat was very competitive, but nothing was outstanding on the day of closing-door seats. 

Overall, outside the comments upon boarding, I had no issues with the flight. It was seamless and incredibly comfortable. Etihad has one of the most underrated business class products out there. I enjoyed all of my time from boarding to deplaning. The Armani soft products were hard to distinguish but were a nice touch, especially with a nice blanket and amenity kit. I would highly recommend flying Etihad business class B787-10 AUH-SIN.

Trip Report

This article is part of my Asia Trip Report:

• Review: Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge IAD
• Review: Etihad B787-9 First Class IAD-AUH
• My Lucky Day: A FREE Upgrade to Etihad $10,000 First Class
• Review: Etihad First Class Lounge Abu Dhabi AUH
• Review: Etihad B787-10 Business Class AUH-SIN
• Is First Class on Etihad Worth It?
• Booking 21 Hours in Business Class for $45: My Best Redemption Yet!
• Wandering Singapore: My Thoughts
• Exploring the Jewel at Changi: My Thoughts
• Review: Plaza Premium Lounge Singapore (SIN)
• Review: Air Asia SIN-DPS A320
• Review: Hyatt Regency Bali Deluxe Room
• Review: Alila Ubud Deluxe Room
• Review: Alila Seminyak Studio
• How I Saved 20,000 Hyatt Points Per Night
• Bali in 2023: Does it Live Up to the Hype?
• Review: Singapore Airlines Economy Class
• Review: Hyatt Place Bangkok Sukhumvit
• Luxury For Cheap: Category 1 Hyatt Hotels
• Exploring Bangkok: My Thoughts
• Review: Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Bangkok (BKK)
• Review: Japan Airlines B777-300er Business Class BKK-HND
• Review: Japan Airlines Domestic Sakura Lounge HND
• Review: Japan Airlines Domestic Business Class Experience
• Review: Moxy Osaka Shin Umeda
• Visiting Hiroshima: My Thoughts
• Trains in Japan: My Thoughts
• Traditional Townhouse Kyoto: My Thoughts
• Hiking to the Top of Fushimi Inari in Kyoto
• Review: Capsule Hotel Experience in Tokyo
• Watching Baseball in Japan: My Thoughts
• Review: ANA First Class Lounge Tokyo Narita (NRT)
• The Best Flight of My Life: ANA First Class NRT-ORD Review
• Craziest Travel Turn Around: From Capsule Hotel to ANA First Class
• No Lounge on a $13,000 First Class Ticket?!?
• Booking a $13,000 First Class Ticket for 47,000 Points