Siddharth Singh flies Business Class on Etihad and
experiences a different league of luxury and hospitality.Flight of Grace
Clockwise, from left: You can call in a meal at
any time during your flight; the entertainment
system has myriad options for the groggy
mind; the service in Business Class ensures
you have the most comfortable flight possible;
a chef on board means hot meals on order.AIR TIME
travelandleisureindia.in
Once aboard, I was ready to pass out.
I was not in any mood to dine, but I was
delighted to learn I could call in my meal
at any time during the flight. This gesture
reminded me of an anecdote an A-list
Bollywood star recounted to me about
flying Etihad from Mumbai to New York
(where it’s possible to clear immigration
in Abu Dhabi itself and avoid the queues
in America). When asked what he wanted
for his meal, the star jokingly replied he
wished to have chicken biryani before he
turned in. On waking, thousands of feet in
the air, a fresh, steaming bowl of biryani
appeared before his eyes. Chef on board?
Check. Hot meals? Check!
As I was on the Rome leg of my
journey, I found the airplane awfully quiet.
I wondered if the parents on board had
availed of Etihad’s au pair service, The
Flying Nanny, which allows them to rest
and for kids to remain entertained. Etihad
also allows and encourages travellers to bid
online for an upgrade. Oh, and as for my jet
lag? On landing in Rome, I went smack dab
from the airport to a bar in Campo de’ Fiori.
If the measure of an airline is how you are
on arrival, well, Etihad is certainly winning
this race. eithad.comI’VE ALWAYS BEEN ANXIOUS about long
haul flights. A Lancet survey detailed how
repeated jet lag could result in cognitive
decline, mood disorders, even heart
disease. Team that with the risk of deep
vein thrombosis and viral infections when
airborne, and suddenly, the prospect
of flying across continents is not as
attractive. Over the years I’ve gauged
an airline’s success not only by how I’m
treated onboard but also a more ineffable
residual impact after landing. Is my jet lag
a total killer? Do I feel well enough to go
out the same evening?
This summer, I flew on the Etihad
A380 to Rome via Abu Dhabi and emerged
astonished. Etihad has prized itself over a
certain kind of hospitality and grace that
few other airlines offer: I experienced this
first-hand. Arriving late for my flight, I
was comforted by Etihad’s ground staff,
who told me, “It’s okay, you’re on business.
Two hours is more than enough for you
to check in for your flight.” Not only did
Business Class access help me bypass the
serpentine lines at Mumbai’s international
airport immigration, but I also repaired in
the lounge (surrounded by fine art and an
excellent selection of wine). COURTESY OF ETIHAD AIRWAYS