Emirates vs. Etihad: The First Class Comparison

When spending nearly a fortune on airline tickets, it would be a misery to discover average services and unpleasant experiences. Especially when it comes to first class, passengers have sky high hopes of the services offered by the airline. The flying experience turns out to be unforgettable, whether it is an amazing or a horrible one! The Gulf has definitely upped the flying standards over the recent years. Among these Gulf airlines, Emirates and Etihad have taken the lead and now rank among the best airlines to fly to any destination in the world. When it comes to their first class, everything is far more refined and perfect. A comparison between both of these is surely a challenging task, and would surely turn into a nitpicking experience.

Below is the first class comparison of Emirates and Etihad to discover the finest elements of each of them.
 

Airport Lounges

 
Whatever happens at the airport, even long before the journey itself, leaves everlasting impressions. First class has to appear truly first class before taking off, and the airport reveals the best impression of that. Emirates and Etihad both offer first class lounge which is the finest place to relax in a comfortable environment, and truly eye popping layout. Etihad has all the features of a world class cabin, with features excellent at par. The Six Senses Spa and Style and Shave by Etihad are some wonderful offers for the first class passengers. Emirates is close to this nail biting competition because of its grand facilities as well as the Timeless Spa. However, Emirates First Class Lounge in Dubai takes the lead here because of the vast size which spreads at the same length of the A380 concourse. Passengers have the privilege of boarding direct from the lounge.
 

First Class Seat

 
A lot of the first class comparison revolves around the quality of the seats; a prime reason for choosing first class instead of the economy. Both the airlines have redefined privacy in a first class flight! Emirates has managed to create the luxury feel within the seat itself; the mixture of comfort and bling is a great one. Adjacent to the seat, passengers can delight themselves with a minibar, a phone to approach the flight attendant as well as a mirror to help them look great. Although this adds to a lot of luxuries, the area gets slightly more congested. On the other end, Etihad gives the benefit of more space. The bling factor lowers; but the ambiance is more preferable in terms of more privacy, comfort and space! The leather seats and chilled drinks cabinet makes it even better.
 

Food

 
First class passengers would definitely have a tough time deciding over this one. The ‘Dine on Demand’ is the latest concept that has been successfully adopted by multiple airlines; and the passengers have all the more reasons to love it. Since this facility is offered by both Etihad and Emirates, first class passengers have the privilege of choosing what they feel like having, and it is also possible to opt for something that is not there in the standard menu. Etihad wins here because of the availability of an inflight chef. It adds a luxurious as well as a personal feel to the service. The Canape Service and signature cognac service stands out from a lot of other airlines. Although Emirates lacks the facility of the inflight chef, the meals offered are truly divine and they’ve successfully introduced a healthy meals option too. The availability of caviar and a grand Arabic mezze make it worth the flight!
 

Entertainment

 
Both the airlines take the entertainment seriously; and have managed to satisfy their passengers with more than what they expected. Emirates has introduced the ICE system that offers over 2000 channels of entertainment on the finest screen. On the other hand, the E-BOX system of Etihad is equally great; you’d never be out of choice even after hundreds of hours of entertainment. The availability of Wi-Fi on both the airline carriers makes it a cherry on the top!

Taking a winner out of this first class comparison is surely a difficult task, because where one stands out in a particular aspect, the other shines out somewhere else. Although Emirates has taken the lead in terms of the shower facility as well as an onboard bar, Etihad is equally preferred because of the personalized services that are matchless to any other airline. Whether you opt for Etihad or Emirates is surely a matter of personal preferences; but both of them guarantee an amazing journey!