Emirates Vs Etihad First Class Suite: Which Is Best? (2023)

13 May 2023, at 07.39

Emirates has just launched a new Business Class Suite on its B777. Etihad already has one of the best First Class Suites in the world.

Both airlines offer a much better First Class than most other airlines, but which should you choose for your next First Class flight?

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When choosing between airlines, the big question is how they differentiate themselves in premium cabin class offerings, in their First Class seats and cabins.

Emirates is based in Dubai, UAE, and Etihad Airways is based in Abu Dhabi, which can immediately affect your flight choice, as you may prefer to stay overnight in one of these destinations. If the hiatus doesn't affect your airline choice, I outline below which of these airlines is best for food, seat, service, lounge and pre- and post-flight deals.

Emirates vs. Etihad First Class Cabin – Lounges

If the layover is important to you, you may want to select your airline at the lounge offered in its respective airport hub. I have reviewed these below and in my opinion,is excellent. ThatConcourse A Emirates First Class Lounge i Dubai International Airportis also very good and reading my reviews you might prefer the sound of one over the other.

Emirates vs. Etihad First Class Cabin - Which Is Best?

Etihad's Airbus A380 & Dreamliner B787 have extremely elegant interiors and stunning private cabins in their First Class cabins, while Qatar's A380, B787 and A350 cabins are very smart with a red/white theme. Emirates has a slightly flashy interior with plenty of walnut trim, gold trim and pearlescent plastics. British Airways is classic and stylish and we like the classical music they play.

On Emirates on the A380, First Class is located in the front upper deck. The cabin has 14 closed suites in a 1-2-1 configuration. All have direct pedestrian access. The 8 suites along the windows are divided into 4 rows, while the 6 middle suites are divided into 3 rows. All suites enjoy complete privacy as none of the rows are completely aligned, so no one looks directly into the suite from across the hall, even when you don't close the sliding doors to your suite.

The A380 product is quite brilliant, but Emirates has toned down the glitz in its new B777 suites, designed to compete directly with the Etihad suites below, being enclosed units with complete privacy. The Boeing 777 will be launched in December and the layout will change from a 1-2-1 configuration down to 2 rows in a 1-1-1 configuration. Possibly my favorite feature is the virtual windows that will project the view from the outside of the plane onto the cabin wall using real-time cameras.

On Etihad Airways, the First Class cabin is located on the front upper deck of the A380. The First Class cabin on Etihad's A380 is stylish, with two beautifully designed walls framing a small corridor leading to the front staircase and containing the apartments' sliding doors. The lighting patterns in the ceiling project Arabic mosaic-like figures onto the walls and floor, adding to the relaxing atmosphere.

The Etihad Airways A380 First Class cabin is the industry's first ever cabin, and there are only nine First Apartments on the plane. There are 5 First Apartments on the right side of the cabin (with 2 toilets in front) while the left side has 4 First Apartments. This asymmetry is explained by the fact that the missing 5th First Apartment and toilets on the left side of the cabin have been replaced byThe home(with a private living room, separate en-suite shower room and a bedroom with a double bed). I have written a full review of my last flight inEtihad First Class Apartmentand have taken additional photos on another trip in Etihad First Class.

In my humble opinion, Etihad is the best for ambience, space, looks and style. The Emirates cabin on the A380 is glitzy and full of gold and bright colors which is not to my taste, although you can't argue with the level of luxury that Emirates offers. Privacy and space are also better at Etihad. If you can get a flight on the new Emirates B777, then you will enjoy a similar level of privacy in these suites as those on Etihad. Still, it's worth noting that on Etihad, if you're traveling as a couple, you can lower a wall between the suites so you can share your experience with a partner. This is a major disadvantage when flying Emirates. You are very much alone in their new First suites.

Emirates only plans to install the product on nine new Boeing 777-300ERs by the end of 2019. They intend to install the new product on the A380 currently offeringshowers on board as part of the First Class suiteand they have no clear plans to retrofit their existing 777 fleet, making the planned launch date rather irrelevant as the suite is only present on 4% of their fleet, so at least for now it's unlikely you'll experience that.

Emirates vs. Etihad First Class seats – which are the best?

Emirates First Class is configured with only four suites per row. The A380 First Class suites on the sides are ideal for solo travelers (with a generous 3 windows per seat offering great views). In contrast, the 6 suites in the middle are perfect for those traveling with a companion, as the partitions between these suites can be raised or lowered to give a sense of extra spaciousness.

On the B777 we love these seats and suites for solo travellers, but if you're traveling as a couple or family you won't be able to share this suite experience with them as there are no retractable walls.

Etihad has configured their cabin with only two First Class suites per row, which is clearly better. SeeEtihad seat map. The very comfortable reclining seat is equipped with a seat massage and a pneumatic cushion control system. The seat has two armrests: one holds the tray table, while the other houses the controls for the apartment and the entertainment system. At the touch of a button, you can change the stool position, raise or lower the blinds and control the light settings for a number of lamps in the apartment. Next to the seat, there is a minibar, stocked with a selection of premium beverages, as well as a cabinet that houses the noise-cancelling headsets.

It is clear that two suites per row is much better than four, so once again Etihad wins for the best First Class suites.

Emirates vs. Etihad for sleeping - which is best?

On Emirates, at the push of a button, the seat automatically reclines into a fully flat bed 86 inches (218 cm) long with a fully extendable armrest. When you want to sleep, a cabin crew member installs a mattress, a soft pillow and a soft duvet.

On the new Emirates B777 you get a huge amount of privacy, much more than the A380, as these suites are completely enclosed.

Etihad creates a completely separate bed using a footstool in your suite, so the bed can be made without sacrificing your seat (see above). If you have a significant other traveling with you, certain rows of the First Class cabin allow you to lower the partition placed between the suites so that your head is next to your loved one's head. If you want a double bed, upgrade to The Residence by Etihad.

Once again, Etihad wins on space and privacy for sleeping and the option of a double room. Clearly, an apartment will encourage more sleep than the option of sleeping in an open cabin offered by Qatar and BA, which come in 3rd and 4th respectively.

Emirates vs. Etihad First Class Food – Which is Best?

The food is delicious on all Middle Eastern carriers. Our best gastronomic experiences have been on Etihad, followed by Qatar Airways and then Emirates.

Emirates and Etihad offer meals equivalent to a Michelin restaurant. Etihad has real chefs on board (recruited from Michelin restaurants around the world). The food is an exquisite seven-course tasting menu with amuse-bouche, granita and pre-dessert tasters. Available only to Etihad First Class customers, the Mezoon Grille menu features a range of premium products including beef, chicken, lamb and seafood, alongside a range of delicate sauces, sides and delicious desserts, all prepared to order. Everything is served on fine bone china, cutlery and crystal glasses. An example of just one meal choice I chose on Etihad is:

• Amuse bouche
• Middle Eastern Chicken Salad
• Chickpea soup, with Arabic spiced ratatouille
• Starter
• Marinated prawns, with Quinoa and wake salad, and red pepper sauce
• Grapefruit sorbet
• Main course
• US rib-eye steak with steamed green beans, creamy mashed potatoes and garlic and herb butter
• Pre-dessert
• Mini chocolate mousse
• Dessert
• Trio of berry and cinnamon frangipani, apricot cheesecake, with passion fruit meringue, chocolate mousse

Emirates' First Class menu is comparatively extensive and you can order anything at any time. But the meals don't have the style or taste of that at Etihad. These were my lunch choices:

• Canapes
• Tartlet of marinated feta with aubergine caviar and schichmi
• Foie gras on gingerbread with smoked salt
• Arm salmon tempo sushi with herb crust
• Starter
• Caviar, presented with a traditional selection of finely chopped onion, grated egg, sour cream and lemon, served with melba toast and blinis
• Pumpkin soup with croutons and sour cream
• Main
• Seafood harra, which is a traditional Middle Eastern dish of oven-baked prawns and fish in spicy tomato sauce, served with saffron rice
• Dessert
• Banana cheesecake with toffee sauce

Emirates vs. Etihad First class showers on board – which is best?

Both Emirates and Etihad have two showers in the front of their cabins on their A380s. In the all-important category of shower-to-passenger ratio, Emirates wins with one shower for every seven passengers, while Etihad only provides one shower for every nine passengers. I have written a completely separate article withEmirates sky shower pictures. There is very little to choose from in the shower rooms themselves, although Emirates' showers have a panoramic wallpaper view of the Dubai skyline on the walls. Volume per passenger is the key here, which is why Emirates wins.

The reason there are fewer showers at Etihad is because they feel their passengers inThe homeneed their own shower.

Emirates vs. Etihad vs. Qatar First Class Bar/Lounge – Which is the best?

An onboard bar, exclusively available to passengers flying the premium cabins, is present on the Airbus A380 aircraft of Etihad, Emirates and Qatar, but not British Airways. Your chances of flying an Airbus A380 and thus socializing with other passengers in a fantastic onboard bar are greatest with Emirates, which has no less than 60 of these mega-aircraft in its fleet (Qatar Airways and Etihad own only 4 and 2 Airbus A380 respectively' is ).

The Etihad bar is designated as "The Lobby", but even in first class you'll have to have your drinks refilled from the counter rather than having an onboard bartender serving you. If you prefer a more traditional bar experience, you'll find it at Emirates with extensive seating, mood lighting, a horseshoe-shaped bar and a real-life bartender.

Emirates therefore wins and returns to the heyday of luxury air travel.

Emirates vs. Etihad Premium Wine List and Bar Menu – Which is Best?

Emirates and Etihad have free top shelf alcohol for over 18s. These include an extensive wine list and a large selection of spirits, spirits and champagne. All are served in proper crystal glasses.

Both airlines offer extensive alcohol, but in terms of brand and cost, Emirates wins as it offers more drink options that break the $100 USD cap. bottle. They are also the only airline to serve Hennessy Paradis Cognac in first class, retailing at around $700 USD per bottle. All airlines offer a decent glass of champagne in First, but British Airways is notable for being cheaper on the wine list with very low quality wines that would cost around £10 – £15 GBP compared to say. Emirates, whose wines cost twice as much (so should probably be twice as nice).

Emirates vs. Etihad premium entertainment and Wi-Fi – which is best?

Both Etihad and Emirates First Class suites on the Airbus A380 have large screens with a wide selection of content.

Etihad wins with a superior entertainment system, a screen that not only swivels back to let you watch TV in bed, but also has the ability to split screen with four different screens. In addition, it is possible to surf the web on Etihad. Emirates offers made Wi-Fi affordable for everyone – free for the first 10MB and just $1 USD for 500MB of data. Unfortunately, this means that the internet connection is practically unusable due to the number of passengers logged on.

Emirates vs. Etihad First Class Amenity Kit – which is best?

I have reviewedthe world's best airline amenity kitand in this list, Emirates comes in second, offering bespoke beauty treats from one of my favorite fragrances; Bulgaria. They also give you a scent. Emirates has also introduced a world firstfirst class moisturizing pajamasdesigned for airline use and to overcome dry air and thus give the passenger a better night's sleep.

Etihad comes in lower at number 5 in my best first class amenity kits, and passengers get Christian Lacroix loungewear and toiletries from Hungarian skincare brand, Omorovicza. The amenity kit from Emirates is the most generous and therefore wins. I love a complimentary fragrance and their pajamas are cutting edge.

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