Etihad Airways has introduced its new flagship Airbus A350-1000, accompanied by an upgraded business class experience. The Business Studio suites offer a spacious and luxurious environment, featuring premium amenities including sliding privacy doors. Etihad Airways describes the offering as a “business plus” product, highlighting its upscale features.
The business class seats on Etihad Airways’ Airbus A350-1000 bear a resemblance to British Airways’ Club Suite, as both utilize the Super Diamond platform from Collins Aerospace. However, Etihad has added its own distinctive touches, giving the seats a distinct Etihad Airways aesthetic. These seats represent a significant evolution from the previous “forwards-backwards” Business Studio introduced in 2018 on the airline’s Airbus A380s and Boeing 787s, showcasing a confident and significant improvement.
According to Etihad Airways, just as products evolve in various industries, there was an opportunity to make a significant improvement in functionality, comfort, and space for their guests.
Etihad Airways unveils its A350 Business Studio suite, offering a new level of premium comfort and luxury
Unlike the previous Business Studio configuration, the A350 features a forward-facing layout with a 1-2-1 arrangement, providing all passengers with direct aisle access. Additionally, the window seats are positioned to face the windows, offering an enhanced viewing experience for passengers who appreciate scenic views.
The middle seats in pairs are positioned at an angle towards each other, featuring a sliding privacy screen. This screen can be opened to facilitate interaction and conversation between passengers traveling together, providing a convenient way to see and communicate without excessive leaning. Alternatively, it can be closed to maintain privacy for individual travelers.
Each Etihad A350 Business Studio suite features a sliding door that matches the suite’s height, providing a reasonable level of privacy and seclusion without feeling confined. The suites are angled away from the door, ensuring a comfortable seating position.
While the suite offers privacy, it is important to note that individuals passing through the aisle, whether crew or passengers, will still have a view into the suite. Additionally, there is no external indicator, such as a Do Not Disturb sign, to communicate a preference for privacy, which may be particularly important when trying to rest.
The seat itself is spacious, measuring just over 20 inches (51cm) wide and accompanied by leather armrests in a rich dark chocolate brown. When fully reclined, the seat extends to a length of 79 inches (2 meters), with a dedicated storage space under the video screen for tucking in your feet. While the suite provides a duvet for sleep mode, a mattress cover is not provided.
Located near one armrest, a compact touchscreen panel allows passengers to adjust the seat settings, offering convenient presets for takeoff/landing, a relaxed reclined position known as the ‘lazy Z’ lounge mode, and a fully flat sleeping position.
Notably, the seating position in the upright mode provides a slight incline that contributes to a more comfortable and relaxed experience compared to sitting completely upright.
The tray table is conveniently positioned beneath the spacious 18.5″ HD video screen, which supports Bluetooth audio connectivity for personal wireless headphones or earbuds. The table itself offers ample surface area, easily accommodating a 17-inch laptop. Additionally, the table can be partially retracted, providing easier access to and from the seat without requiring the table to be fully extended, which proves useful during meal services or when using a laptop.
Adjacent to each seat, there is a marble-effect shelf featuring two compartments that can be flipped open, offering convenient storage space for passengers to keep items like reading glasses, passport wallets, and various small belongings.
Adding to the suite’s ambience, a tall LED lamp positioned on a side-panel above the shelf provides ample illumination throughout the cabin, complemented by a dedicated LED reading lamp located just above the passenger’s shoulder. The overall atmosphere of the business class cabin is one of spaciousness and openness, accentuated by Etihad’s decision to remove the overhead luggage bins above the middle seats, allowing the A350’s expansive interior to create a room-like feel. Rest assured, the side bins offer ample space to accommodate passengers’ carry-on items.
The side shelf of the suite features a concealed AC power socket, cleverly integrated into the largest recess. This compartment also houses the controller for the inflight entertainment system. To accommodate the use of cables with laptops, smartphones, or tablets while keeping the surface of the table functional, there is a slight gap between the lid and the surrounding panel. This design allows the hatch to be closed without causing any pinching or snagging of cords, ensuring that the entire table surface remains accessible and useful to passengers.
The USB sockets, available in both USB-A and USB-C formats, are discreetly positioned above a small pocket located near the front of the seat. Interestingly, they are placed alongside the safety card, in a slightly unexpected location.
The positioning of the USB sockets presents a challenge in terms of accessibility and ease of use. To locate and plug into them, passengers are required to lean forward and twist their necks, which can be inconvenient.
Additionally, wireless charging capability is provided for convenience. By simply placing your smartphone or earbuds on the designated charging area in front of the shelf, they will be wirelessly charged without the need for cables.
Etihad Airways’ A350 provides a variety of WiFi packages for passengers seeking connectivity during their flight. These packages include:
- Chat Package (20MB): Available for a fee of US$2
- One-hour Package (100MB): Available for a fee of US$7
- Six-hour Package (200MB): Available for a fee of US$16
- 24-hour Package (350MB): Available for a fee of US$30
It is important to note that all WiFi packages, except for the Chat Package, have limitations in terms of both time and data. The data caps may not align adequately with the duration of online usage. Additionally, there are no complimentary WiFi offerings or pricing discounts specifically for business class travelers, which some may argue should include at least one hour of complimentary access.
Presenting the seat map for Etihad Airways’ A350 business class
Etihad Airways’ A350 business class consists of 44 seats situated in a single section spanning across 11 rows.
The seat numbering commences from row 5, where bassinet mounting positions are located in front of seats 5A and 5K. It is worth noting that all window seats on this aircraft have windows, as opposed to some other aircraft where a blank panel may be present due to the fuselage joint.
For passengers seeking the best business class seat on Etihad’s A350, any seat in row 5 is recommended. The additional space between the seat and the bulkhead wall at the front of the cabin offers a slightly more spacious environment for stretching out.
