DALLAS — Welcome to another flight with Etihad Airways (EY). After arriving from Bahrain on EY642, I immediately headed to the transit area to catch my EY41 connection to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS).

I pre-boarded at gate B18, where a large waiting area helped speed up the boarding process. This area includes charging points and plenty of seating space. Once called, I boarded A6-BNB, our Boeing 787-9 for today.

The load factor was significantly lower than on my inbound flight. I had pre-selected seat 33A in the rear economy class cabin and was lucky enough to have the whole row to myself.

The Seat

The 3-3-3 economy class configuration features EY’s traditional fixed/adjustable headrest, adding comfort and privacy. The legroom is reduced compared to the first rows of economy class, but it is still more than adequate for a seven-hour flight. Each seat has a USB-A charger, a universal power outlet, a headphone jack, a touchscreen IFE screen, and a remote.

The seat reclines generously, with the cushion sliding forward to increase comfort. Waiting for me was a branded EY bag that included a blanket, an eye mask, earplugs, and face cream. While the blanket needs to remain on board, passengers can keep the rest.

We took off behind schedule, taxiing to runway 31L in front of an A380. Northbound take-offs allow for great views of Abu Dhabi from the aircraft's left side. Windows were dimmed as we headed north.

The lunch service included three options in economy. I chose the braised beef and mashed potatoes, which were tasty and well-presented. The small tray included a bean salad appetizer and a cherry mousse dessert. 

It was a good meal, though the portion size could be improved. All drinks are complimentary in economy class, including Bombay Sapphire gin and tonic.

IFE System, Wi-Fi

I quickly explored the IFE system, which has some of the latest features available in the skies. There isn't much room for improvement, from live TV to music, seat-to-seat calls, and an audio equalizer. The platform even includes a search function to browse music, TV series, and movies, which is always computationally demanding.

I took advantage of the three seats, lying down while watching a movie. The comfort and space of having three seats made me forget about business class. While lying down, I watched some live TV, keeping up with the news of the hurricane in North America.

Etihad guests can use the free WiFi to chat. While it doesn’t allow sending or receiving pictures or audio, the service worked perfectly throughout the flight for text messages on WhatsApp. Passengers can connect with unlimited data for the entire flight for under US$10.

After a nice nap, it was time for a quick pre-landing snack. The cabin crew came around again with crisps, Oreos, and a choice of drinks. They also checked multiple times to ensure everyone wore their seatbelts as we encountered strong turbulence.

We could see some of the southbound traffic on our left as we flew over Europe. The wingtip vortices left a long mark in the skies thanks to the setting sun. We crossed cloudy Germany before reaching our final destination, the Netherlands.

Before landing, I listened to some Oasis music. Since EY sponsors Manchester City Football Club (and even has a dedicated Boeing 787 for them), I wasn’t surprised to find the band’s best songs on board.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this flight was as comfortable as economy class gets. A few years ago, I saw pictures of sad-looking meals EY used to serve on flights from Los Angeles to Abu Dhabi. 

Thankfully, those days are over as the airline rises again to become a global leader in air transport. With enhanced service, a pleasant airport experience, and attractive fares, EY offers serious regional competition.

The cabin crew was friendly and professional throughout the flight. They were excellent at assisting passengers in need and ensuring the cabin was ready for takeoff and landing.

As the airline prepares to receive more aircraft and expand its fleet and network, it’s great to see that the onboard service is on par with — if not exceeding — its regional competitors.