This trip was planned 7 months ago due to my lingering regrets over my stillborn Etihad Apartments trip which was supposed to happen in 2020 until COVID killed it (I never got over it!). Then came along my re-planned Auckland trip which was also cancelled last year – I was redeeming my SQ Advantage ticket and randomly picked Bangkok as an additional trip since it cost the same amount of miles anyway.

I was scheduled to arrive in Abu Dhabi on 27 Feb 2026, spend 2 days in the city, then depart on 02 March 2026 early morning flight. And I guess we all know how the trip turned out.

I am super thankful to Etihad for putting me on a repatriation flight after an extra 2 nights during these crazy times and felt like I needed to document my experience, even the ones I managed to experience as a contrast to how fast things spiralled into madness.

So, before all the madness happened….

I was having a first world problem of figuring out how to make the best of my Bangkok hop. AND Then this happened – Etihad launches its narrowbody A321LR equipped with a First Class cabin! I read so much about it and yes it’s not The Apartments, yes its not a separate cabin in itself but still, the First Class bling dazzled my brains.

There were so many reviews about the product and experience – here, here, and here – amongst others.

One days, the stars aligned, and I realized that the exact aircraft will be deployed on their Bangkok route – and I bit the bullet and minutes later I was SGD3,800 poorer for 14hrs in Etihad F. Since I’ve checked off Doha and Dubai previously, might as well add Abu Dhabi to the collection haha.

The flights were booked under their First Comfort fare which has most of the frills of a first class ticket, with the notable exclusions being no Meet & Greet and chauffeur services only available in UAE instead of worldwide. A little stingy in my opinion but I figured those are easy exclusions to resolve on my own.

FLIGHTS

My routing meant first, I had to get myself to Bangkok in time for EY405 and I decided to reach BKK the night before via Scoot so I mitigate any possible delays (won’t review this boring flight).

On the Bangkok – Abu Dhabi route, only EY405 and EY404 are A321LR and offers the new First Class cabin, so that was my only options:

• EY405 – depart BKK 1440 arrive AUH 1905
• EY404 – depart AUH 0220 arrive BKK 1145

Until I got this alert from Flighty …. (silence from Etihad itself)

My first instinct is to check if the change meant I’m still in F, and indeed I was. So while I was a little happy that I now get a dedicated F cabin on the 777-300ER, I was also bummed that this mean an older aircraft. #firstworldproblem.

But then the next day came and because I was stalking my flights, I saw that my seat map had changed again, this time with a delayed notification from Flighty thereafter. Boeing 787-10 is the newer F cabin in comparison so all good here. Coincidentally, this was also the same aircraft which I was supposed to fly on my cancelled trip. Maybe its destiny after all.

Then my final leg from Bangkok to come home on Singapore Airlines Business is also run of the mill as I’ve done it before and there shouldn’t be much changes so won’t review that.

AIRPORT LOUNGES

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

I will be starting off my lounge journey at the The Coral First Class Lounge at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (website). There are actually multiple Coral lounges in the huge airport but only this one at Concourse D has a first class section. Based on the limited youtube reviews I’ve found so far, this seems like a great spot to chillax in!

Zayed International Airport

The exciting lounge for this whirlwind trip will be Etihad’s own First Class Lounge located in Terminal A of Zayed International Airport which opened in Nov 2023. Private access, attentive service, restaurant dining, and complimentary massage here I come! Also funny how Etihad’s website does not have any stand out pic depicting the lounge too?

On my way back, I will try to see if I can use on arrival boarding pass to go to the Coral First Class Lounge again as I will have almost 6 hours to kill between my arrival and my depart back to Singapore. If not the SilverKris Lounge works I guess.

HOTELS

Bangkok

As I will only need a decent quick night in Bangkok, I decided to try the nearest Bonvoy option to Suvarnabhumi Airport where I can at least clock a night in – Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (website). Seems decent enough for a layover, plus shuttle service from the Airport is a plus for my late night arrival.

Abu Dhabi

For Abu Dhabi, I struggled between clocking more Bonvoy nights and trying some Hilton properties and eventually decided on booking Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers (website) as I can make use of my Hilton Aspire resort credit, plus this was my choice of 2N stay under the Etihad Stopover programme back in 2020 when it was still a Jumeriah.

My planned itenary:

Etihad ‘E’dventure 2026

• Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
• The Coral First Class Lounge, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
• EY405 Bangkok to Abu Dhabi – First (Boeing 787-9)
• Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers
• Etihad First Class Lounge, Zayed International Airport
• EY404 Abu Dhabi to Bangkok – First (A321LR)

What actually happened:

• Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
• The Coral First Class Lounge, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
• EY405 Bangkok to Abu Dhabi – First (Boeing 787-9)
• Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers
• Etihad First Class Lounge, Zayed International Airport
• EY404 Abu Dhabi to Bangkok – First (A321LR)
• Going through multiple hotels and flights in the chaos and eventually making it to safety

Whatever happened after Conrad Abu Dhabi was just a blur of moving hotels, booking flights and having them cancelled, and eventually making my way to Etihad’s repatriation flight out of Abu Dhabi.

I really hope the madness will end soon and everyone gets to go home to their loved ones safely.