Etihad economy to Cairo pays off

Flying economy from Abu Dhabi to Cairo with Etihad is a time efficient and cost-effective way to take a business trip.

Passengers at Abu Dhabi International Airport check on their Etihad Airways flight. Delores Johnson / The National

Flying economy with Etihad Airways to Cairo makes sense for the business traveller making regular trips back and forth.

While the economy option is a cost-saver for the company, enhancements at Abu Dhabi International’s check-in area mean it is also viable for those pressed for time.

The airport’s Smart Travel initiative offers 33 counters at the check-in area; I was processed within minutes and heading to passport control. Another efficiency bonus was being able to scan my passport and boarding pass before hitting the last sec­urity check, meaning I could head straight to the gate.

However, gate 44 was a surprisingly long walk away – not ideal if you are lugging a carry-on bag and laptop.

Taking a bus to the plane was also disappointing – it meant carrying those heavy bags up the aircraft’s stairs as well.

The four-hour flight to Cairo was operated by an Airbus A320-200 aircraft. My seat on the single-aisle plane was comfort­able thanks to a little pillow, and there was enough room to use my laptop to work.

Luckily, the seat next to me was empty, so I placed my coffee on the food tray of the other seat. Although there was no internet on the aircraft, the seat had a power supply to charge my device.

Nice touches during the flight included a refreshing towel and, to my surprise, earbud headphones. They slotted perfectly into my ear thanks to the rubber exterior. I used them to block some of the noise caused by children on the aircraft so that I could work.

Processing through the airport in Egypt was easy, but finding a taxi was a hassle with several individuals competing for customers. The bargaining was certainly on the stressful side.

My return journey cost about Dh1,600, far cheaper than the Dh7,000 or so expected for the same journey in business.

Q&A

How was the food?

Lunch was served on the flight. As an entree I had couscous with red peppers, green peas and courgette. For the main, the crew ran out of chicken even though the plane was not full. I had no choice but to eat fish with yellow rice, onions and carrots – fortunately it was delicious. The dessert was a disappointment though – a chocolate wafer instead of a cake or pudding. Tea and coffee were also offered. True, the coffee was nothing compared to the creamy cappuccinos served in business, but it was decent enough.

Pluses and minuses?

The metal utensils are definitely a plus, bringing something from business to economy. Also the flight arrived bang on time at 4.30pm Cairo time. On the negative, only butter was served with the bread; other airlines also offer cheese.

How was the in-flight entertainment?

Etihad’s E-Box offers entertainment and services. The entertainment included movies, TV, audio, news and games and the services – the flight path, communication, guest services and applications. I listened to classic rock while I worked.

How about in-flight mobile calls?

Thirty minutes after take-off, I received a message saying I could use my mobile phone for in-flight calls, mobile data and text. There was no internet, but my mobile worked and I received a call with a good signal.

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