![]() I must admit, I wondered if he was going to deny me entry for having an Israeli stamp, but he didn't. The male agent was dressed in a dishdasha (traditional attire) had no expression, so he wasn't friendly nor mean. I made my way through the crowd and smoke to passport control, which was in the airport's new terminal (3). The terminal was old but still flashy with tile pillars. Some were wearing full-on white or black Arab garb, while others were dressed in colorful African wardrobes with headdresses. ![]() There were people from every different walk of life, all different shapes and sizes. Once I entered the main terminal, I felt like I was in the bar from Star Wars. On the bus ride I couldn't help noticing Abu Dhabi's control tower, which has to be the coolest designed tower of any airport. The best seats if traveling alone would be the windows, and the middle seats if you are traveling with a partner. The seats are staggered and placed in 1-2-1 configuration, so each one has direct aisle access. It's set up like no other airline I've ever seen, and it seems to have the most space and privacy of any cabins I've been in. The first thing I noticed when I boarded the A300-200 plane, besides the well-dressed and good-looking young flight attendants, was their unique business-class configuration. Random observation: There were a lot of Thai nationals flying in coach since transferring in UAE is usually cheaper than a nonstop flight to Bangkok. Then first-class passengers, followed by business class. Departure was scheduled for 9:30pm and Etihad boards coach class first, about 45 minutes prior. There was no line and it took 30 seconds or less to check bags (no charge) and get a boarding card. ![]() It began at check-in which was smooth as can be. I recently flew Etihad to Abu Dhabi (AUH) from Brussels (BRU) and was pleasantly surprised for the second time. East Coast to Asia you will want to consider flying Etihad or Emirates, since they tend to be cheaper and nicer than some nonstop flights on other airlines. The UAE is sort of in the middle of the world, and they are trying to leverage their location by acting as an air bridge between Europe, Asia, Australia, and the U.S. I never knew how geographically desirable the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was until I flew Etihad two years ago. Its North American gateways are Chicago, New York, and Toronto. The rulers of the UAE created Etihad in 2003 and now they fly to 59 cities on five of the seven continents (no South America or Antarctica) and have over 50 plush aircrafts ranging from A319s to B777s. The Abu Dhabi leaders figured they would mirror Emirates, which has been so successful in promoting their country, and start their own excellent airline. Well, this will soon change, since Etihad - which means "united" in Arabic - is making a name for itself. You've probably heard of Emirates Airlines, since it has been around since 1985, but you're likely unfamiliar with its regional competitor Etihad.
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