Experiencing Etihad’s A380 Residence at the Milan Expo
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
During his May trip to the Milan Expo — this year’s version of the World’s Fair, held in Milan, Italy — TPG Contributor Leigh Rowan got to do the next-best thing to flying in the Etihad Residence: He walked through a complete replica. (All photos below are by the author.)
I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy some pretty luxurious first-class flights, including a recent jaunt from Bangkok to Dubai in Emirates’ business class. Even so, all those trips suddenly seem a bit underwhelming when compared to the opulent Residence suite aboard Etihad’s A380. At the Milan Expo last month, I got a taste of the very good life in the Alitalia/Etihad lounge, which featured an Etihad Residence along with the airline’s First Apartment and Alitalia’s Magnifica Class seats.
As a SkyTeam Elite Plus member, I was able to access the second floor of the lounge, where all the premium-class seats and suites were on display. (Etihad Guest Gold and Platinum members get access, as well.) Etihad’s First Apartment is plenty impressive in person — and I wouldn’t complain if I ended up in Alitalia’s Magnifica Class — but the Etihad Residence was clearly the star of the show.
My friends and I enjoyed a tour of the three-room suite, and the experience was purely for entertainment; the helpful Etihad flight attendant/tour guide Jason didn’t really give us a sales pitch, he instead toured us through the features of the cabin, showing not telling how the Residence is absolutely worth the thousands upon thousands of dollars it costs to book with cash.
Welcome In!
Jason assured us that there is complete privacy in the Residence, from the service (your private butler will serve only you, and he will keep your identity confidential to even the rest of the cabin crew) to the space; the completely enclosed room, featured in-depth below, closes to the outside.
The Residence features its own bathroom, a dining area and a bedroom. To enter, you step through these sliding doors.
The Etihad Residence doesn’t just have a private bathroom; it has a huge private bathroom. And it’s fancy, too: Rolled hand towels and Acqua di Parma toiletries line the shelves. Jason noted that if Residence customers prefer a different brand, say, Prada or Gucci or Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries, you can request it from your VIP Concierge member who will have the items stocked on your flight for you. Fancy!
The shower was large enough to fit three people. (In case you like that sort of thing.)
The bedroom, separated from the rest of the Residence by a door, is even more awe-inspiring; walking in feels like you’ve somehow ended up on an even more posh version of Air Force One.
The bed is probably the widest you’ll find on a commercial airline, and it looks mighty comfortable.
Bottom Line
If you don’t have a bottomless budget — or haven’t redeemed the obscene number of miles or points to book Etihad’s most luxurious in-flight product — visiting the Residence at the Milan Expo might just be worth your while. If you plan to head to Italy for the event, know that it ends on October 31, 2015. And don’t forget to book your trip with a credit card that earns you bonus points for travel, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred!
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.