Review: LHR Etihad Airways First & Business Class Lounge

Back in March, I wrote about how to book partner award flights on Etihad Airways.  We originally booked First Apartments both to Abu Dhabi from London and from Abu Dhabi back to London over the Thanksgiving holiday, but unfortunately, the airplane for our flight from London was switched from an A380 (which has First Apartments) to an A340 (which has Etihad's standard First Class). The airplane switch was somewhat devastating, but at least we will still experience the Apartments on our way home. We planned a whirlwind luxury long weekend in Dubai around these flights and I'll be covering all the details in upcoming posts. 

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Review: LHR Etihad Airways First & Business Class Lounge
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​

Etihad flies out of London Heathrow Terminal 4. We arrived at Heathrow about 5.5 hours prior to our flight to Abu Dhabi after flying in on British Airways from San Francisco, so we had a bit of time to kill before being able to check in for our Etihad flight. Luckily, Etihad allows check in 4 hours prior to the flight, so we didn't have to wait an extremely long time. Check in was fairly quick, since we were first in line and off we were to the lounge. Once we cleared security, we headed towards gate A10, which the Etihad First and Business Class lounge is located across from. 

Heathrow Terminal 4

Directly ahead will be the Sky Team lounge and you'll see lifts down to the Etihad lounge from your left or stairs down from your right. Check in was quick and we were escorted in while the attendant explained the available features of the lounge.

Lounge Entrance

Lounge Entrance

Lounge Entrance

Lounge Entrance

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Check In

Since the lounge is downstairs from the actual terminal, tarmac views are limited to the dining area, which is disappointing and makes the rest of the lounge a bit claustrophobic. The lounge itself is not extremely large - likely due to the relatively small number of flights Etihad operates out of London, but the decor is modern and comfortable, with plenty of seating, which is nice. 

The lounge offers both buffet and a la carte dining and has a large dining area and bar to the left, with the rest of the lounge seating and a television area to the right. The lounge also has a kids playroom directly after entering.

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Seating

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge TV Area

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Seating

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Children's Room

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Bar

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Dining Room

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Dining Room

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Seating

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Seating

The lounge also offers three shower rooms and features a spa. The Six Senses Spa offers free treatments to First and Business class passengers, which is definitely a nice feature to have for a non-flagship lounge. ​Chris and I passed on treatments while we were in the lounge, but there's a pretty wide selection of massages as well as facials and even a realignment treatment.

Six Senses Spa Entrance

Six Senses Spa

Six Senses Spa Treatment Room

Six Senses Spa Treatment Room

The shower rooms were small, but very nicely appointed. As with the rest of the lounge, the decor was lovely. There was even a rain shower, which is pretty incredible for an airport shower room!

Shower Room

Shower Room

Shower Room

Shower Room

The lounge attendants were incredibly attentive and I must have been offered a drink no less than 4 times when I first arrived in the lounge. 

Pre-Departure Bubbly

After taking a shower, I decided to check out the buffet, which had a pretty substantial spread for a Business class lounge. There were several hot dishes, including pasta and meatballs, many cold salads, cheeses, crackers, hummus, fruit, bread and a few small desserts. Since I was planning on eating on the flight, I decided to have a small plate from the buffet and skip the a la carte menu. ​

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Buffet

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Buffet

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Buffet

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Buffet

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Buffet

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge Buffet

Etihad First and Business Class Lounge A La Carte Menu

Overall, the decor of the lounge is beautiful and there is plenty of seating available (albeit a bit cramped). The shower rooms and spa are an excellent amenity to have and the food selection is substantial. This lounge is a great place to spend a few hours before a very luxurious flight to a very luxurious destination!