Driven editor at large Liz Dobson flies aboard Etihad Airways flight ET450 from Abu Dhabi to Sydney.
The plane: A380-300
Class: First
Price: From $18,740 return
My seat: 2H, one of nine apartments (yes, apartment, not seat or suite) in First Class that has a sofa, chair, vanity, wardrobe, largeTV and table, plus sliding doors. But 1A is The Residence and includes a lounge and bedroom plus en suite and full-time butler.
The flight: Etihad's First Class experience starts from your hotel; a limousine takes you to the airport and a kerb-side porter takes your bags to the First Class check-in lounge where your ticket is printed off while you sit. Then it's 10m to the First Class lounge, which has a restaurant, bar, gym and spa open 24 hours. I opted for a free, 15-minute back massage in the spa.
First Class Apartment, on board Etihad Airways.
Unfortunately, boarding was very economy as only one bridge was available, so I queued in 40-plus degree heat for five minutes. But once on board I was pointed upstairs to my apartment.
An attendant showed me around then took drinks requests. While I was awaiting my champagne, the First Class manager-cum-butler introduced himself, before the First Class chef popped in to ask about my menu choices. All meals are cooked at the passenger's request and I asked for my meal to be served two hours into the flight.
Meal completed, a crew member made my bed by folding down the sofa into a single bed with two mattress layers and a duvet and pillow. You're also given pyjamas and slippers. When you wake, there's a chance for a shower that lasts four minutes. The bathroom space is small. When I returned to my apartment, the chef was waiting with my espresso.
Entertainment: I had seen all the new-release movies on recent work trips so instead watched downloaded Netflix series on my iPad.
Food and drink: In First Class, your champagne is topped up as the plane is pushed back so you can sip while the aircraft taxis to the runway.
For my dinner, I opted for caviar, followed by Japanese scallops on apple slices and cauliflower puree, with a medium rare beef tenderloin served with polenta and beans to follow. All were accompanied by wine, followed by champagne.
For breakfast, I had two poached eggs with grilled mushrooms, accompanied by two double espressos.
First Class Apartment, on board Etihad Airways.
Service: On my flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi there were only six occupants in the apartments so it took on average three seconds (yes I timed it) for staff to respond to the buzzer.
But on the flight from Abu Dhabi to Sydney, all nine apartments were occupied so it took on average 10 seconds for the staff to respond.
