Etihad Airways Takes First Class to New ‘Heights’

This year, the privileged can now claim to have survived a commercial flight with common folks, albeit in a completely separate floor altogether. Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, will launch their new Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger jets outfitted with suites the size of some NYC apartments. “The Residences by Etihad” offers first class, or shall we say upper class, amenities beyond the full reclining seats. With 125 sq feet of real estate, a ‘Residence’ can accomodate up to 2 guests and can only be reserved with $20k of cold hard cash. The private apartment consists of 3 separate rooms; a living room complete with Ferrari-leather couches and 32-inch flatscreen, a bedroom with a double bed lined in Egyptian cotton sheets, and a full bathroom with slippers and plush robes. And what’s a flying apartment without its own Savoy-trained private butler who will dutifully bring you breakfast in bed, thus rounding out the ultimate luxury experience this side of the clouds.