The concept of “First Class” has been around since the 1950s. Progressively, that bar was raised until in one swoop, Singapore Airlines launched “A Class above first” with their “suites”. A 2m bed separate from the seat and unfolding from the back wall creates the your very own bedroom in the sky with doors and walls. The concept was ingeniously versatile with central suits turning into double beds when the centre privacy walls were retracted into the ceiling. The idea of being going above first class was a necessary marketing tool when other operators unveiled suite-like “First Class” but with their beds and chairs integrated.  Etihad airways goes beyond this.

Beyond First Class: Etihad Luxury A380 Residences

Called The Residence, Etihad has effectively raised the standard for luxury air travel (they could use a better narrator/host though), their “residences” will feature a living room, double bedroom, its very own ensuite shower room, and for the first time in the industry, a dedicated Butler (and a Savoy Academy trained one at that!). The A380 is a behemoth, thus it stands to reason that an acceptable in-flight domicile would reach an unparalleled 125 square feet of space on the forward upper deck of Etihad’s new Airbuses.

“five years of intensive effort and research into The Residence will set Etihad Airways apart from the rest of the industry and allow us to provide the complete range of world-class products and services to cater for the individual tastes of every VIP traveller, ushering in a new era of luxury travel in commercial aviation.” - Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer

Trained hospitality specialists from the Savoy Butler Academy sets Etihad’s offering apart, providing an unparalleled VIP experience by having a dedicated Butler on call throughout the flight, offering the type of discrete personal service and attention to detail found in the world’s most exclusive hotels. Togged in Ettore Bilotta designer wear, the Etihad Butler plays a multi-faceted role including that of a Concierge and Maitre d’hotel. In short, a real professional with stylish edge, supported by a dedicated VIp Concierge team ensuring that all aspects of the experience, including booking luxury limousine transfers, check-in, and custom menu planning, are handled with the utmost discretion.

No expense was spared, the two seat reclining sofa in the living room of the Residence is upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather, yes, the sort found in Ferraris and it comes with its own dual marquetry dining tables and a chilled mini-bar for your peckish desires. In terms of entertainment and living experience, a  touchscreen control unit operates the retractable ottoman, the ambient and mood lighting, window shading, adjusts seat position and firmness, and activates the in-seat massage functions. So you could literally get a massage while catching up on recent Hollywood flicks on the built in 32 inch LCD TV.

A door and passageway separate the living room from the master bedroom and the ensuite shower room. The bedroom is similarly equipped with a Poltrona Frau upholstered 82 inch long double bed with custom-made mattress, bedside unit, wardrobe, and under-bed stowage for hand luggage; its own 27 inch LCD Tv with full communications suite featuring broadband with internet mobile and data capability, Live TV, HDMI, AC outlet and USB ports completes the exquisite mile-high living experience.

Etihad is based in Abu Dhabi and the decor while contemporary is influenced by modern Arabian design. The dual occupancy cabin is certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency, built by B/E Aerospace in the United Kingdom in partnership with brand innovation agency Promise Communispace and Etihad Design Consortium (EDC) together with Poltrona Frau.

The shared First and Business class lounge

Above first class: By the numbers

• The latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system with more than 750 hours of entertainment and noise cancelling headsets.
• Etihad Airways has a total of 10 A380s on firm order. The first will be delivered in 2014, flying on December 27. The subsequent nine to be rolled out from 2015 – 2017.
• The first flight will seat 498 - 2 VIP guests in The Residences, 9 guests in the First Class Apartments, 70 guests in the Business Class Studios, 417 guests in Economy Class
• Each A380 will contain two 125 square foot residences, nine First Apartments and 70 Business Studios.
• The Residence by Etihad living spaces will be priced from $20,000 each way between Abu Dhabi and London.
• By the end of 2015 Etihad will have a total of five A380s, and plans to also fly them to Sydney and New York JFK.