Another day, another airline slashing business class perks like a budget carrier with delusions of grandeur. This time, it’s Etihad Airways, which has decided that paying a premium for business class should now come with the thrilling privilege of… paying even more for things that used to be included.
According to Vielfliegertreff, Etihad’s new fare structure is in full effect as of today. And for those booking the lowest business class fare (Business Value), here’s what’s not included anymore:
In This Post
🚫 No more lounge access
Because nothing screams “premium“ like being exiled to the main terminal with the rest of the economy plebs.
💺 Seat selection will cost extra
Meaning if you don’t cough up, they’ll just seat you away from your partner (maybe that’s a good thing?)
❌ No cancellations allowed
Previously, you could cancel for around €370. Now? No dice. You book, you fly whether you like it or not.
The only way to dodge some of these cuts? Elite status.
- Silver members still get lounge access in Abu Dhabi (but nowhere else).
- Gold members get free seat selection and better lounge privileges.
- Everyone else? Tough luck.
The Upgrade Racket
If you still want all the usual business-class perks, you’ll need to book Business Comfort instead. What is the price difference? Sometimes as low as €66 (e.g., Dublin, Kuala Lumpur, Frankfurt, Bangkok). Sounds reasonable… unless Etihad decides to play promo roulette and jack up the gap whenever it suits them.
The Bigger Picture
Honestly, this isn’t shocking. Finnair, Air France, KLM, Emirates, Qatar… they’ve all done the same thing and introduced cheaper business class fares while simultaneously stripping away everything that made business class, well, business class. It’s like ordering a Michelin-star meal and then being told the bread basket costs extra.
Etihad business class has been my go-to (sometimes unintentionally because they’re usually one of the cheapest options when booking with cash). And despite these cuts, I still love their A350 product (you can read my AUH-BOM review here). But let’s be real. This whole trend of “budget business class“ is just airlines seeing how much they can take away before we riot.
Your move, Etihad. Let’s see what goes next: the champagne or the actual seat? what are your thoughts on the whole Etihad new business class fare?
