After an unforgettable stay in the Maldives, I am continuing my journey to Rome, Italy, with Etihad Airways. The first leg from Malé to Abu Dhabi, however, did not go quite as planned. A last-minute aircraft swap on the Airbus A321 meant I had to settle for non-lie-flat seats in Business Class, which felt like a bit of a letdown. But now, with the Etihad Boeing 777-300ER ahead, I am finally getting the chance to experience the true Etihad Business Class offering. This overnight flight to Rome is my opportunity to enjoy the comfort and luxury Etihad is known for, and I am hoping it makes up for the earlier disappointment.

Award Flight Booking (8/10)

I book this flight as soon as the award window opens, using 42,500 American Airlines AAdvantage miles and paying $130.90 per person in taxes and fees — pretty reasonable for this itinerary.

Here are the exact flight details:

• EY 279 Malé, Maldives (MLE) to Abu Dhabi, UAE (AUH), departing 7:10 PM, arriving 11:25 PM (Full Flight Review)
• EY 85 Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Rome (FCO), departing 2:25 AM, arriving 5:45 AM

Note: This specific review only covers the second flight. 

I also consider a few other options for booking with points, but each has a major problem:

• Etihad Guest: 133,000 miles (dynamic pricing)
• Air Canada Aeroplan: 60,000 miles (no availability)

Related: The Best Ways To Earn American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

Related: The 10 Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Airport Check-In (9/10)

After arriving on the flight from Malé, I embark on a long walk through the sprawling Abu Dhabi International Airport to connect to the next leg of the journey. It is a huge airport, but it is absolutely stunning. We go through a secondary security screening required for all connecting passengers, which is smooth, and then head straight to the lounge. As a Business Class passenger, I imagine those originating in Abu Dhabi have an even easier experience with check-in, immigration, and security, but I leave that experience for another day.

Airport Lounge (7/10)

Given that Abu Dhabi is the global hub for Etihad, the lounge is massive, spanning three floors. However, it lacks a cohesive layout, and after traveling all day, my first priority is to find the showers. Surprisingly, it takes a bit of effort to locate them, even the employees seem unsure. Once found on the second floor, the showers offer a nice refresh after a long flight.

The highlight, though, is the extensive food selection. The food is excellent, and eating in the lounge allows me to maximize rest time onboard. With flights departing between midnight and 3 AM, this is essential, as most do not offer full dinner service after takeoff.

Boarding begins about an hour before departure. In Abu Dhabi, the process involves scanning your ticket upon entering the gate area. The person ahead of me experiences some visa issues, so there is a brief delay. Unfortunately, there are no separate lines for premium cabins at this checkpoint, which is a bit disappointing given the rest of the experience. Once through, I wait in the boarding area for about 10 minutes before premium passengers are invited to board first.

Aircraft Cabin And Layout (8/10)

The Etihad Airways 777-300ER is a wide-body aircraft designed for long-haul flights. Business Class features 28 seats across seven rows, arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration.

In the middle section, seats alternate between being closer to the aisle or closer to your seatmate, though everyone has direct aisle access. On the sides, seats either sit close to the aisle or by the window. I recommend choosing a seat by the window for added privacy. These seats are great for sleeping, offering a cozy cocoon-like feel without being too confining.

Business Class Seat (8/10)

Each seat is a pod that reclines fully into a lie-flat bed.

For this flight, I am seated in 9A on the left side of the cabin, while my wife initially sits in 10C. However, due to a broken entertainment system (IFE), she later moves to 7A.

The seat design features the signature brown and yellow colors of Etihad. In front of the seat is a footrest with storage beneath, large enough to fit my size 13 shoes. The tray table folds out and slides toward me for convenience. The seat controls, located to my right, are responsive but can be finicky with weight distribution affecting the motor in the bed.

The IFE controller still swipes credit cards, though I do not find anything available for purchase. There are also more reading lights above, but no air nozzles on this flight. Two literature pockets hold the safety card and inflight magazine, while the reading light has a sleek, spaceship-like design — my favorite part of the seat!

Business Class Bed (9/10)

As soon as we reach cruising altitude, I convert my seat into a bed. It is a bit snug but long enough to stretch out comfortably. The bedding includes two pillows — one small throw pillow and one larger, more traditional pillow — perfect for side sleepers like me. The blanket, provided by Armani/Casa, keeps me cozy without overheating. It also has a slight weight to it, which I find comforting. No pajamas are offered on this flight.

On-Board Entertainment (6/10)

The entertainment system, while functional, shows its age. Picture quality could definitely use an upgrade, though for this overnight flight, I spend most of the time sleeping. I mostly track the flight map when awake.

Etihad-branded headphones are available at each seat and offer decent sound, though there is room for improvement. Wi-Fi is available, but I opt not to purchase it, as I find the $24.99 price for a full-flight package steep, especially on this overnight flight.

Lavatory (8/10)

There is only one lavatory at the front of the cabin for Business Class passengers. It is fairly standard but has plenty of space, even for taller individuals. Thankfully, Economy Class passengers do not share this bathroom.

Amenity Kit (10/10)

The amenity kit is a standout. Branded by Acqua di Parma and made of leather, it is one of the best kits I have received in Business Class. I even grab an extra one from an empty seat to gift my mother-in-law for watching our dog during the trip! Each kit contains a dental kit, hand cream, hand sanitizer, cleansing wipes, cologne, an eye mask, and socks — all of exceptional quality.

Food And Beverage (9/10)

Upon boarding, the flight attendants welcome us and take pre-departure drink orders. I opt for a mocktail called the Butterfly Effect, made with butterfly pea, lemonade, and mint. It is delicious and quickly becomes a new favorite! The tableware from Armani / Casa is also a nice touch.

Given the late departure, there no dinner service onboard, which works perfectly for me, as I prefer to sleep right after takeoff. If the flight departed earlier, I would have expected a proper dinner.

Pre-Arrival Breakfast

Before takeoff, the crew asks if I want to be woken up for a full breakfast. I agree, as I am a big breakfast fan.

I also have the ability to opt for a continental breakfast that I can preorder before going to bed. This would allow me to sleep longer, but I want a full breakfast to hit the ground running in Rome.

I start with orange juice and an iced cappuccino, followed by a main course of brioche French toast with berries, orange crème fraîche, and syrup. The French toast is thick and delicious, paired with fresh fruit and pastries.

The breakfast options also include an acai bowl and shakshuka, which I would like to try on future flights.

Staff And Service (9/10)

The flight attendants are attentive and proactive, responding to call buttons within seconds. My drinks are never empty for long, as flight attendants are constantly walking through the aisles and tactfully asking customers if they need anything (while leaving people alone when they want to be left alone).

What really impresses me is that a flight attendant proactively moves my wife to a better seat when her IFE malfunctions. This really stands out to me, because it highlights the focus on the customer experience that many other airlines just do not offer. Overall, the service is professional and courteous throughout the flight.

Final Thoughts

After the disappointment of flying the Etihad Airbus A321, with its non-lie-flat seats, this Etihad 777-300ER Business Class flight is exactly the redemption for which I hoped. The comfort of the lie-flat bed, the excellent amenity kit, and the delicious breakfast service leave me feeling well-rested and ready to explore Rome when I land. While the dated inflight entertainment could use an upgrade, it is a small trade-off for the overall experience. Etihad really shines on this long-haul route, and I finally get to see why they are known for their premium cabin service. After this flight, I would not hesitate to fly with them again — especially if it is on the Boeing 777-300ER, Airbus A380-800, or Airbus A350-1000.