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Etihad is bringing the Business Class Studio seat to Manchester

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In an encouraging boost for the region, Etihad is swapping its morning departure from Manchester to a Boeing 787.  This is the first time that Etihad has operated a 787 from the UK.

This means that Manchester customers will be able to experience the hugely impressive Business Class Studio for the first time.  It is one of the top 2-3 business class products on the market – you can read my review of the A380 version here.

Etihad Business Class Studio Manchester

The evening flight from Manchester will remain as a Boeing 777 with a more traditional lie-flat seat.  However, from 31st March 2019 there will be a switch with the 787 moving to the evening departure from Manchester.

The Boeing 787 arrives on 1st November and the flights are already showing online at etihad.com.

You can find out more about the Business Class Studio on the Etihad site here. If you are not already an Etihad Guest member, you can sign up here and receive 500 bonus miles.

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How to earn Etihad Guest miles from UK credit cards

How to earn Etihad Guest miles from UK credit cards (April 2025)

Etihad Guest does not have a UK credit card.  However, you can earn Etihad Guest miles by converting Membership Rewards points earned from selected UK American Express cards.

Cards earning Membership Rewards points include:

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

Membership Rewards points convert at 1:1 into Etihad Guest miles which is an attractive rate.  The cards above all earn 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 spent on your card, which converts to 1 Etihad Guest mile.

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card earns double points (2 per £1) on all flights you charge to it, not just with Etihad but with any airline.

Category

Etihad and Etihad Guest

Comments (97)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Rob MC says:
    10 Aug10 August 17:05

    OT
    Sat on an easyJet plane on the tarmac after our flight is delayed due to severe storms. Any possibility of compensation? I have read that knock on effect from a storm early on in the day is not enough to be extraordinary circumstances…

    • Max says:
      10 Aug10 August 17:29

      So why is YOUR plane delayed? Because of the storms, or because other planes have to take off first, and these were delayed storms earlier in the day?

      • Rob MC says:
        10 Aug10 August 17:33

        Air traffic control have apparently grounded all planes according to the crew. No updates apart from that

        • Lady London says:
          10 Aug10 August 17:51

          Which airport are you at. I would check if other flights really are being cancelled that are leaving at the same time as yours. Weather issues with a plane they had lined up to come in and pick you up, is not a weather issue with your flights. The weather issue has to be with YOUR flight not with the airline’s inability to rustle up a plane that will land you within 3 hours of your original landing time, due to weather problems affecting other filights. You can google later to check asap, what other flights took off around the same time and the extent of any air control restriction.

          Having said that I have had generally truthful reasons from Easyjet. Whereas Ryanair apparently have changed their reason for delay or cancellation after the fact. to a reason that miraculously would not be eligible for EU261. Even had lies from LX about plane not taking off due to weather from ZRH . At a time when every other airline’s plane apparently had no difficulty taking off several of which were also going to similar places.

        • Rob MC says:
          10 Aug10 August 18:16

          Can’t reply to the latest message. We are at Gatwick. Now told we have the all clear but they don’t have the vehicle to move us to the runway so we’re just waiting….

  • LaserBeams says:
    10 Aug10 August 17:40

    O/T – I have reached the £10k spend on my BA Amex and received the companion voucher. If I cancel the card now and get a pro rata refund of the annual fee, do I lose the companion voucher or will it remain in my BA account?
    Thanks!

    • Lady London says:
      10 Aug10 August 17:53

      You keep it. Make sure you move the points out though before you close.

      • LaserBeams says:
        11 Aug11 August 21:43

        Thanks for all the replies. Am I able to transfer the points out before they get automatically transferred at the end of the month? I can’t seem to find a manual way to do it. Thanks!

    • Rob says:
      10 Aug10 August 18:02

      It stays despite what Amex will tell you.

    • Memesweeper says:
      10 Aug10 August 23:10

      If you’re worried about cancelling then downgrade to free BA Amex. Even Amex concede this keeps your voucher !

      Or do as everyone else here does and just cancel entirely. As long as you have another Amex handy when you book your 2-4-1 you’ll be fine.

  • MattyS says:
    10 Aug10 August 23:19

    O/T just had an email from marriott saying cannot use or upgrade existing travel packages between 18/8 and 18/9. So still no clearer on how they will convert legacy 7 night certificates.

    • Rob says:
      10 Aug10 August 23:34

      Yes and No. As this would have been the perfect opportunity to tell you what they are planning to do with them, you have to assume that some sort of mapping is now envisaged rather than a points refund.

      • Alan says:
        11 Aug11 August 22:26

        Indeed – an emails don’t seem to have been sent consistently, some with unattached packages (like me) haven’t received an email, yet those with attached packages have received an email! Am hoping cat 6 (old) will map to cat 5 (new) but bit annoying to have a one month hiatus before being able to book – although at least I’m not planning to use it for 6/12 time.

  • James A says:
    12 Aug12 August 10:01

    The Etihad 777s are threadbare in business. The padding is gone and their are major lumps and bumps in the seat. Often a number of the seats don’t work.

    It’s a poor product which badly needs a refresh, but it’s unlikley to get one given EYs current financial state.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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