The first class lounge has seen dining cutbacks. I’ve noticed cutbacks in meal service. They eliminated chauffeur service outside the UAE. The airline has had layoffs.
They closed the spa in their business and first class lounge at London Heathrow. They monetized access to their premium lounges. They now even sell access to their Residence lounges in New York and Melbourne – for just ~ $40.
In the fall they got rid of ‘Style & Shave’ from their Abu Dhabi arrivals lounge. Now it seems it’s gone from both the business class and first class lounges, too.
Style and Shave still appears as an Etihad Guest mileage redemption option and it’s on the airport website. However reports are that the facility has closed in both the first and premium lounges in their home airport Abu Dhabi, “[A]s one shift ended, the[ staff] had no idea there was nobody coming in to replace them.”
Credit: Etihad
No more hair treatments. No more manicures. No more blow drys. No more shaves. The Six Senses Spa remains available however.
As Ethiad realizes their is a cost for building business, perhaps as Etihad cuts back to a bit more reality, our own legacy carriers can learn how customer service should be delivered; embrace the change.
As a railroader, I do find it ironic how quickly Ethiad, and even Emirates, are cutting such exclusive first class services back after a little over a decade. To the contrary, the “20th Century Limited” (CHI-NYC) and “Super Chief” (CHI-LA) offered barber, valet, stenographer, etc. from their inception (1902 and 1937 respectively) to the end of their All-Pullman status in 1958.
The shave I got there was horrible. Worse than an electric shaver. So not a big loss.
My beard trim was the worst so no loss there.
My hand job was good.
Etihad also eliminates pajamas in long haul business class last summer.
I agree with the others that the closing of Style & Shave is no great loss. Mohamed was a nice guy and he liked to talk, but he gave a lousy haircut.
They declined a happy ending when I asked, so I don’t care if they cut it or not…
The arrivals lounge barber was closed before fall last year (was there in August and was closed).
Etihad is going backwards. They cut out on customer service and amenities but continue to invest in fashion shows – latest one was last week in India somewhere. And they sponsor the Washington basketball and NHL teams and New York Soccer clubs. They pretty much own Manchest City Football Club and the horrible previous CEO sponsored a bunch of Australian sports teams….well, because he was Australian.
So many other areas to cut costs – but no, Etihad thinks that removing amenities from passengers is, as their head says “in the interest of a better customer journey”.
Ya….OK.