I’ve had a lot of business travel to the Middle East in the last few months. On my most recent trip, I decided to mix things up and use miles to make part of the journey more comfortable. I flew Etihad from Dublin to Riyadh via Abu Dhabi. I booked this trip with 38250 American Airlines miles plus $49.50 in taxes/fees. It costs 42,500 miles for a one way in business class between Europe and the Middle East, and I got 10% of the miles back as a AA credit card holder. I chose Dublin due to last-minute availability and the Etihad Premium Lounge Dublin. I also preferred the slightly longer journey from here versus other options in Europe for a little more time to enjoy the in flight experience.
Etihad Premium Lounge Dublin – location
The lounge is in the corridor between Terminals 1 and 2. Maybe 5 minutes walking from the gate I departed from, and not far from the security area. The lounge is only available to Etihad passengers, and is open 3 hours prior to departure. I arrived into Dublin somewhat before that, and waited in the DAA Executive Lounge which is a Priority Pass lounge until the Etihad Premium Lounge opened. Dublin has flight connections facilities to allow for transit passengers, but when I passed through the escalator to this area was blocked. So I had to exit the secure area and wait in a long security line. Hassle, but I had plenty of time.
I hadn’t been to Dublin in a few years, but the airport renovations seem to have helped somewhat. On the way to the lounge, I noticed this pretty design in the hallway featuring Irish poetry:
Etihad Premium Lounge Dublin – to myself?
Once in the lounge, I was the first person to arrive. It was a little embarrassing at first, there were about 5 nice Irish ladies working and just me in the lounge. I opted for a glass of champagne, and it was quickly brought to me along with a warm towel.
I relaxed for a time, and then explored the lounge while I had it to myself. It is not particularly large, but given the lounge is open only for 2 flights a day, both of which have 22 business class seats, the space is sufficient. I was the only guest for a short while, but then more passengers arrived. Just before boarding there were more people but the lounge never felt crowded, even though the business cabin was close to capacity.
Here’s a quick photo tour of the lounge.
There are various seating areas, many of which have views of the airport operations from the large windows. Some TV’s are scattered around, but it’s mostly a tranquil space. There is a small children’s play room, which appeared well stocked, but was unused on the day I visited. Too bad my daughter wasn’t there, she would have loved it.
Etihad Lounge Dublin amenities
Eventually, I decided to take a shower before the overnight flight. The bathroom is pretty nice, with several separate shower suites.
After my shower I returned to the main lounge, and found that finally some other guests had arrived. I returned to my seat and perused the dining menu. There is a bar and dining area near the back of the lounge. Food is available made to order, but there is also a buffet. The menu had various offerings and multiple courses available, but I didn’t keep it or take note of all the options. There was a selection of starters and main courses available and a drinks list.
I started with a cold mezze plate, with hummus, babaganoush and tabouli. It was the first of countless meals where I’d have hummus on this trip.
For the main course, I had chicken with arugula and shaved Parmesan. Pretty tasty for lounge food, to say the least.
Off to Abu Dhabi
Once boarding time approached I left the lounge and headed to the gate. On that day, our departure gate was in Terminal 1, which was a short walk away. Maybe 5 minutes tops. I am definitely an aviation geek, and usually enjoy special liveries, but seeing the plane that would take me to Abu Dhabi was a bit disconcerting. Yep, Blue Moon Rising was waiting at the gate. This Liverpool supporter had to swallow hard and pretend to ignore the blue Citeh paint job plus more signage on board…
Etihad Lounge Dublin Final Thoughts
The Etihad lounge in Dublin is and excellent spot to wait before my flight to Abu Dhabi. I think this is the best lounge in Dublin Airport by a long shot. Of course, access to this lounge is pretty restricted, but if you are flying from Dublin on Etihad, it’s definitely worth a visit. Great space, and good staff.
