Etihad airlines, any good?

Goiter

I'm looking for a cheap flight to Oz. I originally had planned to go with Etihad airlines but I ran into a website full of negative reviews: http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews113386.html

Then I checked out another website that had slightly more positive than negative ones:
http://www.airlinequality.com/StarRanking/5star.htm
and was deemed a 4 star airline.

I'm confused. Are Etihad airlines any good? Some of the negative reviews comment on the crowded chaos like atmosphere of the Abu Dhabi airport. Is it really that bad? I don't really have that much experience at airports, and would rather not have problems navigating my connecting flight.

Mr Benevolent

Goiter wrote: »

I'm looking for a cheap flight to Oz. I originally had planned to go with Etihad airlines but I ran into a website full of negative reviews: http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews113386.html

Then I checked out another website that had slightly more positive than negative ones:
http://www.airlinequality.com/StarRanking/5star.htm
and was deemed a 4 star airline.

I'm confused. Are Etihad airlines any good? Some of the negative reviews comment on the crowded chaos like atmosphere of the Abu Dhabi airport. Is it really that bad? I don't really have that much experience at airports, and would rather not have problems navigating my connecting flight.

They were fine when I used them in September. Good inflight entertainment, food was ok, seats were comfortable and the flight was smooth. So no complaints but not superlative or anything. I'm off home in January on Malaysian Airlines, which promises to be a bit better (5 vs 4 star airline). Those comments about Abu Dhabi are ancient, they have a new terminal now and it's great, Bvlgari and Cartier shops abound

m83

Etihad rock. Flying Istanbul to Melbourne next year (after a tour of europe) for only 400 yoyo's

NikNakOoo

Went from Melbourne- Dublin in April and had no problems. The service was good, the food was good (but not the usual western food, so I assume that some people wouldn't like it) and the airport was good- quiet! My only issue was the limited entertainment- not many movies appealed to me... but I had a book and my iPod, so it wasn't that much of an issue. So all good.

Diamondmaker

I used them in Sept and they were great, nothing amazing gly different from Emirtaes or Singapore but we made about 7 flight changes at no cost - if there is a seat they will change you flight at no fee.

On our last day in Dublin on a Sat we changed our flight 2 hours before it was due to leave for no extra !!

We will use them again.

hussey

As a tall guy they were pretty good, I could actually sit down comfortably - not like when I went Qantas ... food was decent and entertainment was good

Jumpy

Etihad are cheap and cheerful.

I found them more expensive than Singapore Airlines though last time I flew, so I am not sure if their prices have gone up or if SA has gone down.