I flew Etihad EY58 from Brussels to Abu Dhabi on 28 October 2026, in economy, seat 32H on a Boeing 787-9. It was the first leg of my trip to Bangkok.
Boarding. Boarding in Brussels started about 10 minutes later than planned, but the delay was announced, so there was time for one last bathroom visit. Boarding by group was quick and orderly. We landed in Abu Dhabi almost an hour early.
Seat. I'm 155 cm, and the seat was comfortable with plenty of legroom for me; I could stretch my legs. I didn't need to recline for a six-hour flight. The headrest is a nice touch, and there's a universal power socket plus a normal USB port to charge your phone. The plane isn't new, but it's well maintained.
Food and drink. There's one meal on a six-hour flight, which makes sense, with three choices. I had the lamb with rice: it didn't look like much, but the taste was amazing. Drinks come with the meal, alcoholic or not, then coffee and tea, and you can always ask for more.
Crew. The crew were great. They had a lot to do on a fairly short flight, but they were always happy to stop and help.
Entertainment and Wi-Fi. On this aircraft you use the airline's wired headphones, which are decent, or bring your own; you can't connect AirPods to the screen as on newer planes. There's plenty to watch, handy if you're trying to stay awake against jet lag. The Wi-Fi was free for me because I was registered with Etihad, and it was fast: I could chat with my family, scroll X and even post an Instagram story. A paid unlimited package is available at a reasonable price.
Cabin and toilets. Clean, as you'd expect, and the toilets were clean too. I sat two rows behind the toilets and could hear the noise even with headphones on. It didn't bother me much, but light sleepers should sit further away.
Price. The standard fare doesn't include a checked bag, though adding one isn't expensive. Seat selection isn't free either: at online check-in you get a seat, but you can only pick it yourself on a higher fare or tier. I'd book directly with Etihad; it was cheaper than the booking sites for me.
Would I fly it again? Yes. I'd give it 8 out of 10.
