Review: Etihad Airways Lounge, Washington Dulles Airport (IAD)

A small humble space, designed to its max potential to remind clientele that they are flying an airline that truly redefines luxury and turns back the clock on flying to remake it as a lavish experience from the airport to 30,000 feet and everywhere in-between. No detail is overlooked as Etihad reshapes the flying experience and makes it glamorous again! Etihad’s Washington Dulles lounge radiates Etihad service-centric culture from the minute one enters and it continues throughout the entire stay. Pam Am who? Etihad is the new premium air carrier!

The Etihad Dulles lounge is modest in size, two stories, and cannot be more than 5,000 square feet. Despite the smallish space, the lounge is carefully design to maximize its potential and includes many amenities including: a lounge and TV area, a dining room, a bar, a small business center, and plenty of comfortable couches and chairs to ensure customers are comfortable. The upstairs also includes small sitting cozies but was closed as the lounge wasn’t full.

The minute customers enter the lounge, the agent offers new visitors a quick tour and stows passenger’s luggage. Immediately after finding a place to rest, two other employees great each and every guest with deliciously fresh dates and Arabic coffee. The sweet date flavor with the spice coffee pairing is perfect and a much welcome treat!

welcome coffee and date

hot towels are provided with the welcome coffee. I had also ordered espresso which is served with a chocolate that is not to be missed!

The lounge also features a self-serve buffet and an a la carte menu. Service throughout the lounge is quick and efficient, with multiple wait staff eager to serve guests. Menu items can be enjoyed anywhere in the lounge or in the dining area. While visiting the lounge, We ordered our food and wine and once our meals were ready we were served in the dining room.

Dining service was served as if the lounge was transferred into a fine dining restaurant. Wine and water was served along with our appetizer, followed by our main course, and dessert. Each serving was fair sized and the meal service was enough that I was completely full. The meal was truly a full dinner service before boarding! My scallops were perfectly cooked, flavorful, and artfully done. My brother’s rib eye was near perfection and as good as something served in a fine steakhouse!

Dinner menu

The lounge attendants and bartenders were friendly and absolutely fantastic. They were eager to engage in conversation with travelers, but were mindful to those travelers who were consumed with other matters. They were quick to clean up a mess, refill a drink, or offer their services. Drinks were free flowing, the buffet was stocked full as if it was never touch, and everything in the lounge was immaculate! Although the lounge doesn’t offer spa service, the full service restaurant is open to all patrons, and the open bar and the service made this lounge stand out! It truly was unlike any lounge I have ever visited in the past, and this lounge reminds me just how pathetic other airline lounges can be, including the American Airlines Flagship lounges!

Kids play room (below)

The Washington Dulles (IAD) Etihad lounge opens every day at 1pm for the Saudia flight and remains open until the Etihad flight is fully boarded. I entered the lounge around 6pm, 4.5 hours before my scheduled departure time and the lounge was nearly empty. The restaurant opened approximately 3 hours before departure. First and Business class passengers share the lounge, along with Etihad Elite flyers. The lounge features one shower in each bathroom, and is among the best places to wait for a flight at the Washington Dulles Airport. The only drawback to the lounge is the tarmac views which are hampered by the jet bridge which is connected directly to the lounge, blocking the view of the apron and taxiway.