Bangkok to Beirut Etihad Airways Flights

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  About Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways is the flag carrier as well as the second-largest airline in the United Arab Emirates, after Emirates. The airlines' head office is located in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, in proximity to Abu Dhabi's International Airport. Operations of Etihad commenced in 2003. The airline has since expanded its wings to acquire many world-class facilities and aircraft in its fleet. With a fleet strength of 120 which only includes Boeing and Airbus aircraft, the airline has a record of flying about 1,000 flights in a week to more than 120 domestic and international routes sprawled across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe and North America. The airline operates passenger as well as cargo-based services to many international destinations. According to records, in 2015, Etihad carried about 14.8 million passengers, a whopping 22.3 per cent jump from the previous year, adding to the revenue of the airlines to stand at USD 9.02 billion and a net profit of USD 103 million. The airline's main hub is in Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Additionally, Etihad Airways also operates two subsidiaries, Etihad Holidays and Etihad Cargo. The same year, the airlines also introduced an airline alliance called Etihad Airways Partners. However, it was disbanded in 2018 following several of its members falling in financial peril. Etihad was previously led by former Gulf Air CEO James Hogan. He was appointed as the President and Chief Executive Officer in 2006 and served the office till 2018. Currently, the airline has appointed Tony Douglas as the CEO of Etihad Group, to fill in the shoes of James Hogan. Aside from running its show, Etihad also has equity alliance and minority shareholdings in airlines such as Air Serbia, Air Seychelles Virgin Australia with 49 per cent. Forty per cent and 24.2 per cent stakes respectively.

Over the years, the airline has sponsored a slew of big events including the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Docklands Stadium and All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. On its genesis, Etihad's livery featured the flag of the United Arab Emirates along with its emblem on the vertical stabiliser while the windows had a golden Etihad logo. The fuselage also featured red and golden stripes. However, the livery was phased out as a new design was introduced in 2014. The new livery first featured on Etihad's first Airbus A380s. The new design includes triangular tessellation painted with gold and silver on the vertical stabiliser as well as the rear fuselage. The aircraft also has a golden Etihad logo along with the emblem of the United Arab Emirates painted over the windows as well as the flag painted on the front door. The golden hue is inspired by the romanticising of the Arabian desert.

Fleet size of Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways operates a fleet comprising of only Airbus and Boeing. The total size of the fleet is 102 with Boeing 787-9 taking the most space with 30 aircraft. Following the same is Airbus A320-200 and Boeing 777-300ER with 19 aircraft. Ever since the airline's genesis, it has been accommodating only the top aircraft from Boeing and Airbus. You can find both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft and the cabin facilities change accordingly. Etihad Airways' fleet is recognised worldwide for its innovative and advanced facilities.

Etihad Airways Baggage Allowance

Etihad Airways is quite strict when it comes to their baggage allowance. The airline has a standard weight and size for baggage that the passengers need to adhere to. Depending on the country that you will be travelling to, Etihad Airways has dedicated baggage allowance. You will need to go to their website and find out the same. In the baggage allowance page, the airline has reserved two blank posts where you can add the destination and the city you'll be taking your flight from. Following the search, you will know how much the baggage allowance is on Etihad Airways. The same applies to the hand luggage and passengers travelling with kids and infants.

With respect to carrying a personal item on board, the weight of the handbag with personal items should not exceed 5 kg. The personal bag could include a laptop, a backpack, handbag or a briefcase to carry onboard. It is essential that you follow the necessary protocols and not carry unwanted items in the bag. There are provisions to purchase extra baggage. In fact, the airline allows extra baggage with 30 per cent off. You will not have to pay a whopping sum of amount. The airline allows the passenger to check the status of the bag on their official website. However, it is while you have some benefits, the airline expects passengers not to carry specific things onboard or in the checked baggage. A list of prohibited items has been shared by Etihad Airways which follow protocols of all the other airlines it has partnered with. Some of the restricted items include sharp items, inflatables, wheelchairs, weapons, dangerous goods and chemicals, liquid, aerosols and gels, and more. While wheelchairs are not allowed, there are special provisions made by the airline for passengers who have mobility issues and need the wheelchair. The same applies to travellers with infants. For infants, the airline has allowed the traveller to carry enough baggage that is dedicated to baby products.

Etihad Airways In-flight services

Etihad Airways' in-flight services are world-class. The airline recently introduced Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 with several amazing features. These include a residence suite such as The Residence (A380), First Apartments (A380), First Suite (787), Business Studio and Economy Smart seat. You will find a business studio, and smart economy seat available in all the aircraft of Etihad Airways fleet. However, the state-of-the-art first-class suites and cabins are only available in their Airbus A380 and Boeing 787.

The Residence - Airbus A380 is the only aircraft in the Etihad fleet to accommodate The Residence. There is room for two people to fit in residence and features a private living space with a living room, bathroom and a bedroom. The cabin also offers a 60.6-inch wide reclining two-seater sofa with a 32-inch TV monitor. An ensuite bathroom along with a shower is also available in the suite and has an 82-inch wide doubled bed. The bedroom also comes with another TV monitor which is 27-inch along with a personal butler. The first-class' services also come with complimentary meals and alcoholic beverages.

First-class - The airline also has a First Apartments, which follows the same layout but with limited provisions from the residence. The Airbus aircraft accommodates the first-class apartment with nine total cabins and a configuration of 1-1 across a single aisle. The room features a decent 30.3-inch wide reclining chair along with an ottoman that can be converted into a bed. The airline also has a 24-inch TV monitor which can swing for a better view from the ottoman. The recliner is also accompanied by a vanity cabinet, a bar with chilled drinks and luxurious hospitality from the airline's crew. The Boeing 787-9 allows eight first suites in the aircraft which includes a 26-inch reclining lounge chair. There is a dining table along with a 24-inch TV monitor. The aircraft also comes with a personal wardrobe and high sliding doors.

Business-class - The business studio has been introduced by Etihad Airways in both the aircraft models, Airbus A380 and Boeing 787-9s as well as Boeing 787-10s. The studio accommodates 22a 22-inch wide reclining chair that can be converted into a flatbed. It also comes with an 18-inch TV monitor and has a configuration of 1-2-1 seating. Everybody gets direct aisle access.

Economy smart seat - While the fabulous features are available and part of Etihad Airways' in-flight services, the economy class is also quite decent. The seats are 17-inch wide on the Boeing 787 and 19-inch wide on the Airbus A380. The seat pitch is 31-33-inch and 6-inch recline, respectively. The airline also has an 11-inch touch screen entertainment system by Etihad to cater to the in-flight entertainment of the passenger. The airline follows a 3-4-3 seating style.

Popular routes and top cities for Etihad Airways

The United Arab Emirates established Etihad Airways as the national carrier and has since managed to launch a plethora of domestic routes and international routes for their flights. Over the years, they have managed to serve about 74 destinations along with dedicated five cargo cities. Much recently, they even commenced their operations to Beirut. Some of the top cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Manama, Brussels, Toronto, Beijing, Shanghai, Cairo, Munich, Athens, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Kozhikode, Kochi, Milan, Dublin, Tokyo, Amman, Kuwait City, Rabat, Lagos, Muscat, Lahore, Manila, Jeddah, Medina, Singapore, Seoul, Barcelona, Colombo, Geneva, Zurich, Bangkok, Phuket, London, Chicago, New York City, Washington DC and Los Angeles.

Why travel by Etihad Airways?

Etihad Airways' world-class in-flight services, as well as hospitality and lounge treatment, is a testament to the host country's lifestyle. It is luxurious and has some of the finest facilities. Their official website includes web check-in services, booking Etihad Airways' flights and to be updated with the flight schedules and flight status of the airlines.

  About Bangkok Airport

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is often referred to as Bangkok Airport. It is one of the two major international airports that serve Thailand. Although Don Mueang International Airport was also recognized for its international flight services. However, the same was halted in 2007. Now the airport serves as a hub to low-cost airlines that connect in Bangkok. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is sprawled across 8,000 acres of land and is one of the biggest international airports in the Southeast Asian region. It is also a hub for aviation in Bangkok.

Suvarnabhumi Airport was originally chartered with limited domestic flight services. However, it soon started expanding to add more domestic and international flights. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is currently the important hub for Thai Smile Airways, Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways. The airport basically serves as a regional gateway to several foreign carriers too. It has been recorded to be the 17th busiest airport in the world and 11 busiest in Asia. The airport has the capacity to accommodate about 60 million passengers in a year. There are over 95 airlines that operate from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

About Airport Terminals

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport has three terminals in total. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are responsible for operations of international flights. Meanwhile, Terminal 3 is focussed on domestic flights to cater to connectivity in Thailand. The two terminals are located right next to each other while the domestic terminal or Terminal3 is 500 meters away from Terminal 2. The distance between the terminals is not massive. The proximity often makes it confusing. The departure and arrival zones in the international terminals have dedicated immigration counters as well as check-in and baggage to make it easy for the travellers. The terminal's roof has been designed aesthetically with the use of structural elements and bays that have been placed in cantilevered wavelike forms. The airport is capable of accommodating an Airbus A380. There are two parallel runways at the airport with a total of about 120 parking bays for flights. The passenger terminal is recorded to capacitate about 76 flight operations every hour. An underground rail link station has also been constructed to connect the terminal with the city centre. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport's terminal passenger terminal is famed for being the fourth-biggest building in the world, following Hong Kong International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport and Dubai International Airport.

About Airport Authority

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is funded and operated by the Airports of Thailand Public Company Ltd. (AOT). The airport's body is responsible for six international airport ventures in Thailand. Four more airports have been added recently under its wing. The statutory body received recognition as one of the most valuable airport operators across the globe. The organization was established in 2002 after a consortium between private firms and the state-owned Airports Authority of Thailand. The Thailand government holds a higher share in the consortium with about 70 per cent stock. The Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is the most profitable venture for the airport's authority with passenger statistics of about 63,379,077, as recorded in the year 2018. Over the years, the airport management has done a phenomenal job of efficient connection of the international airport with the city centre. They have also worked towards fixing some of the pressing matters to bolster the functions and efficiency of the airport in terms of safety and connectivity.

Top airlines flying from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

The demand for Bangkok in India as a tourist destination is quite high. Hence, there are several Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport as well. In fact, the first flight to fly to the Bangkok Airport was a Lufthansa Cargo which took off from Mumbai. Some of the Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air India, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara. They have direct connectivity and fly on a regular basis. Airlines such as Thai Airways and Thai Smile, which predominantly operate from Suvarnabhumi Airport also have direct services to Indian cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi Ahmedabad, Chennai, to name a few.

As an international tourist destination, the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport also sees much air traffic from international flights. Some of the prominent airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air Astana, Air China, Air France, Air Macau, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Cambodia Airways, China Airlines, Druk Air, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, Jetstar Asia Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Swiss, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Vietnam Airlines and Ural Airlines. These airlines cater to various parts of the world and have impeccable connectivity. There are reservations for cargo flights to function from the Suvarnabhumi Airport. They are Lufthansa Cargo, Cathay Pacific Cargo, DHL Aviation and Singapore Airlines Cargo.

Facilities at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

ATMs and currency exchange - There are foreign exchange booths and ATM kiosks available at the airport. You can withdraw money or exchange to local currency to make your trip convenient.

Baggage - Baggage services are available with plastic wrapping and porter services. You can also find trolleys at regular intervals.

Internet and communication kiosks - There are internet kiosks that have established at the airport. You can get your work done while you wait for boarding. There are telecom desks where you can purchase local mobile SIM numbers to avail WiFi. Postal services are also available.

Restaurants and cafes - There are many food establishments and restaurants at the airport's terminals. The departure zone has a slew of joints, including ones with liquor and coffee.

Medical care - Medical rooms and pharmacies have been installed at regular intervals. You can make last-minute purchases of prescribed medicine, or you can get necessary tablets or toiletries.

Prayer rooms - Devoted prayer rooms and multi-faith corners have been established at all terminals. There are monks' reception rooms also available at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Transit hotels - To make the passenger's experience at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport good, they have also installed an in-transit hotel. You can check-in for the few hours you need to wait and even rest as much as you can.

Spa and massage - The airport is blessed with good serviced spas and massage parlours. For in-transit passengers who need to take a second flight or who need to wait due to layovers, can avail this service.

Smoking zones - There are dedicated smoking lounges in the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These are available at all the terminals' departures and arrivals. You can even purchase boxes in case you need it for the time being.

Special assistance – The airport also has professionals who cater to the special needs of passengers who fall under the category of senior citizens, expecting mothers and physically disabled. The professionals have been trained to help out the individuals by enabling a smooth transition of their check-in and boarding processes.

How to reach Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

By Bus and car rentals

The Airport Shuttle bus operating from the city is another efficient way to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These buses have a direct connection to the airport from within the city, making travel cheaper and easier. Along with the buses, you can always book a ride to the airport too. There are five routes from the airport that have a direct connection with the Bangkok Airport. These routes connect from Bangkok's downtown as well as Chonburi Province, connections from North Bangkok and Bang Na Bang Pakong which stands at the South. The main entrance to the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport though is at the Samut Prakan Province. There are elevated highways and flyovers which need to be used to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can find a car and rental booking booths at the airport's arrival segment. Even the entrance to the airport has a dedicated taxi counter where you can book your ride to the city.

By Airport Rail Link

One of the best ways to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in 2010 after much delay but has since managed to receive good passenger traffic. Called the Airport Rail Link (ARL), the rail is operated by SRTET which is a subsidiary of the State Railway of Thailand. The long 28.6 km gauge line runs at an elevation for most of its length. The link directly connects to the passenger terminal building off the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. The rail services start at 6:00 in the morning till 24:00. There are two interchange stations called Phaya Thai and Makkasan which run on different lines, also available. The future plans to expand the airport is also in talks where the Airport Rail Link plans to merge and complement the SRT Red Line commuter service. This way, you wouldn't need to change the metro links to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.