WE PAID $72 FOR THIS FIRST CLASS SUITE (Etihad First Class Experience)

Today we are going to be spending six hours in one of the best first class seats in the sky as we fly from Geneva to Abu Dhabi and onward to Delhi. This is the Etihad first class suite.

Complete with a closing door mini bar, luxurious amenities, a huge tv, pajamas and bottles of champagne that cost more than we paid for this ticket. The best part is these tickets should have cost over $10,000 and we paid less than a hundred dollars per person. This was all thanks to frequent flyer miles that we earned through travel cred. I've written an entire post on our website explaining all the details of exactly how we did that. So we'll link that down below, but you can read that after this video is over. For now, join us as we share every detail of this incredible first class experience with you.

Someone is very excited to be applying first class today.

Have a flight, enjoy your days. Thank you very much.

I cannot tell you how good it feels to finally have this ticket in my hands. We have been waiting a week for these tickets here in Geneva. As Americans, we need a visa to go to India. And after moving this flight three times, spending an entire day here at the airport, multiple hours on hold with Air Canada, we got to the airport this morning at 9am it is now 3:30.

Finally.

The ticket is finally in hand.

I liked it because it took two seconds. The thing that makes today super special is that this is our first time ever flying first class together. We both flown it separately. I flew Emirates. It was the best flight of my entire life. Kara flew Lufthansa first class where she had a private wine tasting above the Atlantic. So I'm really interested to see how Eddie Hod stacks up against Emirates and Lufthansa.

How are you? I'm so good, thank you.

From Abu Dhabi to the world.

She's a little much this morning. I'm not with her.

Hello. I'm going to cry. I have tears in my eyes. This is so beautiful. I don't even know what side this is on. Oh, this side.

No way.

This is nuts. You have here the pajamas and slippers.

We have a rose as well if you would like to try.

You want the rose after take home?

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Enjoy. Thank you.

This is too much.

Okay, now that we're settled in, let us give you a full tour around the Eddie Hod first class suite. The only thing I have to compare this to so far is the Emirates first class suite. And I have to say it's not as shiny or as golden or as well lit, but it is just as comfortable and it might be a bit bigger. And then each suite has its own private coat closet. And probably the craziest part is back behind the camera. There's basically an entire second seat underneath the tv. First off, on this right armrest you have the controls for the entire suite. You can either actually physically push buttons or if that's too old school for you, there is a touch screen. There is also a remote control for the tv. The TV is technically touchscreen, but that is super far away in the suite. So we'll be controlling our TV from here. It looks like there's live tv, music, all the things that you would expect on a first class flight. We have our own air control up here. And inside the right armrest that is kind of falling apart, we've got some headphones. The plugs for your headphones. USB charging larger. The seat is super comfy. I'm pretty sure if I scoot it like this, Kara and I can both fit in the seat together. I mean tons, tons of room.

I don't know why this makes me so happy, but I have my own mini bar.

This water is cold. I don't think it's a real fridge. I think they just came from the refrigerator. Still cool.

Before we even sat down in our seat, there were a few things waiting on us. This little sanitary kit, an amenity kit which I have no doubt care will give you a full review of.

I don't know why it's not loud.

We were given a card for free. Wi fi, a drink menu with two different types of champagne, nine different types of wine, aperitifs, cocktails, mocktails, beers, spirits and all of the food also sounds delicious. This is the fanciest paper I've ever seen on an airplane menu.

It's like silk, silky eye mask, some socks with some anti slippers, body lotion.

Smells amazing. Toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, and last but not least, ice cream. Assume this is like cologne and zucchin.

Yeah, I think those could go either way. All this is great, but what I'm most excited about.

So soft.

I'm so excited on this flight this morning.

Joined by my colleague and senior first officer Jacob and looking after your safety.

And comfort from us all morning. This is so weird because my seats, they seem to the back of a plane. I think this is the first time I've ever taken off backwards.

Let the six hour countdown begin.

Wow. These mountains are insane.

Thank you.

These nuts are warm.

Much better.

Thank you. Tablecloth.

This tray table is absolutely massive.

Thank you. What do you want? This? Oh, yeah, one is good. Thank you. Love this girl.

Thank you so much.

Little privacy to enjoy my caviar.

Caviar.

This is my fourth time ever having caviar in my entire life. I first was on my Emirates first class flight, then the Orient Express, then at the North Pole, and now here. Caviar is one of those foods that I'm not sure that I actually enjoy the food itself, but the memories that it brings back, that's what I really love about it.

One point for Eddie. Hot Pearl spoon. You know, so it doesn't affect the taste of the caviar. Bon appetit.

Thank you. This is all just the appetizer? Yes.

This is amazing. I ordered the Arabic mezzi plate, which includes baba ganoush, tabbouleh, and hubulus. And that comes with some Arabic bread, whatever this warm, beautiful stuffed dumpling is. And some falafel. Looks like Nate got the tuna.

Even though we're not flying side by side, we still have the option of eating together. The bench that sits in front of the TV has a seat belt, so it's technically a seat. So I can join Kara for dinner and we can sit across the table from each other on an airpl. Although I am blocking the tv, so I'm not sure which one Kara would rather have.

I'll just pause it. Love Middle Eastern food.

It's amazing. I might as well be at a five star restaurant in Abu Dhabi.

Okay, up to this point, Etihad or Lufthansa?

As far as the seat goes, Etihad. I didn't have a door on my Lufthansa flight and I just feel like overall it feels a little nicer and as spoiled as the sound. I don't really care. I just feel like it should count. I didn't have a pearl spoon on my lip.

Tom's plan.

Other than that, I feel like as far as the food goes and the service goes, they've been about the same. But I feel like it's three points for any hut. I just feel like I'm the only one on this plane right now. Until you came in. Real quick. Wait, don't click away. Give us 20 seconds. We just wanted to remind you that we're giving away a free trip to the Maldives.

This includes six nights in an overwater bungalow. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus a free personal butler. And we'll throw in $3,000 to cover the flights. To enter, all you have to do is sign up for our travel newsletter, the Daily Drop.

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Anyone in the world. Everyone is entertained.

Boy, do I create a detergent condition supply. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Okay, back to the video. Lovely. Thank you.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Thank you. Thanks. Thank you. This is so chee.

This looks incredible. The ravioli was the only vegetarian option on the menu, so that's what we both got.

Bellissimo.

Watch it go. We have three hours left. Here you go.

Kara kicked me out of her suite so that she could watch movies, but that was pretty incredible. Definitely a bucket list item for me. Eating dinner at a table across from each other on a first class flight is something I've dreamed about for probably 10 years now. Sadly, we only have about three hours left in this flight. So we're gonna sit back, relax, change into some more comfortable clothes and enjoy the rest. This incredible experience.

Wow.

It's gigantic. Details, details, details. Hand sanitizer details. Oh. Reusable towels and a third teeny tiny mirror. This is no doubt the best looking airplane bathroom I've ever been in. But we're being honest, kind of lacking in the amenities department. I like it when they add that facial mist. There's also no mouthwash, but you know, it really cares. Watch this.

Touchless flusher. I should also mention that they come in and fold the toilet paper between each use. I assume that means they clean as well because it is super clean in here. Kind of already wearing PJs, but figure since I have them, I might as well wear them. Honestly, these are the best airplane jammies I've ever received. They are so soft. These cute little buttons that you can undo. Drawstring pants. I gotta say, Lufton's pajamas.

Whoa. I have a duvet, super soft blanket and a mattress pad.

Sweet dreams. You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally be than your dreams. I couldn't have said it better myself, Dr. Seuss. I'm in love. And there's no way I'm sleeping on this flight. Not one, not two.

Three pillows. She also brought me some chocolate. I'm gonna pretend like it's because I'm special and not everybody gets this.

I decided not to get my suite turned into a bedroom. But I did discover the massage fox function on the remote. So I'm currently sitting here at 30,000ft getting a massage as I watch the Big Bang Theory.

Have A good evening. Thank you. Thank you.

It's warm. That was the fastest six hours of my entire life. And Kara has not changed out of her pajamas. I wish I could be more like her, but I just can't.

So we have a 19 hour layover here in Abu Dhabi. Should we leave the airport? Probably. Have we been here once before? Yes. We had the gold coffee. We saw the grand moss grow, the fastest roller coaster. And we're hoping that this time we have access to the first class lounge. And if we do, we're probably just going to spend the next 19 hours here in the airport.

Stick the card in the thing.

It is.

I just want to go to sleep.

Well, you have darkness because I can't get the lights to come on.

Oh, this whole night has been such a disaster. Honestly, I don't care.

We don't have power.

Good morning. As you can probably see, we did not make it into the first class lounge last night. And man.

It was in a night. Long story short, we didn't get lounge access last night. Plan B was to sleep at a hotel in the airport, which ended up being full. So by 1am last night, the options were sleep on the ground or leave the airport and get a hotel. So that's what we decided to do. We ended up here. But it wasn't that simple. Drones aren't allowed in the uae. We didn't plan on coming into this country, so that hadn't even crossed my mind. So as we were coming into the country, going through customs, scanned my bag. They found the drone. Not a huge deal, except I had to sit in this office for an hour while they took it and wrote this stuff up. And now I have to go back and get it this morning. By 3am last night, we were in this hotel and going to sleep. And now we're heading back to the airport.

Six hours before our flight, we were finally allowed in the first class lounge. And I have to say, it was worth the wait.

Anybody was wondering how different Nate and I are when it comes to food. Just look at what we ordered. I got spicy tofu pad thai and they got sugary sweet chocolate bacon. This is us to a tea.

Okay. It's 12:30. We've been up for like two hours and I want to know what you you would order. Are you a spicy pad Thai person or are you a pancake person? You should be a pancake person.

This, to my knowledge, is the only airport lounge in the world that has a gym inside of it. It's not very big. It's Got a couple free weights in the corner, two treadmills, a bike and an elliptical machine. But it's still pretty cool to be standing in the only one in the world. I anticipated being able to get into this lounge last night and I actually packed running clothes so that I could run here because it's kind of like a weird bucket list item for me. But unfortunately we've run out of time. Well, I chose pancakes and champagne over running. That's what really happened.

Okay, from here we have a three and a half hour business class flight to Mumbai.

So a lot of people use business class and first class interchangeably in the U.S. they call first class when you're flying domestically. Those like two seats that are basically just like slightly bigger recliners, first class. But if you're flying internationally, it's completely different. We flew first class on the way here on the 787 and on the way to Mumbai we're flying business class in the 787. So you're going to get to see the difference side by side between first class and business class. She's mustered up the energy for an arm dance.

After not going to sleep till 3am she is dancing with her arms. It is happening, people. She used to dance like this for economy class. Now it's spoiled her and she won't.

Even dance with muscles.

Thank you so much. Do you have any extra?

Yes, sir.

All right. Apparently we're still doing this on the way to India.

Oh.

This is so incredibly nice. I love being next to each other in the middle aisle this time. So it's not, not like a pure comparison because we're technically in a totally different style seat. This is fabulous, like next level fabulous and we get to be with each other.

And the crazy thing is the hotel that I booked, which I'll give you some more information on how I actually travel. Hacked that and saved a bunch of money on is on the screen on the tv.

Are you kidding me?

That's our hotel.

That's what I booked. Looks like a castle.

That's us. Well, I'll call me anytime. Guys.

It's a much shorter menu than last time, but it, it's not so much shorter flight. Thank you. Please forgive me for what I'm about to say. These nuts are cold.

This is just a review. I don't care.

But I welcome.

Nuts were warm yesterday.

Honestly, the seat is so much better than I expected for a 3 and 12 hour flight. We have our own little pod. We don't have a closing door. But you still have quite a bit of privacy. I mean it's still like my own private space on an airplane and it's pretty incredible. You have the same remote as you have the first class to control the tv. You aren't going to get any loungewear or slippers.

Would you like some slippers, sir?

I'm very embarrassed that I did save these from our first class flight. I'm taking them all the way to India with me.

I've also brought you an amenity kit.

How colorful and beautiful this is. This is the prettiest airplane mail I've ever seen. So we have this beautif vegetable curry, potato salad.

Looks so good.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are now on a final approach. Please fasten your seat belt and ensure that your seat back is upright.

Three and a half hours later, we have landed back in India. This is our first time back here in over four years.

I'm very sad that our first class experience is over, but at the same time I am so pumped to be back here. India is unlike any other place I've ever been.

Overwhelming to all the senses, but a place unlike any other for sure. It's been 28 hours since I've seen this bag. To the Taj Mahal Palace.

Yes, so fancy.

It does feel good to be back. This is my last travel hack of the day. A free sedan to the hotel as well as 200 off. But I'll explain when we get now.

Good morning. After traveling to 100 countries, I would consider this one of the top three hotels I have ever stayed in in my entire life. Here's why. Most people, when they come to Mumbai, they go to visit the gateway to India. Not only is the gateway to India right outside of our hot, this hotel is actually older and more historic. We learned last night it's 195 years old. And they've done an incredible job of updating the place while also maintaining the historic feel. It literally feels like you're staying inside a palace, a historic palace. Most nice hotels I would consider pretty sterile. And normally that's a good thing because you know if you stay in a Marriott hotel either in India or the US you're going to get a similar experience, a similar type of service. The room's going to be clean. But at the same time, whether you're staying in India or the US if you're inside the hotel, you'd probably never know the difference. You're not really traveling when you stay in other hotels. As soon as you enter this hotel it feels like you're traveling There is no doubt that you're in India. From the greeting to the design, to the food, to the free yoga at 8am and even the guy in the lobby playing the sitar, it's a full on experience here. Anyway, this hotel is amazing. If you ever come to Mumbai, I highly recommend staying here. But that was all just extra information that you didn't ask for. What I promised you last night was to explain how we saved home hundreds of dollars on this booking. So let me do that. So normally in videos I don't take the time to explain this stuff because a lot of people just don't care. But little hacks like this have enabled us to travel more when we couldn't afford it and to travel more luxurious now when otherwise we wouldn't pay for it. And since this video has been all about luxurious experiences for a fraction of the price, I thought for those of you who are still sticking around, I would explain how we saved a bunch of money on this hotel. So this hotel is part of the American Express Express Fine hotels and Resorts. So if you have this card, the American Express Platinum card, when you book this hotel, you automatically save 200, which is a pretty great deal. This place wasn't cheap to begin with, so we paid 350 per night to stay here, which is not cheap, but we got a ton of extra perks. According to the website, what you get when you book one of these hotels is a room upgrade when available, daily breakfast for two, guaranteed 4pm late checkout, noon check in, complimentary wi fi and and experience credits. So let me show you how those savings add up. Using this hotel as an example. In total, we paid $700 for the room. We got a private chauffeur from the airport. If it wasn't included, daily breakfast would probably cost $30 a person. And we're here for two mornings, so that's $120. Then we got an upgrade to what they call the luxury Grand City room view in the palace wing. That's probably an extra $100 a night that this would have cost. And then the 4pm Guaranteed late checkout would probably be another $50. That means that this entire experience should have cost $1,150. But we got $200 off the room and all this other stuff was included for free. So what should have cost us over $1,100 ultimately cost us 500. Again, I try not to share too many of these travel hacks here in the videos because I know a lot of people can't get American credit cards and some people who can just don't care at all. So I'll still share this stuff from time to time. But if you're really into this stuff and you want to learn more, we have started a day daily newsletter called the Daily Drop that covers all the best travel hacks every day. And you can sign up for that below or using the QR code here on the screen. I think I just love nothing more than feeling like I'm beating the system. So hopefully there's someone out there still watching this video that enjoyed this.

We never do this, but we are going to the gate early to make sure that we are the first people on the plane because I want as much time in that space seat as possible.

We're only seven minutes early. It's not that early. I just gave all those people you were even there.