I have recently flown to AUH with Etihad , & to be honest the service is lacking in experience, but certainly not in effort. Etihad know where they need to be & will make it. My advice to anyone thinking about EY, give it a go-look at their destinations, tax free income & honestly AUH is great! In another 12 months EY will be really great.
The 2 guys you talk about , you should note no longer work for the company that sent them to AUH, that's right & by the way weren't they given a suspended sentence!!!! Come on, bad press for EY in Australian newspapers, I don't how cause another aussie carrier has all the press to themselves!!!
Remember EY is about "experience & adventure", go there with that in mind & that is what you will find. Goodluck.