In February 2024, Etihad Visitor launched the world’s most punitive cancellation charges for award tickets. This was introduced as half of a bigger overhaul of the Etihad Visitor program.
I wish to present an replace, as Etihad Visitor has up to date its change and cancellation charges on award tickets as of June 2025, although the modifications are pretty minor. Nonetheless, they’re price being conscious of. Due to Abdulla for flagging this.
Particulars of Etihad Visitor 25-75% award cancellation charges
For tickets issued as of June 19, 2025, Etihad Visitor has up to date the change and cancellation insurance policies for GuestSeat award tickets. With these modifications, some folks will likely be barely worse off, some folks will likely be barely higher off, and a few folks will likely be simply as nicely off as earlier than.
These modifications don’t actually basically change the dearth of flexibility afforded by Etihad with award tickets, although it’s nonetheless price understanding the small print.
What we’re seeing is that Etihad has basically aligned its fare bundles on award tickets with its fare bundles on income tickets, so the pliability provided by an award ticket varies primarily based on the kind of ticket you guide.
Simply for instance, if you lookup an Etihad Visitor award reserving, you would possibly see each the Consolation and Deluxe choices in enterprise class.
So, how has the coverage modified? In relation to cancelling Etihad Visitor award tickets, you’ll probably be charged a proportion of the fare paid (for award tickets, in miles), factoring in how far upfront you cancel:
- Cancellations greater than 21 days out are free on Deluxe bookings, and incur a 25% price on Consolation and Worth bookings
- Cancellations between eight and 21 days of departure incur a 25% price on Deluxe bookings, and a 50% price on Consolation and Worth bookings
- Cancellations between one and 7 days of departure incur a 50% price on Deluxe bookings, and a 75% price on Consolation and Worth bookings
- Cancellations inside 24 hours of departure incur a 75% price on Deluxe bookings, and aren’t potential on Consolation and Worth bookings
In relation to altering Etihad Visitor award tickets, you’ll be charged a set quantity, factoring in how far upfront you make the change:
- Modifications greater than 21 days out are free on Deluxe bookings, and incur an AED 100 price on Consolation and Worth bookings
- Modifications between eight and 21 days of departure incur an AED 100 price on Deluxe bookings, and an AED 200 price on Consolation and Worth bookings
- Cancellations between one and 7 days of departure incur an AED 400 price on Deluxe bookings, and aren’t potential on Consolation and Worth bookings
- Cancellations inside 24 hours of departure aren’t potential on any type of reserving
These insurance policies make me keep away from Etihad Visitor
As you’ll be able to see, Etihad Visitor has up to date its change and cancellation charges on award tickets, although I wouldn’t think about the modifications to be materials. Some folks profit barely, others are barely worse off, however the actuality stays that Etihad Visitor has the strictest cancellation charges of any frequent flyer program on the planet.
With many loyalty applications, airline award ticket cancellation charges are decrease than ever earlier than, reflecting how we’ve seen many tickets turn out to be much more versatile. These days many applications don’t even cost any charges to cancel an award ticket, which is a good choice to have.
Etihad Visitor’s coverage, in the meantime is the alternative excessive. On the one hand, I see the place Etihad is coming from. The thought is that income fares and award fares are aligned when it comes to insurance policies. On the similar time, when that’s counter to the business norm, it’s a critical aggressive drawback.
The reality is that I’d interact within the Etihad Visitor program much more if it weren’t for this coverage. I worth flexibility lots, and I merely don’t wish to danger principally forfeiting a ticket (or 75% of the ticket worth) if my plans change main as much as departure.
So I’m unhappy to see that these updates to Etihad Visitor change and cancellation charges don’t undue the previous modifications.
Backside line
Etihad Visitor has up to date its change and cancellation charges on award tickets. This system has the business’s most stringent insurance policies on this entrance, and that applies each earlier than and after the latest modifications. I want Etihad award tickets got here with extra flexibility, however I suppose that’s not a change Etihad is planning on making.
What do you make of Etihad Visitor’s award cancellation charges?
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