This post includes everything you need to know about Etihad Airways COVID-19 policies if you are planning a trip to, from or through Abu Dhabi any time soon.
Abu Dhabi is getting ready to welcome visitors back. Last week the UAE’s federal immigration service announced they would restart issuing tourist visas with immediate effect. Etihad is planning to fly to 57 destinations in October.
Unlimited changes on cash bookings
The most significant barrier to planning travel at the moment seems to be the speed with which entry rules can change. A trip fine today may not be tomorrow.
Etihad is allowing unlimited date changes on all new tickets booked by 31 October 2020. You do have to pay any fare difference. However, that seems like a small risk in the current climate. If you can’t travel at all, you can claim a credit for future travel.
The policy is even more flexible if you are due to travel before 30 November 2020. In this case, Etihad is allowing date and destinations changes without paying any fare difference.
If you have to cancel your trip, Etihad will reward you with up to $400 USD travel credit and up to 5,000 Etihad Guest Miles. You can spend that on travel up to 31 October 2021.
If you want a refund, you will have to wait 12 months.
As Etihad helpfully makes clear on their website, these policies are subject to change. How long this flexibility remains will likely be determined by how quickly travel demand bounces back and what passengers expectations are.
No fees to change Etihad Guest bookings
Guest Miles bookings have always been more flexible than cash bookings.
However, previously, there was an AED 100 fee to change a Guest Miles booking. Etihad is waiving the change fee on bookings made before 31 October 2020.
Unfortunately, the 10% Guest Miles deduction on refunds remains in place at the moment.
Complimentary COVID-19 Insurance Cover
Etihad is including complimentary COVID-19 insurance cover with every ticket travelling on the airline up to 31 December 2020.
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while travelling the insurance cover will cover the following expenses:
- 150,000 EUR of medical expenses
- 100 EUR per day for up to 14 days of overseas quarantine
- 1,500 EUR for funeral costs
- Medical repatriation for traveller and family also covered at actual cost
There are a few critical things to remember. The insurance only covers you while you are away from home. If you test positive for COVID-19 on your return, you will not be eligible for any cover.
You must contact Etihad’s COVID-19 Assistance Team as soon as you have a COVID-19 diagnosis. Etihad will only reimburse support they have organised.
The contact details for the COVID-19 Assistance Team are:
- English: +971 45074007
- Arabic: +971 45074002
Finally, the insurance cover applies to all bookings both cash and Etihad Guest Miles redemptions.
Emirates and flydubai are also including COVID-19 insurance cover in their bookings.
COVID-19 tests are mandatory
Regardless of where you start or end your journey, everyone travelling on an Etihad Airways flight is required to have a COVID-19 test before departure. You should take the test between 48 and 96 hours before your flight departs.
You can have the test at any government accredited facility. However, the exact testing requirements do vary considerably by destination. For example, travellers from Pakistan and India can only use an Etihad approved facility.
Etihad has put together a useful set of destination travel guides. The guides include the details where and when to get tested.
To take some of the friction out of the testing requirement, Etihad has partnered with Life Dx to provide a free COVID-19 test for all passengers departing Abu Dhabi.
From 1 October 2020 until 31 March 2021 all passengers flying from Abu Dhabi will be able to book a free COVID-19 test with Life Dx. First and Business Class passengers have the added convenience of booking an at-home test.
There are exemptions to the testing requirement. Children under 12 and individuals with moderate or severe disabilities do not need to take a test.
Checking-in at the airport
To check-in at the airport, you will need to show your negative COVID-19 results.
Many destinations are also requiring passenger contact or locator forms. You need to complete some of these forms up to 24 hours before departure. Etihad will verify that you have completed the necessary documents before issuing a boarding pass.
Etihad’s helpful destination travel guides list any pre-departure forms required for your travel.
The good news once you have checked in is that airport lounges have started to reopen. The Etihad Premium lounge in Terminal 3 Abu Dhabi is once again welcoming guests.
Wellness onboard
Every Etihad flight now has a Wellness Ambassador onboard to answer passenger queries and share tips on staying safe while travelling.
The Ambassadors are responsible for ensuring compliance with all the new COVID-19 health and hygiene regulations.
The most visible requirement is the need to wear a face mask during the journey. Face masks are the new must-have inflight amenity.
For First and Business class passengers Etihad has designed a soft reusable snood made out of a lightweight, breathable and stretchy jersey fabric. The snood should be comfortable to wear for extended periods on long flights.
Economy passengers on Etihad flights receive a Wellness Kit which includes a regular face mask, gloves and hand gel.
A year on the ground
By the time the October half-term holiday arrives junior Expat Flyer at home will not have been in the air for over a year. That is something I would never have imagined possible a year ago.
The uncertainty of how COVID-19 will play out over the winter makes planning and booking travel fraught with risk.
However, as Andrew wrote in a recent guest post with a little preparation flying with kids during COVID-19 does not need to be stressful.
Etihad has packed its website with useful resources for planning travel in the era of COVID-19. In particular, the airline’s destination travel guides and COVID-19 self-assessment tool are very useful.
I will update this page as Etihad’s travel policies inevitable change over time. If anything is unclear, please post a question in the comments below, and I will endeavour to find an answer for you.