Etihad: Compensation for delayed flight, cancellation, denied boarding
How to claim Etihad compensation online?
Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. It's the second largest airline of the UAE, and is based in Abu Dhabi. While it isn’t a European airline, it is operating in the European Union, and on these flights it has to follow the rules set by the European Union. That’s why in some situations you will be entitled to EU flight compensation.
How to claim Etihad compensation for delayed flight?
How to claim Etihad flight cancellation compensation?
Check your compensation online!
Or continue reading to learn more about your rights.
Here are 6 main topics that we will focus on:
1. What to do if your flight is delayed?
2. What to do if your flight is cancelled?
3. How to claim Etihad flight delay compensation?
4. How to claim Etihad flight cancellation compensation?
5. How to claim Etihad denied boarding compensation?
6. Connecting flights with Etihad
1. What to do if your flight is DELAYED?
What should you do next? What are your rights?
Could you be entitled to Etihad Airways flight delay compensation?
1.1 If you are still at home
Your flight is delayed.
You have found it out while checking your flight status online.
Contact Etihad Airways or airport information desk to find out if the check in for your flight is happening as planned or is it postponed. This will help you to understand what to do next — to wait or proceed to the airport as planned. Find it out even if you have already checked in online.
If check for the flight in is postponed, stay at home or hotel.
If check in is happening as planned, go to the airport as planned.
Do you have a connecting flight?
If it’s a connecting flight with Etihad, you are protected.
If you have booked a flight from Etihad, and there are two or more flights with Etihad or any of its codeshare partners, this is called an airline protected connecting flight. If one of your flights will be delayed and you will miss a connecting flight it's gonna be responsibility of Etihad. They will take care of that.
Most likely you will be given a new flight for free.
If it's a self transfer flight (flights are booked separately) — it's your responsibility. If you will miss your next flight, it will be your responsibility to book yourself a new flight to your destination. You will have to look for that flight, and you will have to pay for it.
1.2 If you are already at the airport
Go and see what is the situation with check in.
Find it out even if you don’t need it. It’s important.
If check in is postponed, don’t proceed through airport security. There is a possibility that it is going to be a long flight delay. Your flight may as well be cancelled at some point. So it’s better to wait at first, until check in for your flight starts.
If check in has started, proceed as you would normally do.
You'll file a claim for Etihad compensation later (3+ hour delays).
You can do it after you arrive.
- 3 hour flight delay
Etihad Airways is not a European airline.
But it doesn’t mean that you aren't protected.
When flying from the EU you are still under the EU protection. That includes connecting flights departing from the EU. If a flight is delayed and you have to wait at the airport, you have the right to care. If it’s more than 3 hours, the airline should provide you with two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes and with a free meal and drink.
It’s responsibility of Etihad Airways.
You don’t have to have travel insurance for that.
All thanks to Europe's Flight Compensation Regulation EC 261/2004.
If you haven’t received anything, contact Etihad Airways.
- Long delay (Overnight delay)
What if it’s more than just a few hours?
What if you have to wait at the airport overnight?
In this case Etihad should also provide free accommodation.
It doesn’t matter if you have an insurance or not, or how much did your ticket cost. All passengers have the right to care. Since Etihad Airways is an UAE airline, these rules apply only to their flights departing from the countries of the EU and elsewhere where the above mentioned regulation is in effect.
1.3 If it's fault of Etihad
Then you might be entitled to EU flight delay compensation.
Yes, if it’s fault of Etihad, and the flight is from the EU, you may as well receive Etihad flight compensation. For example, nationwide strikes and political instability aren’t considered airlines responsibility, at the same time technical problems mostly are considered airline’s fault.
All you have to do is file a compensation claim.
Have you experienced a flight delay?
If you have — file a compensation claim.
1.4 Why do flights get delayed?
Here are some of the top reasons why flights get delayed.
2. What to do if your flight is CANCELLED?
What if your Etihad Airways flight is cancelled?
What if you have a connecting flight that you will miss?
2.1 If you are still at home
When is your flight?
If it’s today or tomorrow, contact Etihad Airways.
Be prepared that most likely you will have to choose between a new flight or refund. If the flight is from the EU, you can always demand a refund, even if your flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances. It’s your right in the EU.
If the flight is later, you can also just wait at first.
Most likely you will receive an e-mail from Etihad explaining the situation. In most situations you will be given a choice between a new flight and refund.
If you plan to take money not another flight, remember that the refund must be paid in cash or by bank transfer, not in coupons, miles or discount codes. That is, if the flight was from Europe. For the rest of the situations you must refer to Etihad cancellation policy.
If it's their fault, they may also owe you compensation.
More on that further below.
2.2 If you are already at the airport
Where exactly are you at the airport?
Have you gone through airport security?
If you have gone through airport security — try to go back to the landside of the airport. It should be possible if you are travelling with hand luggage only and there was no immigration control. Otherwise just wait where you are and keep following the updates from Etihad Airways. If a flight is cancelled, there will be a new flight that you will need to check in for.
If you haven’t gone through airport security — just wait.
Because you may not fly anywhere today.
It takes time for airlines to solve problems like this. Sometimes it’s just a couple of hours, other times you may have to wait for 12 or 24 hours until a solution is found. In any case you will still need to check in for that new flight. Contact your airline if there are no updates regarding your flight.
Do you have another flight today?
If it’s a connecting flight with Etihad, you are protected.
Etihad Airways is a full service airline offering only airline protected connecting flights. If one of your flights is cancelled or delayed, and because of that you miss another flight, the airline will take care of that. You will be given a new flight for free.
If it is a self transfer flight — it is your responsibility.
- 3 hour flight delay
Etihad Airways is not a European airline.
But it doesn’t mean that you aren't protected.
When flying from the EU you are still under the EU protection, also when flying with Etihad Airways. If your flight is cancelled and you would otherwise have to stay at the airport, you have the right to care. It’s responsibility of your airline to provide you with two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes and a free meal and drink.
If you haven’t received any of that, contact Etihad Airways.
In the EU all airlines have to follow these rules.
All thanks to Europe's Flight Compensation Regulation EC 261/2004.
- Long delay (Overnight delay)
As already mentioned, sometimes finding a solution takes longer.
Let’s assume that you have been offered a new flight and it departs tomorrow. If your flight is from the EU, the airlines must offer you also free hotel accommodation.
No matter what is the reason of the cancellation.
All passengers have the right to this type of care, but since Etihad Airways is an airline registered in the UAE, these rules apply only to their flights departing from the countries of the European Union and elsewhere where the above mentioned regulation is in effect.
2.3 If it's fault of Etihad
What if the cancellation is fault of Etihad?
What if the airline made a mistake of some sort?
In the European Union you are well protected against these situations. If the flight is from the European Union or other countries where the EU flight compensation regulation is in effect, you might be entitled to compensation. In some situations you can get all of that — free food, free hotel accommodation and EU flight cancellation compensation.
Have you ever experienced a flight cancellation?
If you have — file a compensation claim.
2.4 Why do flights get cancelled?
Here are some of the top reasons why flights get cancelled.
3. How to claim Etihad flight delay compensation?
Let’s assume that your flight with Etihad was delayed.
It was fault of the airline, and you reached your destination 3 or more hours later. If it was a flight that departed from Europe, now you are entitled to flight delay compensation up to €600.
How to claim this compensation?
There are two best options:
1. You can do it all on your own. Contact Etihad and file a compensation claim. Be prepared that airlines use different methods to avoid paying EU flight compensation. Remember that these things don’t happen fast — it will likely take at least a month or two until you get your Etihad delay compensation.
Contact us, if you will need legal advice.
2. You can also take the easiest path — register your Etihad Airways compensation claim online with us. Let us be your legal representatives. We will help you to get your Etihad flight delay compensation much easier.
When working with us, here is all you will have to do:
- Go to this page;
- Fill in the details about yourself and your flight;
- Upload your boarding pass and passport copy;
- Sign the claim online.
That’s all from you. We will do the rest.
There are no upfront fees, and we don’t charge anything if it turns out that you aren’t entitled to Etihad Airways delay compensation after all. It happens sometimes. Because situations differ, and not always you will be entitled to compensation. If the case is successful, our fee is only €25 + 25% of the amount of your Etihad compensation.
Learn more about EU flight delay compensation.
- How long does it take?
It doesn’t happen very fast.
On average this process takes around 2-3 months.
Airline may also refuse the claim. If we don’t agree with the reasoning, we take the case to the competent National Enforcement Body, which adds another 2-3 months to the process. Sometimes even that isn’t enough, and the case has to be taken to the court.
Whatever is the outcome, you will be kept updated.
- How far back can you claim flight delay compensation?
In different countries the rules are different.
However, in most countries of the EU it’s 2-3 years.
It depends from the laws of the country a flight is from.
- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?
No, these rules are the same for all passengers.
It doesn’t matter where are you from. You don't have to be European, to receive EU flight delay compensation from Etihad Airways.
- What about codeshare flights?
What if it was a codeshare flight?
What if you made a booking through Etihad Airways, but it was a flight with Air France, KLM or Lufthansa? These things are happening all the time nowadays — airlines share their flights with partnering airlines. What if there is a problem with your flight? Who is gonna be held responsible?
Which airline is going to pay the compensation?
The airline operating the flight is gonna be responsible.
If your flight was with Air France, it’s their responsibility.
3.1 How much can you claim?
In most situations you can claim up to 600 euro.
Because in the EU these compensation amounts are fixed.
Generally speaking, the longer the flight, the bigger the compensation.
These amounts are the same for all airlines that are operating in the EU, and they are the same for all passengers. No matter the age, nationality, airline, travel class, price of the ticket or travel insurance. Your under 2 years old kid can receive full flight compensation, too.
4. How to claim Etihad flight cancellation compensation?
Let’s assume that your flight with Etihad was cancelled.
You were informed of it less than 14 days before the date of departure. If it was a flight departing from the EU, and it was your airline’s fault, now you are entitled to compensation. Because in the EU cancellations like these are seen as last-minute cancellations, and that gives passengers a right to flight cancellation compensation up to €600.
How can you claim your Etihad compensation?
There are two options:
1. You can do it on your own. Contact the airline and file a claim. Be prepared that very often airlines, even the best ones, try to avoid paying EU flight compensation.
Contact us, if you will need legal advice.
2. You can also take the easiest path — file a compensation claim online with us. Let us be your legal representatives, and we will take care of that on your behalf. We will help you to get your Etihad cancelled flight compensation easier and faster.
When working with us, here is all you will have to do:
- Go to this page;
- Fill in the details about yourself and your flight;
- Upload your boarding pass and passport copy;
- Sign the claim online.
One online form, and that’s it from you. We will do the rest.
To make things easier and safer for you, we ask for no upfront fees. We also don’t charge any fee if a case turns out unsuccessful. Not always you can get compensation for cancelled flight. If the case is successful, however, our fee is only €25 + 25% of the amount of the compensation.
Learn more about EU flight cancellation compensation.
- How long does it take?
Like all legal processes, these things take time.
On average this process takes around 2-3 months.
It will take longer if the airline refuses your claim, and we have to contact the competent National Enforcement Body, or if we need to take case to the court. So, yes, it can be a lengthy process sometimes, but — if you do it with us — it’s only a single form.
- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?
No, it applies to everyone.
Everyone flying with Etihad is equally as protected.
No matter the nationality and age (it applies to infants as well). You don't have to be European, to be entitled to EU flight cancellation compensation. Neither the price of your ticket, nor travel insurance has any effect on it. You don’t even need an insurance for this.
- What about codeshare flights?
What if it was a codeshare flight?
What if you made a booking on Etihad Airways website, but your flight was operated by Air France, KLM or Lufthansa? These things happen all the time nowadays — airlines share their flights with partnering airlines. What happens if there is a problem with your flight? Which airline is gonna be held responsible?
Which airline is going to pay the compensation?
The airline operating the flight is gonna be responsible.
If your flight was with Lufthansa, it’s their responsibility.
4.1 How much can you claim?
In most of situations you can claim up to 600 euro.
The longer the trip, the bigger will be your compensation.
- €250 — if the distance of your flight is up to 1500 kilometres;
- €400 — if the distance is between 1500 to 3500 kilometres;
- €600 — if the distance is more than 3500 kilometres.
5. Etihad denied boarding compensation
Generally speaking, rules are almost the same.
In the EU you are protected against delays, cancellations and overbooking.
According to Regulation EC 261/2004, you should receive compensation from the airline not only if your flight is delayed or cancelled, but also if you are denied boarding due to overbooking. To put it simply, if the airline has sold more tickets than there are seats on the airplane and you are denied boarding because of that, you should be receiving EU denied boarding compensation.
With Etihad Airways it applies to all its flights from Europe.
Compensation amounts are the same — up to 600 euro.
And you can get both — a new flight or refund and a compensation.
But don’t forget that this applies only to overbooking.
If your passport is about to expire or there are problems with any other of your travel documents, and because of that you aren't allowed on the plane, then you can’t get compensation from the airline. Same as if you voluntarily give up your seat and agree to fly later.
Learn more about EU denied boarding compensation.
6. Connecting flights with Etihad
Founded in 2003, Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. It's the second largest airline of the UAE, and is based in Abu Dhabi. Despite it being so young, the airline has built a good reputation and according to airline and airport review site Skytrax, Etihad is a 4-star airline. It’s a full service airline, and as a such it offers airline protected connecting flights.
What it means for you is convenience and protection.
You have to check in only once, even if your journey consists of several legs. Your luggage is being taken to your final destination. And if there are any problems with your flights, the airline takes care of that.
If, for example, one of your flights is late and because of that you miss the next flight, Etihad Airways will take care of that by offering you another flight to your destination completely for free. You will not have to do anything — neither look for an alternative flight, nor pay for it.
It’s the convenience of airline protected connecting flights.
By Europe and EU we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin, the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
Remember, whenever your Etihad Airways flight is delayed, cancelled or you have been denied boarding - you might be entitled to flight compensation. File a claim to get it sorted out right away!