Refund options vary by airline and fare type, with some cancellations offering cash refunds while others provide travel credits.
Dubai: A cancelled flight does not necessarily mean you will lose the money paid for your ticket, but your refund options depend on who cancelled the flight, your fare type and the airline you are travelling with.
For UAE travellers, airlines including Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia and flydubai have different policies covering cancellations, refunds, rebooking and travel credits.
If the airline cancels your flight, you may have different options compared with cancelling the booking yourself, so it is important to check the airline’s specific terms and conditions.
Passengers should also review the fare conditions linked to their booking before requesting a refund, as eligibility and available options can vary by ticket type.
Emirates
If your Emirates flight has been affected by the current disruption, the airline advises passengers to check its Flight Status page for available rebooking, refund and eligibility options.
Passengers can also make changes through Manage Your Booking. If the original travel date is within the next 72 hours, changes may be available through Manage Your Booking or the Emirates app.
If you cancel a non-refundable Emirates ticket yourself, the options depend on the fare type:
- Special fares: These are generally non-refundable and non-changeable, although passengers can request a refund of unused government taxes and airport fees.
- Saver and Flex fares: Refund and change options depend on the specific fare conditions attached to the ticket.
- If Emirates cancels your flight: The airline’s disruption policy may offer options such as rebooking or a refund, depending on the circumstances.
- Airspace disruptions: Passengers affected by airspace closures or operational disruptions may be eligible to change their travel dates, reroute their journey or request a refund.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways also distinguishes between flights cancelled by the airline and bookings cancelled voluntarily by passengers.
If Etihad cancels your flight, passengers may have several options, including:
- Full refund: You can request a refund to the original payment method, even if you booked a non-refundable Basic fare.
- Rebooking: You can choose to travel on an alternative Etihad flight.
- Etihad Credit: You may be able to convert the ticket value into Etihad Credit, which can be used for future flights and extras such as baggage and seat selection.
If you cancel the ticket yourself, the rules are different:
- Basic fares: These are generally non-refundable after the first 24 hours, although unused government taxes may be refundable.
- Value and Comfort fares: Cancellations are permitted, but applicable fees vary depending on the fare and route.
- Refund deadline: Refund requests must be submitted at least two hours before departure, and passengers must not have checked in.
- Travel agency bookings: If the ticket was purchased through a travel agency, the refund must be processed through the agency.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia’s cancellation and refund rules vary depending on the fare type, which is particularly important for passengers seeking a cash refund.
If Air Arabia cancels your flight, passengers may be entitled to:Full refund or credit: Depending on the circumstances, passengers may be offered a cash refund or travel credit.
Rebooking: If Air Arabia cannot accommodate the passenger on the next available flight, complimentary rebooking may be available.
If you cancel a non-refundable Air Arabia ticket yourself, the rules depend on the fare:
- Air Arabia Credit: The remaining ticket value is generally issued as Air Arabia Credit rather than refunded to the original payment method.
- Basic: Cancellation fees apply, and the fare is not refunded to the original payment method.
- Value: Cancellation is permitted up to 24 hours before departure, with the applicable fee deducted before the remaining amount is converted into credit.
- Ultimate: Cancellation is allowed up to eight hours before departure and, on many standard routes, may be available without a penalty.
- Within eight hours of departure: Modifications and cancellations are generally not permitted.
flydubai
flydubai generally does not provide cash refunds when passengers voluntarily cancel their bookings.
Instead:
- The airline may issue a voucher for future travel, depending on the fare type.
- For non-refundable fares, only eligible taxes may be refunded.
- Government taxes that are non-refundable cannot be recovered.
- Where a refund is available, it is generally issued as a flydubai voucher.
- Passengers can submit refund requests through Manage Booking or the airline’s Customer Centre.
So, Can You Get a Refund?
The key factor is who cancelled the flight. If the airline cancels your flight, you may have stronger refund or rebooking rights than if you choose to cancel a non-refundable ticket yourself.
If the airline cancels your flight or your booking falls under a disruption policy, you may be eligible for a cash refund, rebooking or travel credit. However, cancelling a non-refundable ticket yourself usually comes with stricter conditions, with the options depending on the airline and fare type.
