The major Gulf carriers have among the highest percentage of international transit passengers of any airlines in the world. After all, their business models revolve around using their central locations to connect some of the most densely populated parts of the world.
Continue reading: Etihad’s Free Abu Dhabi Stopover Hotel Program
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I love the idea, and having spent a bunch of time in Abu Dhabi I enthusiastically recommend it for a few days' visit in transit. That said, these hotels arent great. If one has budget for it, I recommend definitely spending some money on one of the many nice hotels in Abu Dhabi, most of which are really reasonably priced.
@ Ben - This line is confusing, I think you meant "aren't"
"Furthermore, meals (and not even breakfast) are included, at least as a standard"
Also, how long should a person stay in Abu Dhabi for their first time. Is 3-4 days too much?
@ JB -- You're indeed correct, thank you! Fixed. Yes, I think you could easily spend three or four days in Abu Dhabi without getting bored, especially if you're jet lagged and coming off a long haul flight. I think you can hit the city's biggest sites in a couple of days, but there's also lots of good dining, opportunities to lounge at the beach and pool, etc. So I don't think that's too long at all.
If i'm flying first class I'd rather spend the extended time in the F lounge over these hotel options that resemble what US domestic carriers give as free comps for flight delays/cancellations (which I'll kick in my amex travel delay coverage to get "better" options)
The new ad strategy has literally made this website impossible to use. Using chrome 123.0.6312.123.
I am avoiding until its addressed.
OMG, this program is totally a scam! I haven’t seen someone was not complaining about it. Either you cannot book it or the date is not available.
@Ben I have trip via AUH later in the year and was sent details of the free stop over option or I could go “premium” and book 4/5* hotels with 40% discount including breakfast.
https://www.etihad.com/en/abu-dhabi/stopover
Premium Hotels where guests can enjoy a 40% discount include:
Anantara Easter Mangroves
Andaz Capital Gate
Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott WTC Abu Dhabi
Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island
Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi
Fairmont Bab al Bahr
Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi
InterContinental Abu Dhabi
Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan (Dry Hotel)
Le Meridien Abu Dhabi
Novotel Al Bustan
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas
Park Rotana Abu Dhabi
Radisson Blu Yas Island Hotel
Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villa
Shangri La Hotel Qaryat Al Beri
Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort
Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi
The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa
Traders Hotel Qaryat Al Beri
Yas Island Rotana
I had a hotel provided as part of their Transit Connect program (hotels for layovers over 8-24hrs) and got the premier inn at AUH when they were still operating out of T3 (worked out perfectly as was terminal connected for a short overnight but quite a budget hotel).
The program seems to have ended since the move to Terminal A. I hope it comes back soon given Emirates has Dubai Connect which is the same program.
I was able to book it easily on the website. The hotel itself otherwise sucks. I got two night at the premier inn at AUH, and I left after a few hours and choose to stay in Andaz.
This worked out extremely well for me and a friend on our way to Delhi right before the pandemic in January 2020.
Etihad gave very clear and simple instructions on how to book the ticket in order to be eligible for the free two-night stopover. We chose the TRYP by Wyndham Abu Dhabi City Center. Clean, comfortable rooms (although that air conditioner was POWERFUL) and it was near a lot of things. Super-easy walk to the corniche, the Founder's Memorial, Emirates Palace, Emirates Heritage Village... we saw a lot.
We arrived in Abu Dhabi from New York on a Sunday at 7:45pm, enough time for check-in and dinner, then sleep. On the Monday, we decided to walk to the bus station and take a day trip to Dubai. Spent the day there and came back to Abu Dhabi to sleep. On the Tuesday, we went to Yas Island, visited Yas Mall, Ferrari World and ate at Al Fanar (really good Emirati restaurant, in my opinion) and we headed to the airport around 7:30pm for our 9:45pm flight to Delhi.
It was a really nice introduction trip to the Middle East (neither of us had ever been before) and I think I'd do something similar if my travels take me beyond the region and the flight schedule fits.
I think more places should have this kind of program. It is a cheap way to have a quick stop and visit to another place. This said, no surprise no luxury hotels are on the list and a 40% discount may be a better deal than staying at the lower hotels.
This program doesn’t exist anymore. It’s still advertised as a “Free” stopover but they changed the T&Cs in mid-March. It’s only discounted stays now. This applies to both the budget category and premium category. There’s also nothing free when they charge you a $10 “stopover fee” on top of increased taxes. Etihad needs to stop this sham.
Frankly, not much value if you ask me. The hotels offered typically trade around USD 80-90, unless during events. This the tourist levy and in many properties also breakfast. Taking into consideration the tourist levy, EY booking fee and breakfast, this reduces the net value of the benefit to about USD 30-40. If you calculate points you earn on cash rates, even less …
@ Doug -- It was just reintroduced as of a few days ago, unless I'm missing something. See here:
https://www.etihad.com/en/news/etihad-airways-and-dct-abu-dhabi-partner-to-launch-free-abu-dhabi-stopover-stays
I am not sure if I got it correctly but it seems like there is no restriction on flight schedule? Both qr and tk offer a free hotels only if the next available schedule flight is longer than certain hours but ey offers a free hotel even if the passenger decides to stay in Abu Dhabi without taking the next available scheduled flight?
The hotel choices are very underwhelming, and requiring a round trip ticket on Etihad stock makes it very restrictive. Pretty bad even compared to airlines like Ethiopia where they allow free hotel just over 8 hours and one ways and other airline stocks.
A bit off topic but Do you know if those "economy sofa" ticket where people buy entire row for a poor man flat bed still exist? I know China Airline used to do Family couch but seem like they discontinue them 🙁
No, you got it wrong.
This is for a stopover not transit.
READ AGAIN.
It literally says stopover in the name.
or because a certain south Asian airline has nothing noteworthy besides a passenger peeing.
It's not clear, but do you have to book on Etihad's website? i.e. can you book a ticket through an online agent and then subsequently claim the 2 night's free hotel?
Hello, we are in process of booking now, is this hotel near the Grand Mosque and also how did the bus work going to Dubia? Name, price, stops? Thanks for any help.
Hi
We are about to book travel thru Etihad and make use of free hotel stays.
Need a clarification whether a ticket has to be booked thru Etihad website only or
when booked through travel agent or agencies is also eligible.
Appreciate an immediate response
Historically the stopover was excellent value as the flight fare was the same whether you included the stopover or not; however, when I reviewed flight prices today (Business Class / London to Mumbai), the fare was nearly £900 more expensive if I included the stopover when compared to just transiting on any of five days or so around the planned stay, i.e. it looks like you are now paying premium rates for the hotel!
Etihad will not provide hotels if your layover is over 20hrs and less than 24hrs. They are not compassionate about assisting senior citizens either. Customer service agents with Etihad will always try to get more money out of you. Please do your due diligence way ahead in time or you will regret booking long layover with Etihad. For me Emirates is much better. No worries and peace of mind.
I did a Chennai, Chicago booking (round trip) with an itinerary of two nights stopover in Abu Dhabi and boarding the flight to Chicago on the third night. The customer care agent checked with his manager if I was eligible for the complimentary stopover and then did the booking. He shared the payment link with me and I made the payment against the link. Later on, Etihad wrote to me that I was not eligible for the free stopover and wanted me to pay for the premium stopover. They refused to accept their mistake and refused to do cancellation and full refund of my ticket, nor did they agree to do a rebooking without a stopover. So, bookers, pls beware. The program and Etihad's word do not carry a full stamp of reliability in my opinion.