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Etihad Guest Tightens Award Rules With 72‑Hour Blackout and Miles‑Only Refunds

Fees now vary by Value, Comfort, Deluxe bundles, with percentage penalties that convert cash surcharges into miles.

Overview

  • Etihad Guest implemented its third overhaul since 2024 on November 13, 2025, applying the new rules to tickets issued or reissued from that date.
  • All award changes and cancellations are prohibited within 72 hours of departure, creating one of the least flexible policies in the industry.
  • Outside 72 hours, Value allows changes for AED 600 with no cancellations, Comfort carries a 25% mileage redeposit fee or AED 200 to change, and Deluxe permits free changes and cancellations.
  • Refunds are issued primarily in miles at an internal valuation of two cents per mile, and the 25% redeposit penalty also applies to the cash portion of the ticket.
  • A reader example shows a 200,000‑mile first‑class award with about $600 in surcharges would return 172,500 miles, with Etihad keeping the $600 cash, while first class books only into Comfort or Deluxe.