For many years, Etihad Airways has offered complimentary hotels as part of its stopover program. However, in March, this benefit was abruptly removed. ‘Free accommodations’ in Abu Dhabi were replaced with ‘discounted stays’ at various hotels.
Now, Etihad has revamped the program once again. The offer page now mentions up to two complimentary nights at the hotel of choice.
The hotel selection seems quite decent at first glance. However, it’s worth noting that there is an additional charge for 5-star classified hotels:
Hotels with 3 or 4 stars, subject to availability, should be complimentary. Regarding 5-star hotels, there was previously mention of a 40% discount, but this was difficult to verify.
The terms and conditions state:
3.8 For the Free Stopover, 3 and 4-star hotels are provided in standard rooms, and breakfast or any additional services are not included.
3.8 For the Premium Stopover, a selection of 5-star affiliated hotels is offered, inclusive of breakfast. No additional services are included.
Etihad Stopover General Terms and Conditions
One caveat remains: Only after the flight booking is completed can travellers see if a complimentary hotel is available at all. In our German comment section, some complaints have recently surfaced about the scarcity of available hotels anyway. So, one should be prepared to book a hotel if necessary. These are available for approximately €50 per night.
Do you have an open booking with Etihad? Feel free to let us know in the comments about the current availability and prices.
Translated by Ditmar