Etihad announces Etihad Credit to make cancelling flights easier

Travellers can cancel flight bookings and claim credit to put the value towards a new flight booking

Etihad Credit lets travellers cancel flights and use the full value towards a new booking. Courtesy Etihad Airways 

The spread of Covid-19 has had a devastating effect on the travel industry as demand for air travel dropped almost overnight.

In response to the evolving situation, Etihad Airways has introduced Etihad Credit.

The new initiative allows travellers booking a flight to any country across Etihad's network to cancel tickets free of charge if travel plans change. The full value of the original ticket can then be used as credit towards a future flight booking.

Etihad Credit is available to anyone booking a flight before Tuesday, June 30. Rebooking can take place anytime up until Wednesday, September 30, for travel until the end of this year.

Any destination and any cabin class 

Anyone applying for Etihad Credit will only pay fare differences between the original booking and the new flight fare. There's no limit on what the credit can be used towards, meaning travellers can use it on tickets to or from a different destination, or even on another class of travel.

“In these unprecedented times, we understand that some of our guests are either unable to, or choose not to travel and it is our responsibility to help them as much as possible," said Etihad's chief commercial officer, Robin Kamark.

"Now, more than ever, there is a global effort to care for one another and halt the spread of Covid-19 and under these challenging circumstances. Etihad Credit is our way of helping to relieve some of the unnecessary burden many of our customers are facing." he added.

Travellers can apply for Etihad credit online.

Etihad is also giving any travellers that are part of the airline's loyalty programme monthly bonus Tier Miles. This is to help Etihad Guest Members maintain their Tier Status, even when they are not travelling as much.

Several airlines have introduced more flexible booking conditions and relaxed cancellation policies since the onset of the coronavirus crisis.