Emirates Airlines vs Etihad Airways: Which airline is better?

Emirates AirlinesEtihad Airways
54%
46%
85 votes Live Heated rivalry
Emirates Airlines

Emirates Airlines

46 votes
3.9 traveller score
Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways

39 votes
3.4 traveller score

Passenger ratings

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Emirates Airlines

Your ratings - Emirates Airlines

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Ticket pricing

Baggage allowance and pricing

Seat comfort

Customer support

Ease of compensation and refunds

Route network

Aircraft quality

Emirates AirlinesEtihad Airways
2.92.2
Value
3.42.8
Legroom & seat comfort
3.22.5
Entertainment
3.32.3
Customer service
3.02.4
Food & beverage
3.52.9
Cleanliness
2.82.6
Ease of compensation & refunds

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Discussion

T

Theo

Oct 28, 2026

So a delay of 22 hours. I was only informed on arrival at Heathrow Monday 4th March in checkin. I was then put up in an awful hotel nearby, missed a wholes days working in Abu Dhabi.

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F

Freddie

Oct 28, 2026

While the company arranged hotel accommodation, passengers had to wait more than two hours for the bus to reach the hotel. This cancellation led to me missing my connecting flight on the same day. Although they arranged another flight, I experienced a lengthy layover of more than 7 hours. Surprisingly, the airline did not inform the Abu Dhabi Etihad team of the matter, and I had to explain the situation multiple times to address the issue.

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F

Freddie

Oct 28, 2026

Flight is delayed due to air craft issues. It also leads to 12 hours of lay over in Abu Dhabi. Arrival on destination was in the early morning is delayed to 20.00hrs in the night

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F

Freddie

Oct 28, 2026

The airline provided no care, being no accommodation, no food and no other forms of compensation. This was an inconvenience as I was so late in my arrival, it interfered with my extended travel plans when arriving into AUH, also it was additional costs for me to fund my own accommodation and food. Additionally, there was no Etihad staff available at the transfers desk in AMS to help organise those affected by the delays, very little information was passed onto me with regards to the delay impacts.

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L

Logan

Oct 28, 2026

Just a few days before my travel I discovered that my airline tickets were canceled. I was never notified by Aeroplan or Etihad about it and until today I have not received any communication from their end explaining the reasons for this action, nor have my numerous emails elicited a response. This situation has caused significant distress and inconvenience, as I had made plans and pre-payments based on the confirmed booking. The lack of communication and resolution has not only affected my travel plans but has also eroded my confidence in the airline's customer service. I am left without any information or recourse, and the absence of communication has made it impossible for me to understand the rationale behind the deactivation and cancellation.

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L

Logan

Oct 28, 2026

We arrived a day later to accommodation that we had paid for and had to pay taxi fare of 57 euro as we missed our transfer to our accommodation as it was booked and paid.

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J

Jasmine

Oct 28, 2026

it was too late to get ready and go to our event. Whilst we waited the airline did give us a voucher for £10 to spend on food and soft drinks but nobody told us where to get those from so a lot of people had to go around asking other staff members.

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A

Aria

Oct 28, 2026

We were delayed in the airport for 8 hours and did not take off until 11.30pm. Consequently we missed our first night which was prepaid in our hotel and was sat in an airport all day with two young children.

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J

Jack

Oct 28, 2026

I have high blood pressure, PTSD, and various other tablets that have to be taken at the same time every day. My husband has bowel disease, also having to take his tablets at the same time every day. We was not informed of the direct flight from Heathrow airport until we reached our hotel.

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These comments are the subjective opinion of AirAdvisor members and not of AirAdvisor International Inc. We will try to monitor comments for compliance (as feasible).

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