My Rights when travelling via Abu Dhabi

inapickle2026

Hi, I am travelling with Etihad to Sri Lanka via Abu Dhabi in June. I have packaged insurance with my bank account and the trip was booked way before the current USA / Israel / Iran war. FCO advice is to only travel to the UAE zone for essential travel. Can anyone advise whether I am likely to get a refund for the flights if I cancel them and take an alternative route with a different airline?

eskbanker

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2026/04/middle-east-conflict-travel-insurance/

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2026/04/jet-fuel-prices-travel-rights/

Ayr_Rage

If you cancel then Etihad are unlikely to refund anything if the flights are still planned to operate unless you have purchased a ticket class that permits refunds.

They might permit a free change of date.

I believe if you have booked a package holiday rather than separate flights and accommodation then the operator should refund you if the FCDO advise against all but essential travel.

Worried_fool

Most travel insurance remains valid in this situation, so long as you merely transit through AUH and do not leave the airport.

Ayr_Rage

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81981549#Comment_81981549

I don't think that assertion is correct.

Only a small minority will cover transits.

eskbanker

Ultimately it doesn't really matter whether 'most' or 'only a small minority' cover transits through places where the FCDO advises only essential travel (the MSE article favours the latter but unhelpfully doesn't go as far as specifics) - if it's anything other than 0% or 100% then OP needs to check with their own insurer what their policy terms are…

MyRealNameToo

Given we are over a month away and in that time the conflict may resume or a peace deal signed and the FCDO advice updated its simply too early to say what's going to happen.

AADA2001

We are in the same position - travelling to Thailand with Etihad on 14th June, booked via a holiday company (Travelpedia). At this stage, I am hoping that the flights just get cancelled, as I do not know if we will be covered by our packaged bank insurance (Aviva) if issues arise from transiting through Abu Dhabi. Have Etihad generally been cancelling or rescheduling flights?

jimjames

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81996651#Comment_81996651

Flights are unlikely to be cancelled as they are still running. Flew via Qatar last week and everything is running normally from the appearance of the airport and flight was full.