Hi Guys,
I am travelling from Melbourne via Etihad Airways next month and have layover of 9.5 hours at Abu Dhabi Airport. I am not eligible for complimentary accommodation as layover is shorter than eligible 10-24 hours period.
Need your advice about how I can get free / cheap lounge access ? I am not a very frequent traveler.
Can you leave the airport? You have enough time to do a tour of Yas Marina/Yas Island being 10 mins away.
yes i can . Think on arrival visa is free if you have 8 hours transit. where I can find more info about cost for Yas Island tour ?
You literally just get a taxi to Yas Island. It shouldn't be more than $10 equiv.
Then decide what you want to do from theme parks to mall to fountain to restaurants to lots of other things. Don't waste the opportunity sat in a lounge.
is there anywhere i can store my carry on bag ?
Are they open around 1 - 2 am?
yAs i can .
What time do you arrive and what time board the next flight?
Surely the duration of the layover was apparent during the booking process? Did you not consider this earlier?
Thought it will be eligible for complementary accommodation which is not the case and other flights in my budget were transiting through Singapore, hong Kong which required covid test.
through Singapore, hong Kong which required covid test.
and what's wrong with taking a covid test?
Thought could save money by not having to take a covid test. Now ends up having to pay more for a lounge
Thought it will be eligible…
That's the problem.
They already identified the problem, hence the post. OP is looking for solutions to a 9.5 hours layover.
@happydude: The problem is not the 9.5 hours layover; that was part of the travel plans that OP chose. Nothing would appear to have changed in that respect.
The problem is that OP assumed something / didn't check something, and is now trying to make their chosen travel more palatable.
Get on Google maps, type “Abu Dhabi airport hotels”
They start at $80aud, email the one you like the look of and ask for a quote for the time of day you want to stay, ie
6am-5pm. Tours sound great, but if you’re flying economy you might want a swim and a six hour sleep in the air conditioned hotel room instead. Most paid lounges have a time limit 3hours or so.
If you’re still keen for lounge acces you can use the Regus hack. £20
https://thepointsguy.co.uk/news/free-dragonpass-lounge-acces…
Thank You
Not sure if it helps but if you take out the Citibank Premier credit card for $150.00 at the moment you receive 75000 Velocity points + 2 X Priority Pass lounge passes. pretty much every international airport has a priority lounge these days.
is this same offer but it doesn't mention velocity points ?
Yeah this is the same card but I believe there are two offers you can apply for. One is $600.00 cashback & the other is 150,000 Citipoints which you can transfer to 75,000 Velocity. I recently took this card out to top up my KrisFlyer points & use the Priority Lounge passes in Barcelona on an upcoming trip. I find these lounges are often quieter than the mainline airline transfer lounges with better food options. You can go to the Priority Pass website to check which lounges are available.
So one lounge pass is valid for 3 hours ? And for 6 hours i have to use 2 passes ?
@pluto: Most paid lounges are restricted to 3hrs unfortunately. Many are not that tightly enforced though.
I'm sure if you found a quiet corner of the lounge to have a sleep you should be fine.
Try any of the paid providers like keylounge or dragonpass. Abu Dhabi airport is bad, definitely need a lounge.