Etihad and Emirates Airways are undoubtedly two of the most popular airlines out there and rightfully so… providing you can afford them of course.
Truth is one wouldn’t exactly refer to them as “budget airlines”, as they offer fancy perks and conveniences that most airlines don’t.
After all, you get what you pay for right?
And if you’re wondering which of the two airlines you should choose for your next trip, we believe the following guide will help you out.
We’ll do an objective in-depth comparison of what each one offers, from destinations and ticket prices to luggage policies and extra perk.
Let’s get started.
Factor #1: Destinations
Both Etihad and Emirates offer a great variety of destinations for travelers to choose from, whether it’s for leisure or business trips.
Starting with Etihad, the company covers 77 destinations across the world, with an emphasis on the middle east and south-east Asia, but it also flies to several cities in Europe and the US too.
After all, the airline’s hub is in Abu Dhabi so many routes pass through there.
Image Source: Etihad
As for Emirates, the airline covers 133 destinations across the world, covering all continents.
The company also has a strong presence in Asia, but it expands to several countries in Africa, Europe, Oceania, and even South America.
Image Source: Emirates
Clearly, Emirates has a larger network of destinations (133 compared to 77) and more worldwide routes.
Just by having a quick glance at their route maps, we notice that Emirates covers more locations, especially in Africa and South America.
Note: All data is valid as of August 2024.
Factor #2: Ticket Prices
Undoubtedly, ticket prices are one of the most – if not the most – important factor when booking flights.
Although it’s hard to come up with an average number, since ticket prices are constantly changing and are impacted by several factors, we’ll try to do a head-to-head price comparison for the same routes.
To be exact:
For the London to Dubai one-way route on December 12th 2024:
- Prices for Emirates start from 495GBP (economy class)
- Prices for Etihad start from 599GBP (economy class)
For the Athens to Mumbai one-way route on December 10th 2024:
- Prices for Emirates start from 675EUR (economy class)
- Prices for Etihad start from 531GBP (economy class)
For the London to Nairobi one-way route on January 1st 2025:
- Prices for Emirates start from 2,587EUR (economy class)
- Prices for Etihad start from 1,636GBP (business class)
Overall, there isn’t a huge difference between the two airlines (except for the London to Nairobi route), but based on the above as well as comments and reviews online, we can conclude that Etihad is slightly cheaper than Emirates.
Factor #3: Luggage Policies
Just like any airline, both Etihad and Emirates have their own luggage policies.
Regarding Emirates, baggage allowance mainly depends on your class of travel and destination.
To be precise, this is the weight concept that applies to all routes:
However, for flights within the Americas and between US and Europe this is what applies:
When it comes to carry-on luggage, the size limit is typically 55 cm x 38 cm x 20 cm.
As for Etihad, this is what applies to checked bag allowance:
And when it comes to extra baggage fees, they start from $26 for Africa and range up to $70 for Australia (Europe is $44).
All in all, we notice that things are more or less similar between the two airlines when it comes to their luggage policy, although for the economy class Emirates seems to be slightly more flexible.
Factor #4: Extra Benefits
With the airline space being so saturated, companies have immense competition and strive to stand out from the others with certain benefits that they offer.
After all, ticket prices and bag allowance don’t differ as much, so those extra perks are sometimes what can make or break an airline (especially for the “higher-end” airlines).
In-flight entertainment
When it comes to Emirates, the company offers you access to over 6,500 channels of movies, TV shows, music and games, on demand and in multiple languages.
Actually, Emirates has been voted the best airline for in-flight entertainment for over 13 years in a row at the Skytrax awards.
As for Etihad, it has a smaller variety of shows but it’s still decent for long-haul flights.
For certain flights you can also stream movies, TV shows, music and more straight to your device, which is definitely a plus!
Wi-Fi
Having an internet connection has become a necessity nowadays, which is why many airlines offer their passengers Wi-Fi.
To be precise, Emirates offers unlimited chat (WhatsApp, Messenger, WeChat etc.) for either $2.99 or $5.99 depending on the length of the flight.
Its full internet connection costs either $9.99 or $19.99 depending on the length of the flight.
As for Etihad, its Wi-Fi plans are divided into two categories:
- Flights under 7 hours ($2.99 for texting and $9.99 for full connection)
- Flights over 7 hours ($4.99 for texting and $24.99 for full connection)
So it’s quite clear that Emirates is cheaper when it comes to Wi-Fi on board.
The Final Verdict
All in all, there’s no doubt that both Etihad and Emirates are two of the best airlines in the world.
They both offer exceptional services and are definitely worth traveling with them.
There’s no right or wrong choice when it comes to choosing between them, since it all depends on your own needs and preferences.
However, based on our research it seems like Emirates has a slight edge over Etihad, mainly when it comes to destinations and in-flight entertainment perks.
There’s no wonder it was voted the 3rd best airline in the world from the World Airline Awards.
Nevertheless, no matter how you travel, luggage can always be a pain. So if you’d like to store your luggage somewhere safely and enjoy your travels luggage-free, feel free to head over to Stasher!
