Middle East - Question about transiting through AUH

Hi all,

Planning a massive winter trip, with multiple transits through Abu Dhabi. One of the segments is SYD-AUH-BOM. The travel agent that's given me the best price quote for my entire journey has me on EY 6451 (code-share, VA 29) which arrives in AUH at 11:40pm in terminal 3, and then on EY 7600 (code-share, 9W 583) which departs at 12:05am from AUH terminal 1. That's 25 minutes between flights...I'm thinking I won't make it, but I wanted to make sure with anyone that has flown through the airport. I haven't booked the flight just yet so if I can't make it hopefully I can find another route that's priced the same. Thanks!

No, you really won't make it. I'd be surprised if EY even let you book such a tight connection. You should allow an hour at a minimum and even then you'd have to hope there were no delays on the first leg.

Yep, that's what I had thought...I rang up EY and they said they would not allow that booking to take place. Spoke to my travel agent and they have me now spending the entire day in Abu Dhabi, so I will take advantage of the free shuttle to Dubai and spend the day there!

Wanted to resurrect this thread because I've booked my trips on Etihad for the winter and have another question regarding transit time. My first flights are JFK-AUH-SYD, EY 100 and EY 454. EY 100 lands at 7.45pm at Terminal 1 in AUH, and EY 454 departs at 9.45pm at Terminal 3. Will I make that connection? Seems pretty tight, and I'm not sure if there's any airside transit facility. Cheers!

You'll have plenty of time. The airside transit facility consists of your legs. It's about a 7 minute walk. Leave plenty of time to re-clear security in T3 but with your two hours you should be fine.

You'll have plenty of time. The airside transit facility consists of your legs. It's about a 7 minute walk. Leave plenty of time to re-clear security in T3 but with your two hours you should be fine.

Cheers mate. Another question - upon my return to AUH from SYD, I've fit in a 12+ hour layover so I can enjoy a few of the sights before continuing on to BOM. Assuming my bags will not be checked through, can I store them at the airport while I go to Dubai to meet some friends?

I, too, am transiting AUH in the near future. I am flying Etihad in Business class and am staying at the hotel in AUH. Never been to AUH before. Can't find the hotel in Terminal 1 on the on-line map of AUH. I assume that I do not need to clear customs/immigration to get from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 to go to the hotel. Is that correct? Will I need to get Emirati currency to buy anything in the airport or will Euros or US$ suffice?