StoobyDoo

Why didn't you go back into the terminal? Seriously this is like #1 thing to do, go back and query what someone is saying to make sure that its right before forking out a lot of money.

Why did you pay extra for a free service? There is a free bus transfer service from AUH to Dubai on all tickets booked.

Why did you pay $100 for a taxi? It should cost roughly 170Dhs which is Ł30/$47, you have been ripped off on that front.

living

I did go back to the terminal. There was no representative from Etihad airlines to be found. There were car rental / hotel counters, but no Etihad airways counter.

When I was booking my tickets there was a fare difference between AUH and XNB (their Dubai terminal). That led me to believe the price of the bus was factored into the ticket. Also if you don't book your fare to and from XNB there is a chance you will not be able to get on a bus to/from Dubai if it is at full capacity.

Clearly you've spent 18 years in Dubai like me and every single destination in Dubai is $47 from the Abu Dhabi airport. My fare was $280 dirhams + tip. I used the official airport taxi and not some shady service.

Also the matter never got resolved. I got an email twice, and both times the conversation stopped after I replied to the email. Pretty horrible service.

EFATO

This reminds me of the old BSL/MLH trick. Basel EuroAirport has two airport codes, 1 French and 1 Swiss; flights out of the French side could be significantly cheaper than flights out of the Swiss side.

Flights were ticketed MLH-BSL (walk, 1 min), BSL-CDG (flight, 45 mins), for example.

Sounds like the same setup. There is no "check-in" as such for the bus, so it's not like they can no-show you on it (or deny boarding on it if it wasn't booked).

Will keep this in mind when booking future AUH tickets, thanks!

rankourabu

Aside from the fact that you tipped a taxi in Dubai ... you got ripped off

An official taxi (not a shady service) is around 210AED all the way to Deira - and about 190AED to Dubai Mall.

http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.p...27889600000003

RBFF10

The AUH airport taxis (black Mercedes vans) have a flag fee of 30 dirhams, which is wayyy higher than a normal silver AD taxi...that's probably why he paid so much (before tip). I had to take one from T1 arrivals hall to my office on Yas and it was 50 dirhams...

StoobyDoo

Not 18 years but long enough to know that 280dhs is a rip off and a tip? You must be joking, surely?!

living

Dubai is a pretty big city, and I really don't want to debate how the fare from AUH to different parts of dubai can differ dramatically.

If I tip cab drivers in NYC, I tip cab drivers in Dubai. Its not a matter of what I can get away with in different cities, its a matter of tipping someone in recognition of good service.

I'm also happy to report that Etihad did reach out to me, recognized their error and credit me cab fare with miles worth the same amount.