12+ hr layover AUH
 

According to Etihad's website:
I cannot find information for what timeframe they consider a "new booking". I made my booking MLE-AUH-JFK on 26 August 2020, but had to reissue to MLE-AUH-IAD on 14 May 2021 when Etihad downgraded the JFK leg. The booking remains on the same PNR as the original. The layover is 13:20hrs in AUH. Has anyone had experience with this? FYI the flight is for July.

I'm not sure about Ethad's rules, but currrently any transit over 12 hours in AUH requires you to have an airside hotel booking.

Is there any documentation to support that an airside hotel booking will allow you to do a transit of over 12 hours? Etihad's website doesn't seem to suggest this: https://www.etihad.com/en/travel-upd...ion#transiting

This is from IATA:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...bb011b470c.jpg

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php

Gotcha, thanks! What if I enter Abu Dhabi during my 17 hours as a "stopover", would that suffice instead of the airside hotel?

(Also, I cannot seem to be able to find the booking page for the airside Aerotel Abu Dhabi... sorry to seem so helpless but my travel is quite soon, and figuring all this out is quite stressful!)

No as you wouldn't have a chance to get a pcr test to allow you back in the Airport in time I believe though you could find out if the Airport administered one is OK to use for that purpose - everyone is pcr tested on arrival and entry into the country via AUH

https://www.myaerotel.com/

Is missing from their site, worth calling them perhaps

On Expedia for Aerotel

Sorry, this property is temporarily unavailable Mon, 21 Jun - Thu, 30 Sep.

When are you flying ?

Found this for you
Contact information:
Tel: + 971 2 505 5737
Email: [email protected]

here;
https://www.abudhabiairport.ae/en/se...hotels/aerotel

I'm flying in 2 days...

Since I'm vaccinated it looks like with a PCR test within 48 hours, I would be able to enter Abu Dhabi briefly for an overnight stay: https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/...g-from-abroad/

^ Since my flight is the next morning and within the 72-hour validity window for departing passengers on Etihad (and to the United States), would it be correct to say that that same within-48-hours PCR test will get me both into Abu Dhabi and onto my flight home to the USA?

If this isn't possible, I will probably ask them to change me to the later flight leaving Cairo that day, which would give me an 11 hour layover in Abu Dhabi with no problems. Hopefully in that case the check in agent would be nice and trigger a (potentially massive) fare change...

(Sent the transit hotel an inquiry as well for good measure)

I believe since the 5th of September the validity requirement changed to 48 hours which was why I thought it unlikely you could do it. May be worth findin out if the PCR test you get at the airport when leaving is good enough to return to the airport with, is conducted by Pure Health though unsure if they provide a certificate as I only got an SMS wih the result with no download available

Good luck !

The requirements I have to satisfy from 5th of September, at least the way I'm reading it, is:
- Etihad flight departing Cairo: Must be within 72 hours of departure (or 48 if entering Abu Dhabi)
- Possible entry to Abu Dhabi: Must be within 48 hours of departure
- Etihad flight departing Abu Dhabi for NYC the next day: Must be within 72 hours of departure
- Entry to United States: Must be within 3 calendar days (Tuesday - Friday: This will be satisfied)

So... I believe I should be in the clear. Will post an update for how this goes in 2 days, of course. And thank you everyone so much for your research and help on this matter as well!

Good luck !
NP at all, was better than watching England lose the cricket lol !

Oh and do please share your experience in case it is useful for others :)