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Etihad vs Qatar
We’re sharing everything we’ve learned about Etihad and Qatar airlines so you can make an informed decision to help you fly on the better airline.
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There will be no need for debate after reading this article. You’ll find out whether Etihad or Qatar is better for your needs after we show you the comparisons based on price, customer feedback, airline ratings, flying with infants and more.
Etihad vs Qatar
| Feature | Etihad | Qatar | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where does it fly to? | 90+ destinations in these regions:
| 150+ destinations in these regions:
| Qatar |
| What star rating is it? | 5-star | 5-star | Both |
| What classes are available? | The Residence (a three-room suite), first class, business class and economy class | First class, business class, economy class and Qsuite, a new type of business first class | Both |
| What is the baggage allowance? | Economy class allows one 7kg carry-on and two 23kg checked bags | Economy class is allowed one piece of carry-on baggage not exceeding 7kg and one 30kg checked bag | Etihad |
| Where does it fly from in Australia? |
|
| Qatar |
| What's the in-flight entertainment like? |
| Qatar’s Oryx One entertainment program offers movies, audio, TV and games and has been awarded for Best Content Innovation in 2017 | Qatar |
| Can I make changes/cancellations? | Yes, but fees apply. Changes or cancellations made within 96 hours of departure have an additional 10% fee applied | Yes, certain flights can be cancelled or changed but fees apply | Both |
| What type of plane will I fly on? (And will I fly on an A380?) | Etihad has a fleet of six types of planes:
| Qatar flies:
| Qatar |
| Which frequent flyer programs is it with? | Etihad Guest | Privilege Club | Etihad |
| Is there Wi-Fi? | Yes, Wi-Fi must be purchased or you can use roaming with select partners. Data plans start from US$4.95 | Yes, on select flights Wi-Fi is available to purchase. Prices are available once on the aircraft and above 10,000 feet | Etihad |
| Can I price match? | Yes. If the same flight on a third party site is US$25 cheaper for economy or US$100 cheaper for business or first class, Etihad will refund the difference | Yes. If the same flight is found on another site at a cheaper price within an hour of booking, Qatar will refund the difference | Qatar |
| Does it serve alcohol? | Yes. Beer, wine and spirits are served | Yes | Both |
| Is there online chat on the airline's website? | Contact is by phone or email | Contact is available by email or mail | Etihad |
| Does it charge for infants? | Etihad charges infants under two years 10% of the adult fare if they sit on the adult's lap | If a child is two or under an infant fare is charged which is typically 10% of an adult fare if sitting on an adult’s lap. A child fare is charged if sitting in their own seat | Both |
| Does it fly pets? | Yes. Guide dogs are allowed in the main cabin. All other animals travel as cargo | Yes, service dogs may be transported free of charge in the cabin. All other animals must travel as checked baggage or cargo | Both |
| What are my payment options? |
|
| Qatar |
| Can I book round the world fares? | No | Yes | Qatar |
| Can I book multi-city fares? | Yes, up to six cities can be booked | Yes, up to six flights can be booked together | Both |
| Any features to find the best price? | Etihad features a deals page for flights | Qatar has a section online to find flight deals called offers | Both |
| Ready to book? | Find your Etihad flight | Find your Qatar flight |
Who offers the best price?
We put Etihad and Qatar head to head to see which airline has the best price by comparing flights from Perth to Paris on the same day.
The verdict?
Qatar saves you money when you book according to this test. Similar flights on the same day with Qatar were $125 cheaper than with Etihad.
Etihad:
Qatar:
Is it a good airline to fly with?
Since both airlines have received 5-star ratings, we took a look at what customers have to say on Skytrax to find out which airline comes out on top for customer satisfaction.
The verdict?
Qatar beats Etihad in this round with an amazing 8/10 rating overall and 4-star ratings for all categories such as food and beverages, inflight entertainment, seat comfort, staff service and value for money. Etihad falls behind with only a 5/10 rating overall and 3-star ratings in all categories.
Any other differences worth noting?
Both airlines offer a more luxurious class than most airlines. However, it is important to note that Etihad’s The Residence is a 3-room suite for the ultimate airplane luxury experience. Qatar’s more luxurious class, Qsuite, is not a private suite like Etihad's but is an option that more than one person can book or upgrade to and provides more privacy in business class.
What are Etihad vs Qatar deals like?
We checked out the deals on both Etihad’s deals page and Qatar’s offers page to find out which airline really has the best deals. Both have deals for destinations around the world from multiple departure locations in Australia.
The verdict?
After comparing the deals, there was no comparison here and Qatar takes the lead in this round. The deals were significantly cheaper from Qatar, sometimes cheaper by $1,000 for flights to Europe.
Qatar Airways
Up to 10% off international flights with code
Ends
Available for Mastercard holders on flights from 1 November 2020 - 30 June 2021. Valid on flights departing from Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra. T&Cs apply.
Qatar Airways
Free change and refund fees on flights
Ends
Available on 2021 flights to London, Paris, India, Greece, USA and more. T&Cs apply.
Qatar Airways
Up to 20% off flight experiences
Ends
Available when you purchase extra baggage, lounge access or meet and assist services online. T&Cs apply.
Qatar Airways
Europe flights from $1,240 return
Ends
Available for flights on select dates in 2021. Sample fare is Sydney-Copenhagen. Destinations include Stockholm, Barcelona, Paris, London Heathrow, Athens, Frankfurt, Rome and more. T&Cs apply.
Etihad Airways
Up to 10% off flights + extra checked baggage
Ends
Available on flights until 30 September 2021 exclusive for students. Destinations include Dublin, Paris, Ireland, Abu Dhabi and more. T&Cs apply.
Qatar Airways
Up to 45% off flights for students
Join and become a member of Student club and receive promo codes on flights. Available for students who are in university or college and aged 18-30. Destinations include London, Paris, Auckland and more. T&Cs apply.
Qatar Airways
Up to 12% off international flights
Ends
Available on flights until 31 July 2021 when you pay with PayPal. Destinations include Africa, London, Paris, Athens, Beirut, Doha and more. T&Cs apply.
Qatar Airways
Up to 20% off excess baggage fees
Available on select flights purchased online. T&Cs apply.
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