What is Emirates Airlines’ Cancellation Policy?

As per Emirates’ cancellation policy, you can cancel a flight if permitted based on the fares you purchased (e.g., Saver, Flex, Flex Plus), and is subject to a fee. In addition,

• The airline issues a refund to the person who paid for the flight ticket.
• In case of third-party or travel agency booking, the refund would be processed to the original party who paid for the flight tickets.
• Unused taxes are refunded without any penalty for refundable and non-refundable fares.
• The flight ticket remains valid for 2 years from the date of purchase. 

What is Emirates’ 24-hour cancellation policy?

For tickets booked directly with Emirates for flights to/from the US and Canada, the airline offers a full refund if the flight is canceled within 24 hours of booking. No Emirates cancellation fees are charged. 

To claim a full refund, the following conditions must be met:

• The departure date must be booked at least a week in advance at the time of cancellation.
• Not applicable to the flight reservation booked under the Skyward mileage program.
• Any flight booking made with a future travel credit.
• Flight must originate/from the US and Canada. 

How much is the Emirates Airlines Cancellation Fee?

Emirates’ cancellation fee varies with the fare type and the class of service. 

Much information is not available on the airline’s website related to the cancellation fee.

To give you the exact idea of the Emirates Airlines cancellation fee, we have started checking the fares from New York (JFK) to Dubai (DXB).

When you start selecting the class of service, in this case, we have selected Economy Class, you will see the Refund fee for each fare, as given in the screenshot below.

Economy Saver and Economy Flex charges 300 USD as a cancellation fee. 

Economy Flex Plus offers free cancellation and charges no additional fee. 

Similarly, for Premium Economy, no cancellation fee is charged.

Under Business Class, the Business Flex fare charges 400 USD as a cancellation fee, while the Business Flex Plus fare offers free cancellation. 

In addition, under the First Class cabin, the Flex fare charges 400 USD as a cancellation penalty, while the First Flex Plus fare offers free cancellation. 

Check out the table below, as we have compiled all the fares:

Cabin Class	Fare Type	Cancellation Fee (USD)
Economy	Economy Saver	300
	Economy Flex	300
	Economy Flex Plus	0 (Free Cancellation)
Premium Economy	Premium Economy Fare	0 (Free Cancellation)
Business Class	Business Flex	400
	Business Flex Plus	0 (Free Cancellation)
First Class	First Flex	400
	First Flex Plus	0 (Free Cancellation)

How to cancel an Emirates flight?

Emirates flights can be canceled online, by phone, or at the airport, depending on the fare rules and the method chosen at the time of booking. 

Online: This is a quick way to retrieve bookings and request cancellation of your purchased flight tickets via the Emirates website. Follow these steps:

• Go to www.emirates.com and navigate to the “Manage Your Booking” section
• Enter the PNR code in the given section and the passenger’s last name.
• If you hold a Skywards membership, please log in via the ‘My Accounts’ tab.
• Find the flight that you need to cancel. 
• Once you click on the flight segment, you will be able to check the fare rule to confirm if the reservation is qualified for cancellation and any associated fees. 
• Complete the online refund form and provide details like the reason for cancellation.
• You’ll receive a cancellation confirmation email.

Phone: Call Emirates customer service at +1-800-777-3999 (US). Share your booking reference number for verification. 

• Inform the Emirates representative that you would like to cancel the flight. 
• Enquire about the fare conditions, cancellation fees, and refund eligibility.
• If eligible, confirm whether you want a refund to the original payment method or a travel credit.

Note: If opting for a travel credit with Emirates Airlines, the credit remains valid for 1 year from the date of cancellation. 

• Ask the agent to cancel the flight and process a refund.
• You will receive a confirmation email. If you’re eligible for a refund, it will be processed within 7-10 business days. 

Cancel at the airport: Go to the Emirates check-in counter at the airport where your flight departs. 

• Provide your flight ticket number or booking reference. 
• Because you’re requesting a last-minute cancellation, you must request the flight cancellation 3 hours before the scheduled departure. 
• The Emirates agent will explain any Emirates cancellation fees or refund eligibility based on the fare you purchased.
•  If you would like to cancel, request the cancellation confirmation receipt and verify refund details.

What is Emirates Airlines’ Refund Policy?

Emirates Airlines offers refunds for flight tickets based on the fare types and tariffs, which cover the flight cost and applicable Emirates cancellation fees. The airline offers refunds to the person who paid for the ticket, upon verification of identity and payment. 

Refunds due to airline’s changes: As per Emirates’ cancellation policy, passengers qualify for a refund if:

• Emirates cancels the flight.
• Flight delays for 3 hours or more 
• Changes in the departure or arrival airports.
• Denied boarding to the passenger despite having a confirmed reservation, provided you met the boarding and check-in deadlines.
• Misses your destination or stopover.

Refund due to passenger changes mind: In case where the flight segment in the itinerary is unflown, you will receive a refund including taxes, fees, and surcharges. Also:

• If part of the flight ticket is used, the refund will be the difference between the total flight cost and the fare of the used portion, including the applicable Emirates cancellation fee. 

Refund restriction: As per Emirates’ refund policy, the airline will offer refunds if:

• Flight cancellation is made more than two years after the issuance.
• You showed the flight ticket to prove you have the intention to leave the country, unless you prove that you’re staying in the country illegally.
• The ticket is marked “Not to be Refunded” by a government authority.
• You were denied boarding due to rash or unacceptable behavior. 

What Are Your Rights if Emirates Cancels a Flight Departing from an EU Airport?

Passengers are entitled to certain benefits under EU Regulation 261/2004 if Emirates cancels a flight, provided it was scheduled to depart from an EU airport. 

Eligible for benefits: To qualify, you must:

• Have a confirmed reservation on an Emirates flight.
• Meet the check-in deadline.
• Not traveling for free on a special or promotional fare that is unavailable to the public.

Available benefits: If eligible under one of the above conditions, you can choose from one of the following options:

• A full refund.
• Moreover, a return flight to your point of origin would be arranged for you.
• Fly to your final destination with the next available Emirates flight.
• Travel to your destination at a later, convenient date. 

Assistance offered by Emirates Airways: If the new flight departs a day or more later than the originally scheduled, Emirates offers:

• Free meals and refreshments
• Two free phone calls and email access based on your waiting time
• If an overnight stay is needed, a hotel is required.
• Airport transfer 

Emirates flight cancellation compensation: The compensation amounts are:

Flight Distance	Standard Compensation	Reduced Compensation (if re-routed delay within time limits)	Time Limit for Reduced Compensation
Within 1,500 km	€250	€125	Delay under 2 hours
1,500 km – 3,500 km	€400	€200	Delay under 3 hours
More than 3,500 km (or non-EU flights, more than 1,500 km)	€600	€300	Delay under 4 hours

Downgraded to lower class of service: In the event that passengers are placed in a lower service class than what they reserved, the airline provides a refund of part of the fare as compensation. For instance:

Flight Distance	Cancellation Charge
1500 – 3500 km	50% of the booking amount
Above 3500 km	75% of the booking amount

Conclusion

Emirates Airlines offers a flexible cancellation policy that varies by ticket type, class of service, and travel region. While Economy Saver and Flex fares carry cancellation fees, the Flex Plus fare in Business Class and First Class allows free cancellations. 

Add to that, passengers can cancel flights online, by phone, or at the airport, and refunds for the flight booking are processed within 7-10 business days. Emirates also complies with EU regulations, offering compensation and refunds if the passenger faces disruption at the sole discretion of the airlines. 

Understanding your fare conditions at the time of booking is crucial to avoid last-minute surprises and to make informed decisions about changes or cancellations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)