Emirates Cancellation Policy: Refunds, Fees & Rebooking Options

Introduction

Emirates is known for its luxury service and global connectivity, but travel plans can change unexpectedly. Whether you need to cancel a flight, request a refund, or modify your booking, it’s important to understand Emirates’ cancellation policy to avoid unnecessary fees and maximize your refund options.

This guide covers Emirates’ cancellation fees, refund eligibility, and rebooking options to help you manage your trip efficiently.

Emirates Cancellation Policy

Emirates’ 24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy

✔ Full Refund: Passengers who book directly with Emirates can cancel within 24 hours of booking and receive a full refund if the departure date is at least 7 days away.
✔ Applicable to All Fare Types: Economy, Business, and First Class tickets qualify for this policy.
✔ How to Cancel: You can cancel through the Emirates website (Manage Booking) or by calling customer service.

📌 Tip: If you booked through a third-party travel agency, check their specific cancellation rules, as they may differ from Emirates’ direct policy.

Cancellation & Refund Policies by Ticket Type

Emirates’ cancellation policy depends on fare type and whether your ticket is refundable or non-refundable.

Refundable vs. Non-Refundable Tickets

Fare Type	Refundable?	Cancellation Fee	How Refund is Issued
Economy Special	❌ No	No refund available	No refund (only taxes refunded)
Economy Saver	❌ No	High fees apply	Partially refundable (minus cancellation fee)
Economy Flex	✅ Yes	May have a small fee	Refund credited to original payment method
Economy Flex Plus	✅ Yes	No fee	Full refund available
Business Special	❌ No	High fees apply	Only taxes refundable
Business Saver	❌ No	Partial refund available	Refund after cancellation fees
Business Flex	✅ Yes	Minimal fees	Refund credited to original payment method
Business Flex Plus	✅ Yes	No fee	Full refund available
First Class (All Fares)	✅ Yes	No fee for Flex Plus	Refund credited to original payment method

📌 Tip: If you’re unsure about your fare type, check your ticket confirmation email or log in to Manage Booking on the Emirates website.

How to Cancel an Emirates Flight & Request a Refund

If you need to cancel your Emirates flight, follow these steps to request a refund:

Step-by-Step Cancellation Process

✔ Step 1: Visit Emirates Manage Booking.
✔ Step 2: Enter your booking reference number and last name.
✔ Step 3: Select Cancel Flight and review cancellation fees (if applicable).
✔ Step 4: Submit the cancellation request and apply for a refund (if eligible).
✔ Step 5: Wait for Emirates to process the refund, which typically takes 7–14 business days.

📌 Tip: If your ticket is non-refundable, you may still be able to reschedule your flight or use the value as credit for future travel.

Emirates Cancellation Fees

The cancellation fee depends on fare type, route, and timing of the cancellation.

Fare Type	Cancellation Fee (Approximate)	Timeframe for Cancellation
Economy Special	No refund allowed	Anytime
Economy Saver	$200–$300 per ticket	Before departure
Economy Flex	$75–$150 per ticket	Before departure
Economy Flex Plus	No fee	Before departure
Business Saver	$400–$600 per ticket	Before departure
Business Flex	$100–$300 per ticket	Before departure
Business Flex Plus	No fee	Before departure
First Class	No fee for Flex Plus	Anytime

📌 Tip: Cancelling closer to departure may result in higher fees or loss of refund eligibility.

Can You Get a Refund for an Emirates Flight?

Refund Eligibility

✔ Refundable tickets (Flex & Flex Plus) are eligible for a full refund.
✔ Non-refundable tickets (Special & Saver fares) only refund government taxes, not the base fare.
✔ If Emirates cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full refund or free rebooking.

How Refunds Are Issued

✔ Refunds are processed to the original payment method (credit card, debit card, PayPal, etc.).
✔ If paid with Skywards Miles, the miles are recredited to your account.
✔ Refunds typically take 7–14 business days to process.

📌 Tip: If you booked through a travel agency, you must request a refund through them directly.

Rebooking & Flight Change Options

If you don’t want to fully cancel your flight, Emirates allows rebooking or converting your ticket into future travel credit.

Changing Your Flight Instead of Cancelling

✔ Modify your dates or destination through Emirates’ Manage Booking.
✔ Change fees may apply unless you booked a Flex or Flex Plus fare.
✔ Emirates allows one free change for select fare types.

Converting Your Ticket into Travel Credit

✔ You can convert your ticket into an Emirates Travel Voucher for future flights.
✔ Vouchers are valid for 12 months and can be used for any Emirates flight.
✔ No change fees apply if you rebook within the travel voucher period.

📌 Tip: If you’re unsure about your future plans, a travel voucher may be a better option than canceling outright.

Emirates Cancellation Policy for Award Tickets (Skywards Miles)

If you booked using Emirates Skywards Miles, different cancellation policies apply:

✔ Award tickets are refundable, but with fees depending on your fare type.
✔ Miles are recredited after cancellation, but a miles redeposit fee applies (usually $50–$100).
✔ If your flight is canceled by Emirates, you receive a full refund of miles + taxes.

📌 Tip: If you booked with Emirates Miles + Cash, only the cash portion may be refundable (depending on your fare class).

What to Do If Emirates Cancels Your Flight

If Emirates cancels your flight due to operational issues, weather, or travel restrictions, you are entitled to:

✔ A full refund (including non-refundable tickets).
✔ A free rebooking on the next available Emirates flight.
✔ Accommodation if the delay is overnight (for eligible long-haul flights).

📌 Tip: If your flight is canceled last minute, contact Emirates customer support immediately to request a refund or alternative travel options.

Final Thoughts on the Emirates Cancellation Policy

Emirates offers flexible cancellation and refund options, but cancellation fees vary based on fare type. Before canceling, check if rebooking or converting your ticket into travel credit might be a better option.

Key Takeaways

✔ 24-hour free cancellation if booked directly with Emirates.
✔ Refundable fares (Flex & Flex Plus) get full refunds, non-refundable fares only refund taxes.
✔ Cancellation fees range from $75 to $600, depending on fare type.
✔ Emirates Skywards award tickets can be canceled, but redeposit fees apply.
✔ If Emirates cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full refund or free rebooking.

📌 Plan ahead, check fare rules before booking, and use travel credit options to maximize flexibility!