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Etihad Airways vs Qatar Airways

Side-by-side policy and rating comparison — baggage, Wi-Fi, legroom, lounges, and loyalty programmes.

Verdict

Qatar Airways scores higher on FlightLogic at 9.0/10 vs 8.3/10 for Etihad Airways. Policy comparison below covers cabin baggage, checked bags, Wi-Fi, and seat pitch.

Policy comparison

Structured operational tokens — verify current fare rules on each airline before booking.

Policy Etihad Airways Qatar Airways
Cabin baggage IncludedIncluded
Checked baggage 23–32 kg by cabin23–32 kg by cabin (Economy 23 kg)
In-flight Wi-Fi Partial (messaging/select routes)Partial (messaging/select routes)
Economy seat pitch 31–32"32"
Loyalty programme Etihad GuestPrivilege Club (Avios)
Lounge access Etihad lounges AUH and partnersAl Mourjan / Al Safwa at DOH; oneworld Emerald
Changes & refunds Flex fares allow changesFlexible on published fares; fee + difference on restricted tickets

Individual profiles

Etihad Airways

EY · United Arab Emirates

Expert Editorial Review

FlightLogic score: 8.3/10

Qatar Airways

QR · Qatar

Expert Editorial Review

FlightLogic score: 9.0/10

Editorial profiles

United Arab Emirates · EY/ETD · #1 in this comparison

Etihad Airways

Choose Well

#9 Global 5-Star
8.3 / 10
Quick Answer

Etihad Airways scores 8.3/10 on FlightLogic (safety 9.4/10), ranking #9 globally. in-flight Wi-Fi is paid or partial on most long-haul routes. Special meals require pre-order on long-haul. Economy seat pitch: 31–32"; loyalty programme: Etihad Guest. Category breakdowns, passenger policy tables, and fares search follow in the profile below.

Is Etihad Airways a good airline?

Etihad Airways scores 8.3/10 (Excellent) on FlightLogic, ranking #9 globally with a safety score of 9.4/10. Etihad Airways operates from Abu Dhabi's new Midfield Terminal with Business Studio, The Residence on A380, and lounges scoring 9.0/10 — a premium Gulf alternative to Emirates and Qatar. See full profile →

Overall 8.3 Excellent
Safety 9.4 Excellent Safety
Service 8.5 Cabin crew & ground
Value 8.2 Fare vs product
Star rating 5★ FlightLogic tier
Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Customer Service
8.5
Seat Comfort
8.4
Food & Beverage
8.3
In-Flight Entertainment
8.2
On-Time Performance
8.2
Value for Money
8.2

Key facts

Hub
Abu Dhabi (AUH)
Alliance
Independent
Founded
2003
Fleet
90 aircraft
Region
middle east
IATA / ICAO
EY / ETD

Passenger policies

Cabin baggage Included — standard carry-on allowance applies
Checked baggage 23–32 kg by cabin
In-flight Wi-Fi Partial — free messaging or select routes/cabins only
Economy seat pitch 31–32"
Lounge access Etihad lounges AUH and partners
Changes & refunds Flex fares allow changes
Loyalty programme Etihad Guest

Strengths

  • New AUH Midfield Terminal lounges
  • Business Studio on 787 and A350
  • Competitive UK–Asia business fares

Weaknesses

  • Smaller network than Emirates or Qatar
  • Etihad Guest less Avios-integrated than QR

Awards & recognition

  • Best Gulf Carrier Lounge AUH
  • Business Studio innovation

Qatar · QR/QTR · #2 in this comparison

Qatar Airways

World's Best Airline 2025

#1 Global 5-Star
9.0 / 10
Quick Answer

Qatar Airways scores 9.0/10 on FlightLogic (safety 9.8/10), ranking #1 globally. verified in-flight Wi-Fi averages 8 Mbps on measured routes. Catering: Halal standard on all routes; vegan and no-pork bespoke menus pre-ordered 24h ahead with high success on LHR–DOH Economy seat pitch: 32"; loyalty programme: Privilege Club (Avios).

Is Qatar Airways a good airline?

Qatar Airways scores 9.0/10 (Exceptional) on FlightLogic, ranking #1 globally with a safety score of 9.8/10. Qatar Airways leads global rankings with exceptional Qsuite business class, award-winning cabin crew, and a modern widebody fleet serving 170+ destinations. See full profile →

Overall 9.0 Exceptional
Safety 9.8 Maximum Safety
Service 9.4 Cabin crew & ground
Value 8.5 Fare vs product
Star rating 5★ FlightLogic tier
Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Customer Service
9.4
Seat Comfort
9.2
Food & Beverage
9.0
In-Flight Entertainment
9.1
On-Time Performance
8.8
Value for Money
8.5

Key facts

Hub
Hamad International (DOH)
Alliance
oneworld
Founded
1993
Fleet
250 aircraft
Region
middle east
IATA / ICAO
QR / QTR

Passenger policies

Cabin baggage Included — standard carry-on allowance applies
Checked baggage 23–32 kg by cabin (Economy 23 kg)
In-flight Wi-Fi Partial — free messaging or select routes/cabins only
Economy seat pitch 32"
Lounge access Al Mourjan / Al Safwa at DOH; oneworld Emerald
Changes & refunds Flexible on published fares; fee + difference on restricted tickets
Loyalty programme Privilege Club (Avios)

Strengths

  • Qsuite business class with doors
  • Al Mourjan lounge at DOH
  • Excellent long-haul catering

Weaknesses

  • Economy density on some A320s
  • Occasional DOH connection delays

Awards & recognition

  • World's Best Airline 2025
  • Best Business Class
  • Best Airline in Middle East

More comparisons

Compare Etihad Airways (EY) against 1 other airlines
Compare Qatar Airways (QR) against 20 other airlines

FAQ

Which is better — Etihad Airways or Qatar Airways?

Qatar Airways scores higher on FlightLogic at 9.0/10 vs 8.3/10 for Etihad Airways. Policy comparison below covers cabin baggage, checked bags, Wi-Fi, and seat pitch.

Does Etihad Airways or Qatar Airways include a carry-on bag?

Etihad Airways: Included. Qatar Airways: Included.

Which has free Wi-Fi — Etihad Airways or Qatar Airways?

Etihad Airways: Partial (messaging/select routes). Qatar Airways: Partial (messaging/select routes).

Does Etihad Airways include checked baggage?

Etihad Airways checked baggage: 23–32 kg by cabin.

Does Qatar Airways include checked baggage?

Qatar Airways checked baggage: 23–32 kg by cabin (Economy 23 kg).