Emirates Flight Cancellation Policy: Tips and Refund Process 2025

Emirates’ cancellation rules aren’t one-size-fits-all. Instead, they depend on:

• Your ticket type: refundable, non-refundable or award (Skywards Miles).
• Fare class: Saver, Flex, Flex Plus, Business or First Class, each comes with different conditions.
• Where you booked: directly with Emirates (website/app/call customer support) or through a travel agent.
• When you cancel: cancellations made within 24 hours of booking are treated differently than cancellations closer to departure.
• Route and travel class: charges often vary depending on whether you’re flying Economy, Business or First and by destination region.

Tip: Always check the fare rules shown on your e-ticket or booking confirmation. Those terms will determine whether you’re eligible for a refund or credit.

Refundable Tickets

• Can be cancelled anytime before departure.
• A cancellation fee may only apply, depending on your cabin, route and fare type.
• Refunds are always credited back to the original payment method, such as debit card, credit card or bank.
• If your booking includes multiple passengers, cancelling online usually cancels everyone. For partial cancellations, you’ll need to contact Emirates directly or your travel agent.

Best for: Travellers who need maximum flexibility and don’t mind paying more upfront.

Non-Refundable Tickets

• These are cheaper but come with stricter conditions.
• Cancelling usually means you won’t get your base fare back as cash.
• In many cases, Emirates may let you convert the ticket value into a Future Travel Credit (Electronic Miscellaneous Document – EMD), which can be used for future Emirates flights or services.
• Taxes and government fees that weren’t used are typically refundable.

Best for: Travellers who are fairly certain about their travel plans but want to save on costs.

Award Tickets (Skywards Miles)

• If you booked using Skywards Miles, you can cancel but Emirates charges a redeposit fee to put the miles back into your account.
• The fee depends on your Skywards membership level (Blue, Silver, Gold or Platinum) and the type of award ticket you booked.
• Any taxes or surcharges you paid in cash for your award ticket are refunded separately.

Best for: Emirates loyalty program members who want flexibility but should be aware of redeposit fees. 

No-Show Policy

What happens if you don’t cancel and simply miss your flight?

• A no-show penalty applies, which varies by route and class of service.
• For non-refundable fares, you’ll lose the entire ticket value if you don’t cancel in advance.
• Even refundable tickets may incur higher penalties if they are marked as a no-show.

 Tip: If you know you can’t travel, always cancel or reschedule before departure even at the last minute to preserve the value of your ticket.

Sometimes, it’s the airline, not you, that cancels or reschedules flights. This usually happens because of:

• Operational disruptions
• Technical issues
• Weather-related conditions

In these cases, Emirates gives passengers two main options: 

• A full refund for the unused  value of your ticket or
• Free rebooking on the next available Emirates flight to your destination.

Note: If delays are extended, Emirates may also provide meals, hotel accommodation or ground transport under its flight disruption policy (separate from the cancellation policy).

Here’s how refunds typically work with Emirates:

• How to request: Refunds must be submitted through the Emirates Refund Request Form (online) or through the travel agent you booked with.
• Refund method: Always returned to the original form of payment.
• Processing time: Varies by bank and payment provider, but usually takes 7–20 business days.
• Partially used tickets: Refunds are calculated based on the unused portion minus any applicable fees.
• Ancillary services: Extras like seat selection, extra baggage or lounge access may not always be refundable.

Tip: If you booked through a travel agent such as FlightsMojo or a third-party site, you must request your refund directly through your travel agent. Emirates cannot process it on your behalf.