✈️ TRAVEL ALERT about Airline policy ✈️

 ✈️ TRAVEL ALERT about Airline policy ✈️

Please Read if You're Planning International Travel

I want to share an unfortunate travel experience I had recently in the hope that it helps others avoid a similar situation.

I had planned my annual solo recreational trip this year from April 22–30, covering Baku (Azerbaijan), Tbilisi (Georgia), and a day trip to Yerevan (Armenia). With valid visas for all countries (Azerbaijan, Georgia, and even Australia, which I intended to use for Armenia), I had every document in order. I’ve travelled to many countries before, with layovers and various visa situations – so I’m no stranger to the process.

My ticket was booked from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi via Etihad Airways, with a connecting flight to Baku via Wizz Air. I had done online check-in, uploaded my Azerbaijan visa, and received confirmation — but no boarding pass was issued.

When I arrived at Mumbai Airport at 8:15 PM on April 22, I was denied boarding at the Etihad counter. Their reasoning? Since my connecting flight from Abu Dhabi was on Wizz Air (not their partner), they refused to issue a boarding pass and claimed I needed to rebook the whole itinerary with a partner airline like Turkish Airlines to be allowed to board.

To make things worse, they insisted I needed a transit visa for Abu Dhabi, even though transit visas are NOT required for short layovers if you're not leaving the airport. I later confirmed this with the Abu Dhabi Embassy – proving Etihad’s staff were misinformed or following flawed internal policies.

Feeling cornered, I explored other options. I even considered buying a last-minute ticket to Baku which was at 2:25 AM on 23 april — but was quoted ₹47,000 for a one-way fare, which was just not reasonable.

I reached out to my travel agent GOTOGET, and my TATA AIG Travel Insurance Policy for support — and received zero help from either. I also contacted the airline’s customer care helpline at 10:12 PM, and after exhausting all possibilities, I had no choice but to cancel my entire trip.

I requested a formal denial-of-boarding letter, but Etihad staff refused, saying the cancellation itself is proof enough. This is highly unprofessional and leaves customers with no documentation to support a claim.

I'm posting this to raise awareness:

🔹 Always double-check if your airlines are code-share or partner airlines if your itinerary involves different carriers.

🔹 Be cautious when booking with third-party platforms or non-partner combinations.

🔹 Don't assume your travel insurance or agent will assist — they might wash their hands off at the first sign of trouble.

🔹 If possible, get a boarding denial in writing on the spot – don't expect the airline to cooperate later.

This was an expensive and emotionally draining experience —

I lost not just money, but also an experience I had been looking forward to for months. I hope this helps others be more prepared and avoid falling into the same trap.

Please share if you know someone who’s planning a trip like this — let’s help each other travel smarter. 💬✈️

#TravelTips #EtihadAirways #TravelInsurance #WizzAir #Gotoget #TataAIG #TransitVisaMyth #TravelAwareness #BakuTrip #DeniedBoarding #TravelFails