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5 Ways Families Can Travel Smarter this Mid-term

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Families Can Travel Smarter

As schools break for mid-term holidays and a peak travel period kicks off from October 14 onwards, Emirates announces a myriad of ways to ensure a smooth and swift travel experience for families, including new updates to the Emirates app and digital check-in options.

All passengers are advised to arrive at the airport up to 3 hours before their flight and take advantage of Emirates’ multiple smart technologies to ensure seamless travel during the busy period.

  1. Plan everything on the Emirates App

Passengers are encouraged to download the Emirates app on their mobile phones to get all the flight details at their fingertips. Users can now track their baggage, as well as book and change flights, download a digital boarding pass for most destinations, check what meals will be served onboard, book their chauffeur drive service and even pre-select and plan movies to watch via the ice inflight entertainment- so that no time is wasted in getting the kids comfortable and happy onboard.

  1. Check-in online, or remotely in Ajman

All passengers can check in online 48 hours before their flight using the online check-in option on the company’s website. In a few clicks, they can select a seat and preferred meal and take advantage of any last-minute upgrade options. At the airport, it’s easy to drop bags at the dedicated baggage drop desks and download a digital boarding pass.

Those starting their journeys from Ajman can also take advantage of a 24‑hour City Check‑in at Ajman Central Bus Terminal. Passengers can check in up to 4 hours before the flight departs, present health documents, check-in baggage and collect boarding passes, buy a bus ticket for AED 20 and head directly to Emirates Terminal 3, with regular bus departures throughout the day from 4 am to 11.30 pm. Upon arrival at the airport, travellers can simply continue through to their flight.

  1. Sort your luggage out in advance or check in from home

An excellent and complimentary option – especially for families travelling with children – is to drop luggage the night before travel. Passengers departing from Dubai can check-in early and drop off their bags at the airport 24 hours before departure or 12 hours before departure if flying to the US or Tel Aviv, and then arrive at the airport and proceed directly to immigration.

Making travel swift and smooth, Emirates also offers a home check-in service in Dubai and Sharjah, fulfilled by DUBZ. DUBZ agents complete the check-in process in the customer’s home, hotel or office and take the bags to the flight while customers are free to breeze through the airport later. Book and pay for the service at least 24 hours before the flight, and passengers can proceed to the Airport check-in up to six hours before the flight departs. When a person books First Class, the home check-in service is complimentary.

  1. Self Check-in kiosks at the airport

A quick and easy option once at the airport is the self-check-in kiosks. Travellers can follow the steps on the touchscreen kiosk and complete the check-in process or operate the kiosk without a touch using a mobile phone. It’s possible to view the travel itinerary, choose a preferred seat and add Emirates Skywards numbers, and if you’ve already checked in online, there is also an option to use the baggage drop area to check in bags.

  1. Get smart with Biometrics

For First and Business Class customers departing Dubai, the Smart Tunnel at Dubai International Airport is a world-first for passport control, whereby passengers simply walk through a tunnel and are cleared by immigration authorities without human intervention or the need for a physical passport stamp. All it takes to register is a quick photo at check-in to capture facial data. Travellers can check in, clear immigration, access the airport lounge in Concourse B, and board flights at selected gates purely by facial recognition or using their boarding pass.

Passengers can also register to use the Smart Gates at Emirates Terminal 3 and speed through Immigration every time they return to Dubai. If a UAE citizen or resident, passengers can use their passport, boarding pass or a valid UAE ID. Smart Gates can also be used by GCC nationals or a visa on arrival visitors with biometric passports.

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Emirates, Air Peace Seal Interline Deal for Frictionless Single-Ticket Travel

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Emirates Air Peace Seal Interline Deal

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Two major airlines operating in the Nigerian airspace, Emirates and Air Peace, have signed an interline agreement to allow passengers enjoy frictionless single-ticket travel and simplified baggage throughput.

This deal will enable passengers flying from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Nigeria enjoy onward connections to Asaba, Akure, Benin City, Calabar, Enugu, Ilorin, Kaduna and Owerri, Abuja, Kano, Uyo, Port Harcourt and Warri.

Emirates operates the Dubai-Lagos route with a Boeing 777-300ER and some of its passengers continue their journeys to the above cities through other airlines, but with this interline agreement, when they land in Lagos, Air Peace will move them to the other cities with ease,

“Emirates is a steadfast partner of Nigeria’s tourism, trade and aviation sectors. This partnership with Air Peace is the next step on this journey, bolstering our connectivity and introducing more travel options for corporate leisure, and travellers visiting friends and family to and from Nigeria.

“We look forward to deepening our strategic partnership with Air Peace in the future to enhance the benefits for our mutual customers,” the Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer for Emirates, Adnan Kazim, said.

Also commenting, the Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Ms Oluwatoyin Olajide, said, “We are excited about this strategic interline partnership between Air Peace and Emirates, which is a significant step towards enhancing global connectivity for Nigerian travellers.

“It aligns with our mission to provide seamless, world-class travel experiences while expanding our route network and international reach.

“This collaboration not only expands Air Peace’s international reach but also offers Nigerians arriving from Dubai seamless access to key domestic destinations, including Asaba, Akure, Benin City, Calabar, Enugu, Ilorin, Kaduna, and Owerri.

“By improving ease of travel, we are boosting business, tourism, and trade opportunities, further strengthening economic ties between Nigeria and the UAE.

“This partnership also reinforces Nigeria’s aviation sector by enhancing connectivity, efficiency and positioning our country as a critical hub for regional and global travel. At Air Peace, we remain committed to providing greater connectivity, convenience, and world-class service for our passengers.”

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Spanish Withdrawal to Fuel Demand for Greek Golden Visas

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Greek Golden Visas

The latest forecast from Astons, suggests that the number of applicants looking to secure a Greek Golden Visa in 2024 is set to increase for the fourth consecutive year.

Astons has analysed data around the number of Greek Golden Visa applications submitted on an annual basis between 2019 and November 2024, before forecasting what 2024’s annual application total is set to be once December’s numbers are accounted for.

The analysis reveals that 2024 finished on a high when it comes to demand for Greek Golden Visas.

By November, the estimated total number of applications stood at 8,059, with Aston’s analysis revealing that 995 were submitted in October alone, 914 submitted in November, and a forecasted total of 778 submitted in December.

2024’s enormous demand for Greek Golden Visas was driven by investors looking to get in ahead of significant changes implemented to the scheme which increased the minimum investment threshold to €800,000 across the entire Athenian Riviera, Thessaloniki, and all major islands.

This isn’t the first time that changes to the Greek Golden Visa programme have resulted in surging levels of demand.

In 2023, Greece raised the threshold for real estate investment from €250,000 to €500,000 in the most attractive and developed regions of the country, including all of central Athens. However, in the Athenian Riviera, certain areas retained a threshold of €250,000, such as the Piraeus region.

As a result of this change, 2022 saw an annual increase of 118.5% in the number of Golden Visa applications, followed by a further +94.8% increase in 2023.

Who is driving demand for Greek Golden Visas?

The high demand for Greek Golden Visas over the past two years in particular is being driven by wealthy US citizens looking to spread their risks and opportunities beyond the borders of North America, with demand being particularly influenced by the increased investment thresholds implemented in 2024.

Astons estimates that Greece is the focus of at least 50% of all Golden Visa applications by US citizens, with investors drawn to the country by the lifestyle offering, not to mention the attractive minimum investment contribution – for which investors get five years of residency for the whole family with a right to renew at the end of that term.

Furthermore, Greece currently has one of Europe’s most lucrative property markets and best performing economies.

Citizenship, residence permit, and real estate investment expert for Astons, Alena Lesina, commented:

“Looking ahead to 2025, we believe that demand for Greek golden visas will remain robust despite the recent changes made. This is because it is still possible to purchase real estate and obtain a residency permit for as little as €250,000, even in the very heart of Athens, provided that the property in question is converted from commercial use to residential. As such, we’re seeing a lot of developers now buying old hotels and office buildings and transforming them into modern residential complexes, complete with stunning swimming pools and terraces.

Another reason to expect further growth in demand for Greek visas in 2025 is the fact that Spain is about to close its own Golden Visa programme which was itself hugely popular. With Spain no longer available to expats, it’s reasonable to expect that Greece, with its similar lifestyle offering and even more affordable accessibility, will become the focus of their attention.”

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Emirates Fetes Customers With Luxury Champagne, Menu

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Emirates customers

In the heart of Emirates’ busiest lounge in Dubai – the Concourse B Business Class Lounge in Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport, sits a one-of-kind experience – the Moët & Chandon Champagne Lounge.

Continuing Emirates and Moët Hennessy’s longstanding partnership of 32 years, the latest collaboration features a newly designed champagne and canapés pairing menu, curated over several months by Emirates master chefs and champagne experts from the house of Moët & Chandon.

Created and constructed exclusively for Emirates, the elegant Moët & Chandon Champagne Lounge features an eye-catching golden wave design adorned with 2,400 intricate gold leaves applied individually by hand.

Within the lounge, four of the finest Moët & Chandon champagnes are available, with latest collection launched last month featuring Moët & Chandon Impérial, Rosé Impérial, Nectar Impérial and Grand Vintage 2013.

Before boarding a flight, Emirates customers are invited to relax in the lounge, and transform their waiting time into a learning experience and exploration of the pairing of iconic champagne and meticulously crafted cuisine. Customers will be able to sample and explore the pairings, which were crafted based on three principles;

Minimalist ingredients with maximum impact – Emirates chefs prioritized using high-quality, seasonal ingredients to create a symphony of flavours without overwhelming the palate.

This approach allows the natural notes of the champagne to shine through and creates a more balanced dining experience, like the signature foie gras offering which features only three components: brioche, foie gras, and fig. This allows each ingredient to play its part, highlighting the richness of the foie gras with the sweetness of the fig and the buttery base of the brioche.

Flavour harmony – Emirates and Moët & Chandon have carefully considered the flavour profiles of both the champagne and the canapés, ensuring they complement each other seamlessly, like incorporating berries or citrus that echo the fruit notes in the champagne, or balancing creamy textures with a touch of acidity.

Visual appeal – The pairing experts from Emirates and Moët & Chandon believe food should be a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds and took pride in crafting visually stunning canapés that are meticulously arranged and plated, adding to the immersive experience.

The first Champagne guests are invited to sample is Moët Impérial Brut. With a striking nose of green apple and citrus, followed by mineral freshness and white flowers – this champagne is cellared for 24 months. It offers the blonde nuances of brioche, grains and fresh nuts, and its fine bubbles and subtle palate lends itself perfectly to seafood and pronounced acidity tempered by fat.

Emirates has paired Moët Impérial Brut with four individual dishes, which are served throughout the month; Salmon tiradito on calamansi leche de tigre, Grilled Obsiblue shrimps, watermelon and feta salad, Tuna tartare with fresh orange segment, or Scallop tataki.

The second Champagne featured is Moët Rosé Impérial, cellared for 21 months and offering an intense bouquet of red fruits, rose petals and florals, underscored by a hint of pepper. This cuvée pairs perfectly with colourful summer vegetables and fresh green herbs.

Emirates recommends trying Moët Impérial Rosé with four paired dishes, served throughout the month; Beetroot moutabel with akawi cheese and pine seeds, Fennel infused spinach and asparagus dip with grilled asparagus and yuzu pearls, Beetroot tartare with sesame seeds and dill or Bocconcini cheese with basil infused green melon and pine seeds.

The third recommended Champagne is the memorable Moët Grand Vintage 2013. Grand Vintage 2013 is a unique cuvée, benefitting from 7 years in the cellar and presenting soft autumnal notes, followed by a palate of ripe pear, grapefruit and toasted nuts. To enhance the delicacy of the Champagne, Emirates master chefs have paired Moët Grand Vintage 2013 with four bespoke dishes, served throughout the month; Foie gras on toasted brioche with fresh fig and Maldon salt, Duck rillette with chive mayonnaise, Foie gras on toasted brioche with quince and Maldon salt and Foie gras on toasted brioche with passionfruit, mango and Maldon salt.

The final Champagne featured in the pairing menu is the unique Moët Nectar Impérial, cellared for 18 months and featuring flavours of pineapple, mango, plum and apricot with a dash of vanilla. Ideally served with a sweet and fruity dessert, Emirates is serving Nectar Impérial with four dessert canapés, served throughout the month; Tropical crème, Mango trifle, Lemon cream pannacotta, and Blueberry cheesecake.

Access to the Moët & Chandon Champagne Lounge and new pairing menu is complimentary for all guests of the Concourse B Business Class Lounge in Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport.

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