By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Customers of Emirates Airlines have been advised to plan their travel carefully this December, as departure numbers peak throughout the festive month, including over the UAE National Day and Christmas period.
In a statement, the airline operator urged passengers to arrive at the airport up to 3 hours before a flight and take note of their boarding time to ensure they reach the departure gate on time.
It noted that travellers could take advantage of a wide array of check-in and baggage drop options from Emirates City Check-In & Travel Store, to newly refurbished First and Business Class Check-In areas at Dubai International Airport, to private home check-in services and remote check-in facilities.
Business Post gathered that during most December weekends, more than 75,000 Emirates passengers are expected to depart Dubai International Airport each day.
Download the Emirates App to check in online
Download the Emirates app for flight details at your fingertips. Book and change flights, download a digital boarding pass for most destinations, get notifications about your flight, check what meals will be served, pre-order your hot meal in Business Class, book a chauffeur drive service and even pre-select and plan movies to watch via ice inflight entertainment. Customers can also check in on Emirates.com. Online check-in and app check-in are both open 48 hours ahead of flight departure time.
Drop luggage off at the airport the day before
Emirates customers can drop off luggage at the airport the night before travel at no charge. Passengers who are departing from Dubai can check-in early and drop off their bags 24 hours before departure, or 12 hours before departure if flying to the US. Then closer to departure time, customers can proceed directly to the immigration area at the airport.
Swift check-in at the Emirates City Check-In & Travel Store
Save time at the airport and check-in at the Emirates City Check‑in and Travel Store in ICD Brookfield Place, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) instead. Conveniently located in the heart of the business district, Emirates customers can check in, drop luggage and enjoy the glamorous surroundings, as early as 24 hours and up to 4 hours before a flight. Customers can check in anytime from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm daily, beginning their travel experience with seamless service via self-check-in kiosks, at dedicated desks with Emirates agents or via the world’s first robot check-in agent- Sara.
Check-In for Emirates flights in Ajman
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, check in baggage, 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 continue through to their flight.
Check-in from your own home
Passengers can also opt to check in at home in Dubai and Sharjah. 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. Passengers can book at least 24 hours before a flight and proceed to the airport check-in up to six hours before the flight departs. The Home Check-In service is complimentary for First Class passengers.
Enjoy the world-class airport experience at DXB with new First and Business Class check-in areas
Passengers can choose to use Emirates’ self-check-in kiosks at the airport if they haven’t already checked in online. It’s possible to view the travel itinerary, choose a preferred seat, add Emirates Skywards numbers, and use the baggage drop area to check in bags. In Dubai International Airport, the Emirates First and Business Class Check-In areas have been revamped, just in time for the festive season.
Pre Order your Duty-Free shopping
Customers who wish to save even more time can pre-order Duty-Free Shopping on EmiratesRED.com and get access to exclusive Duty-Free products, which are then delivered to their seats in the air. Luxury brands featured include Creed, Loewe, Mont Blanc, Bang & Olufsen, La Mer, Dr Levy, Cerruti, Yves Saint Laurent and many more. The pre-order service is available on most flights, and passengers can shop from 21 days up to 40 hours before their flight, providing their flight details during checkout. The cabin crew then delivers the order directly to the passenger’s seat in flight.
Special assistance for People of Determination
People of Determination can access dedicated support from trained Emirates and airport staff when travelling over the festive period. This includes a pre-planning guide for Dubai International Airport (DXB) for those with hidden disabilities, 2 hours of complimentary parking at the airport and access to a dedicated priority lane for check-in, passport control, security and priority boarding if required. Passengers can check the Accessible Travel page on Emirates.com for information and contact their Emirates local office with queries.
Aduragbemi Omiyale