UAE flights: Emirates issues peak travel alert; lists 5 tips to beat rush

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 to the airport up to 3 hours before their flight and take advantage of the airline's 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 phone to get 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.

2. Check in online, or remotely in Ajman

All passengers can check-in online 48 hours ahead of their flight using the online check-in option on the Emirates 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 Dh20 and head directly to Emirates Terminal 3, with regular bus departures throughout the day from 4am to 11.30pm. Upon arrival at the airport, travellers can simply continue through to their flight.

3. 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 who are departing from Dubai can check-in early and drop off their bags to the airport 24 hours before departure, or 12 hours before departure if flying to the US or Tel Aviv, and then arrive to 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.

4. 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 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.

5. 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 visitor with a biometric passport.

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