Holiday rush at UAE airports: Advisory issued to travellers

Traveller numbers are expected to reach 16 million in July and August.

The vacation time has set in and the travellers are all set to take off. All three airports in the UAE - Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah - are working hard to ensure seamless travel experience for passengers, yet the last minute rush sometimes adds to unexpected woes.
Dubai International (DXB), the world's busiest international airport, will get even busier in the coming weeks with customer numbers anticipated to reach 16 million in July and August. Dubai Airports has urged passengers to have a smooth start to their vacation by arriving early to the airport.
According to a Dubai-based travel agent, planning the trip in advance is the key of a happy vacation.
"Considering the rise in the number of travellers this weekend, we advise passengers as per their purpose of journey. If they have a flexible schedule, we can give multiple options with a combination of Indian and Gulf carriers. However, we always recommend to plan the trip in advance. If not, they can use pre-booking facilities from major airlines with booking deadline, which will give them more time to confirm their journey without any cancellation charges or losing best rate opportunity," said Hemant Kalyani of Satguru travels.
Hemali Shah, managing director of City One Tourism and Travel, said: "It's better to delay travelling to Mumbai now. Because of the heavy rains, there are chances that the passengers might get stuck and will have to reschedule their plans. Emergency travelling is inevitable but there are a few tips and tricks that can help you avoid the rush and glitch."
Emirates airline said customers are encouraged to arrive three hours prior to the departure time to the airport due to the busy travel period. "Emirates anticipates a busy weekend ahead with heavy traveller volumes to and from Dubai. Customers are reminded to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their flight departure to avoid any delays. Passengers can physically check in at the airport as early as 24 hours before flight departure, and are requested to check in no later than two hours prior to departure, regardless of class of travel," said a statement issued by the airline.
"In addition to online check-in services, Emirates also offers car park check-in facilities. Customers can use these to check in and drop off their luggage. Alternatively, customers heading to Emirates Terminal 3 can choose to drop their luggage at one of the 46 dedicated bag drop counters in Economy Class or separate counters in First Class and Business Class from six hours to 90 minutes prior to departure. Families travelling with small children can use dedicated family counters in the check-in Zone," Emirates statement added.
A flydubai spokesperson recommended that travellers should check to see whether the flight departs from Terminal 2 or Terminal 3 and arrive at the airport three hours before their flight hours. Also travellers need to be aware of baggage allowances and which items they can pack. "Check in with the flydubai app or online to save time at the airport. You can easily check-in for your flight and drop off your baggage from the comfort of your home with the services," said the spokesperson.
- sandhya@khaleejtimes.com