Emirates urges passengers to plan for travel via Dubai airport
As the festive season begins
Emirates has issued a travel advisory for its passengers, urging them to plan their airport arrangements well this festive season as passenger numbers at Dubai International Airport (DXB) are expected to rise sharply compared to last year.
In 2024, the Dubai-based carrier expects daily departures from DXB to reach as high as 89,000 passengers on some days—an increase of nearly 20% over the 75,000 daily departures recorded in 2023.
The peak travel days are expected to fall between December 12-15, December 20-22 just before Christmas Day on December 25, and December 27-29 ahead of New Year’s Eve. With such high volumes of passengers, Emirates advises its passengers to arrive at DXB up to three hours before their scheduled departure time.
Emirates offers a variety of check-in and baggage drop options in Dubai, including the Emirates City Check-In & Travel Store, First and business-class check-in areas at DXB, private home check-in services, and remote check-in facilities.
For those seeking to save time, Emirates recommends downloading its mobile app. The app allows the airline’s passengers to check in online, book or change flights, access flight details, and receive notifications. It also offers digital boarding passes for most destinations, meal pre-orders, and the ability to select movies for in-flight entertainment. Online and app check-ins are available 48 hours before flight departure.
Baggage drop-off
Passengers from DXB can also take advantage of Emirates’ early baggage drop-off service. This service allows passengers to drop off their luggage 24 hours before departure for most flights or 12 hours before a flight to the United States. By utilising this service, customers can proceed directly to immigration at the airport, bypassing the check-in counters altogether.
For a more luxurious experience, passengers can check in at the Emirates City Check-In & Travel Store in ICD Brookfield Place in Dubai International Financial Centre. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., this facility offers services, including self-check-in kiosks, dedicated check-in desks with Emirates staff, and Sara, the world’s first robot check-in agent. Passengers can check in as early as 24 hours before departure and as late as four hours before the flight.
Emirates also offers a 24-hour City Check-In service at Ajman Central Bus Terminal, where passengers can check in up to four hours before their flight departs, check baggage, and collect boarding passes. This option provides additional convenience for those travelling from Ajman.
For passengers preferring not to visit the airport until closer to departure time, Emirates offers the Emirates Home Check-In service in Dubai and Sharjah. This service allows customers to complete check-in from the comfort of their home, hotel, or office. Bags are collected by DUBZ agents and transported to the airport, leaving passengers free to enjoy a more relaxed airport experience. The Home Check-In service is free for First Class passengers and Skywards Platinum members, provided they book at least 24 hours before the flight.
Emirates also encourages its passengers to be mindful of baggage regulations, including restrictions on power banks, smart bags, and e-cigarettes. Passengers are advised to ensure their baggage complies with airport safety guidelines, such as removing the battery from bright bags and protecting e-cigarettes from accidental activation.
Emirates offers a pre-order service for Duty-Free shopping on EmiratesRED.com for those looking to make the most of their time. This service, available on most flights, allows passengers to shop for exclusive Duty-Free products up to 40 hours before their flight, with the items delivered directly to their seats during the flight.
Lastly, Emirates provides additional support for People of Determination, offering dedicated assistance through trained staff at the airport. This includes a pre-planning guide for those with hidden disabilities, two hours of complimentary parking at DXB, and priority access through check-in, passport control, and boarding lanes.
Hero image: Emirates offers self-check-in facilities at DXB. Credit: Emirates
