It’s summer holiday season, and Emirates is preparing for busy departures from Terminal 3, Dubai International (DXB). Starting this weekend, 3–5 July, Emirates anticipates high volumes of departures and recommends customers plan ahead to ensure a smooth journey. Weekend travel is expected to remain consistently busy throughout the summer holiday period.
Customers should allow extra time for traffic approaching the airport, parking, Immigration, security screening, and travelling between concourses to reach their boarding gate. Customers are also encouraged to use Emirates’ range of convenient check-in options to reduce waiting times at the airport.
- Arrive at the airport: 3 hours before departure
- Pass through Immigration: 1.5 hours before departure
- Reach your boarding gate: 1 hour before departure
Top tips to have a smooth and seamless trip with Emirates
Take the Metro straight into Dubai International (DXB)
To avoid traffic delays, allow extra time to reach the airport and consider taking the Dubai Metro straight into Emirates Terminal 3. The metro opening hours are:
- Monday to Thursday and Saturday – 5am to 12am
- Friday – 5am to 1am
- Sunday – 8am to 12am
Check in online or on the Emirates app and select your seats
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.
Check in and drop your bags 24 hours before departure, or 12 hours ahead for US flights
Emirates customers can drop off luggage at the airport the night before travel at no charge. Passengers departing from Dubai can check in early and drop off their bags up to 24 hours before departure, or 12 hours before departure if flying to the US. On the day of travel, customers can proceed directly to Immigration.
Check in and drop your bags at Emirates in DIFC and Ajman
Save time at 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 and drop off luggage as early as 24 hours and up to 4 hours before a flight. Customers can check in between 8:00am and 12:00am daily until the 10 August – beginning their travel experience with seamless service via self-check-in kiosks, or at dedicated desks with Emirates agents.
Customers can also check in remotely at Emirates City Check In Ajman, located in Ajman Central Bus Terminal as early as 24 hours and as late as 4 hours before the flight departs. Emirates City Check-in Ajman is open 24/7.
Book Home Check-in and let the agents come to you
Emirates customers can also opt to check in at home in Dubai and Sharjah. Agents complete the check-in process at the customer’s home, hotel, or office, and take the bags on to the flight so that they can arrive later with only hand luggage. The service must be booked at least 24 hours before a flight. The Home Check-In service is complimentary for First Class passengers and Platinum Skywards members.
Be self-service savvy at the airport
Use the Emirates self-check-in and bag drop kiosks, or the Emirates Check-in Ports for a swift and easy experience. Located near the entrance to the Terminal, these pods are one of the quickest ways to drop your bags off.
Emirates Skywards members can register for Emirates Biometrics on the Emirates app before travelling to use facial recognition and breeze right through the airport.
Utilise transport options in the airport
When moving between Concourse A and Concourse B, Emirates customers can use the complimentary train in Terminal 3. Emirates also offers a shuttle bus service between Concourse A and Concourse C, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The bus departs every 20 minutes, and the average travel time is also 20 minutes. The Pickup and Drop-off points are at clearly marked connection desks – the Arrival Level adjacent to the Central Connection Desk in Concourse A, and Connection Desk E – Duty Free Level in Concourse C. First Class customers can also use dedicated Emirates buggies available on request throughout the airport, while Dubai Airport Buggies (also called Dubai Taxi) are available for all types of customers free of charge, with priority extended to the elderly, families with children and People of Determination.
Pack smart and avoid delays
Emirates requests that customers are vigilant while packing bags and follow the restricted items procedures. Customers should take note of rules such as power banks are allowed in hand baggage but not allowed in checked baggage. Smart bags are allowed in the cabin if the battery is removable and within the cabin baggage size and weight limits. The battery can remain installed as long as the smart bag is completely powered off. E-cigarettes including e-cigars, e-pipes, Electric Portable Incense (Perfume) Burner or other personal vaporizers containing batteries must be individually protected to prevent accidental activation and are only allowed as carry on luggage.
Pre-order your shopping
Customers who wish to save even more time can pre-order shopping on EmiratesRED.com and get access to exclusive retail products, which are then delivered to their seat in the air. The pre-order service is available on most flights, and customers can shop from 21 days up to 40 hours before their flight, providing their flight details during checkout. Cabin crew then deliver the order directly to the customer’s seat inflight. Emirates RED’s new summer catalogue features more than 200 products from brands like Hermes, Parfum de Marly, Tom Ford, Creed and Jo Malone and customers who pre-order can use the code RED10 to save 10%.
