Emirates travel tips: Remote check-in, free ice cream, luggage drop-off and more stress-busting airport hacks

As Emirates flags a significant peak travel period starting on Saturday July 6 as many families leave for summer holidays, customers are advised to take note of key timings at the airport, grab a complimentary Emirates ice-cream and enjoy the many options for families to fly better.

Emirates flies more than one million children around the world every year and offers multiple bespoke services for families.

Emirates airport hacks

This peak travel period, customers departing Dubai with Emirates are advised to plan for extra traffic on the roads approaching the airport, more people at the airport going through Immigration, and the time it may take to travel between Concourses and reach Boarding Gates.

The airline advises these deadlines for stress- free family travel:

• In peak travel times, arrive to the airport 3 hours before departure
• Ensure you pass through immigration 1.5 hours before departure
• Ensure you reach your correct boarding gate 1 hour before departure

The Dubai-based carrier offers a variety of time-saving check-in procedures.

• Check in at home: Emirates customers can opt to use the Emirates Home Check In service in Dubai and Sharjah. Agents complete the check-in process at the customers’ home, hotel, or office, and take the bags on to the flight so that they can arrive a later time with hand luggage. The service needs to be booked at least 24 hours before a flight. The Home Check-In service is complimentary for First Class passengers and Platinum Skywards members
• Use the app or website: Download the Emirates app to book and change flights, download a digital boarding pass for most destinations, get notifications about your flight and even check the menu for your flight. Customers can also purchase preferred seats and an excess baggage allowance in advance, book a chauffeur drive service and pre-select 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 off luggage early: 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 in the airport

Remote check ins are available at:

• DIFC: 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 four hours before a flight. Customers can check in anytime from 8am to 10pm daily
• Ajman: If you are travelling from the northern Emirates, you can also check-in at Ajman Central Bus Terminal from 24 hours up to four hours before your flight. Customers can check in anytime, 24 hours a day.

Customers can save more time by ordering duty-free shopping in advance at www.EmiratesRED.com and get access to exclusive duty-free 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.

Other benefits and freebies for Emirates passengers at Dubai International Airport, include a free ice-cream for the whole family until July 28.

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between 12pm and 6pm, customers can visit Emirates red and white striped ice cream carts in Terminal 3 and choose from a range of flavours including vanilla, chocolate, dulce de leche, mango sorbet and lemon sorbet.

A range of further family-friendly benefits include:

• Complimentary in-airport strollers
• Dubai airport buggies
• Kids’ play areas