Preparing to travel

Online check-in means you can save time and fuss at the airport by checking in for your Emirates flight via the website prior to your arrival at the airport.

Online check-in is available 48 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time. It closes 90 minutes before scheduled departure for all passengers who have an eticket.

If you are departing from Dubai, you can drop off your bags 24 hours before departure, or 12 hours before departure if you’re flying to the US.

Please note that online check-in is not available if the first flight in your itinerary is not an Emirates flight. This applies to all codeshare flights that are not operated by Emirates.

If the first flight of your journey is operated by Qantas, you can check in online at Qantas(Opens an external website in a new tab).

Yes. Online check-in is available for up to nine (9) passengers (adults and children) who are travelling together on the same booking.

Yes. Online check-in is possible for the accompanying adult passenger.

In order to use online check-in, you must know the surnames of all passengers you will be checking in and have the Booking Reference/PNR from your eticket.

When you have the necessary information:

1. Visit the Online Check-in page.

2. Enter your surname and Booking Reference/PNR to initiate your check-in.

3. Select the passengers you'd like to check in.

4. You may be asked to enter Advance Passenger Information if required by the destination country.

5. You will then have the option of changing seats and adding any missing Emirates Skywards numbers before finalising your online check-in.

   It’s still possible to choose your seat. However, due to current circumstances and for operational reasons we may need to change your seat before departure or on board. If this happens and you have paid to select your seat, you will be eligible for a refund in line with our terms and conditions.

Even when you check in online, we need to see you at the check-in desks to complete the current travel requirements.

At most airports you need to arrive 3 hours before departure. However, currently it can be up to 6 hours at some airports, so please check your ticket for the best time to arrive for your journey.

Remember to give yourself enough time to reach your departure gate so you don’t miss your flight.

If you are departing from Dubai, you can drop off your bags 24 hours before departure, or 12 hours before departure if you’re flying to the US.

You can check in online 48 hours ahead of your flight.

However, all customers still need to go to the airport check-in counter so we can verify your documents and issue your boarding pass.

Our check‑in desks are fitted with protective antimicrobial screens or you can use our separate self check‑in and bag drop kiosks. All our airport staff are wearing face masks and you’ll need to have yours on too. This is in line with local regulations and for the protection of our employees and customers. Find out more about the hygiene and safety measures along your journey. We have created a specific page where you will find everything you need to know about our current network, safety, products, services and travel guidance.

Read more

The information below applies to standard operations. Please read our updated information specific to operation services during the coronavirus pandemic.

Simply drop your baggage off at the online check-in counter or bag drop counter.

You can check-in online for all eligible flights within 48 hours of your scheduled departure.

You can provide your Global Entry number/TSA Pre-Check PASSID number (Known Traveller Number) when checking in online, and at the check-in desk at the airport. This number enables the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to verify that you are eligible to participate in the TSA Pre-Check program for fast track screening.

They both carry the same information, but you use them slightly differently depending on whether you have a mobile boarding pass or a printed one.

When you check-in at the airport in Dubai, we send you a mobile boarding pass. You can open it from your email address or from a link in an SMS message. Use it throughout the airport displayed on your phone, just like a paper boarding pass.

When you check-in online, you can also choose to download your mobile boarding pass. If you choose to email your boarding pass to your address, then you must print it out to use it. This boarding pass can’t be presented on your phone in the same way as a mobile boarding pass.

While you can still check-in online, you won’t be able to print or use a mobile boarding pass at this time. We’ll give you your boarding pass at the airport check-in counters once you’ve presented the health and travel documents required by your destination. Please make sure that you have all the appropriate documents ready before you go to the airport.

When we re-introduce eBoarding passes, please note that the list of destinations accepting Mobile boarding passes may change from time to time.

While you can still check-in online, you won’t be able to print or use a mobile boarding pass at this time. We’ll give you your boarding pass at the airport check-in counters once you’ve presented the health and travel documents required by your destination. Please make sure that you have all the appropriate documents ready before you go to the airport.

You will need to have your mobile boarding pass ready for inspection at a number of different points, including Security, Immigration, at the boarding gate, and when you board the aircraft.

Please make sure your device’s screen is active with the mobile boarding pass showing at all these locations.

While you can still check-in online, you won’t be able to print or use a mobile boarding pass at this time. We’ll give you your boarding pass at the airport check-in counters once you’ve presented the health and travel documents required by your destination. Please make sure that you have all the appropriate documents ready before you go to the airport.

When we re-introduce mobile boarding passes here is some information about how they work:

You will need to have your mobile boarding pass ready for inspection at a number of different points, including Security, Immigration, at the boarding gate, and when you board the aircraft. Please make sure your device’s screen is active with the mobile boarding pass showing at all these locations.

While you can still check-in online, you won’t be able to print or use a mobile boarding pass at this time. We’ll give you your boarding pass at the airport check-in counters once you’ve presented the health and travel documents required by your destination. Please make sure that you have all the appropriate documents ready before you go to the airport.

When we re-introduce mobile boarding passes here is some information about how they work:

Each person must be able to display their own boarding pass independently, and each boarding pass must be sent to a separate email address or mobile phone number. Members of your group with mobile devices can use mobile boarding passes, and those without devices can use eboarding passes.

While you can still check-in online, you won’t be able to print or use a mobile boarding pass at this time. We’ll give you your boarding pass at the airport check-in counters once you’ve presented the health and travel documents required by your destination. Please make sure that you have all the appropriate documents ready before you go to the airport.

The immigration authorities of many countries require all airlines to provide passenger passport information prior to departure of any inbound or outbound flights to ensure safety and security. Currently these countries include:

For cancelled Emirates flights within the last two years, you need to request a cancelled flight certificate by filling in this form(Opens page in the same tab).

We will send the certificate to the email provided on the form. This may take up to three weeks after submitting the request.

We can’t accept requests for the certificate from someone else on your behalf.

If you were traveling on a codeshare flight, please contact the operating carrier for information about submitting your insurance claim.

For a record of delayed baggage on an Emirates flight within the last two years, you need to request a delayed baggage certificate by filling in this form(Opens page in the same tab). We will send the certificate to the email provided on the form. This may take up to three weeks after submitting the request.

If you were traveling on a codeshare flight, please contact the operating carrier for information on how to request a record of your delayed baggage.

If you need proof of travel from any Emirates flight within the last two years (for example, for an insurance claim or for your own records), you can request a certificate here(Opens page in the same tab). We will send the certificate to the email provided on the form. This may take up to three weeks after submitting the request. We can’t accept requests for the certificate from someone else on your behalf.

If you were traveling on a codeshare flight, please contact the operating carrier for proof of travel.

You can use most electronic gadgets on board our aircraft, but there are some you definitely can’t use. Here’s a list of electronic devices and exactly when you can use them.

What you can use at any time:

• Anything that’s already part of the aircraft, including the inflight entertainment system
• CD players and digital audio or MP3 players
• Your electric watch
• Electric shavers – only in the bathrooms
• Personal medical devices – that includes hearing aids, pace makers, life support systems and electronic nerve simulators

What you can use at any time when switched to flight mode only:

(Putting your device in flight mode means all the transmitting services like Wi-Fi, GSM, GPRS/EDGE and Bluetooth are off.)

• Mobile phones
• Tablets, for example, iPads and Kindles
• E-readers
• Electronic games, for example Nintendo DS
• Bluetooth devices

Personal devices must be in flight mode for taxi, takeoff, approach and landing.

During the flight, usually a few minutes after takeoff, your cabin crew will tell you when you can turn off flight mode and start using transmitting services on your device. 

Towards the end of your flight, they’ll let you know when to turn on flight mode for landing. 

What you can use during flight only:

• Laptops
• Notebooks
• Portable DVD players

You must put these electronic devices away in the overhead lockers or under the seat in front of you during taxi, takeoff, approach and landing. The cabin crew will let you know when you can use them. 

What you definitely can’t use at any time on our flights:

• AM/FM radios
• VHF scanner receivers
• Portable TV sets
• Radio controlled toys
• Two-way transmitters such as walkie-talkies, amateur radios, citizen band (CB) radios, 49 Mhz transmitters
• GPS systems

If you're travelling in First, Business Class, on Saver, Flex or Flex Plus fares or Premium Economy, you do not need to pay for seat selection. Business Class Special fares can only select seats when checking in.

To qualify for an Extra Legroom seat you will need to meet the following safety criteria: 

• Be 16 years of age or older.
• Be able to read and understand English instructions related to emergency evacuation provided in printed or graphic form and be able to understand oral crew commands.
• Be fully able-bodied and capable to identify, reach and operate the exit doors in the event of an emergency.
• Be able to speak well enough to adequately impart information orally to other customers.
• Be able and willing to assist the crew and other customers in the evacuation of the aircraft.
• Not be travelling with infants, children under the age of 16, caregivers, persons who require safety assistant for emergency evacuation, or travelling with a guide dog or any other assistance animal.
• Not be using medical equipment, an extension seat belt nor requiring any assistance due to reduced mobility.

Extra Legroom seats will be re-assigned before or during the journey without any refund if customers do not meet any of the above safety criteria.

Extra Legroom terms and conditions must be expressly accepted at the time of purchase.

Customers travelling on Economy Special tickets who are not Emirates Skywards members are not eligible to select Extra Legroom seats.

Some exit row seats ending in A or K may not be located next to a window due to the emergency exit door placement, and leg space might be partially restricted. Additionally, armrests cannot be raised on extra legroom seats.

If you selected and paid for your seat, you can change to another seat of equal value for free or choose a higher value seat by paying the difference. If you changed to a higher value seat and were charged the full amount, our team will automatically refund the difference. If you change to a lower value seat, we will not be able to refund you the difference.

If you’ve made changes to your flight number or flight date, but are travelling on the original sector, you can choose new seats of equal value for free. However, we will not be able to refund you if you’ve made changes to your sector, if seats of the same value aren’t available, or if seat selection isn’t available on your new flight.

To change your seat, please go to Manage a Booking(opens in the same window) .

Seat selection charges for passengers travelling in Economy Class are only applicable to flights operated by Emirates. If you’re travelling on a flight with one of our codeshare partner airlines, please check with the partner airline.

If your itinerary includes connecting flights or stops where you leave the airport, you will be able to select and pay for a seat on each flight leg of your journey.

For example, on Mumbai (BOM) – New York (JFK), you’d need to pay for seat selection on the short haul from Mumbai (BOM) – Dubai (DXB) and also on the long haul from Dubai (DXB) – New York (JFK).

If any of the flights in your itinerary has a technical stop where you don’t leave the airport, you will be able to select only one seat for all the flight legs sharing the same flight number.

For example, if you are flying between Dubai and Newark (EWR) on EK209, your flight will stop in Athens. You will be able to select only one seat for the full journey between Dubai and Newark, provided there are no voluntary stops taken at Athens.

Depending on your fare type and aircraft configuration, you only pay for seat selection for any sectors within your booking where you will be travelling in Economy Class.

For example, if your outbound flight is booked on a Saver or Special fare and your inbound flight is booked on a Flex fare, you’ll only pay for seat selection on the outbound flight and will be able to choose a regular seat for free on your inbound flight before online check-in opens. If you wish to choose a Preferred, Twin, Premium or an Extra Legroom seat either on your outbound flight or your inbound flight, charges will apply whether you’re travelling on a Special or Saver fare or Flex fare. When traveling on a Flex plus fare either on outbound or inbound, you can choose from a Regular or a Preferred seat (except on A380 Upper Deck) free of charge. Please note you may be entitled to complimentary seat selection on additional seat types depending on your Skywards tier.

Important: 

The information below applies to standard operations. Please read our updated information(opens in the same window)  specific to operation services during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Specifically relating to seat selection, it’s still possible to choose your seat. However, due to current circumstances and for operational reasons we may need to change your seat before departure or on board. If this happens and you have paid to select your seat, you will be eligible for a refund in line with our terms and conditions.

We make every effort to seat passengers in the same booking together, however this depends on availability. If you’d like to ensure you are seated together, you can select seats in advance through Manage a Booking(opens in the same window) . Seat selection charges may apply(opens in the same window) .

If you’ve made a group booking, you don’t have to pay to select Regular seats. However seat selection charges may apply when selecting Preferred, Twin, Premium or Extra Legroom seats.

Emirates Skywards members and Qantas Frequent Flyer members enjoy different seat selection benefits depending on their tier. Visit our Seat Selection page for details(opens in the same window) .

You cannot redeem or earn Skywards Miles or Business Rewards Points for paid seat selection. You can check our Emirates Skywards FAQs for more information about earning and redeeming Skywards Miles.

This applies to all fares where seat selection charges apply.

There are no exemptions for Emirates Business Rewards members, Classic Rewards flights or Cash+Miles.

As part of our Emirates family friendly policy, customers travelling with infants in the same booking (PNR) are exempted from seat selection charges on all regular seats, bassinets and adjacent seats on a bulkhead row, even if in a preferred area. Customers opting for other Preferred and Twin seats before online check-in will be subject to seat selection charges.

We will always aim to seat families with children together. If children travelling with adults wish to select seats before online check-in opens, they are entitled to a 50% discount on regular and preferred seats. Twin and Premium seats are not subject to a child discount and Extra Legroom seats can’t be selected due to safety regulations. We will do our best to ensure children travelling alone are seated comfortably during their flight. You don’t need to pay for seat selection for Unaccompanied Minors, as suitable seats will be assigned by Emirates free of charge.

We’ll do our best to provide the seats you reserve. However, we may have to move you to a different seat in case of disruption, aircraft change, or for any other operational, safety or security reasons. Seat reservations are subject to change up until flight departure. Therefore refund requests can only be submitted after your flight departs.

In case of involuntary changes to your seat due to operational, safety or security reasons, you are eligible for a refund only in the following cases:

• Regular seat re-seated on a different type of Regular seat (window, middle or aisle);
• Preferred seat re-seated on a different type of Preferred seat (window, middle or aisle);
• Preferred seat re-seated  on a Regular, Twin or Extra Legroom seat;
• Twin seat re-seated on a Regular, Preferred or Extra Legroom seat;
• Extra Legroom seat re-seated on a Regular, Preferred or Twin seat;
• Premium seat re-seated on a regular, preferred, twin or an extra legroom seat;
• Preferred seat on the upper deck re-seated on the lower deck;
• Twin seat on the upper deck re-seated on the lower deck.

Refunds will include the total amount paid for seat selection minus taxes (where not refundable). For flights already taken, the refund will be compared to your last selected seat before involuntary changes.

Customers are not eligible for seat selection refunds if:

• They’re travelling in a higher cabin class due to voluntary or involuntary upgrade;
• They selected a lower value seat after buying a higher value seat;
• They added their Emirates Skywards membership to the reservation after booking seats;
• They've made voluntary flight changes to their itinerary (including flight dates, inbound or outbound destination, or if their changed flight is operated by another airline.)
• They’ve selected extra legroom seats and didn’t comply with the safety criteria.

Seat selection refunds for compassionate reasons follow ticket rules on compassionate refunds.

Suitable seats will be assigned free of charge to customers and their accompanying passengers, where applicable. This includes:

• Unaccompanied minors;
• Customers using an oxygen concentrator or other medical equipment;
• Customers with reduced mobility who require special assistance or handling;
• Customers who are blind, deaf or who have an intellectual or developmental disability;
• Customers who require medical clearance such as customers travelling on stretchers;
• Customers travelling with guide dogs or other service animals and falcons.

Please contact the Emirates Contact Center to book a suitable seat, alternatively, we will automatically assign you a suitable seat before departure.

In Europe, except for Germany, you can use Chauffeur-drive to travel across international boundaries in most Schengen-Area countries, including most EU member states and Switzerland, as long as your destination is within the free-mileage radius of the service.

We’re offering our Chauffeur-drive service to more and more destinations while strictly following local health and safety procedures. You can check the routes we currently offer Chauffeur-drive in before your trip.

Yes, except for routes that are exclusively between New Zealand and Australia, you can use our Chauffeur-drive service on itineraries on any Emirates-operated flight, including Business Class itineraries with a stopover in Australia. Please note you can’t use Chauffeur-drive service for transfer between terminals.

For itineraries involving Qantas-operated flights, check out all applicable routes(Opens a PDF in new tab).

We’re offering our Chauffeur-drive service to more and more destinations while strictly following local health and safety procedures. You can check the routes we currently offer Chauffeur-drive in before your trip.

Yes, most Chauffeur-drive destinations have a free-mileage limit but you can use the service beyond the limit for an additional fee. You can check our Chauffeur-drive availability page for mileage information for individual destinations.

We’re offering our Chauffeur-drive service to more and more destinations while strictly following local health and safety procedures. You can check the routes we currently offer Chauffeur-drive in before your trip.

Yes, if you are a Business Class customer and would like to book our Chauffeur-drive service after landing at the airport, there are specific desks that can help you. But please note that we give priority to customers who have pre-booked their Chauffeur-drive service.

You can book your service before your Business Class or First Class flight by visiting Manage your booking.

Alternatively, when you arrive at the Dubai International, you can visit our dedicated desks and be assigned a chauffeur. If you have pre-booked Chauffeur-drive, this will be completed as quickly as possible.

We’re offering our Chauffeur-drive service to more and more destinations while strictly following local health and safety procedures. You can check the routes we currently offer Chauffeur-drive in before your trip.

Advice for travel to and from Dubai

The situation and guidance for travel to and from the UAE is changing frequently. Please visit Dubai travel advice regarding travel during this time which we are updating regularly.

UAE visa advice during normal operating times

Visa requirements for any destination depend on local regulations and vary according to which passport you are travelling on. Visit the visa page on emirates.com for specific information.

As of 29 April 2016, GCC residence permit holders will need to apply for a UAE visa before arriving in Dubai.

Many countries have specific requirements for passport validity, and often require passports to be valid significantly longer than the length of your trip – this can vary depending on your country of origin, as well as other factors.

Please check the passport and visa requirements for all countries you’ll be visiting on your journey, and make sure your passport has appropriate validity to cover your whole trip.

Due to the ongoing health situation worldwide, restrictions are in place for Hajj 1442 (2021). To check if you are eligible for travel and for more details, please visit the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health(Opens in a new window) website.

Indian nationals holding a normal passport valid for at least six months may be eligible for a visa on arrival in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Customers must either hold a US visa or a permanent residence card (also known as a green card) valid for at least six months.

The 14-day UAE visa on arrival costs AED 120. If needed, the visa can be extended once for an additional 14 days for AED 250. You can learn more about UAE visas or apply online in Manage your booking.

Customers visiting Canada can now use primary inspection kiosks at Toronto Pearson International Airport to confirm their identity before entering the country. All customers – including Canadian citizens – can scan their travel document, have their photo taken and make an on-screen declaration to enter the country.

If you prefer, you can also complete your declaration in advance by downloading the CanBorder - eDeclaration mobile app(Opens in a new window), (Opens an external website in a new window) and scanning your quick response (QR) code at a kiosk upon arrival.

Primary inspection kiosks will improve border security and reduce waiting times at Canada's airports. To learn more, please visit the Canada Border Services Agency website(Opens in a new window).

Every traveller to Singapore must provide their personal information, trip details and health declaration by completing the online form within 3 days of their arrival. You can find more details about the SG Arrival Card on the ICA website(Opens in a new window).

The eTA is an entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air.

If you’re travelling to Canada, you’ll need an eTA to board your flight for the following categories:

• if you’re not a resident,
• and you don’t need a visa,
• and you’re not otherwise exempt.

You can find a full list of the entry requirements by country on the Government of Canada’s website(Opens in a new window).

The eTA is electronically linked to your passport and valid for up to five years, or until your passport expires - whichever comes first.

You can apply for an eTA online(Opens in a new window) and approval is usually given within minutes.