Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – As school holidays commence, and travel restrictions around the globe are easing, Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi International Airport are seeing a peak in travel this summer.
To ensure guests enjoy a convenient and safe travel experience during this busy summer period, all travellers are encouraged to arrive early and allow plenty of time at the airport. Etihad Airways has a number of travel tips and reminders to make it easier for you:
Verified to Fly
Etihad has extended its ‘Verified to Fly’ travel document initiative across its entire network. Travellers can validate their COVID-19 travel documents online before arriving at the airport, and then access the fast track ‘Verified to Fly’ check-in desks at the airport to beat the queues.
To use the service, simply visit ‘Manage my Booking’ on etihad.com and follow the simple instructions to upload and submit travel documents. Guests will receive confirmation once their documents have been approved in line with government requirements.
Guests will enjoy the assurance that when they arrive at the airport, they have already met all Covid travel requirements and can fast track their check-in.
Home Check-in
For more convenient travel options, guests can also check in for their Etihad flight from the comfort of their own home by visiting etihad.com/homecheckin up to seven hours before their flight. This means passengers can check in their bags, choose their seat and collect their boarding pass and luggage tags from their home in Abu Dhabi. The service starts from just 220 AED for up to four bags, irrespective of the number of passengers.
Once at Abu Dhabi International Airport, all non-transit passengers who have used the home check-in service can skip the queues bag-free, making the airport journey seamless. Luggage will need to be collected at the destination baggage belt.
Check-in and Boarding Times
During peak times, Economy Class check-in for non-US flights opens four hours before departure and closes one hour before departure. Guests are encouraged to arrive early and allow plenty of time. Business and First class check-in closes 45 minutes before departure. Boarding for all Etihad Airways departures closes 20 minutes prior to departure for guests in all classes.
Guests travelling to destinations in the US will benefit from the US Customs and Border Protection facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport which means they complete all immigration and customs formalities in Abu Dhabi before departing. Guests must check in two hours before departure and present themselves at the US Customs and Border Protection facility no later than 90 minutes before departure.
Given the significant increase in demand for check-in for the start of the school holidays, Etihad Airways will relocate check-in for the following flights for 2 July 2021 to Terminal 1:
· EY075 to Madrid (MAD) departing at 07:30
· EY007 to Frankfurt (FRA) departing at 07:35
· EY037 to Paris (CDG) departing at 07:50
· EY533 to Beirut (BEY) departing at 09:15
Etihad Airways mobile app
With the Etihad Airways mobile app, guests can check in 48 hours before departure and download an electronic boarding pass for presentation at the bag drop and when boarding their flight. The app is free to download from the Apple App Store or Android Play and has a host of features including preferred seat selection, pre-purchasing of additional baggage and flight status information.
Smart Travel
When proceeding through departure immigration or upon return, Abu Dhabi Airport’s ‘Smart Travel’ immigration e-gates are available for registered UAE nationals and residents. Guests simply scan their passport and mobile or paper boarding pass at the e-gates and the immigration process will take a matter of seconds.
Etihad Baggage Policy
For the safety and comfort of all guests, Etihad Airways stringently enforces its cabin baggage policy of 7kg for Economy Class and 12kg for First and Business Class guests. Maximum Cabin Baggage dimensions are: height 50cm, depth 25cm, width 40cm. Staff will be checking the weight of cabin baggage at check-in prior to boarding the aircraft.
Before proceeding to the airport, guests are reminded to check their e-ticket or the Etihad Airways website for the baggage policy related to their particular fare, destination or class of travel. The Etihad Airways app and website offer a number of additional options for guests to pre-purchase additional baggage at special rates prior to departure.
Pre-purchase travel options
The Etihad Airways website also has a variety of pre-purchase seating and upgrade options for greater comfort while travelling during the school holidays. ‘Economy Space’ offers a generous area for guests to stretch their legs. There is also the innovative ‘Neighbour-free Seat’ option for guests to choose at least 72 hours prior to departure.
Instant upgrades to Business or First Class are also available for purchase during check-in for guests looking to travel in additional comfort.
Access to Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi Airport Business Class lounge in Terminal 3 is also available for purchase by Economy Class guests at the lounge prior to departure.
