UAE national airline Etihad Airways has announced a partnership with DUBZ, powered by dnata, to make it easier for passengers to check in their bags, pick their seats and collect their boarding passes and luggage tags from their homes in Abu Dhabi. 

 

A Covid-19 PCR test can also be arranged through the airline’s medical partner, LifeDx, said the Abu Dhabi carrier in its statement.

 

To book the service, guests need to visit etihad.com/homecheckin up to seven hours before their flight. Check in agents will arrive at the location booked at the chosen time, between 8 am and 8 pm, it stated. 

 

The agent will go through the travel documents, complete the check-in process and collect their bags. Seat selection could also be made at the same time and extra baggage allowance purchased if required. 

 

John Wright, VP Global Airport, Network & Cargo Operations, Etihad Airways, said: "The airline is continuously looking to enhance the travel experience and with this latest initiative, we are giving guests more convenient travel options."

 

"Especially during the Covid pandemic, the home check-in service also limits human interaction at the airport as guests are able to head straight to immigration and avoid long lines at the airport," he stated.

 

"Guests who want to board their flight early and receive their luggage first can add Priority Boarding and Priority Bag Tags for an additional fee," he added.

 

Once at Abu Dhabi International Airport, all non-transit passengers that 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.

 

Omar Abou Faraj, the chief executive at DUBZ powered by dnata, said: "We are thrilled to be partnering with Etihad to offer travellers our popular home check-in services in Abu Dhabi. Our innovative service will provide complete peace of mind and more mobility to Etihad customers, helping them enjoy a smooth and safe travel experience during and after the pandemic."

 

The Abu Dhabi airline said home PCR tests were also available when booking any home check-in packages. A certified nurse from LifeDx will conduct the test and results will be received by email and SMS between 24 to 48 hours, it added.-TradeArabia News Service