Emirates phases out paper boarding pass for flights from Dubai

Muscat: Emirates will be scrapping paper boarding passes for most passengers departing from its Dubai hub in a move to boost its sustainability drive.

The airline said that passengers who complete their travel procedures at Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport can obtain boarding passes via e-mail or SMS, starting from May 15.

Checked-in baggage receipts will be emailed directly to passengers and can be accessed from the app.

“This initiative will significantly reduce paper waste while simultaneously offering a convenient and speedy check-in experience for passengers departing Dubai,” Emirates said.

“It reduces the risk of lost or misplaced boarding passes, giving passengers peace of mind when traveling.”

However, some passengers may still require a physical boarding pass in certain cases, including those traveling with infants or unaccompanied minors, as well as passengers requiring special assistance or connecting with other airlines.

All passengers flying into the United States will also need physical boarding passes.

The option to print a boarding pass is available by request to Emirates agents at check-in counters, if passengers do not have a mobile device, or if they are unable to access the information on their devices for reasons such as running out of battery power, a system breakdown or glitch, message delivery delay, or inability to access WIFI, network or a data package.

Registered passengers can now enjoy a seamless travel experience at Dubai International Airport, where they will be able to use biometric machines or smart gates to go through various airport stations.

UAE Residents can register to use the Smart Gates at Emirates Terminal 3 and speed through Immigration every time they return to Dubai. UAE citizens and residents can use their passport, boarding pass, or a valid UAE ID, while GCC nationals or visitors eligible for visas on arrival can pass through the Smart Gates with a biometric passport.