Etihad Airways has launched a new at-home luggage check-in service in partnership with off-airport solutions provider Dubz.
Customers departing Abu Dhabi can visit etihad.com/homecheckin up to seven hours before their flight, and request for their baggage to be collected and checked in from their home or office.
The service can be booked between 0800 and 2000, with a check-in agent arriving to check travel documents, complete the check-in process and collect bags.
Seat selection can also be made at the same time, and extra baggage allowance can be purchased if required, as can priority boarding and priority bag tags.
Once at Abu Dhabi International airport all non-transit passengers using the at-home service can head straight to immigration.
Home check-in packages start from AED 220 (around £42) for up to four bags, with additional bags costing AED 40 (£8) per piece. Bag disinfection can also be added on for an extra fee.
As part of the service customers can also purchase an at-home PCR test, with a certified nurse from LifeDx conducting the test, and results being sent by email and SMS between 24 and 48 hours.
Commenting on the news John Wright, vice president global airport, network and cargo Operations, Etihad Airways said:
“Etihad is continuously looking to enhance the travel experience and with this latest initiative, the airline is 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.”
In the UK a similar service has been available for several years through Airportr, in partnership with carriers including British Airways, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Easyjet, Virgin Atlantic, Qantas and Finnair.
