EMIRATES: First class passengers can check in themselves and their baggage at home

If fully enclosed suites are not enough for you, then you can now do all your check-in at home or hotel if you are flying out of Dubai or Sharjah.

Emirates agents will meet you at your accommodation at a pre-booked time, complete check-in formalities including document verification collection of luggage and give you your boarding pass, all before you head to the airport. And if you forget to give them a bag, don’t worry, you can head to a special counter at the airport and add it to your checked-in baggage.

You can then relax before being collected by your complimentary chauffeur-driven service and be transported to the First Class Lounge (after security) and take up the delights of complimentary services such as a facial treatment at the Timeless Spa, a shoeshine by Mr Cobbler, four fine champagne vintages at the dedicated Moet and Chandon bar, special offers at luxury wine and spirits retailer Le Clos, and limited-edition tea blends from Dilmah Tea.

Like I will be using this anytime soon, but if you are, you need to book it 24 hours prior to flight departure, and the latest they can collect your luggage is 6 hours before your flight.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

Call me old-fashioned, but I can only see limited demand for this service. For a start it is only offered in the Emirates at 2 locations, so not out of other ports. I can see if you were busy doing business in Dubai, it might be convenient to get your bags collected while you check out of your hotel, and head off to lunch or a business meeting, or dinner before you catch your late evening flight to London or Sydney, or just linger longer unencumbered in the First Lounge. But that can’t be that many people can it? Or am I just displaying my vulgarity and unfamiliarity with the ways of First Class passengers on Emirates?

I’ve never travelled in First Class on Emirates anyway, so what would I know?