Hate lugging your suitcase through the airport like you’re competing in some kind of luggage Olympics? Well Dubai International Airport (DXB) is plotting a future where your bag gets checked in without you having to step foot near a counter. DXB wants a quarter of all luggage to be checked in before you even arrive at the airport. Whether you’re chilling at home, lounging in your hotel room, or still deciding what to wear on the flight — your suitcase could be heading to the airport ahead of you, thanks to their slick partnership with Dubz.
Dubz — launched in 2016 and later scooped up by Dnata — lets you check in your bags and get your boarding pass from literally anywhere in the city. Think of hotel lobby, apartment door, or even poolside. It’s all online, on-demand, and designed to cut down on the stress of airport queues and bag drops.
“We handled 24 million bags this quarter, so we’re going to exceed 100 million bags in Dubai this year. If we could have 20 per cent of them, that is one in five bags, to be checked in off-site here in Dubai, the impact on customer service experience at the airport would be tenfold.”
– Ciaran O’Sullivan, DVP Airline Services UAE Airport Operations at Dnata
Speaking at The Airport Show, DXB’s Chief Operating Officer Ciaran said the goal is scale. More people using the service is lower costs for everyone. And they’re not stopping with hotels — they’re looking at getting everyone on board, from RTA and Dubai Metro to holiday firms and beyond.
Experts at the event talked about how global airports are tapping into artificial intelligence to make sure your bags arrive where you do. Because nothing ruins a holiday like your beachwear taking a separate vacation.
Dubai is reimagining the airport experience — and it starts with sending your bag off before you even say goodbye.
(Contributed by Wajeeha Syed)