There is a lot to think about when planning your well-earned summer holiday: remember to pack those all-important essentials, leave enough time to get to the airport to check in and book the correct checked baggage allowance ahead of time. To help ensure you arrive at your destination as relaxed as possible, flydubai, Dubai’s innovative low-cost airline, has compiled some top tips for stress-free travel.
Planning your trip…- Be adventurous and consider new and exciting holiday destinations. flydubai has more than 45 diverse destinations to choose from, including Baku in Azerbaijan, Tbilisi in Georgia and Yerevan in Armenia.
- If you have baggage to check in at the airport, make sure you book and pay for it online via flydubai.com at least four hours in advance of your flight. Whichever allowance you choose, whether it’s 20kg, 30kg or 40kg where available, make sure you stick to it, otherwise you will be charged at the per kilo airport rate, which can prove to be expensive. With flydubai you can divide the weight you’ve purchased by up to three bags per person – just make sure that no single item weighs more than 32kg.
- Plan ahead by logging on to flydubai.com prior to your date of travel and choosing where you want to sit from just Dh5 ($1.3) If you want a little more space, a seat with extra legroom can be selected for Dh100 ($27). If you don’t mind where you sit, flydubai will allocate you a seat at check in.
- If you want to hire a car at your destination, flydubai has teamed up with CarTrawler allowing passengers to book a vehicle and drive away for less, around the world. Log on to flydubai.com to find the best rates from more than 650 car rental companies across 35,000 cities and airports in 185 countries.
Packing your bags...
- If you plan on carrying only hand luggage on your flydubai flight, don’t forget that the limit is one item weighing no more than 7kg (plus a small handbag, purse or laptop bag), so pack light or be prepared to check in your excess luggage and pay the airport’s applicable per kilo rate.
Why not purchase some luggage scales from a department store for around Dh30 ($8.1) to make sure that you are not over your baggage allowance before you leave for the airport. The airport scales are accurate and regularly calibrated but at least this will prevent any major surprises. - Buy small and save space! A lot of supermarkets and chemists sell miniature versions of your family’s favourite essentials such as shampoo and toothpaste, but remember not to carry liquids or any other prohibited item in your hand baggage
- Save weighing down your hand luggage by buying snacks onboard with flydubai, which offers combo meals from just Dh25 ($6.8) plus a range of drinks, sandwiches and other snacks.
- Please do not pack cooking oil, honey or other perishable items in your luggage as these can cause significant damage to your other personal belongings as well as those of your fellow passengers.
- Avoid unnecessary stress by leaving enough time to get to flydubai’s base at Terminal 2. Traffic can be heavy during rush hour so don’t let this get your trip off to a stressful start. There is also a lot of construction work underway around Terminal 2 as we prepare for our future expansion, so please be aware that this can cause some disruption from time to time. We regret any inconvenience caused but we know you will love the end result!
- Make sure you are at the airport at least two hours prior to your flight, leaving enough time for some Duty Free shopping.
- If you are travelling with hand luggage, take advantage of flydubai’s express check-in desks, which offer a quicker and more convenient service, you will find them just inside the main entrance on the right hand side..
- Keep children entertained during the flight by packing a selection of their favourite toys. Alternatively, you can pay just Dh10 ($2.7) for the Basic in-flight entertainment package or for Dh30 ($8) you can have access to more than 500 hours of on-board entertainment, including family favourite TV shows, including Tom & Jerry and Baby Looney Tunes or films such as The Muppets & Happy Feet 2.
- Upload the latest holiday reads to your e-reader before you leave for the airport.
- Create a holiday playlist for your iPod when you are in transit. This will ensure you get into the holiday mood as soon as you arrive at your destination.
Happy Holidays!