Last updated: 31 October 2026.
Passengers can register online, through the app, at a kiosk or at a staffed desk, and in Dubai and the northern emirates there are check-in points away from the airport. The times below are counted back from your scheduled departure.
48 hourshow early online check-in opens
90 minonline check-in closes, and the last time to clear passport control and security
3 hoursusual time to reach the airport (up to 4 at some airports)
20 minbefore departure when the gate closes
Key times
- Online check-in opens
- 48 hours before departure
- Online check-in closes
- 90 minutes before departure (e-tickets)
- Arrive at the airport
- 3 hours before at most airports; up to 4 hours at some. Your ticket shows the best time.
- Through passport control and security
- By 90 minutes before departure at the latest
- At the gate, Economy and Premium Economy
- One hour before departure
- At the gate, Business and First
- Three quarters of an hour before departure
- Gate closes
- 20 minutes before departure
- Bag drop in Dubai
- Opens a day ahead (half a day ahead for US flights)
- Walking time to the gate at Dubai Terminal 3: up to 20 minutes for A gates, 15 for B gates and 25 for C gates.
- Each traveller has to turn up in person to check in or hand in bags; nobody can do it on another's behalf.
Online and app check-in
- You need each passenger's surname and the booking reference from the e-ticket. Up to nine travellers on one itinerary can be checked in together.
- You can pick a seat, add a Skywards number, choose a special meal and, if the destination country asks, enter passport details for advance passenger information.
- Your boarding pass goes to your phone, the Emirates app or a wallet app.
- Not available when the first flight of the itinerary is not flown by Emirates, which rules out every codeshare run by a different airline. If Qantas flies the first leg, check in on the Qantas website.
- For US trips you can enter a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck number (Known Traveller Number) online or at the desk.
- If operations require it, Emirates may change a seat you chose; a paid seat is then refundable under the terms.
At the airport
- Desks are set up by travel class and Skywards tier. Staff check bags and email a mobile boarding pass.
- Self-service kiosks print bag tags and boarding passes, and at Dubai can be run contact-free from your phone.
- Dubai also has portable check-in stations where staff help you finish check-in, and separate desks for families with buggies.
- Large groups and school trips can use the group desks in check-in zone C at Dubai; arrive three hours ahead.
Check-in away from the airport
- Home check-in (UAE)
- An agent comes to you, weighs and labels bags and emails the boarding pass. Free for full-fare First tickets; a paid service for tickets bought with Miles or upgraded.
- City Check-in and Travel Store, Dubai (ICD Brookfield Place, DIFC)
- Bags accepted from a day to four hours ahead of the flight. Open daily 8am to 10pm for check-in.
- City Check-in, Ajman Central Bus Terminal
- Open 24 hours; bags accepted from 24 hours to 4 hours before departure, with health documents shown.
- Cruise check-in, Port Rashid Terminal 3 and Dubai Harbour
- Check in at the port; bags are carried to the flight at no extra cost. Wheelchair accessible.
Questions travellers ask us
When does Emirates online check-in close?
90 minutes before departure. It opens 48 hours before.
How early should I get to the airport?
Plan on 3 hours, and up to 4 at some airports. Check the time on your ticket.
Is online check-in possible on a codeshare?
Only if Emirates flies the first leg of the trip.
Can I drop my bags the day before in Dubai?
Yes: it opens a day ahead, or 12 hours ahead on US flights.
Baggage Allowance is an independent information site and is not part of Emirates. Check the airline's own pages before you travel.
2 questions and answers
The airways is Eithad throughout however, its operated by Jet Airways in Kolkata and Mumbai.
My questions is - Would i be able to do a through check-in (i.e. give my luggages in Kolkata and collect it in Melbourne. In the itinerary its mentioned 2 PC Luggage / Adult for the three flights.
Please help me with this question.
You have posted this query in the Emirates Airlines page of this website. So, we want to confirm whether the airlines is Etihad or Emirates. Secondly, we would like to know which airline have you booked ticket with- Jet ariways or Emirates/Etihad. Also, please tell us the duration at stopover location. If the duration of stopover is more than 12 hours, then you will have to take the baggage and recheck in again for onward journey.
Yes, if it is available