Dubai: Samsung Galaxy Note 7s are prohibited on all airlines flying from Dubai airports, the Dubai airport operator announced on Tuesday.
The prohibition came on a heels of a total ban imposed by UAE-based airlines on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone following reports of exploding batteries and resultant fires.
Dubai Airports prohibit Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on all airlines flying from airports in #Dubai— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 18, 2016
On Monday, flydubai issued a statement that it will neither allow Note 7 on board nor in the checked baggage, following a ban on the Samsung smartphone by national carriers Etihad Airways and Emirates.
“In line with the recent regulatory directive, flydubai is unable to accept the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 personal electronic device on board our aircraft or in checked baggage with immediate effect,” the budget carrier said in a statement.
Etihad Airways and Emirates announced on Sunday a complete ban the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones being carried on their flights.
Etihad Airways is "enforcing" a total ban on Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones in the wake of their global recall, the airline said on Sunday.
"Guests must not carry Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in their checked-in baggage, in cabin baggage, or on their person," the airline said. "We apologise for the inconvenience caused. However, the safety and security or our passengers and staff is of the utmost importance."
Exchange, refund at airports
The Korean electronics giant has set up booths in airports across the world to give Galaxy Note 7 users a chance to exchange or get a refund for the devices before they board a flight with an airline that has banned the handset.
The booths have opened in South Korea, seven airports in Australia, and the UK, a Samsung spokesperson told CNBC.
Airlines and authorities globally have moved to ban the device outright on flights. The U.S. Federal Aviation Authorities and Japan's transport ministry ordered a blanket bans on Note 7s on flights.
Exchange
Samsung Gulf Electronics erarlier confirmed that consumers who have a Galaxy Note 7 device can start exchanging their phone for a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge or receive a full refund from Tuesday.
The South Korean smartphone manufacturer announced a week ago that it was discontinuing the Note 7 after a chaotic recall that saw replacement phones also catching fire.
It announced the global recall of 2.5 million Note 7s in early September following reports of the phones’ batteries catching fire. In the UAE, Samsung sold 19,000 Note 7s.
Samsung said last week that the fiasco would cost the company an estimated $5.3 billion (Dh19.47 billion) in lost profits over the three-quarters, beginning from July.
Moreover, many of the top airlines have banned Galaxy Note 7 devices on-board flights for both carry-on and checked baggage. Airline passengers will not be permitted to take a Galaxy Note 7 on a flight, either switched on or turned off.
A Samsung spokesperson said the issue is only with Note 7 and not any other models.
“We apologise for this inconvenience. We are working with airlines and airports to arrange customer service points within high-traffic terminals where customers, who are unaware of the Galaxy Note 7 ban on flights, can arrange for an alternative device at the airport,” Samsung’s website said.
The spokesperson said that consumers can exchange the Galaxy Note 7 for a Galaxy S7 edge with the refund of the price difference (in the form of cash or a gift voucher amounting to 66 Bahraini dinars/53 Kuwaiti dinars/67.5 Omani riyals/650 Qatari riyals or UAE dirhams) at any of the locations listed on Samsung’s website.
In Abu Dhabi, it is Marina Mall, Khalidiya Mall, Bawabat Al Sharq, Dalma Mall and Al Wahda Mall at Samsung brand shops; in Dubai, it is Mall of The Emirates, Mirdif City Centre, Deira City Centre, BurJuman and Ibn Battuta Mall; in Sharjah, it is Sahara Centre, Sharjah City Centre and Nasseriyah Centre.
To obtain a full refund, the spokesperson said that customers need to bring the Galaxy Note 7 and the original receipt to the point of purchase.
“Consumers who do not have a valid purchase receipt are advised to call Samsung’s call centre in their respective countries. The call centre will take note of the details of the person and the device and will inform when and where to get a refund or replacement,” he said.
Before returning the Galaxy Note 7, he said, customers should back up their data, complete a factory reset to delete personal information and power down their device.
