Dubai: Effective Wednesday, US-bound passengers flying with Emirates on premium seats will be allowed to use tablets during the non-stop flight despite the electronics ban.
Under the new service, which seeks to ease inconvenience of customers affected by the US security measure, Emirates premium flyers will be able to borrow the airline’s Microsoft Surface tablets equipped with Microsoft Office 2016.
Emirates is the latest Gulf carrier to introduce an electronic device loan service since the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a directive requiring all travellers on non-stop flights to the US from Dubai and other Muslim-majority countries to check in their laptops, tablets and other personal electronic devices larger than a smartphone.
Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways had earlier announced they will loan free electronic devices to business-class travellers on flights bound to the US.
Emirates passengers who intend to finish some work mid-flight can download their work on to a USB prior to departure, bring it on board and plug it into the loaned device once they’re on the plane.
The tablets will be offered on a complimentary basis and will be available on all non-stop flights from Dubai to American destinations served by Emirates.
Here's how Emirates' electronics handling service works:
For economy class passengers, they have the option to bring their devices until just before they board their flights. The airline has introduced a laptop and tablet handling service for all cabin classes starting from March 25, 2017, when the security measures took effect.
Fly the @Emirates A380 to 47 cities across 6 continents pic.twitter.com/Ex67iCUDrL— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 4, 2017
Flyers who want to avail themselves of the service are advised to declare and hand over their gadgets to the security personnel at the boarding gate. The devices will then be packed, tagged and stored in the aircraft hold, and returned to the customer when they arrive in the US.
