In Pictures: There is still time to choose from UAE airlines’ Valentine’s Day offers

It’s Valentine’s Day and you are still undecided about taking a travel break? Not an issue, there are still offers that extend for a couple of days more.

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad has its promotion live until February 16, for travel until June 23. So, all that’s needed from you is a firm decision to travel and all the rest of it follows in natural order.

Tickets to Paris start at Dh1,995 in Economy and AED 9,995 in Business. A journey to Vienna can be had for Dh1,195, while trips to Phuket or Cairo start from Dh2,195 and Dh1,195 respectively.

UAE airlines had doubled down with their campaigns ahead of Valentine’s Day, with Emirates announcing a straight 25 per cent discount for travellers from the UAE. The offer was valid for two or more people and up to a maximum of nine booked under the same reference. Travellers had a choice of up to 20 destinations.

And not just on tickets too. Travellers flying with Emirates on Valentine’s Day will savour goodies to “sweeten their journey in the air” and at its dedicated lounges. Sweets like brownies and mini red velvet cupcakes will be offered as takeaways in all cabin classes. The entertainment system is also lined up with romantic music and movies for the traveler to get in the mood.

Customers seeking a last minute Valentine’s Day gift or surprise, can enjoy a 15 per cent discount on duty free items from EmiratesRED.

Airlines are also getting a sense of travel demand ahead of the peak summer months with these offers. It is interesting that Emirates had its Valentine’s Day offer on London flights too. This more or less coincided with the removal of COVID-19 test requirements for all fully-vaccinated travelers to the UK from February 11.

Turkish Airlines had 20 per cent on Economy and 15 per cent for Business class seat on flights to the US. Clearly, airlines are tying in promotions to ascertain demand on key sectors that are returning to a semblance of normalcy.

If there are no more of the COVID-19 variants floating around, summer of 2022 will represent the first full return of peak travel since 2019. The most encouraging of recent developments is UK’s rollback of tests for fully-vaccinated travelers. India is doing the same, albeit with a staggered approach. In the first phase, full-vaccinated travelers from 80 countries can breeze in with minimum fuss.

And for those UAE residents who don’t have any travel plans until the second-half of the year, there is always a staycation deal around.