06 January 2009 09:17 GMT
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Arriving and departing
Checking-in
Most passengers checking in for a flight from Abu Dhabi will use Terminal 1, to which the below information refers. A smaller number of airlines, mostly those flying to the Indian subcontinent or the Far East, leave from Terminal 2, which is five minutes from Terminal 1 and even simpler to navigate.
- When arriving at the airport, certain airlines and classes have specific entrances but these are clearly marked and, in any case, all walking distances are extremely short.
- Before the check-in area is a small duty-free shop, as well as a Travelex currency exchange point.
- Upstairs from the main entrance hall is an area with an Etihad ticket office, a bank counter and an ATM.
- Send off a last-minute postcard using the airport’s post office. It’s next to the exterior, ground-floor car park in an area which also includes car rental counters, ATMs and other travel services.
- Meet-and-assist services are provided by Golden Class (+971 2 575 7466, www.goldenclassservice.ae), who have an office in the main hall before check-in. A VIP service costs $20 and includes escorted fast-tracking through passport control and use of the City Terminal service. Issuing an international driving license costs Dhs 150 ($41).
- Etihad passengers with Diamond or Pearl tickets are able to use a premium check-in counter.
- Once you're inside the check-in area, a bag wrapping service is available and costs roughly $3 per item of luggage. There is also a money exchange counter at the far end of the check-in area.
- If you have a UAE e-gate card, then you can use the special automated passport control point next to the normal passport queues. For more information on this service go to www.dnrd.gov.ae. It costs $55 and is only available for those nationalities who do not require a visa upon arrival.
Terminal 2, located a short drive away from Terminal 1, is much smaller than its counterpart and generally serves short-haul flights to the Middle and Far East.
- An ATM, currency exchange counter and cafe can be found in the main entrance hall before check-in, whilst a small duty-free shop and a number of cafes are available for departing passengers to use in the departures area.
Abu Dhabi airport also manages a City Terminal (+971 2 644 5599), located in Abu Dhabi city centre, which allows passengers to check-in early, avoid last-minute stress and have the option of using a coach service to get to the airport. The service also offers showers and business centre facilities.
- If you're flying Etihad, then you can check in between 6 and 24 hours before your scheduled departure time. Any luggage you drop off will be taken to the airport for your flight. The service is free for all classes of passengers on Etihad, although the City Terminal cannot be used for US-bound passengers.
- First/Business Class passengers on other airlines can use the City Terminal for free, while economy passengers must pay a fee of Dhs 75 ($20) per person, of Dhs 55 ($15) per person for a group of two or more adults. The fee for 2-12 year old children is Dhs 30 ($8), with under-2s going free. The airlines using the City Terminal are Gulf Air, Sudan Airways, Royal Jordanian, Qatar Airways, EgyptAir, Air India and Air India Express.
And, if you're flying from Abu Dhabi but live in Dubai, then Etihad offers another check-in terminal located on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai's largest thoroughfare. It's next to the Chelsea Tower.
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