Emirates

Emirates flights and information

• Emirates Check-in
• Emirates baggage allowance
• Emirates legroom

Online check-in is available for flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland and Christchurch airports. It is available between 24 hours nd 90 minutes before the flight is scheduled to depart. Passengers checking baggage should be at the airport at least 90 minutes before departure. Passengers without luggage should arrive at the airport at least 60 minutes before their flight is scheduled to take off.

Hand luggage: Economy Class passengers may bring one piece of carry-on luggage weighing up to 7kg (15lbs). Duty-free purchases of cigarettes, alcohol or perfume are also permitted in addition to the piece of luggage. In Business or First Class, passengers are allowed to bring two pieces of luggage weighing a total of 12kg. A reasonable amount of duty-free is also permitted in addition to the 12kg allowance.

Checked luggage: Economy Class customers can check in 30kg, Business Class travellers 40kg and if you are flying First Class you can travel with 50kg of checked baggage. A "weight concept" is in place for all of Emirates' destinations except for the US, Canada and Brazil where a piece concept applies. For those destinations Economy-Class travellers may bring two pieces at 23kg each and passengers in Business and First Class may check two pieces of luggage weighing up to 32kg each.

Excess baggage rates: Travellers may purchase extra baggage allowance; there's a 20 per cent discount for buying online.

The seat pitch is a generous sounding 81-86cm (32-34in) in Economy Class on the Boeing 777. However, it's a narrow seat. On the newer A380s and A340s travellers can stretch out a bit more. There's about 86cm (34in) of seat pitch on the A380.

First and Business Class, Skywards members and passengers who booked flights online may select their seats via the Manage a Booking section. Economy-Class passengers who are not members of Skywards must join the program to select their seats.

Changing an itinerary or cancelling a flight, hotel or car booking may be done via the Retrieve Booking section of Emirates' website. The ability to make a change depends on the fare class and, in general, the lower the fare, the greater the number of restrictions.

Infants (up to two years) fly for 10 per cent of the adult fare and children (2 to 11) fly for about 75 per cent of the adult fare.

There are no discounts for travellers aged 65 and older.

Animals (pets or service animals) are not allowed to travel in the aircraft cabin; they go in the hold. Some countries prohibit the importation of animals and birds as baggage and must be transported as cargo. These countries include Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. Normal excess baggage rates are charged. Arrange transport with the local Emirates office.

Musical instruments can be carried as cabin or checked baggage. Larger instruments may be transported in a paid-for seat.

For passengers in the premium seats Emirates offers a five-star service. Economy Class passengers can also look forward to a decent service with complimentary drinks (including aperitifs, spirits, beers and a choice of red and white wines, except on flights to Saudi Arabia). Lunch and dinner on international flights include hors d’oeuvre, salad, a choice of two main courses, dessert, chocolates, tea and coffee, and liqueurs. The in-flight entertainment is great, with approximately 1,200 channels of news and entertainment programming plus SMS, telephone and email service. Emirates makes flying fun for the little ones too with kiddie meals and small toys and activity packs.

Skywards is Emirates' frequent-flyer program.

A sample menu for an Economy flight is available at the Emirates' website.

See what types of meals passengers enjoyed on their Emirates flights at AirlineMeals.net.

Open Skies, Emirates' inflight magazine, is available at every seat and can be read online.

Emirates is not a member of any of the airline alliances.

The classy Middle Eastern carrier, international airline of Dubai, flies from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne (a focus city), Perth - and Auckland and Christchurch - to the emirate.

The seventh-largest airline in the world has a fleet of more than 200 aircraft (wide-bodied, Airbus A330 and 340, Airbus A380 and Boeing 777). For many in Australia it's the preferred option on Australia-UK flights - the kangaroo route.

Emirates - along with other Middle Eastern carriers - offers a more luxurious experience. There are suites in First Class and pods in Business Class. The cheaper seats in Economy are decent too with good amounts of legroom and great in-flight service.

Emirates is an enthusiastic sponsor of sporting events and has teamed up with the Victoria Racing Club to sponsor the Emirates Melbourne Cup until 2015.