Saudi’s new ‘passengers with no bags’ service — what you need to know

Saudi Arabia’s Matarat Holding has announced a luggage service that allows passengers to check in their baggage ahead of their trip and send it to their destination.

The service is available on all domestic and international flights. It will be launched in Q1 this year.

Matarat Holding manages and monitors the operations of 27 airports in Saudi Arabia through its subsidiaries (Riyadh Airports, Jeddah Airports, Dammam Airports, and Cluster 2).

What the new Saudi baggage service entails

The ‘Passengers with No Bags’ service enables travellers to ship their luggage ahead from home to any destination and finalise travel-related procedures before their flight date.

The service is also available for individuals and groups.

Matarat Holding said in a press release that the service will help cut down airport wait times and limit the carrying of luggage in the airports.

Passengers must have a confirmed and valid ticket or book on one of the participating airlines. They have to provide all the necessary travel documentation and not carry prohibited items in their luggage.

The service is aligned with the company’s efforts to achieve the highest standards of safety and comfort to ensure smooth movement at Saudi airports.

This service aligns with the Saudi Aviation Strategy, which comes from the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and the Saudi Vision 2030.

Planning to travel soon? Here are some home and city check-in facilities in the UAE

Home and city check-in services can help alleviate the stress of travel especially if you travel often, or are travelling with family or a large group.

Here are some convenient options available in the UAE if you are planning to travel soon.

Emirates: The Dubai-based carrier offers home check-in services that enable travellers to carry out the check-in process in the comfort of their home, hotel, or office ahead of their trip.

In April last year, Emirates also launched a new City Check‑in and Travel Store, enabling customers to conveniently book travel, check in for flights, drop luggage and even shop for travel essentials.

The ICD Brookfield Place joins the airline’s other luggage drop facilities in Ajman, as well as at the Port Rashid Terminal 3 or Dubai Harbour, dedicated to travellers disembarking cruise ships.

Etihad: Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways offers city check-in options at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal and Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Travellers can drop off their bags and speed up immigration checks, select seats or even upgrade their booking 24 to four hours before flight departure time.

Flydubai: Passengers can avail of home check-in options if flying from Dubai, as well as the belt pick-up and delivery service when arriving in Dubai. The belt pick-up and delivery gives travellers the option to have their luggage delivered to their homes or hotels without having to wait to fetch the bags when they arrive.

Home check-in is available for those flying from Dubai. To avail of the service, passengers have to fill out a request form up to six hours before departure.

An airline representative will then meet them at their address, check in their baggage, and provide a boarding pass and baggage tags.

Air Arabia: The airline’s city check-in service enables travellers to drop off their baggage and receive their boarding passes eight to 24 hours before departure. Passengers can also select seats.

Air Arabia check-in services are available in Ajman, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi.