Jump directly to the content
EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE

If you are planning a trip to Dubai, you need to know this about their new luggage rules

If your bag doesn't have a flat surface, officials will not allow it to be checked into the hold of a plane

From March 8, Dubai airport is introducing strict new rules about what luggage will be allowed on planes

Dubai Airport is introducing strict new rules about luggage that have the potential to cause a nightmare for tourists.

Any bags that don't fit the harsh new guidelines about shape will not be allowed on the plane.

From March 8, Dubai airport is introducing strict new rules about what luggage will be allowed on planes
2
From March 8, Dubai airport is introducing strict new rules about what luggage will be allowed on planesCredit: Getty Images

From March 8, anyone wanting to check in a bag will have to follow these rules:

  • No round bags
  • No irregular shaped bags
  • All bags must have a flat surface

If they don't want to leave their bag behind, travellers will have to stump up the cash for their luggage to be repackaged in boxes.

Bags without flat surfaces will not be checked in at Dubai Airport, because they increase the risk of delays
2
Bags without flat surfaces will not be checked in at Dubai Airport, because they increase the risk of delaysCredit: Getty Images

Officials have revealed that the new policy is to  reduce the risk of mishandlings and prevent delays to flights.

Ali Angizeh, Vice President of Terminal Operations at Dubai International said: "Even the most technologically advanced systems can be disrupted by irregular shaped or oversized bags.

"Bags that are round or do not have a flat surface of any kind are by far the largest source of baggage jams.

"These jams can shut down sections of our system, delay baggage delivery to the aircraft and inconvenience our customers."

Covering a surface area of 75 football fields, Dubai's baggage handling system is one of the largest in the world and in January alone it processed around 9.3 million bags.

Topics