Meet Sara – Emirates’ new robot check-in assistant
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Last month, Emirates announced the introduction of the world’s first robot check-in assistant, called ‘Sara.’
APEX Media went to the airline’s City Check in and Travel Store in Dubai’s International Financial Centre (DIFC) to meet her, and to try out the check-in process for ourselves.
Sara looks a little bit like one of the droids in Star Wars, she moves around the Emirates facility, and has both a check-in screen and a slot to scan your passport.
Upon approaching, we were greeted with “Hi, I am Sara, please scan your passport.”
Sara matched our faces with our passports and issued us with boarding passes in under a minute. We were then able to take our luggage to the counter, where it was tagged and checked.
Especially if you are doing business in Dubai, the whole process presents the traveller with a considerable time saving, as when at the airport you can go straight through security.
Emirates City Check-in and Travel store also features large 2.5 metre LCD screens showing destination content, as well as an interactive touchscreen map.
Visitors meanwhile can get expert advice and offers on trending destinations, while dedicated travel consultants can assist with purchasing tickets for future journeys, managing current bookings, purchasing upgrades, selecting preferred seats, and arranging extra baggage if required.
Finally, Emirates has teamed up with business and leisure hub ICD Brookfield Place to offer exclusive discounts and special offers across a range of restaurants, gyms, and luxury stores – including Josette, 1Rebel, Lulu and the Beanstalk, and Embody Fitness.
Around the DIFC, visitors can enjoy a diverse range of services, shopping, world-class cuisine, and art galleries, including the extensive promenade at DIFC’s Gate Avenue.
When it’s time to fly, passengers can then connect directly to the airport via taxi, Emirates chauffeur service, or take a short 10-minute walk to Financial Centre Metro Station connecting seamlessly into the Airport Terminal 3 Metro Station.