Emirates has extended support for U.S.-bound passengers affected by the recent TSA restriction on larger electronics by offering complimentary Microsoft Surface tablets for use during nonstop flights to the United States.
The move complements Emirates’ existing laptop handling service. Passengers transiting through Dubai may use their laptops during the initial part of their journey and while at Dubai International Airport; however, devices must be handed over at the gate before boarding so they can be boxed and stored in the aircraft hold for the flight to the U.S.
An Emirates spokesperson explained that customers can transfer work files onto a USB drive and plug it into the provided Surface tablet to continue working seamlessly during the flight.
Business and first class travelers can request a Microsoft Surface tablet preloaded with Microsoft Office 2016, allowing access to and editing of documents via USB throughout the flight. Emirates said nearly 8,000 passengers have used its laptop handling service since it began.
Other Gulf carriers have introduced similar measures for premium passengers. Etihad Airways offers complimentary iPad loans to first- and business-class customers on affected routes, while Qatar Airways provides loaner laptops to its business-class travelers for use during flights to the U.S.
Turkish Airlines has a related program that grants free in-flight WiFi to passengers who surrender their laptops or tablets at boarding, and Saudia Airlines provides 20 MB of complimentary WiFi to travelers returning from the United States or the United Kingdom.