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Emirates boasts a fleet of more than 265 aircraft, including Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s, and operates flights to more than 155 international destinations. It's the Middle East's largest airline, ahead of Saudi Arabian Airlines.

Established in 1985, it's part of the Emirates Group, which is owned by the state-owned Investment Corporation of Dubai. The airline isn't a member of any alliance but has codeshare agreements with other airlines, including Malaysia Airlines and Japan Airlines.

Emirates flights frequently feature economy class, business class and first class cabins, and an in-flight dining service is available on some routes. Emirates has received many travel industry accolades over the years, and won the Airline of the Year category at the 2018 Air Travel Awards. It has a rewards programme called Emirates Skywards.

Emirates offers an online check-in service for flights departing from 110 airports, including Dubai, London Gatwick and London Heathrow. However, you can't check in online if your first flight is being operated by another airline, even if it's a codeshare flight. If the first flight on your itinerary is with Qantas Airways, however, you can use the Qantas online check-in service instead.

To use the Emirates online check-in service, you'll need your booking reference/PNR and the surnames of anyone you want to check in. You can check in up to nine passengers if they're on the same booking and you can change your seats at this stage. Anyone aged under 16 who is travelling without an adult cannot check in online.

Once you've checked in, unless further checks are required, you'll be sent an e-boarding pass. If you can't print this, you can take your passport and ticket to the Emirates desk at the airport and inform the staff that you've checked in online. If further document checks are necessary, you'll need to collect your boarding pass from the airport's Emirates desk.

The online check-in system will be open from 48 hours until 90 minutes before your flight's departure time. You'll need to arrive at the airport at least an hour before your flight departs if you aren't checking baggage in, and at least 90 minutes before departure time if you are. Once there, follow the instructions on your boarding pass.

The amount of checked luggage you can take depends on your ticket class and route. For passengers on routes that don't depart from or arrive in Canada, North America, South America or Africa, the maximum total luggage weights per person for each ticket class are usually:

• Economy special – 20 kg
• Economy saver or flex – 30 kg
• Economy flex plus – 35 kg
• Business – 40 kg
• First Class – 50 kg

The Emirates baggage policy states that you can use this allowance to take multiple pieces of luggage but the total dimensions of any piece (its length, height and width added together) must not be more than 300 cm. Pieces measuring more than this will not be allowed on the plane. No single piece should weigh more than 32 kg, either

However, if you're flying to or from North America, South America or Canada, or from Africa, different check-in baggage allowances and restrictions apply.

If you're travelling with an infant, you can check in either an additional 10 kg of luggage or one extra piece of luggage, with total dimensions of no more than 115 cm and weighing up to 23 kg, depending on whether the allowance on your flight is calculated by weight or by piece.

The Emirates hand luggage allowance regulations state that passengers who are flying in economy class are allowed a single piece of carry-on baggage. This can measure up to 55 cm x 38 cm x 20 cm and weigh up to 7 kg.

Those flying in first class or business class can take two pieces (a briefcase plus either a handbag or a garment bag). Each piece should weigh no more than 7 kg and the maximum dimensions allowable are:

• Briefcase – 45 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm
• Handbag – 55 cm x 38 cm x 20 cm
• Garment bag – Maximum thickness of 20 cm when folded

There are some exceptions to this. Passengers flying from India can only have one piece of carry-on baggage (with total dimensions of no more than 115 cm), while those travelling from Brazil have a cabin baggage allowance of 10 kg.

If you are travelling with an infant and don't have a child seat, you can bring a carry-cot or collapsible pushchair into the cabin, subject to space availability.

Emirates flies to and from destinations across the globe. Popular Emirates routes include:

• Sydney to London flights
• Paris to Delhi flights
• Dubai to Jeddah flights
• London to Auckland flights
• Düsseldorf to Dubai flights
• Glasgow to Hong Kong flights
• Barcelona to Bangkok flights
• Dublin to Perth flights
• Rome to Male flights
• Kuala Lumpur to Manchester flights