Latest news with #MansoorAli
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Time of India
What is 'Airport Theory'? Why are Dubai travellers ditching the 3-hour rule before flights?
Passengers rushing through Dubai Airport test the viral 'airport theory' of cutting check-in times to a minimum/ Image: File A growing number of travellers in Dubai are embracing a viral social media trend known as 'airport theory,' which challenges the long-held belief that passengers should arrive at the airport three hours before departure. With thousands of videos circulating online, the theory claims that one can get from airport entrance to boarding gate in just 15 minutes, provided certain conditions are met. Now, some UAE-based globetrotters are testing this theory in real life, cutting it closer than ever to their boarding time. The Frequent Flyer Who Swears by It Dubai resident Mansoor Ali, 50, is no stranger to airport halls. Speaking to local news outlet Khaleej Times, he expressed his dislike for the traditional practice of arriving hours before take-off. 'I have had security officers jog with me to the door of the plane so that I could catch my flight,' said Mansoor. He claims to have been one of the early adopters of the viral trend. 'I just think it is unnecessary to arrive hours early to the airport. I usually check in online and carry only my hand luggage,' he explained. Whether travelling solo or with his wife and three children, his approach has remained consistent. Despite cutting it close, he's only missed two flights in the past decade. 'Nowadays, I arrive a little early just so that I can enjoy some time in the lounge. Otherwise, I still believe you need minimal time to get through the airport. However, it also depends upon how much rush there is in the airport, especially in holiday season,' he added. Airports and Airlines Weigh In As the trend picked up steam globally, it caught the attention of local airports and airlines. On Tuesday, Dubai International Airport (DXB) posted a cheeky video referencing the trend, asking: 'Why risk a missed flight when you can enjoy a matcha at the gate instead?' Meanwhile, Emirates Airlines issued a more serious advisory last week, urging passengers to arrive three hours early during peak travel periods. The airline cited heavy traffic and large crowds, common during holidays, as reasons for adhering to the traditional timeline. Over the last few weeks, the region has also experienced multiple flight delays and cancellations due to various reasons. Travel agents have cautioned flyers to check flight statuses in advance and plan for extra time at the airport to avoid surprises. Not Everyone's On Board While some frequent flyers are intrigued by the minimalist approach, many younger travellers are staying cautious or even outright rejecting the theory. Emirati Hind Hassan, 22, told KT she always arrives early, sometimes as much as four hours ahead of her flight. 'I have always arrived at the airport extra early in case of unforeseen incidents that may cause delays,' she said. 'Arriving early calms me down and I love sitting in the airport waiting lounge, watching people pass by and airplanes take off and land. Why would anyone want to arrive 20 minutes before boarding just to rush and stress for no reason?' Hind was firmly against the trend, calling it 'a risky practice.' She added: 'It encourages people to arrive a mere few minutes before boarding. No one can predict what can happen during those moments prior to arriving at the airport, and any delay can cost you a missed flight, and a lot of money.' A TikToker's Unexpected Test Run Dubai-based TikToker Suwaj Giri said he inadvertently tried the airport theory when returning to the UAE from Nepal earlier this year. He told KT: 'I was early, but at the check-in counter I was informed that the boarding was about to close. I ran through the airport and got to the gate in less than 15 minutes.' Now curious about whether the method holds up in different situations, Suwaj said he might try it again later this year but noted that much depends on the terminal. 'For example, if you are travelling out of Terminal 2, it will be a breeze to get to the gate in 15 minutes,' he said. 'But if you are flying from Terminal 3, you need 45 minutes to just navigate the airport.' 'However, I am curious about the trend and will definitely be trying it out when I travel next,' he added.
Khaleej Times
02-07-2025
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Leaving home 30 mins before flight? Some travellers try viral airport theory
Dubai resident Mansoor Ali has been to 60 countries and there is one thing he absolutely dislikes about travelling — getting to the airport three hours prior to check-in. The 50-year-old has often arrived at the check-in gate of airports across the world, sometimes with just 30 minutes to spare before the flight's departure and still made it to the plane on time. He claims to be one of the early adopters of a new viral trend on social media called airport theory. The theory, which has been trending worldwide, argues that travellers can get through airport security to their boarding gate in just 15 minutes and that there is no need to arrive at the airport three hours ahead, as usually recommended. There are thousands of videos on several social media platforms of travellers testing out the theory at various airports. 'I have had security officers jog with me to the door of the plane so that I could catch my flight,' said Mansoor. 'I just think it is unnecessary to arrive hours early to the airport. I usually check in online and carry only my hand luggage. Sometimes, I travel alone, but mostly it is with my wife and three children. Despite arriving so late, I have only missed two flights in the last 10 years of my travel." "Nowadays, I arrive a little early just so that I can enjoy some time in the lounge. Otherwise, I still believe you need minimal time to get through the airport. However, it also depends upon how much rush there in the airport, especially in holiday season.' On Tuesday, Dubai Airport (DXB) issued a cheeky video about the trend asking why risk a missed flight when they can enjoy a matcha at the gate instead. Last week, Emirates Airlines had issued an advisory asking people to arrive three hours early during peak travel times to factor in traffic and huge crowds. Over the last few weeks, the region has seen multiple delayed and cancelled flights due to multiple reasons and travel agents have advised flyers to check their flight statuses and arrive early to avoid nasty surprises. Risky behaviour However, some Gen-Z travellers refused to buy into the trend. Emirati Hind Hassan says she likes to arrive at the airport much ahead of schedule, sometimes even four hours prior to departure. 'I have always arrived at the airport extra early in case of unforeseen incidents that may cause delays,' she said. 'Arriving early calms me down and I love sitting in the airport waiting lounge, watching people pass by and airplanes take off and land. Why would anyone want to arrive 20 minutes before boarding just to rush and stress for no reason?' The 22-year-old said the trend was 'a risky practice' and she could not understand why people would do it. 'It encourages people to arrive a mere few minutes before boarding. No one can predict what can happen during those moments prior to arriving at the airport, and any delay can cost you a missed flight, and a lot of money.' Trying it out Dubai-based Tiktoker Suwaj Giri said he inadvertently tested the theory when he was returning from his home country of Nepal to the UAE earlier this year. 'I was early, but at the check-in counter I was informed that the boarding was about to close,' he recalled. 'I ran through the airport and got the gate in less than 15 minutes.' He said he wants to try it out when he travels again later this year, but everything depended on the airport. 'For example, if you are travelling out of Terminal 2, it will be a breeze to get to the gate in 15 minutes,' he said. 'But if you are flying from Terminal 3, you need 45 minutes to just navigate the airport. However, I am curious about the trend and will definitely be trying it out when I travel next.'
Khaleej Times
06-06-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
UAE welcomes first babies born on Eid Al Adha 2025
Eid Al Adha 2025 became even more memorable for two sets of parents in Dubai as they welcomed their newborns during the early hours of the auspicious day, adding a deeper meaning to an already cherished occasion. As the city awoke to the call of Eid prayers and the spirit of togetherness, joy, and sacrifice, two families were celebrating a more personal miracle -the arrival of new life. Dubai-based Indian expat parents Nikita Paresh Wadka and Yogesh welcomed their first child, a baby boy, at 1:54am at Prime Hospital, Dubai. He weighed 2.9 kg at birth. 'We are delighted to have our son born on such a special day,' said the proud parents. 'This is our first child.' Aster Hospital, Al Qusais, on the blessed morning of Eid Al Adha, welcomed a baby, lovingly referred to as the 'baby of Haneena'. He was born at 4:39am on June 6, 2025. His proud parents, Mansoor Ali and Haneena Saithammarakathu Lanchira Purayil, are overjoyed to welcome their son on such a special and meaningful day. In their heartfelt message, they said, 'We are overwhelmed with joy to welcome our baby boy on this special Eid Al Adha - a moment that makes this day even more unforgettable for our family. We extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible doctors and medical team at Aster Hospital Al Qusais for their exceptional care and support. This is a truly blessed and memorable start to our journey as parents.'
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Trichy man held for Insta reel on Pahalgam attack
Trichy: Cybercrime police arrested a 26-year-old man here on Thursday for posting an Instagram reel claiming that a BJP functionary from Jammu and Kashmir was behind the Pahalgam terror attack . Police booked M Mansoor Ali from Valluvar Nagar in Trichy under BNS sections 152 (endanger India's sovereignty), 196 (promoting enmity between different groups based on religion), 113 (threatening unity), 352 (provoking breach of peace) and Section 69A of Information Technology Act (internet content affecting India's sovereignty and integrity). In the video, Mansoor alleged that BJP's IT wing in charge of Jammu and Kashmir is connected to a banned terror organization and is a key suspect in the terror attack. He further claimed that the BJP functionary has been arrested. According to police, Mansoor has around 27,000 followers on Insta. The video, posted on Thursday, has fetched more than 3.22 lakh views, 2,200 likes and 88 comments. On coming across the reel, Trichy cybercrime police registered a case on Thursday and arrested Mansoor on Friday evening. He was produced before a magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody. Meanwhile, the post is yet to be removed.
