A_Lee

I almost forgot about this turnaround I did last year. As with many TG flights to Europe, they land very early in the morning and don't depart till later in the day. The reason being they like the Europe flights to depart from BKK around midnight, and returning flights to arrive around 0500 - 0600 in the morning. For destinations such as FCO which are a bit shorter than others, it makes for a great turnaround being you have plenty of time to go into the city. With Rome being a fantastic place in my opinion to visit for half a day, I jumped at the chance to book this turnaround being it cost very little over the cost for my ticket into BKK alone.

In case any of you are wondering why I've done so many turnarounds on TG, this is the reason. Sometimes it's actually cheaper to book a ticket with a turnaround to some other place than just to BKK and back. Many other times it costs very little extra (often $100 or under). So a great way for me to earn miles and enjoy my favorite hobby - flying, while also enjoying a day or two of R&R in Thailand.

Nothing really unusual about doing this turnaround. We arrived before 0600, and I headed straight to the train station for a ride into central Rome. Enjoyed a wonderful morning taking in various sites around the city, had a fantastic Italian lunch, then back to the airport by train and back to BKK.

I'll definitely do more of these turnarounds in the future if I get a chance, though there's still plenty of places I'd like to go to first before doing this again. You should though keep any carry-on to an absolute minimum, or do without if you can. Exploring a city like Rome while lugging around some heavy carry-on wouldn't be much fun.

A_Lee

This flight is a newly added triangular route by TG (actually I'm told it used to be seasonal but will now be a permanent route). The route is BKK-GAY-VNS-BKK, O/W only. I booked it as BKK-VNS (with the technical stop in GAY), and VNS-BKK one day later. I couldn't book it as a direct turnaround, due to the 55 minute stopover at VNS violating the MCT there. So I was prepared to stay in VNS for a day if necessary.

The flight to GAY was about half full, so I got a row of 3 seats to myself on the B737-400. Having only napped about an hour the night before in one of the BKK lounges, I tried to get some shuteye on this 3 hour flight. I overheard the FA announcing that there was no choice for the meal selection - only chicken curry with rice was available, which I skipped.

We arrived at GAY and no announcement was made, that I heard, about passengers continuing on to VNS. Everyone was deplaning, so I joined in but asked the FA at the front and she said to stay on the plane. There were only four of us going to VNS, but one deplaned without asking and they had to go chase him down to bring him back. During the 45-minute stopover we waited on the plane while it was cleaned and were joined by three additional passengers for the flight to VNS.

With only 7 passengers and an equal number of FAs, there's one FA to each passenger. This is the fewest number of passengers I've ever seen on any TG flight. The "meal" service consists of small piece of cake and choice of a drink, brought out on a platter rather than a cart. It took the crew less than 60 seconds to serve everyone on the plane. I normally decline the cake which is common on TG domestic flights, but prior to takeoff one of the FAs began flirting with me, and I responded by flirting back. So when she came with the cake I politely accepted it even though from experience I know it's not something I really want to eat. The flight to VNS totals about 30 minutes and is the second shortest flight TG flies, the shortest being CNX-HGN, but on an ATR and about the same time-wise. So this flight is the shortest flown by a TG 737 and the next flight, VNS-BKK I believe is the longest served by a TG 737.

Deplaning at VNS, I'm the first one off, and head straight to the health/quarantine officers, to passport control, then told by someone to wait for my bags. It's a bit hard for him to understand me telling him I don't have any bags other than my very small carry-on. He asks me why I don't have any bags and I think for a second about telling him about MRs, but figure the concept will go right over his head. Finally he turns on the scanner to send my carry-on through. Total time from the plane through customs is less than 5 minutes.

I head straight to the TG check-in counter, manned by Indian Air staff, and there's one passenger still checking in. The airport looks to be a totally disorganized zoo, much the way many airports are in India, but I feel relieved that I made it while the counter is still open. My optimism quickly fades though when the staff say they cannot change my departure date to this next flight without approval from the TG manager, who is nowhere to be found. I'm told by one of the staff to follow him as he searches for the manager. We make our way all around the crowded, confused airport, still no manager. Spend a lot of time back at the counter just waiting, finally a tall Indian man arrives, looking to me like maybe he's the manager. He directs me to his office, but he's not the TG manager. Finally he reaches the TG manager on his walkie-talkie, but the TG manager refuses to let me on the flight. I repeat to the guy with me that I have no checked luggage, so he gives me the walkie-talkie to explain my situation to the TG manager. Finally he relents, after I assure him my ticket is in a booking class that's changeable without any fee. It then takes a full 30 minutes for them to print my boarding pass, being they already shut down the computer at the check-in counter.

Finally with my boarding pass in hand, I'm processed to the passport control counter and go through the typical Indian security check (gotta have that tag on your hand-carry luggage for a reason I'll never know). I didn't seen any lounge, other than a waiting area packed with, I'm guessing, Indians wearing traditional outfits. Not that I care as I obviously don't have any time even if there was a lounge, and at such a small airport in India, I'm sure the lounge wouldn't even be worth mentioning if they did have one. Out on the tarmac there's four planes now, whereas our plane was alone when I arrived. I'm glad none of them arrived just before us, or I wouldn't have stood a chance at accomplishing this turnaround. Naturally I'm the last on the plane and looks like the they've been waiting for me. They close the door as soon as I'm inside and depart. I notice a new terminal building being constructed next door to the current terminal, though it looks like it's still got quite a ways to go. Looks like it'll have two air-bridges, which I guess will come in handy in the future for passengers not needing to walk outside during rainstorms.

For the flight back to BKK, a couple have joined up in business class, and a group of maybe 15 or so Thais all the way in the back of the plane. So the front half of the cabin is occupied by only myself and one other passenger. Rather than try to get some more sleep though, I spend a fair amount of time chatting with the same FA from the previous segment. She and the other FAs are very curious as to why I'd want to fly all the way from BKK to VNS and then just get right back on the plane to return. I simply tell them I love flying. The same chicken curry is served on the flight back, which I eat this time. It's actually very good and for the first time in a long time, I'm thinking to myself I wouldn't mind one more of the same meal. Just then the FA comes around and tells me there's still plenty of meals and would I like another one. She must have been reading my mind. I decline however as even though I enjoyed it, I'm quite full already. The flight arrives about 30 minutes early into BKK, and when deplaning the FA asks me if I'm going to stay in BKK. I say no way, I'm going to head right over to the ticket office and try to get on a flight to HKT this night.

This is by far the closest I've ever come to failing in a turnaround. I definitely would not recommend anyone try to do this unless you're totally prepared to spend a day in VNS. But would I do a similar situation again? You betcha! Part of the thrill of doing these sorts of turnarounds is not knowing what's going to happen. I know, I know, I'm a totally bonkers FTer.

A_Lee

I previously posted that there was absolutely no problem doing a turnaround to any domestic TG destinations in Thailand, with the exception of USM which I never tried. For the sake of completeness, I went ahead and did a USM turnaround. I wasn't expecting any problems, but ended up almost failing. I did not get my return boarding pass (USM-BKK), as I was connecting to an international flight after returning to BKK and wanted to be processed as a CIQ passenger, going through immigration at USM. On arriving at USM, you will see that is is quite different from any other Thailand airport, or perhaps any airport in the world. The planes park on the tarmac, and these buggy/trams come to pick you up and take you to the arrival hut. Yes, most of the buildings at the airport are open-air huts.

After arriving, and without any baggage, I headed for the long walk down the "main street" of shops towards the check-in hut. It's quite a ways, and it was a very hot day. Upon arrival at the international check-in counter, it looked like they were just getting ready to close down the TG desk, but someone yelled to the lady that "one more is coming", so she waited. In short order I had my boarding pass, CIQ sticker, and connecting international boarding pass. She told me to hurry up to the immigration counter.

The hut for the international gate / immigration is the furthest from the check-in hut, going back the same way I just came from. Upon arrival, and passing through security, the immigration officer sort of chewed me out for being so late. He said I should have been there an hour before departure, but it was at this point not even 15 minutes before departure. I just told him I got lost, not wanting to go into a long explanation of MRs and turnarounds. I was on two separate PNRs, being the turnaround time violated the MCT at USM. I made my way to the buggy and was the last to board. On the plane, a B737, the flight was completely full, except for the seat next to me, which I was glad, especially being I worked up quite a sweat walking back and forth along the main street in the heat. I was really looking forward to arriving in BKK and hitting the showers in the ROP lounge there.

If you were doing this as a domestic turnaround, you'd have a bit more time, being the domestic gate is a bit closer and no need for immigration. Still it's a tight turnaround, given the sprawling layout of the USM airport, and I wouldn't really recommend it for someone with a further must-connect flight at BKK. If not connecting to an international flight, you could probably get your return boarding pass in BKK, and in that case it shouldn't be any problem as the domestic departure hut and arrival hut I believe are very close.

A_Lee

The connection time at HYD falls within the MCT, so I was doing this trip on a single PNR. At BKK, I was not able to get my return boarding pass, but the lady at the transfer counter assured me that it would be no problem to get my return boarding pass in HYD at the transfer counter there, with no need to pass through immigration. I did though have an Indian visa just in case I needed it, as I do legitimate travel to India at times for business, etc.

The flight to HYD was on I believe the second oldest AB6 in the TG fleet (HS-TAG), and is an awful bird to be on. Lots of strange mechanical clicking noises were eminating from the wing prior to pushback, and lots of passengers looking at each other, wondering if the noises indicated any potential safety problem. Toilets were ancient. One of the seats in the second C cabin had the metal trimming completely peeled off of the seat and sticking up, right along the aisle, just waiting for someone's clothes (or worse skin) to get snagged on it. A real safety hazard if you ask me. At least they didn't force anyone to sit in that seat, or the whole cabin for that matter, other than it was used by FAs. I'm seated near the front of economy, being I want to get off quickly in case of any delays in arriving.

We arrived at HYD a good 15 minutes early, which I was thankful of, being I didn't know what to expect. On arrival, the airport is clean, modern looking, and spacious, and I'm relieved to immediately see a sign saying "transfer". I pass through quarantine, and hook a left into the transfer lounge. The room is completely empty except for one lone worker, who seems surprised to see me walk in. I tell him I'm transfering to the TG flight to BKK, and show him my e-ticket. He asks where I came from, and when I said BKK, I have to repeat where I came from and where I'm going to several times. He asks why, and I try to explain to him that I'm doing it for frequent flyer miles, but he can't seem to comprehend that concept. He asks me to sit, while he tries to contact the TG desk via phone. After several minutes of repeated attempts, he tells me the line is continually busy, and if I want, I can backtrack to the gate I arrived from and ask to speak to the TG ground staff there. I do as he suggests.

Back at the gate, I'm stopped by security and asked what I want, and explain the situation. Lots of asking the same question again, and why I'm doing this. Another security guard, evidently higher up, comes and again asks the same questions. Finally a contract worker for TG comes over and all the same questions are asked once again. Lots of waiting and several other people show up, the total being about half a dozen. One of the security guys spends a good 10 minutes just staring at my e-ticket, in seemingly disbelieve that anyone would want to fly all the way from Thailand to India and then just return. I ask, "hasn't anyone ever done this before", and all of the people there are in agreement that they've never seen this. I try to explain about MRs, status, and how common this sort of thing is in the US. They're very eager to hear all I have to say about it. Finally after about 40 minutes, I have my boarding pass in hand, and am escorted back to the transfer lounge to be processed, baggage through the scanner, me through the metal detector, tags on my luggage, and up to the next level. I'm given a lounge pass to the TG contract lounge at HYD, the Plaza Premium Lounge. Not too bad, though I only have about 3 minutes in the lounge before the boarding announcement is made.

Out of the lounge and back up, the TG departure gate is right there at the exit from the elevator. One of the same ladies who was helping me earlier is there to take my boarding pass and I go down the ramp towards the plane. At the final security checkpoint, I'm stopped, and the lady who took my boarding pass is called down. Seems they don't want to let me on the plane because my boarding pass doesn't have an immigration stamp on it, being I never went through immigration. After some talking, she finally convinces the guard that I was a transfer passenger and don't need the stamp.

So onto the plane, and I have a row of four seats to myself, the only one on the plane with such. Thanks again TG, for looking after your golds! I've had this happen a lot recently, and enjoy the opportunity to lay down and get some much needed sleep on the three hour ride back to BKK.

In summary, the staff handling my transfer, although not experienced in how to handle it, were very professional and courteous and made for a nice experience. They repeatedly told me there was no need to exit immigration, even though it probably would have ended up saving a lot of time. I'm sure some of them were busy, but they spent the time to see to it that I was able to use the transfer facilities that are provided. I doubt there are many international-to-international transfer passengers at HYD, but I would definetely recommend it to anyone who wants to try it. It was probably my best airport experience in India to date, with no rude workers around. I did ask if it was necessary to have my Indian visa for doing the turnaround and was told, "no". I was also told the same thing by an Indian embassy some time ago when I enquired before planning on doing a different India turnaround. I've seen though the rules that state you must be transiting to a third country, so don't know if TG or another airline would deny boarding to someone doing a turnaround back to where they came from. Also don't know if you got a different official in India if they'd give you a problem if you didn't have the visa.

Now that at least some of the staff at HYD are aware of MRs and turnarounds, hopefully they'll be better prepared in the future for any passengers trying to do the same thing and won't need to spend so much of their time and resources in getting you processed for your return trip.

A_Lee

I was able to get my return boarding pass before leaving BKK. Upon arrival at DEL, I was surprised to see TG ground staff at the gate holding a paper with my name on it. She asked to see my return boarding pass and said everything was fine and for me to proceed through the transit channel.

After exiting the airbridge, airport staff were handing out quarantine forms, so I was expecting that I might have to stop to fill it out and be checked before getting to the transit counter, but as it turned out there was no need as the checkpoint was not located along the path to the transit point.

At the entrance to the transfer area, I was stopped by a guard and told to wait for TG ground staff to arrive. A few minutes later, the same woman from the gate arrived and asked what the problem was, and I told her the guards had stopped me. She told the guards I was fine and I was able to proceed.

The transfer counter was completely unmanned, and there were a couple dozen passengers seated in the area. I passed through, and proceeded to the security checkpoint.

The guard at the security checkpoint looked at my boarding pass and said I needed an immigration stamp. I told him I was a transfer passenger and I did not and need not go through immigration. He then said I would need a transfer stamp on my boarding pass, saying it had some sort of a large 'T' on the stamp. I went back to the guards, but there was nobody from TG there any longer. The guards said there is no such stamp and nothing was needed except my boarding pass.

Back to the security checkpoint again, and the same guard repeated what he said earlier. I told him what the transfer point guards said, and he called over someone else to consult with. Finally he said I could proceed, but I needed the usual luggage tag on my carry-on. On a table just after immigration I found the luggage tags, and back to security. I'm guessing that if I had gotten my boarding pass printed by TG in DEL, it would have had the transfer stamp on it and would have been less of a hassle, though probably would have taken longer. Also I realized that I didn't have any lounge invitation, which I probably would have gotten if they printed the boarding pass there. I couldn't remember if the lounge I'd use was landside or not. I decided though it wasn't worthwile trying to get into a lounge anyways, being there wasn't too much time before reboarding.

At the final checkpoint in boarding the aircraft, I was called out for not having an immigration or transit stamp on my boarding pass. Some discussion ensued between the staff members, and I showed them my arrival boarding pass and was allowed to proceed.

At no point in DEL did anyone check my passport to see that I had an Indian visa. I did ask quite some time ago at my local Indian embassy if a visa was necessary for doing a turnaround in DEL on the same airline, back to the same country of origin. The answer was I didn't need a visa. My visa was checked by TG when getting my boarding pass, but guess I would probably have been able to get it even without a visa being I was just going to stay in the transit area. The rules however do state that you should be transiting to a third country. I didn't care though being I had an Indian visa should someone demand it was necessary.

A_Lee

I was not able to get my return boarding pass in BKK, but the TG staff assured me there was no problem getting it at the transfer desk in BOM. On arrival at BOM, I headed toward the direction pointed at by the signs saying "International Transfer". I was stopped by a guard and told to head in the opposite direction, to immigration. I told him I was an international transfer passenger, but he said I could not do any international transfer and must go through immigration. He did not ask me where I came from or where I was going. So I took it that whatever transfer facilities they might have had were now either temporarily or permanently closed. Just to be sure, I then asked one of the TG staff at the gate where I just came from, and he talked to someone on his walkie talkie, and told me it was correct, that I could not transfer without going through immigration and to the check-in counter. I asked him to inform the check-in counter that I was coming and to not close down before I got there. I wasn't too worried though, being the turnaround time was 95 minutes for my flight.

At this point, all passengers on my flight had deplaned, so I was at the very end of the immigration queue, even though I was one of the very first economy passengers off the plane. The queue went quickly though. After that though, there were very long queues for having your bags scanned, and I spent a good 10 or 15 minutes there.

After clearing customs, I went to the left, towards the exit, but remained inside until I found an elevator, which had to be one of the slowest elevators I've ever experienced. Being I had three bags with me, I didn't feel like using the stairs as the airport wasn't exactly cool and I didn't need to work up a sweat being I doubted there would be any showers in the lounge later.

To the check-in counter, there were only three other passengers there, so I assume all or nearly all other passengers had already checked in. It took me about 30 minutes from deplaning to this point. I was surprised when one of the check-in staff (perhaps the manager) questioned me what I was doing in India. I replied I came to get miles on my FF account, but she said she thought that wasn't a good reason. I felt like telling her, "what difference does it make, why do you care?", but I kept my mouth shut. I could realize if she was immigration staff questioning me about my reasons for being in India, but a TG staff member shouldn't care. I didn't make eye contact with her anymore but just looked straight ahead to the agent handling my check-in, and he gave me my boarding pass and lounge invitation without any further questioning from the other staff. He informed me that the other three seats in my row were blocked, so I'd have all four seats to myself. Great, I could get some badly needed sleep on the four-hour flight.

Going through outbound immigration was a snap without any queue. The security wasn't bad either with just two other people in front of me, and then after exiting security I was met by someone who asked me if I was flying TG. I replied that I was, and he escorted me to the contract lounge, passing by the LH *A lounge on the way. Time from deplaning to arriving at the lounge was about 40 minutes.

The lounge wasn't anything great, but at least a place to relax, being my return flight to BKK wasn't boarding yet. Better than being in the public area, where there was a large gathering of Hajj passengers who were quite noisy. I heard the gentleman at the desk tell a few different passengers that he would announce when the TG flight was boarding. I noticed on entering that the TG gate was on the opposite side of the terminal, so it would be a bit of a walk to the gate. Finally, even with no announcement, I decided to head over to the gate, as were several other passengers. I noticed the monitors in the terminal still showed the flight as not boarding, but when I got to the gate they were announcing "final call", and the area was devoid of any waiting passengers. Obviously a problem with their flight announcement system, being nobody not in the immediate area of the gate would have known it was boarding.

After seated, it took at least another 15 minutes for the remaining passengers to be rounded up to board.

Being BOM is India's second largest airport, I was quite surprised that they cannot facilitate any international transit passengers. I don't know if this is just a temporary thing or not. Whatever the case, I would not recommend anyone try to transfer or do a turnaround at BOM without an Indian visa, even though a visa theoretically isn't required. In my case it absolutely was required. Even the airline wasn't aware of this, so even if you're told by your airline that you can transit without a visa, you may end up with a problem. Hopefully they can get the airport straightened out in the future. As it is, I'd rank it at almost the bottom of major airports in India.

A_Lee

I could not get my return boarding pass in BKK. Before departing BKK, I noticed the flight's departure time was delayed by an hour. This would mean that the plane would arrive just minutes before the return's scheduled departure, so I worried that without my return boarding pass, the check-in might close before I arrived. So I requested TG to inform MAA that I was arriving and doing a turnaround. They told me they would, and for me to meet the TG ground staff on my arrival.

The flight ended up being delayed even more, due to what the pilot said was the "need to change the nose gear". Sounded like a major job to me, but then I don't know anything about aircraft maintenance. Don't know if really the entire nose gear was changed, or just a part of it, but we finally departed more than 90 minutes late, meaning the flight would arrive after the scheduled departure, being the turnaround time was only 70 minutes.

After landing in MAA and deplaning, I informed the TG ground staff at the gate that I was doing a turnaround, and she told me to please have a seat in one of the chairs in the airbridge, while all the other passengers deplaned, as she had to take care of one disabled passenger who would be the last off. Finally she told me to follow her, and we met another transit passenger in the hallway, who was from a different flight and transferring to the TG flight to BKK. She asked both of us if we had Indian visas. I responded that I did, but the other gentleman said he did not. There are international transit facilities in MAA, but for some reason they asked me to go through immigration, while the other passenger was asked to use the transit facilities. I could understand them not wanting to go through whatever hassle in getting my boarding pass, etc. if I was the only one, but being they had to for the other passenger, why didn't they just keep us together? But the TG ground staff was very friendly and told me she'd escort me through the process, being I was so late and the check-in was already closed.

She escorted me to the front of the health screening queue, then to the front of the immigration queue. Security had no queue to speak of, and then she escorted me out of the airport, and back in again, where I was meet by a different TG ground staff member who had my boarding pass already printed and handed it to me, and then escorted me to the front of the outbound immigration queue, where he spoke to the officer, informing him I was a transfer passenger. At that point, I was then on my own to go through the outbound security checkpoint, which had a very long queue, and took a good 15 minutes or more. The original TG ground staff lady was waiting for me on the opposite side, and directed me toward the boarding gate after I came through.

At this point there was no time to visit any lounge, if there even was one, and if I had a lounge invitation, which I did not. But I had to hurry to the plane as everyone else had already boarded.

Overall, not too bad of an experience I guess, mainly because the TG staff escorted me through it and so I didn't have to wait much, except in the one security queue. The staff was friendlier and more helpful than at DEL, and certainly more than at BOM. It just would have been nicer if I was able to sit and wait in the transit area, rather than running through the airport to do the turnaround.

A_Lee

I thought it would be good to make a reference to my experiences at FUK, which I already posted about in the Japan forum in this post:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12897695-post12.html

I will also be doing a turnaround at FUK in the future, so will post about that here after I do it, though don't expect any problems being the turnaround time for the TG flight is several hours and plenty of time to go through immigration if I needed to. Though based on my transfer experience it should be no problem to remain airside.

Mr. Bean

Thanks for sharing your turnaround/transit experiences in India, A_Lee.

It's rather strange that TG flies such poor equipment on BKK-HYD, since fares for that route are usually quite high.

A_Lee

Actually my guess is that they will likely replace this and other routes soon with A330s. TG already received three new A330s since the middle of this year, and as of two months ago replaced the ancient A300-600 on the FUK route with a brand new A330, as I reported in the post I linked to in my above post. They are scheduled to get five more A330s soon, with all being delivered by February or March I believe. TG is still flying the A300s to PUS as well, which my best guess is that it is very high on the list to get an updated aircraft, and I would think HYD as well, plus any other routes more than a few hours away from BKK.

My MAA turnaround was also an A300-600, but a much newer one, HS-TAT, which had a perfectly fine interior. BOM and DEL were both on A330s, but not the brand new ones. I recently flew to BLR, but not on a turnaround, and that was older A330s both ways. So it appears that TG likes to fly the older A330s to India and use the brand new A330s to fly to Northeast Asia and other places. Even if they decide to keep an A300-600 on the HYD route, I doubt it will continue to be an ancient one like I experienced, as they've already stated they plan to retire the oldest A300s when the get the new A330s.

My flight was actually very cheap. If I recall it was only a bit more than a hundred dollars extra to include BKK-HYD-BKK onto my existing ticket flying into BKK, which is why I decided to do the turnaround. If it was an expensive ticket, I wouldn't have flown there on a turnaround just to be flying. Perhaps though flying ex-HYD is much more expensive.

A_Lee

This itinerary is not bookable on a single ticket as the MCT at CCU according to TG is 90 minutes, and the flight at the time I took it only has an 85 minute turnaround time. I had planned to go to CCU though for business, with a stopover in BKK, but my business plans were cancelled, so I decided to check with TG if I could change the ticket to a direct turnaround and they did it without any problem.

I got my return boarding pass in BKK before heading to CCU. The flight to CCU was uneventful and I had a row of four seats to myself on the A330 aircraft, which wasn't very full. On exiting the plane, I mentioned to one of the FA's at the door, "see you again soon", and she replied, "yes, see you soon", but failed to realize exactly what I was saying.

We had to deplane by stairs and walk to the arrival area, but I mentioned to the TG ground staff member on the stairs that I was doing a direct turnaround and he told me to wait for another staff member. In just a minute or two, the other member arrived and escorted me first to the arrival area, filled out my name on some list, then escorted me back outside and around to another area, where she told me to wait outside the door as she spoke to who I think was the station manager. She then escorted me up the elevator to outbound security, where they put the tags on my carryon, and went through the scanner. On the other side was the waiting lounge with passengers waiting to board the TG flight back to BKK.

All-in-all a very painless process. The fastest transfer I did at any airports in India. Granted I already had my return boarding pass, but regardless it was far less hassle at CCU than any other Indian airport. They never even looked at my passport. I'm not sure if that was an oversight or not, but being I never went through immigration, I suppose it was fine. Even at the boarding gate my passport wasn't checked. The total time from deplaning to arrival at the departure lounge was only about 10 minutes.

The waiting area, and the whole CCU airport though leaves a lot to be desired. It's the worst of the major airports in India I've been to and after only a minute of swatting off mosquitos, I wished I'd brought some deet or something with me.

Boarding the aircraft, I was allowed in first (after a disabled passenger was processed). They only called for business class passengers, but my *A Gold was naturally good enough to get in first and get a seat on the bus. It would have been faster to walk to the plane, but I heard the passenger behind me ask about doing that but security refused to allow him, saying he must take the bus. It was airconditioned, but the mosquitos were very heavy and already I had a bite on my ankle where one bit through my socks.

Onto the aircraft, the FA I said goodbye to on deplaning was very shocked at seeing me again. She worried that something was wrong, but I assured her that I was sane in wanting to return immediately, and she then realized what I meant by my words on deplaning. The flight back was quite empty, and again I had a whole row to myself. The only negative thing was lots of mosquitos had entered the cabin during the time on the ground with the door open.

I should mention that on the way down the ramp to the bus, I did notice a sign that said "transfer", but the room was completely empty and dark. So I'm not sure if they have a different transit procedure for passengers on other airlines or not. Perhaps that's for passengers arriving using an airbridge, whereas we didn't have an airbridge.

I think that completes doing a turnaround in every airport in India that TG serves except for BLR and GAY. GAY being only a stopover on the BKK-GAY-VNS-BKK triangular route, and with BLR I always need to stay for a few days on business when I go, so not much chance for me doing a turnaround there. So this will likely be the last of my India turnarounds.

benzguy80

OT, but I remember FA's spraying insecticide in the cabin of a BA flight as we were departing from BOM en route LHR in '95. It was disconcerting but decided it was better than contracting malaria and therefore a good thing.

SuperFlyBoy

It is still apparently the rule for incoming flights to India.

Amazingly, the British authorities also require this to be done when Indian flights enter the UK - I have experienced the insecticide treatment when flying BOM-LHR when flying in on 9w - don't know if they still require this, but maybe the Indian authorities started this in retaliation for the British rules - or vice-versa!

Culture Guru

I think the insecticide treatment is not restricted just to Indian flights - I have seen this on other flights to warmer countries, for example to Peru.

Gamecock

I flew JNB-LHR 2x this summer. They sprayed both times.