Originally Posted by
Sproutweasel
There's a lot of really helpful info in this thread for a ex-CAI first timer like me to consider. I'm seeking some further guidance from anyone with more recent experience of my particular circumstances...
I am scheduled to arrive CAI on BA400 at 01:05 and depart later that morning at 08:00 on BA401. I was planning to use the transfers route to remain airside, but I'm concerned that I may be held in the waiting area until the BA check in opens (at 05:00?) and they can issue my boarding pass. Does anyone know if I will be able to get the boarding pass for the return flight issued at LHR so that I don't have to wait so long in the transfers area?
My back up plan is to follow the VOA route and head landside to spend a few hours at the Le Méridien
Any thoughts/suggestions you can share would be greatly appreciated!
I do ex-CAI about once every two months and indeed just finished one yesterday, Both suggestions have merit.
Last week I did flyNAS into Terminal 1 arriving around 7pm connecting onto a Lufthansa flight at 0525 the next day. I have to say I will not be doing this again as it's pretty impossible to get any sort of sleep. However...... on arriving into Terminal 1 I got my visa on arrival as normal ($25 USD or equivalent currency) then exited the terminal and walked across to the empty mall to catch the transfer train to Terminals 2 and 3 (in reality it comes into T2 and you walk round to T3). Once in T3 you can walk across the car park to the Le Meridien. I went to the bar area and camped out (very few power sockets but you can unplug the one for the TV which is not being used). 3 Beers is about £10 GBP and I left the hotel again around 2am to go to checkin which is a much nicer experience at T3 then other terminals. FYI, there was nobody in the bar after about 11pm so you might need to find someone to both serve you a beer and to bill you afterwards.
If you go down the transfer route and stay at the airport then I would endorse getting the meet and greet as connecting by yourself can sometimes be a pain and you might just be left on a hard chair for an hour whilst someone works out what to do with you. You should ensure you get a paper boarding pass as electronic ones, whilst issued by some airlines, don't go down well with the gate staff.