Transfer Desk CMB
 

Apologies if this has been covered before, but I couldn't find it.

I am planning to transit CMB again in a couple of months time for 6 hours, TK to MH. I have done similar transits at CMB several times before, but never to MH.

Recently, I was a little surprised and disappointed that when connecting SQ to AI (both Star Alliance) on separate tickets, the transfer desk wouldn't issue a boarding pass for the AI flight to DEL, so I had to enter Sri Lanka, wait, check in, and then depart Sri Lanka (which can be a bit of a pain). Luckily I had a valid transit visa.

Given my recent experience, I was wondering if anyone could advise whether the transfer desk at CMB can issue a boarding pass for MH (and perhaps provide a list of airlines handled by the transfer desk). It could affect my choice of airline.

Many thanks in advance.

Am guessing if its airlines in the One world family, transiting in CMB shouldn't be a problem. If atleast one of the segments were on Sri Lankan that will also help, as the transit desk there at CMB is manned by Srilankan airlines staff and they should help if its a Srilankan ticket.

I imagined that might be the case, but with CMB and UL one can't be sure. I'll post my experiences after my travels.

I have a similar situation, get in on UL and then depart on WY. Will I be able to get my luggage retagged from the transfer desk. We get in at 11pm and don't leave till 845am so thats a heck of a long wait outside. Rather sleep in the airport hotel.

Any hotels directly outside airport?

Would this be on seperate tickets..? Looks tough as far as re-tagging luggage in the airport itself if it's on separate tickets.

As far as resting for the night, there's the 'Serenediva Transit Hotel' in the airport itself, but if you need to collect your bags post immigration you wouldn't have access to it.
There are a lot of hotel options outside of the airport.

• Gateway Airport Garden Hotel (part of the Taj group)
• Heaps of options in Negombo (10 mins ride from the airport)
• Lots of smaller options as well just outside the airport

Yeah seperate tickets. They have done this for me in the past when I flew in on UL and was connecting to 9W. That was a few years back though.

Do only certain airlines have a presence at the transfer desk? I will be transferring to QR and CX flights on 2 separate occasions at CMB. Neither ticket involves UL. I'm hoping that I can stay airside in order to get my boarding passes for both occasions. I will not have any checked bags.

They were able to get me my QR boarding passes. Don't think they should have a issue with the CX ones too.

Does anyone know if it's possible to check-in at the transit desk for UL when I'm coming in on CX?

Flying into CMB on UL connecting to SQ on separate tickets.
Has anyone had experience of baggage interlining to SQ by UL?

What's the connection time between the flights ? Just in case UL/ SQ are not willing to do the needful.

Connection time is 3 hours

Had to smile at that post

We're always getting emails from our Sri Lanka office informing us they are doing the needful :)

Worst case you can pick up your bags and quickly re-check in. The walk from arrivals to departures is under a minute.

Found this old thread. I'll be flying MLE-CMB on EK and then CMB-SIN-SFO on SQ. Does SQ have a transfer desk where I'll be able to get my boarding pass, or will I need to get a transit visa at the airport, enter, check-in, etc.? (Or, is there any chance I could get my SQ boarding pass at the SQ desk at MLE?)

Is it one ticket? If so yes you should be able to get your Boarding card in MLE. Sri Lankan Airlines handle all ground handling at CMB and you can get your boarding card at their Transfer desk which is always open. Even if you do not have one ticket sometimes, depending on the staff they do thru check your bags all the way. In case they are unable to print a boarding card, you still do not have to enter CMB if your bags are thru checked.

I have one ticket on EK for MLE-CMB and one ticket on SQ for CMB-SIN-SFO. It sounds like you're saying that I can check in to my SQ flight at the transfer desk?

Given you have separate tickets, I imagine that your bags (if you have any) will not be through checked, so you will need to enter Sri Lanka, claim them, and then check in again at Departures. This is a pretty straight forward process and there is not much walking involved.

The transfer desk is run by SriLankan Airlines and could possibly issue boarding passes for you, if you do not have any checked baggage.

However, I really don't know if SQ is one of the airlines that SriLankan will do this for, perhaps someone else can comment? If unsure, go to the transfer desk and ask. If they won't issue a boarding pass, then you would have to enter Sri Lanka and re-check in.

Thanks. I won't have bags so really just worried about my boarding pass!

I have done this twice but not recently. Just went to the transfer desk and they were able to send someone to get my bags and retag them to the new flight + gave me the new boarding passes. Most recent one was Sri Lankan to Oman Air.

Unless things have changed recently you should be able to get the boarding passes.

Then it is not an issue. The UL Transfer Counter handles all the airlines. But depending on the time of your flight they may not be able to issue an immediate boarding pass but you no need to go through Immigration.

thank you!

I'm sorry, but I don't believe that's correct.

A few years ago I was transferring from a SQ flight from SIN to an Air India flight to DEL (see post 1).

It was made quite clear to me that the UL transfer desk did not issue boarding passes for AI, and I had to enter Sri Lanka and re check in with Air India. Luckily I did not have checked bags. And I know that there are other airlines that UL won't handle, including all LCC's.

So you may well be able to get your SQ boarding pass at the transfer desk, but it would be worth checking beforehand.

Thanks Grace B . I don't actually mind enter Sri Lanka - I will have a very long layover so plenty of time to deal with this. I just haven't been able to figure out what the requirements are - the Sri Lanka websites are scant on info and it seems during COVID there is temporarily no online application for a transit visa. Does anyone have recent experience with entering Sri Lanka for transit purposes? Are there COVID testing requirements, documentation, or pre-registration requirements?

That cannot be right. UL is the only authorized GH agents in CMB. That is why they handle all the airlines. The Low cost are also handled by UL. They are the sole GH agents in BIA(CMB). Now if you have baggage they probably may not thru check it in and need to collect your bags and re check in but UL is the one who still would handle your baggage and also service the check in counters. You may have to wait airside until the respective foreign airlines open their counters and system to get your boarding pass from the transfer counter.

Well, from personal experience, UL will not issue BP's for ALL airlines at their transfer desk.

They may otherwise have a monopoly on ground handling, but they choose which airlines they will handle at their transfer desk.

Don't believe me, go try it...

Again I am not sure if this still applies but they could not issue my ticket but they were kind enough to send someone to the check-in desk and get the boarding passes for me. Took 15-20 mins.

Well that was very helpful of them, but they certainly wouldn't do that for me with Air India.

I have used the CMB transfer desk on several occasions (usually on business class tix), and have found the service to be very variable, depending on such things as the agents' disposition, the queue lengths (there were separate lines for J and Y) and the airline/destination.. Sometimes, when it was busy, Y class pax have "invaded" the J class line, causing annoyance and confusion all round.

So, based on my experience, it could be pot luck as to how the transfer desk handles your request.

Were you able to do this connection on separate tickets? Looking at doing this same connection in a few months.

Not yet but will let you know in a few weeks!

I just checked with MLEK and they said no.

Thank you, Davvidd . Who is MLEK, and what did they say no to?

Relatedly, does anyone know how the transit visa process works right now? It seems that they are not issuing transit ETAs online but it says that an 8hr visa is available (on arrival, I guess?)

The EK rep in MLE. Since you plan to fly to CMB from MLE and then to SIN on SQ, I asked EK in MLE. He said they do not do that with separate tickets. But you can still try and see what happens. The handling is done by third party and no harm in trying.

There are other threads regarding transits similar to ours recently. It seems Sri Lankan Airways (UL) have been able to check baggage through for other travelers (One to TK and one to QR). It may be safest to apply for a tourist ETA.

yea makes sense. I only really would need a transit visa but it seems you cannot get that online and the process on arrival is unclear.

FWIW, I contacted Emirates by chat and they said they CAN check the bag through. Emirates sends you transcripts of the chat as well. Although first hand data is probably more reliable.

Just wanted to update with my transit experience for posterity. I arrived on EK and needed to get boarding passes for my onward SQ flight. The transfer desk could not help but the on-arrival visa desk placed a transit visa on my passport so I could enter Sri Lanka and go back through ticketing. You need a lot of time to do this - there are multiple checks to exit the airport and to get back in. Thankfully I did have plenty of time (too much.. had to wait for the SQ ticket counter to open).

Thanks for updating! Did you have checked bags? Did Emirates check them through for you?

Sorry I did not have checked bags… that would add a whole other layer of anxiety to this arrangement!