International to Domestic transfer: HYD or MAA?
Oct 23, 2011, 6:59 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
16 hours at BOM?
While I was mulling over these options, something intervened and I had to shift my travel by a couple days. Naturally, the availability of flights went haywire.
By Murphy's Law, the only one I can get confirmed at present on the new dates is the 16 hour connection in BOM.
My travel being more than a month away, I will try and do hope to get one of the other flights. However, if I can't, what to do with 16 hours in BOM, especially with luggage. Is there a left-luggage facility?
By Murphy's Law, the only one I can get confirmed at present on the new dates is the 16 hour connection in BOM.
My travel being more than a month away, I will try and do hope to get one of the other flights. However, if I can't, what to do with 16 hours in BOM, especially with luggage. Is there a left-luggage facility?
Last edited by aktchi; Oct 23, 2011 at 9:24 pm
Oct 23, 2011, 7:12 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 1 AU
Programs: Support the Tyrants Travel Club
Posts: 2,708
While I was mulling over these options, something intervened and I had to shift my travel by a couple days. Naturally, the availability of flights went haywire.
By Murphy's Law, the only one I can get confirmed at present on the new dates is the 15 hour connection in BOM.
My travel being more than a month away, I will try and do hope to get one of the other flights. However, if I can't, what to do with 15 hours in BOM, especially with luggage. Is there a left-luggage facility?
By Murphy's Law, the only one I can get confirmed at present on the new dates is the 15 hour connection in BOM.
My travel being more than a month away, I will try and do hope to get one of the other flights. However, if I can't, what to do with 15 hours in BOM, especially with luggage. Is there a left-luggage facility?
Oct 23, 2011, 9:07 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
Will definitely try to change to the 3 hr connection at BOM, or 7 hour at HYD.
However, if I have to do the 16 hour connection (just looked at it carefully, it is 16!)...
The EY flight arrives at 3AM; the 9W departs at 7PM. With luggage I would have felt paralyzed. If I can leave the luggage, at least I can move about, maybe go into town for 1/2 a day. I mean I can think of breakfast / brunch at the Taj Mahal hotel instead of the airport.
I know it would be a lot of running around, but then the alternative is a lot of sitting around. Tough choice.
Oct 24, 2011, 2:41 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,682
keep in mind, mumbai traffic is crazy....if i was in your place i would look at a reasonably priced hotel room near the airport....get up late in the day, have lunch & leave for the airport....
Last edited by Keyser; Oct 24, 2011 at 2:53 am
Oct 24, 2011, 8:43 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
Thanks but...Wow! Traffic so bad that a 16 hour connection, so a clean 12 hour free time, is not enough to take a peek into town?
I remember that in SIN they give you a free conducted bus tour of the city with long connections! (Just reminiscing. I know that none of our airports is SIN.)
Are Saturdays/Sundays as bad as other days?
I remember that in SIN they give you a free conducted bus tour of the city with long connections! (Just reminiscing. I know that none of our airports is SIN.)
Are Saturdays/Sundays as bad as other days?
Oct 24, 2011, 9:22 am
#21
Join Date: May 2004
Location: US
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 973
Sunday has the lightest traffic. I think you may have about 4 hours to spare to look at Mumbai City, allowing 4 hours for checkin, 2 hours to checkout, 8 to 10 hours in the hotel.
Oct 24, 2011, 9:37 am
#22
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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Posts: 29,682
Thanks but...Wow! Traffic so bad that a 16 hour connection, so a clean 12 hour free time, is not enough to take a peek into town?
I remember that in SIN they give you a free conducted bus tour of the city with long connections! (Just reminiscing. I know that none of our airports is SIN.)
Are Saturdays/Sundays as bad as other days?
I remember that in SIN they give you a free conducted bus tour of the city with long connections! (Just reminiscing. I know that none of our airports is SIN.)
Are Saturdays/Sundays as bad as other days?
Oct 30, 2011, 3:39 am
#23
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 125
I have only transferred at BLR & BOM so cant discuss your other options. However all must be better than transferring at BOM as this can be much of a nightmare!
Not sure when this will be alleviated but from my last visit, there appears to be construction on a new domestic terminal taking place linking to the international terminal in an easier way.
Not sure when this will be alleviated but from my last visit, there appears to be construction on a new domestic terminal taking place linking to the international terminal in an easier way.
Oct 30, 2011, 3:55 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MAA
Programs: BA bronze, Marriott silver
Posts: 2,804
go with HYD - its a much smaller and more modern airport than MAA and connections are easy .. int / dom in the same building. MAA you have to walk about 5 minutes to get from INT to DOM.
But consider - if you do an ultralong haul to AUH and then another 4 hour flight to HYD, or anywhere else in India, you'll be dead tired and might want to catch a late afternoon flight to bhopal after a few hours of sleep. DEL would be a good idea for that (and more connections to bhopal) but the time of your visit means that DEL will face huge delays due to fog.
But consider - if you do an ultralong haul to AUH and then another 4 hour flight to HYD, or anywhere else in India, you'll be dead tired and might want to catch a late afternoon flight to bhopal after a few hours of sleep. DEL would be a good idea for that (and more connections to bhopal) but the time of your visit means that DEL will face huge delays due to fog.
Dec 23, 2011, 2:53 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
OP here. Thought I'd thank you for your advice and update you on how it went.
I waited for the HYD connection to clear till the last day but according to AA, Jet Airways didn't release the seat. I took the BOM option: arrive 3AM, depart 5:50AM. Less than three hours for Intl to domestic transfer.
Almost everything went wrong, each by only a few apparently insignificant minutes, but the minutes added up.
Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi landed late, was parked far way, and the bus came a few minutes late.
Luggage was also delivered late.
Customs and Immigration were fast.
I went to the Terminal transfer coach as directed, but there was a very long line with no bus and they sent me to the Jet Airways counter at the other end of the terminal.
Jet staffers at that desk said it was late for them to check me in, but I could try the Terminal transfer bus at their end of the terminal which is often less crowded.
True enough, the line was shorter here and the bus was right there as well, but then the driver decided to take a mysterious 10 minutes break along the way.
Finally got to the Jet counter in the domestic terminal.
Bad news: While I was technically within time limit, they had stopped accepting pax who had luggage!
After I adjusted to this, things started to improve. They rebooked me for the evening. Luckily they also took my luggage off my hands, letting me have a day in Mumbai with just the carry-on, and that was a big help. (This was done in true Indian style. The desk person checked me in for the evening flight and gave the BP. She then advised me to hide the BP from the front door security, exit the airport saying I missed the flight, re-enter later with old printout and then board with the new BP). I had a nice day, a 1-hr taxi ride back to the airport (no major traffic issues), and a pleasant short flight.
I waited for the HYD connection to clear till the last day but according to AA, Jet Airways didn't release the seat. I took the BOM option: arrive 3AM, depart 5:50AM. Less than three hours for Intl to domestic transfer.
Almost everything went wrong, each by only a few apparently insignificant minutes, but the minutes added up.
Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi landed late, was parked far way, and the bus came a few minutes late.
Luggage was also delivered late.
Customs and Immigration were fast.
I went to the Terminal transfer coach as directed, but there was a very long line with no bus and they sent me to the Jet Airways counter at the other end of the terminal.
Jet staffers at that desk said it was late for them to check me in, but I could try the Terminal transfer bus at their end of the terminal which is often less crowded.
True enough, the line was shorter here and the bus was right there as well, but then the driver decided to take a mysterious 10 minutes break along the way.
Finally got to the Jet counter in the domestic terminal.
Bad news: While I was technically within time limit, they had stopped accepting pax who had luggage!
After I adjusted to this, things started to improve.
They rebooked me for the evening. Luckily they also took my luggage off my hands, letting me have a day in Mumbai with just the carry-on, and that was a big help. (This was done in true Indian style. The desk person checked me in for the evening flight and gave the BP. She then advised me to hide the BP from the front door security, exit the airport saying I missed the flight, re-enter later with old printout and then board with the new BP). I had a nice day, a 1-hr taxi ride back to the airport (no major traffic issues), and a pleasant short flight.
Last edited by aktchi; Dec 23, 2011 at 3:18 am
Dec 23, 2011, 4:42 am
#26
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Thanks but...Wow! Traffic so bad that a 16 hour connection, so a clean 12 hour free time, is not enough to take a peek into town?
I remember that in SIN they give you a free conducted bus tour of the city with long connections! (Just reminiscing. I know that none of our airports is SIN.)
Are Saturdays/Sundays as bad as other days?
I remember that in SIN they give you a free conducted bus tour of the city with long connections! (Just reminiscing. I know that none of our airports is SIN.)
Are Saturdays/Sundays as bad as other days?
She got to the airport with 30 minutes to spare. But, made the flight...thanks to some helpful 9W folks.^
Dec 23, 2011, 4:44 am
#27
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
OP here. Thought I'd thank you for your advice and update you on how it went.
I waited for the HYD connection to clear till the last day but according to AA, Jet Airways didn't release the seat. I took the BOM option: arrive 3AM, depart 5:50AM. Less than three hours for Intl to domestic transfer.
Almost everything went wrong, each by only a few apparently insignificant minutes, but the minutes added up.
Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi landed late, was parked far way, and the bus came a few minutes late.
Luggage was also delivered late.
Customs and Immigration were fast.
I went to the Terminal transfer coach as directed, but there was a very long line with no bus and they sent me to the Jet Airways counter at the other end of the terminal.
Jet staffers at that desk said it was late for them to check me in, but I could try the Terminal transfer bus at their end of the terminal which is often less crowded.
True enough, the line was shorter here and the bus was right there as well, but then the driver decided to take a mysterious 10 minutes break along the way.
Finally got to the Jet counter in the domestic terminal.
Bad news: While I was technically within time limit, they had stopped accepting pax who had luggage!
After I adjusted to this, things started to improve. They rebooked me for the evening. Luckily they also took my luggage off my hands, letting me have a day in Mumbai with just the carry-on, and that was a big help. (This was done in true Indian style. The desk person checked me in for the evening flight and gave the BP. She then advised me to hide the BP from the front door security, exit the airport saying I missed the flight, re-enter later with old printout and then board with the new BP). I had a nice day, a 1-hr taxi ride back to the airport (no major traffic issues), and a pleasant short flight.
I waited for the HYD connection to clear till the last day but according to AA, Jet Airways didn't release the seat. I took the BOM option: arrive 3AM, depart 5:50AM. Less than three hours for Intl to domestic transfer.
Almost everything went wrong, each by only a few apparently insignificant minutes, but the minutes added up.
Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi landed late, was parked far way, and the bus came a few minutes late.
Luggage was also delivered late.
Customs and Immigration were fast.
I went to the Terminal transfer coach as directed, but there was a very long line with no bus and they sent me to the Jet Airways counter at the other end of the terminal.
Jet staffers at that desk said it was late for them to check me in, but I could try the Terminal transfer bus at their end of the terminal which is often less crowded.
True enough, the line was shorter here and the bus was right there as well, but then the driver decided to take a mysterious 10 minutes break along the way.
Finally got to the Jet counter in the domestic terminal.
Bad news: While I was technically within time limit, they had stopped accepting pax who had luggage!
After I adjusted to this, things started to improve.
They rebooked me for the evening. Luckily they also took my luggage off my hands, letting me have a day in Mumbai with just the carry-on, and that was a big help. (This was done in true Indian style. The desk person checked me in for the evening flight and gave the BP. She then advised me to hide the BP from the front door security, exit the airport saying I missed the flight, re-enter later with old printout and then board with the new BP). I had a nice day, a 1-hr taxi ride back to the airport (no major traffic issues), and a pleasant short flight.
Dec 23, 2011, 4:44 am
#28
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold (OW Emerald) & Jet Airways - Thank goodness i never got started.......most awful FF program
Posts: 2,385
On a similar note, i got a flight arriving into MAA at 22:30 (SQ form sin) and i am connecting on 9W to CMB at 01:30hrs. Only a single roller suitcase.
Should be ok?
Should be ok?
Dec 23, 2011, 4:46 am
#29
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
You will stay in the transit area...which has like nothing. (toilets available). See if you can request 9W staff to let you in to the lounge....which means you have to re-clear security...
Dec 23, 2011, 5:40 am
#30
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold (OW Emerald) & Jet Airways - Thank goodness i never got started.......most awful FF program
Posts: 2,385
Forgot to add that they are separate tickets. Any issues one can think of?