INTL/INTL Connection at BOM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: LONDON
Programs: CX DM, BA G4L, QR PLT, EK PLT, Hyatt CourtesyC, HH DM, SQ PPS, BonvoyTit, UK, VS, UA, DL, AA
Posts: 1,715
INTL/INTL Connection at BOM
So - quick question for anyone who has done this thus far... I am flying through BOM on the same ticket arriving from DXB at 2320 on 9W and connecting to CX 01:30. Will have baggage, but as its the same ticket 9W has assured me they can tag through for interline with CX as they do have a baggage agreement. Does anyone have experience doing an INTL-INTL connection at BOM - especially with 2 different airlines? Any idea how this would work? how much time required? what do I do if 9W can not give me a boarding pass for my onward flight? how does the TR desk at BOM owkr?
Please help with inputs / advise - thanks
Please help with inputs / advise - thanks
#2
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
So - quick question for anyone who has done this thus far... I am flying through BOM on the same ticket arriving from DXB at 2320 on 9W and connecting to CX 01:30. Will have baggage, but as its the same ticket 9W has assured me they can tag through for interline with CX as they do have a baggage agreement. Does anyone have experience doing an INTL-INTL connection at BOM - especially with 2 different airlines? Any idea how this would work? how much time required? what do I do if 9W can not give me a boarding pass for my onward flight? how does the TR desk at BOM owkr?
Please help with inputs / advise - thanks
Please help with inputs / advise - thanks
However, read reports of others elsewhere / FT who have done it.
2 hours should be fine.
The 9W folks meeting the door of your DXB flight should be pretty much able to get you the next BP for CX. (They usually have someone walk downstairs and get the BP). THey might take your passport with you.
Also, you can get in to the lounge...as they are all post security and post passport control in BOM..(near the Duty Free area).
This is also arranged by the transfer folks or by your 9W folks meeting the plane.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,668
while i have not done an international to international transfer, i have done a domestic (arriving at the international airport) to international transfer a bunch of times....2 hours would be more than enough....
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 866
So - quick question for anyone who has done this thus far... I am flying through BOM on the same ticket arriving from DXB at 2320 on 9W and connecting to CX 01:30. Will have baggage, but as its the same ticket 9W has assured me they can tag through for interline with CX as they do have a baggage agreement. Does anyone have experience doing an INTL-INTL connection at BOM - especially with 2 different airlines? Any idea how this would work? how much time required? what do I do if 9W can not give me a boarding pass for my onward flight? how does the TR desk at BOM owkr?
Please help with inputs / advise - thanks
Please help with inputs / advise - thanks
Once you arrive in BOM on 9W, you need to locate a 9W ground staff (?) and ask him/her to escort you to the transit area; you will be expected to wait at this purgatory for an indeterminate length of time until a CX agent comes to collect your passport and eventually deliver your boarding pass.
Going by your posted location, I presume you are an Indian citizen? If so, it may be less painful to simply have your bags checked through from DXB to HKG (or BKK), then clear immigration normally as if BOM were your final destination and then go up to the departure level and check in with CX at their counter. Downside is that you will have to clear immigration twice unnecessarily, but the process may well be quicker and you will not have to surrender your passport to an unknown person.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Going by your posted location, I presume you are an Indian citizen? If so, it may be less painful to simply have your bags checked through from DXB to HKG (or BKK), then clear immigration normally as if BOM were your final destination and then go up to the departure level and check in with CX at their counter. Downside is that you will have to clear immigration twice unnecessarily, but the process may well be quicker and you will not have to surrender your passport to an unknown person.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 52
Be prepared for "no transit"
I did INTL-INTL connection at BOM few months ago. Interestingly it was to CX (BOM-HKG) 0130 departure.
I arrived well in time from EU and the receving agent said he'd help and asked me to wait in the transit area. This area, not surprisingly, is well staffed by AI and indeed seem to be moving the AI traffic along, well. After about 30min. wait and my escort nowhere in sight, I proceeded through immigration/ customs, hence arrived in India. Went up to the departure level and checked-in with CX, just in nick of time. I may have been the last passenger to have done so. Flying in Business class helps too.
Caution: have a print out of the CX reservation handy. You may need it go through departure security.
I arrived well in time from EU and the receving agent said he'd help and asked me to wait in the transit area. This area, not surprisingly, is well staffed by AI and indeed seem to be moving the AI traffic along, well. After about 30min. wait and my escort nowhere in sight, I proceeded through immigration/ customs, hence arrived in India. Went up to the departure level and checked-in with CX, just in nick of time. I may have been the last passenger to have done so. Flying in Business class helps too.
Caution: have a print out of the CX reservation handy. You may need it go through departure security.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 52
Try ... in the worst case, you could get passport stamped twice
Since your connection time is 4:25, it may be interesting to attempt transit. You are flying LH-F and connecting to TG-C all *A on the same ticket. Perhaps one can put in the record the need for a transit service/ escort at BOM. If you can let BOM/LH and BOM/TG station managers be in the know, it couldn't hurt either. Hopefully your escort will be there waiting with TG-C boarding pass!
There is the tricky issue of notifying Indian immigration/ customs authorities. It seems they need to be informed well in advance of flight arrival (LH-F) of the details of the transit passenger and permission sought. This leads to informing transit security; there are different stamps they use to mark the TG-C boarding pass.
I wish you a pleasant adventure; perhaps a good way to kill 4 hours
There is the tricky issue of notifying Indian immigration/ customs authorities. It seems they need to be informed well in advance of flight arrival (LH-F) of the details of the transit passenger and permission sought. This leads to informing transit security; there are different stamps they use to mark the TG-C boarding pass.
I wish you a pleasant adventure; perhaps a good way to kill 4 hours
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,297
well...was met by someone at the door coming off Swiss... She had a transit card... which was necessary for the endless parade of security stamps... took me to the dingy LH lounge, took my passport and baggage ticket, and off she went to score me a boarding pass for my TG flight (same ticket)... Its been an hour+ now, so still have 2 hours to kill...
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,297
ok after 2 hours, someone finally showed up with Thai boarding pass, but, me and another pax had to go down to the baggage sorting area to physically identify our bags. I must say a most interesting tour at 1am!!! Of course this meant more wanding and stamping of bp's.... All sorted now
So while not the most efficient system in the world, hey its india, it works!
So while not the most efficient system in the world, hey its india, it works!
#12
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
ok after 2 hours, someone finally showed up with Thai boarding pass, but, me and another pax had to go down to the baggage sorting area to physically identify our bags. I must say a most interesting tour at 1am!!! Of course this meant more wanding and stamping of bp's.... All sorted now
So while not the most efficient system in the world, hey its india, it works!
So while not the most efficient system in the world, hey its india, it works!
#13
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ZRH
Programs: LH FTL
Posts: 24
Guys I need your help. Will fly from SIN to ZRH in FIRST (award ticket) and have the following two options (direct flight with SQ not available
A) SIN-FRA with LH on A380 23:55 - 6:25, FRA-ZRH with LX 9:00 - 9:50
B) SIN-BOM with SQ on 77W 19:55 - 22:50, BOM-ZRH with LX on 333 1:20 - 6:15
I tend to do version B) to have the first experience of two airlines and I will be in Zurich earlier. However I donīt want to have too much hassle in Mumbai Airport (identifying my luggage etc.). As far as I have understood I donīt need a visa for India (Intl transfer in the same terminal), however when they are not able to check through my luggage, I would have an issue... Your thoughts?
A) SIN-FRA with LH on A380 23:55 - 6:25, FRA-ZRH with LX 9:00 - 9:50
B) SIN-BOM with SQ on 77W 19:55 - 22:50, BOM-ZRH with LX on 333 1:20 - 6:15
I tend to do version B) to have the first experience of two airlines and I will be in Zurich earlier. However I donīt want to have too much hassle in Mumbai Airport (identifying my luggage etc.). As far as I have understood I donīt need a visa for India (Intl transfer in the same terminal), however when they are not able to check through my luggage, I would have an issue... Your thoughts?
#14
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: www.livefromalounge.com
Programs: AA, BASilver, TajICGold, MarriottPlatinum,HyattGlobalist, EYGold, AI
Posts: 2,215
Guys I need your help. Will fly from SIN to ZRH in FIRST (award ticket) and have the following two options (direct flight with SQ not available
A) SIN-FRA with LH on A380 23:55 - 6:25, FRA-ZRH with LX 9:00 - 9:50
B) SIN-BOM with SQ on 77W 19:55 - 22:50, BOM-ZRH with LX on 333 1:20 - 6:15
I tend to do version B) to have the first experience of two airlines and I will be in Zurich earlier. However I donīt want to have too much hassle in Mumbai Airport (identifying my luggage etc.). As far as I have understood I donīt need a visa for India (Intl transfer in the same terminal), however when they are not able to check through my luggage, I would have an issue... Your thoughts?
A) SIN-FRA with LH on A380 23:55 - 6:25, FRA-ZRH with LX 9:00 - 9:50
B) SIN-BOM with SQ on 77W 19:55 - 22:50, BOM-ZRH with LX on 333 1:20 - 6:15
I tend to do version B) to have the first experience of two airlines and I will be in Zurich earlier. However I donīt want to have too much hassle in Mumbai Airport (identifying my luggage etc.). As far as I have understood I donīt need a visa for India (Intl transfer in the same terminal), however when they are not able to check through my luggage, I would have an issue... Your thoughts?