Mods, I had originally posted this on United forum but realized that this may be a better place for answers. Please feel free to merge. Thanks.

Hi,

My 16 year old son is traveling by himself. He will be arriving at DEL airport at night. He has a connecting domestic flight next morning on AI. DEL onwards is a separate PNR purchased on AI website.

I am hoping that United will be able to tag the bags all the way to his final destination (UA has interline with AI).

I know he has to collect his bags in DEL regardless of tagging. I would like to get some help as to what happens once he is outside customs in DEL. Does AI has baggage drop off counters? If not, does he need to go to AI's check-in counter? AI domestic is same terminal in DEL as international from what I understand. Do they have transfer signs clearly identified?

Any help is greatly appreciated

Hi,

I don't think I've ever had my bags tagged through when entering India, even when connecting to the same airline on the same ticket. I've always have to collect my bags and clear customs at the first port of arrival.

Its a fairly easy transfer from Arrivals to departures once he's cleared customs and it is clearly signposted. He will need to show boarding pass(es)/ print out of booking and passport to the guard on the lift. As far as I can remember this transfer needs to be done following the route inside the terminal. If he goes outside and tries to go back in through the main entrance he may get stopped by the guards for being 'too early' for his next flight.

AI does have both baggage drop off counters and normal check in counters in the terminal. I'd advise joining whichever queue looks shortest- everyone else does.

If the transfer time is long there is a good chance they wont take his bags. If its over 4 hours I think they can get a bit funny about it. I have managed to get them to take mine about 7 hours early in the past but it took a bit of arguing and I think they only did it because I was flying in Business, have status and was connecting on the same PNR.

In conclusion this is doable but might be a bit of a pain. One option (depending on budget) would be to book into the terminal hotel. They will then send a greeter to guide you through immigration/customs and sort things out for you. Worth it if the layover is 8+ hours I'd say but not otherwise.

If you let me know the flight times I can advise further. Generally when I have transfers like that I forget hanging around the terminal and check into a nearby hotel for the night.

Thanks for your detailed answer. He arrives at 12:10 am and his flight departs at 6:30 am.

Not true. A few AI domestic flights are 'international' (although domestic passengers also board these flights) and arriving international passengers do their immigration and customs at the final destination.

Even if this is true in your case, the separate PNR may be a problem; I am not sure.

Please post some specifics.

He's not on the same PNR though?

He will have to clear customs in Delhi and collect bags that we know. He is flying on United PNR to Delhi and then separate PNR domestic.

Real question is about getting the bags to Air India post customs.

Yeah I thought so.

He'll be fine. By the time he's got through customs he won't be that early. I'd recommend keeping the boarding pass stub from the previous flight to show AI check in staff just in case. Worse case scenario he might have to kill 45 mins or so in departures before they start check in but it's quite nice.

Is he aware he will only get 15 kg baggage allowance on the domestic leg. Even with the international connection.

Thanks. Yes he is carrying one bag under 15 kg.

Great- indian domestic baggage charges are the bane of my life!

Hope he has a great trip.

Depending on the date of the flight, AI might be in *A, and then in principle UA can not only tag his bags to final destination but issue boarding passes for AI even if there are two separate bookings. That works with other airlines if they are all in *A or all in OW.

This 'seamless' stuff should have been worked out before the announcement was made, but only time will tell whether it is really in place.

Key word there is 'in principal'

I have little faith in AI managing to do this for their own bags let alone interlining. Hoping they'll prove me wrong though!

I've a friend travelling from LHR to SIN on AI in August. She will have a 14 hour connection.

First, will AI check bags through to SIN - its one PNR on one ticket.
2nd - will AI issue her her BP (I've heard stories that one may issue BP only in DEL)
3rd - what are her options of transit hotels? Are there any AIRSIDE?

Thank you

1) AI Should check the bags through without any issues, although she might have to identify them and recheck them through the transfer desk in Delhi (I'm not sure about this. Its been a couple of years since I've done an International-International transfer at DEL)

2) I've had no problems with AI issuing BP for onward travel at LHR. They've done this for me even when the connection was on a separate PNR. Even if they don't it should be no problem to get a new one from the transfer desk

3) Yes http://www.newdelhiairport.in/eaton-smart.aspx Eaton Smart has an international airside option and it is probably what I'd do in this situation. They will send someone to meet her at the gate and guide her through transfer security and to the hotel. I've only stayed in the domestic wing which is in the Terminal but not airside so no access to shopping/restaurants etc (although they had mediocre restaurant/room service available). I think the International branch is past security though so it shouldn't be an issue. The Hotel is OK, perfectly clean etc but nothing special. I think I paid about 8500 INR for 8 hours

If she has an Indian Visa she might want to think about one of the airport hotel options. I normally stay at the Radisson Blu which is about 5-10 mins drive from arrivals/departures. They are building a load of new hotels which are even closer but I'm not sure if any of them are finished yet. Does increase the hassle factor though.

ETA: Oh I forgot, there are also some sleep pods airside http://www.newdelhiairport.in/sleepi...s-airport.aspx, Never tried one though

i've done this a number of times in the past with ai partners & never had a problem with interlining....