Transit travel to/from India under the 'air bubble' agreements [ends 27 March 2022]
Nov 20, 2021, 1:15 pm
#1486
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,174
The agent at checkin said each of the 5x weekly Lufthansa flights from DEL are coming in full and going out full.
Nov 21, 2021, 6:21 am
#1488
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOM-SIN-EWR
Programs: UA*G (1K again), Sixt Plat, *was*: SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG, LH SEN, AA EXP, 9wPlat
Posts: 8,606
But still a minimal capacity addition...
In August we had to pay full J for a r/t ticket ex-BOM!
Last edited by SuperFlyBoy; Nov 21, 2021 at 6:58 am Reason: Added info...
Nov 21, 2021, 9:02 am
#1489
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, Marriott & SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, ShangriLa Jade, Enterprise Plat, Taj Gold
Posts: 3,342
To qualify as a Singapore VTL flight it would have to be a commercial flight and not a repatriation flight. So if India continued with VBMs it would be non VTL flights and the passengers would be subject to the quarantine rules. The pent up demand was more from India than Singapore I guess and the Indian govt. had to concede.
Nov 21, 2021, 11:47 am
#1490
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,656
GoI has no issue with O&D traffic to the countries with which there is an air bubble agreement. Their gripe is with 6th freedom connections. As long as these are only VTL flights, there is restriction on who can connect and where to, so it complies with the neo-socialist agenda of modern babudom.
Nov 21, 2021, 7:41 pm
#1491
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 78
Hi
I am booked MEL-CMB on SQ and CMB-MAA on Air India on a separate ticket.
Will SQ interline bags to AI since being Star Alliance?
I have read that CMB is allowing for transit passengers.
I have OCI card to enter India.
I am booked MEL-CMB on SQ and CMB-MAA on Air India on a separate ticket.
Will SQ interline bags to AI since being Star Alliance?
I have read that CMB is allowing for transit passengers.
I have OCI card to enter India.
Nov 21, 2021, 10:49 pm
#1492
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,632
...As per the air bubble agreement with the government of India, British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic don’t board the US-bound Indian passport holders from India... Indian passport holders can travel on Qatar Airways, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, Air India and United Airlines..."
Nov 22, 2021, 3:11 am
#1493
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,174
According to a post dated 9 Nov 2021 on this Q&A page by discount travel agent Indian Eagle:
c) Entry into the US on our flights, as well as UA marketed flights operated by Lufthansa applies as follows:
- Travelers who already possess a valid F/M student visa and who will begin their programs on or after August 1, 2021, may travel to the United States without further action from the Embassy or Consulates in India. Direct travel to the United States from India with a F/M visa may begin no more than 30 days prior to the start date of a student’s classes.
- Students holding F/M visas and travelling in July to USA, can fly on United Airlines code share flights operated by Lufthansa. For such routing please visit UA.com
- Any lawful permanent resident of the United States
- Any noncitizen who is the spouse of a US. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
- Any noncitizen who is the parent or legal guardian of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21
- Any noncitizen who is the sibling of a U.S citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that both are unmarried and under the age of 21
- Any noncitizen who is the child, foster child, or ward of a U.S citizen or lawful permanent resident, or who is a prospective adopter seeking to enter the United States pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications
- Any noncitizen traveling at the invitation of the United States Government for a purpose related to containment or mitigation of the virus
- Any noncitizen traveling as a nonimmigrant pursuant to a C-1, D, C- t/D, L, H or BI nonimmigrant visa as a crew member or any noncitizen otherwise traveling to the United States as air or sea crew joining a vessel or aircraft in the United States
- Any noncitizen seeking entry into or transiting the United States pursuant to an A-:t, A-2, C-2, C-3
- (as a foreign government official or immediate family member of an official). E-1 was an employee of TECRO or TECO or the employee's immediate family members), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, Or NATO-6 visa (or seeking to enter as a nonimmigrant in one of those NATO categories);
- B whose travel falls within the scope of section T of the United Nations Headquarters Agreement
- Members of the US Armed Forces, spouses, and children of member of the US Armed Forces
- Any noncitizen whose entry would not pose a significant risk of introducing, transmitting, or spreading the virus, as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human services, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director, or his designee
- Any noncitizen whose entry would further important United States law enforcement
- Objectives, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees, noncitizen whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designers
- Any noncitizen whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designees.
Nov 22, 2021, 8:17 am
#1494
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOM-SIN-EWR
Programs: UA*G (1K again), Sixt Plat, *was*: SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG, LH SEN, AA EXP, 9wPlat
Posts: 8,606
GoI has no issue with O&D traffic to the countries with which there is an air bubble agreement. Their gripe is with 6th freedom connections. As long as these are only VTL flights, there is restriction on who can connect and where to, so it complies with the neo-socialist agenda of modern babudom.
I tried today, but nothing showing on site or app.
And - would a routing to Europe be allowed on SQ then?
Nov 22, 2021, 8:42 am
#1495
Join Date: May 2004
Location: US
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 973
I dont think they will do that even though both belong to Star. You just have to recheck the bags. I am also travelling from US to India via MLE on SQ, but on two separate tickets.
Nov 22, 2021, 8:58 am
#1496
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,632
What is the logic behind having different rules for US travel on different airlines? I can maybe understand allowing nonstop India-US flights only, but why is e.g. QR allowed to take passengers that BA cannot?
And why is a PCR test required for US bound passengers when the US only requires an antigen test? Many mysteries.
And why is a PCR test required for US bound passengers when the US only requires an antigen test? Many mysteries.
Nov 22, 2021, 1:15 pm
#1497
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,656
The "rules" do not permit either QR or BA to carry passengers from India to the USA, but QR is ignoring them while BA is half-heartedly complying.
Nov 22, 2021, 3:23 pm
#1498
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 1
Indian passport holder here. I am traveling on AF route IAD-CDG-DEL. My H1B visa stamp has expired but I do have a valid I797 and a valid I-94. Given my situation, do I need a transit visa for transiting CDG? The current rules say a valid US visa is required - would a valid I797 count as a valid US visa? Has any one had a similar experience recently?
Nov 23, 2021, 6:11 am
#1499
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 208
Please note the travel restrictions applicable for Indian Passport holders under the travel bubble agreement between India and the United Kingdom:
- If you are travelling from India and connecting to another flight via London, your end destination has to be in the United Kingdom only.
- If you are travelling to India and connecting from another flight via London, there are no restrictions on your point of origin.
Nov 23, 2021, 7:54 am
#1500
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 208
Indian passport holder here. I am traveling on AF route IAD-CDG-DEL. My H1B visa stamp has expired but I do have a valid I797 and a valid I-94. Given my situation, do I need a transit visa for transiting CDG? The current rules say a valid US visa is required - would a valid I797 count as a valid US visa? Has any one had a similar experience recently?