Transit travel to/from India under the 'air bubble' agreements [ends 27 March 2022]
Feb 1, 2021, 1:35 am
#676
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: EY
Posts: 852
Was checking in today in ORD for AI126 and was denied as I did not have the expired passport with the OCI sticker. I have been traveling back and forth for the past few months and got tripped on a new rule by GOI. They never cease to amaze me.
For all of you out there, just carry all your old passports just in case some government somewhere comes up a new rule...
Back to origin and start again. Wonder how I can get money back from AI for this ticket?
For all of you out there, just carry all your old passports just in case some government somewhere comes up a new rule...
Back to origin and start again. Wonder how I can get money back from AI for this ticket?
Yes as others mentioned the old passport rule has been in place for years, but has only actively been enforced in the past year. You can find articles from December 2019 mentioning the start of these issues for travelers. You can also have your oci reissued to match your existing passport if you prefer. It is probably easier for India to just require the oci to be reissued every ten years or whenever a new passport is issued, but that's a separate issue.
Feb 1, 2021, 3:46 am
#677
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
I am more eager to know if GoAir will let us board since only direct flights from the UK are allowed and transfers not permitted. This is technically not a transfer.
Feb 1, 2021, 11:28 am
#678
Join Date: May 2004
Location: US
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 973
Considering the various travel restrictions due to covid it is best to travel US to India sector on nonstop flights operated by Air India or United. And the best airport to fly to in India is DEL as that airport has policies which closely reflect Govt of India's policies. The other airports have variable restrictions and change frequently and non applied uniformly.
Feb 2, 2021, 12:15 am
#679
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
Feb 2, 2021, 3:51 am
#680
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 319
May be useful to keep tracking Delhi Airport's COVID info page for updates: https://www.newdelhiairport.in/covid19
Feb 2, 2021, 3:56 am
#681
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 319
Was checking in today in ORD for AI126 and was denied as I did not have the expired passport with the OCI sticker. I have been traveling back and forth for the past few months and got tripped on a new rule by GOI. They never cease to amaze me.
For all of you out there, just carry all your old passports just in case some government somewhere comes up a new rule...
Back to origin and start again. Wonder how I can get money back from AI for this ticket?
For all of you out there, just carry all your old passports just in case some government somewhere comes up a new rule...
Back to origin and start again. Wonder how I can get money back from AI for this ticket?
Feb 2, 2021, 4:24 am
#683
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
GoAir might let you board but as galaticos has pointed out you will almost certainly get asked by Indian immigration about your travel history. When they find out you have been in the UK during the last 14 days it will probably require you to take a test at DEL as well. In any case the requirement for institutional quarantine has been replaced with home quarantine as per the latest protocol: https://www.newdelhiairport.in/pdf/A...nuary-2021.pdf
May be useful to keep tracking Delhi Airport's COVID info page for updates: https://www.newdelhiairport.in/covid19
May be useful to keep tracking Delhi Airport's COVID info page for updates: https://www.newdelhiairport.in/covid19
Feb 2, 2021, 7:02 am
#684
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Free checked in bag on UA & DL. Free icecream at Marriott checkin.
Posts: 2,862
Unfortunately these kind of cases (invalid travel documentation) generally get treated as no-shows so you should check the fare rules for the no-show penalty. The airline will disclaim any responsibility since you are required to have your travel documents in order as per the requirements on the day of travel (there are other reports across FT about people being tripped up by last-minute changes to visa requirements etc). Although as others have posted the rule seems to have always existed, just poorly enforced.
1. ORD folks said they cannot make any changes or touch the reservation so I should call the Air India customer service.
2. After much tries got thru and was told that I should contact the webservice email.
3. At the DEL airport they asked me to contact the email for mobile app as I had purchased it via the app.
Yes. I did make it to India without having the old passport with OCI sticker. Must admit they have got it streamlined at DEL airport. There are now 3 lines at exit -
1. If you have the exemption certificate.
2. If you have the COVID test results
3. If none of the above then go for onsite testing.
Finally no rubber stamping your wrists (for a while now). Do keep your paper boarding pass as that is what they stamp to allow you to exit the airport.
Feb 2, 2021, 9:28 am
#685
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS/ BOM
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,567
It is 14 days quarantine at home. You only get an exemption from 7 days of institutional quarantine. So they "expect" you to quarantine at home for 14 days.
Feb 2, 2021, 6:17 pm
#687
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Free checked in bag on UA & DL. Free icecream at Marriott checkin.
Posts: 2,862
All it took was to buy another ticket on a different carrier which did not get the "memo" as AI people indicated they received. I flew AI in Dec without the old passport and it was fine, it just happened that they received a new "memo" just that week 
I would strongly recommend to stay away from AI. I still have couple of tickets booked with them and wondering how that is going to go.
I would strongly recommend to stay away from AI. I still have couple of tickets booked with them and wondering how that is going to go.
Feb 2, 2021, 11:05 pm
#690
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678