Transit travel to/from India under the 'air bubble' agreements [ends 27 March 2022]
#751
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, Marriott & SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, ShangriLa Jade, Enterprise Plat, Taj Gold
Posts: 3,345
For UK, Brazil & South Africa you have to home quarantine for 7 days and then retest. For middle east you have to "monitor" your health conditions.
#752
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 319
I think it's important to note that it is not always the first carrier's allowance that applies, but if applicable, the marketing carrier. In this case, if you are buying on the UA website and the ticket comes from UA, the UA baggage allowance would apply, as they are the marketing carrier.
#753
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: BLR
Programs: AA - EXP, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, UK - Gold
Posts: 1,224
#754
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: BA Gold, LH, SEN, RJ Platinum, ALL Diamond, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 643
International transit
Is international transit allowed for non Indian passport holder?
EU-INDIA-MALDIVES - A negative PCR test will of course need to be presented, but can I transit at all?
EU-INDIA-MALDIVES - A negative PCR test will of course need to be presented, but can I transit at all?
#755
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 319
Last edited by superboi; Feb 22, 2021 at 8:57 am
#756
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: DL: 2MM/DM Marriott: LT Platinum
Posts: 249
Flew ATL-JFK-AMS-BOM three weeks ago and BOM-AMS-ATL yesterday, I am a US citizen with an OCI card. Here are some points of interest,
On check-in at ATL for ATL-JFK leg, they checked my OCI and negative PCR Covid test result.
Upon landing in JFK, I was told that to fly thru AMS I need a rapid antibody Covid test (conveniently available next door to the gate for US $200). DL or KLM did not inform me of any such requirements in advance..
At AMS before boarding for BOM,, there was a local (Netherlands) Indian embassy web page that I had to go to and sign some attestation form - again no prior disclosure of any such things. I was also given some printed forms to fill out that I would need in BOM.
Upon landing at BOM, I was told that there was a mandatory one week institutional (i.e. hotel) quarantine despite negative PCR Covid test. Only way to avoid the quarantine was to leave the airport by another flight. So I booked BOM-HYD-STV flight on the spot - despite my car waiting outside the BOM airport to drive me to Surat (STV). Another Rs. 9000 ($120) unexpected cost and eight hours delay to reach my final destination.
On return journey, at BOM airport,, I had negative PCR Covid test done 72 hours in advance. Now I knew that to board BOM-AMS flight, I would need a rapid test at BOM airport. At BOM airport, before getting to the check-in counter,, there were chaos, with people moving me from one line to the other, asking to fill out multiple paper forms as well as online forms before I could get my rapid test. The cost of the rapid test was Rs.600 ($9) - but only local currency cards and cash were accepted. The whole process took two hours. Once at the check-in counter, things were smooth. They gave me some more papers/declarations to sign.
Upon landing at AMS, they checked my PCR and rapid test - but it was quick.
AMS-ATL leg was uneventful - with just a check of my PCR test before boarding..
Upon landing at ATL, there were no checks of any kind - just straight to immigration and customs.
On check-in at ATL for ATL-JFK leg, they checked my OCI and negative PCR Covid test result.
Upon landing in JFK, I was told that to fly thru AMS I need a rapid antibody Covid test (conveniently available next door to the gate for US $200). DL or KLM did not inform me of any such requirements in advance..
At AMS before boarding for BOM,, there was a local (Netherlands) Indian embassy web page that I had to go to and sign some attestation form - again no prior disclosure of any such things. I was also given some printed forms to fill out that I would need in BOM.
Upon landing at BOM, I was told that there was a mandatory one week institutional (i.e. hotel) quarantine despite negative PCR Covid test. Only way to avoid the quarantine was to leave the airport by another flight. So I booked BOM-HYD-STV flight on the spot - despite my car waiting outside the BOM airport to drive me to Surat (STV). Another Rs. 9000 ($120) unexpected cost and eight hours delay to reach my final destination.
On return journey, at BOM airport,, I had negative PCR Covid test done 72 hours in advance. Now I knew that to board BOM-AMS flight, I would need a rapid test at BOM airport. At BOM airport, before getting to the check-in counter,, there were chaos, with people moving me from one line to the other, asking to fill out multiple paper forms as well as online forms before I could get my rapid test. The cost of the rapid test was Rs.600 ($9) - but only local currency cards and cash were accepted. The whole process took two hours. Once at the check-in counter, things were smooth. They gave me some more papers/declarations to sign.
Upon landing at AMS, they checked my PCR and rapid test - but it was quick.
AMS-ATL leg was uneventful - with just a check of my PCR test before boarding..
Upon landing at ATL, there were no checks of any kind - just straight to immigration and customs.
#757
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
I think it's important to note that it is not always the first carrier's allowance that applies, but if applicable, the marketing carrier. In this case, if you are buying on the UA website and the ticket comes from UA, the UA baggage allowance would apply, as they are the marketing carrier.
No in the quoted instances the ticket is being booked on the United website and issued by UA. The difference is that UK is a codeshare and AI is interline. In both cases UA is the marketing carrier but the allowances are different (UA's allowance for UK, AI's allowance for AI).
#759
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Free checked in bag on UA & DL. Free icecream at Marriott checkin.
Posts: 2,862
The flights via AI/UA look like a walk in the park in comparison.
#760
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Free checked in bag on UA & DL. Free icecream at Marriott checkin.
Posts: 2,862
What is there to stop them from extending it to all locations (read US) what they have for EU and ME? Matter of time IMO.
#761
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, Marriott & SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, ShangriLa Jade, Enterprise Plat, Taj Gold
Posts: 3,345
The rationale behind it would be - trying to contain the new strains. Now the US has finally started on a fairly aggressive vaccination plan... so it's really a race between the vaccine & the spread of the new strains.
#762
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
No you need to wait at the airport ONLY IF you're taking a connecting flight. So you have to plan your connection accordingly (or the airline has to do so). Otherwise you can exit the airport immediately after the test.
For UK, Brazil & South Africa you have to home quarantine for 7 days and then retest. For middle east you have to "monitor" your health conditions.
For UK, Brazil & South Africa you have to home quarantine for 7 days and then retest. For middle east you have to "monitor" your health conditions.
attaching a screenshot of our conversation below:
#763
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, Marriott & SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, ShangriLa Jade, Enterprise Plat, Taj Gold
Posts: 3,345
#764
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
i can sense a lot of confusion over the first few days with no one really knowing what needs to be done....i still have over 2 weeks before my return flight from dxb....hopefully they would have gotten their act together by then....
#765
Join Date: May 2009
Programs: AA EXP HH GOLD EY GOLD
Posts: 340
That's what GOI is good at, making it confusing for common man and one with contacts will get around using the same ambiguity.