Transit travel to/from India under the 'air bubble' agreements [ends 27 March 2022]
Oct 8, 2021, 2:49 am
#1381
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,184
Visa and bubble are two pair of shoes...
If they want to remain protectionist that really doesn't mean the bubble will pop.
It added that foreigners traveling to India via commercial flights will be able to enter on fresh tourist visas starting November 15, 2021.
Oct 8, 2021, 11:22 am
#1383
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: EY
Posts: 852
The end of tourist restrictions and the sale of Air India being announced a day apart are likely no coincidence. I believe the ministers earlier had not so subtly said they were keeping the bubbles so that they could get a higher price for Air India (I doubt that it had much effect on the end though).
Oct 12, 2021, 1:34 am
#1385
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,184
I think they will restart the evisa process again, I doubt they will go back to the old system, especially since the contracted agencies that used to process all those passports/visa have been disbanded.
Oct 12, 2021, 2:18 pm
#1386
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: EY
Posts: 852
Two more successful DPs
US citizen OCI flying US-India via Abu Dhabi (Etihad) and back. No issues either way or any bubble issues. AUH-IAD flight had only 15 passengers for some reason. Maybe people still think transit passengers are blocked, as that's what the Indian air bubble page still says, even the IATA Timatic page says that I believe. Etihad was actively blocking transit passengers from flying to India via Abu Dhabi as you can see in my posts from this time last year, as the Indian government required it, though only EY was actually enforcing it while EK and QR didn't care. That changed earlier in January for Africa and South America and in March for the rest of the world, according to Etihad's responses on Twitter. Their website no longer makes any reference to any restrictions on transit passengers. However, the MOCA air bubble page still says only transit passengers to Africa/South America are allowed, and I'm betting a lot of travel agents who read that don't want to risk getting their clients unhappy, so direct them to fly direct on Air India (as MOCA wants).
US citizen OCI flying Canada to India via Dubai on Emirates--exclusively US citizen, not a Canadian--relevant because the MOCA air bubble page still says only Canadian passport holders OCIs are permitted from Canada, while from the US it says 'OCIs holding passports of any country' are allowed to board. No issues at departure or on arrival however.
Hopefully with tourist visas opening back up this bubble nonsense will go away, in line with the US opening up for vaccinated passengers, so the big US-India travel corridor, the lifeblood of the ME3, can reopen properly.
US citizen OCI flying US-India via Abu Dhabi (Etihad) and back. No issues either way or any bubble issues. AUH-IAD flight had only 15 passengers for some reason. Maybe people still think transit passengers are blocked, as that's what the Indian air bubble page still says, even the IATA Timatic page says that I believe. Etihad was actively blocking transit passengers from flying to India via Abu Dhabi as you can see in my posts from this time last year, as the Indian government required it, though only EY was actually enforcing it while EK and QR didn't care. That changed earlier in January for Africa and South America and in March for the rest of the world, according to Etihad's responses on Twitter. Their website no longer makes any reference to any restrictions on transit passengers. However, the MOCA air bubble page still says only transit passengers to Africa/South America are allowed, and I'm betting a lot of travel agents who read that don't want to risk getting their clients unhappy, so direct them to fly direct on Air India (as MOCA wants).
US citizen OCI flying Canada to India via Dubai on Emirates--exclusively US citizen, not a Canadian--relevant because the MOCA air bubble page still says only Canadian passport holders OCIs are permitted from Canada, while from the US it says 'OCIs holding passports of any country' are allowed to board. No issues at departure or on arrival however.
Hopefully with tourist visas opening back up this bubble nonsense will go away, in line with the US opening up for vaccinated passengers, so the big US-India travel corridor, the lifeblood of the ME3, can reopen properly.
Oct 12, 2021, 5:12 pm
#1387
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: SPG, AA, United
Posts: 1,815
I don't think so. Just make sure you forms are filled out and you have an Indian cell phone number to get your test results link if they have testing at the airport and a debit card that works intl or carry Rs for payment.
Oct 13, 2021, 8:34 am
#1389
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Aeroplan75K, BASilver
Posts: 81
Yyz-lhr-blr
My family (Indian citizens) is planning to travel from Toronto to bengaluru on BA transiting through heathrow. Is it better to travel after Nov 15 or before is okay? Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Oct 13, 2021, 9:12 am
#1392
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: BLR
Programs: AA - EXP, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, UK - Gold
Posts: 1,224
Oct 13, 2021, 10:54 am
#1393
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Aeroplan75K, BASilver
Posts: 81
Oct 13, 2021, 7:41 pm
#1394
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: BLR
Programs: AA - EXP, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, UK - Gold
Posts: 1,224
Oct 13, 2021, 7:46 pm
#1395
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Aeroplan75K, BASilver
Posts: 81