Delhi Transit Connection Time
 

Hi, I am flying from JFK (New York) via Riyadh on Saudia Airlines. The flight arrives at 11:40am in New Delhi on July 25. I plan to connect to Kathmandu.

I have two options - a 1:10pm Air India flight, or a 3:50pm SpiceJet flight.

I would be able to have 10kg more allowance on the Air India flight so that's the one I prefer, but can anyone give insight onto whether or not the 90 minute connection time would be enough? Keeping in mind that (I think!) the airport will be less crowded in the middle of the day since many flights arrive late at night, and it won't be foggy hopefully...if it's highly unlikely I'll make the connection I'll opt for SpiceJet but would love to hear what people think. Thank you very much for your time.

I have connected through Delhi several times before and I know I don't have to get my own bags, don't have to go through customs/immigration, I just haven't done a quick connection before so am not clear on how long the process takes.

Thanks,
Yuri

welcome to ft yurster....i suggest checking out the thread below:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/india...-airports.html

Thanks!
 

Thanks for the link, much appreciated.

I'd go with AI, because you can check your bags through to KTM. When you arrive at JFK for check-in, provide the agent with your ticket number, and they should be able to print a baggage tag all the way to KTM. You may need to find an experienced agent who knows how to do this, and you should show up early for check-in. You can then pick up your boarding pass at DEL transfer desk.

If you go with SG, you will need to pass through immigration and customs, pick up your baggage, and bring it over to KTM check-in. You will also need an Indian visa for this.

Confirmation
 

Thanks for your message!

I just want to check -

- I am NOT flying AI from JFK to Delhi, but Saudia will be able to check me in on my Delhi-KTM flight on AI??

- I had read other posts on forums that people have been met by Spicejet agents who transfer the bags, bring boarding pass, etc - meaning NOT having to pass through customs/immigration, and not needing a visa...are you sure that I will indeed have to get my own bags, thus needing a visa? How recent is your information regarding this?

Sorry to be nitpicky, thanks for your help!!

Yes, SV and AI have an interline agreement, so they can check your bags to KTM. You need to check in and collect boarding passes at Air India's transfer desk in DEL.

You cannot count on SG agents transferring your bags - indeed, you shouldn't count on AI agents to do it either. If you want to fly to KTM via DEL, you should get an Indian transit visa. If your SV flight is delayed, you'll be stuck airside and you may be deported if you do not have a valid Indian transit visa. If flying SG (or AI without interlined bags), I would expect to pick up bags and recheck them, and only consider help from the airline to be a bonus.