May 18, 16, 11:19 pm
Last edit by: superboi
Please add/correct as appropriate. (Need postcount of 90 to be able to edit)
(Note that information change dynamically and hence best to double check)
Thanks
desi
PLEASE NOTE that CERTAIN DOMESTIC FLIGHTS OF Air India (#010-399 and 900-999) are ACTUALLY segments of INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT and hence for the following discussion should be considered INTL flights.
TRANSFER at BOM
Air India and Vistara operate all of their international and domestic flights out of the same NEW terminal (T2). There is no need to change terminal or take any bus/taxi.
Low-cost airlines operate out of legacy Santacruz domestic terminal (T1) and you need to continue to follow the usual practice of changing terminal.
(For those not familiar with Santacruz Airport - CSIA - while both T1 and T2 uses same airfield and runaways, they are quite apart landside and can be 25-45 min by taxi depending on the traffic)
If first time in BOM then it is advisable to book connection with AI or Vistara to avoid this transfer between terminals.
INTL-to-INTL connections (suspended as of Jan 2022 due to COVID):
If both legs are on the same airline or on airlines that have interlined agreement, then your bags will be tagged to your final destination. But verify this fact when you actually check your bags at your origination and reconfirm by inspecting the bag tags.
Otherwise you have to go through immigration, collect bags and check-in again. This may need appropriate Visa too. If you have to do this, provide for 3 to 4 hours layover to be safe.
INTL-to-DOM transfer
Practice is similar to what you may find at major airports in the world such as JFK, LHR, etc. You have to go through immigration, collect bags, go through customs and then TURN LEFT upon exit from customs towards transfer area. DO NOT GO STRAIGHT into Semi-controlled reception area.
It is best to have entire reservation on single PNR to avail of better baggage allowance. Otherwise expect to pay high tarrifs of excess baggage. Also in case of delayed incoming flight, you will be most likely accomodated on the domestic portion.
Note that certain domestic looking segments of AI are actually onward leg of continuing International flight (#010-399 and 900-999). When connecting to/from these flights, treat them as INTL segments.
DOM-to-INTL transfer
It is best to have entire reservation on single PNR to avail of better baggage allowance. Otherwise expect to pay high tariffs of excess baggage. Your bags will be most likely tagged to your final destination when it is same airline or when airlines have interline agreement. Again, best to double check and reconfirm by looking at the bag tags. Otherwise, you have to collect bags at BOM and check-in again. Please check with your airline for the current process. Posts on this thread that are more than couple of months old, should be in "Trust but Verify" category.
If you are travelling by Air India and your incoming flight to BOM has been classified as international flight (currently applicable to certain AI flights only) then you would have already completed immigration process at your origin and you will simply follow INTL-to-INTL connection at BOM.
Otherwise, you will go through immigration at BOM airport even when your bags are checked to your final destination directly.
(Note that information change dynamically and hence best to double check)
Thanks
desi
PLEASE NOTE that CERTAIN DOMESTIC FLIGHTS OF Air India (#010-399 and 900-999) are ACTUALLY segments of INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT and hence for the following discussion should be considered INTL flights.
TRANSFER at BOM
Air India and Vistara operate all of their international and domestic flights out of the same NEW terminal (T2). There is no need to change terminal or take any bus/taxi.
Low-cost airlines operate out of legacy Santacruz domestic terminal (T1) and you need to continue to follow the usual practice of changing terminal.
(For those not familiar with Santacruz Airport - CSIA - while both T1 and T2 uses same airfield and runaways, they are quite apart landside and can be 25-45 min by taxi depending on the traffic)
If first time in BOM then it is advisable to book connection with AI or Vistara to avoid this transfer between terminals.
INTL-to-INTL connections (suspended as of Jan 2022 due to COVID):
If both legs are on the same airline or on airlines that have interlined agreement, then your bags will be tagged to your final destination. But verify this fact when you actually check your bags at your origination and reconfirm by inspecting the bag tags.
Otherwise you have to go through immigration, collect bags and check-in again. This may need appropriate Visa too. If you have to do this, provide for 3 to 4 hours layover to be safe.
INTL-to-DOM transfer
Practice is similar to what you may find at major airports in the world such as JFK, LHR, etc. You have to go through immigration, collect bags, go through customs and then TURN LEFT upon exit from customs towards transfer area. DO NOT GO STRAIGHT into Semi-controlled reception area.
It is best to have entire reservation on single PNR to avail of better baggage allowance. Otherwise expect to pay high tarrifs of excess baggage. Also in case of delayed incoming flight, you will be most likely accomodated on the domestic portion.
Note that certain domestic looking segments of AI are actually onward leg of continuing International flight (#010-399 and 900-999). When connecting to/from these flights, treat them as INTL segments.
DOM-to-INTL transfer
It is best to have entire reservation on single PNR to avail of better baggage allowance. Otherwise expect to pay high tariffs of excess baggage. Your bags will be most likely tagged to your final destination when it is same airline or when airlines have interline agreement. Again, best to double check and reconfirm by looking at the bag tags. Otherwise, you have to collect bags at BOM and check-in again. Please check with your airline for the current process. Posts on this thread that are more than couple of months old, should be in "Trust but Verify" category.
If you are travelling by Air India and your incoming flight to BOM has been classified as international flight (currently applicable to certain AI flights only) then you would have already completed immigration process at your origin and you will simply follow INTL-to-INTL connection at BOM.
Otherwise, you will go through immigration at BOM airport even when your bags are checked to your final destination directly.
Mumbai airport (BOM) connection/transfer/transit questions - dedicated thread
Feb 27, 23, 8:41 pm
#1099
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Italy
Programs: LH SEN, AF gold, HHdiamond
Posts: 99
Hey there, we are flying from MLE to DEL in two months. have 2 options. Vistara - connecting 1.35 mins in BOM or direct flight with gofirst. My preference would be vistara, but is it doable 1.35 h transit in BOM from MLE? Any recommendation and suggestions are appreciated Thanks
Feb 28, 23, 12:40 am
#1100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,122
Hey there, we are flying from MLE to DEL in two months. have 2 options. Vistara - connecting 1.35 mins in BOM or direct flight with gofirst. My preference would be vistara, but is it doable 1.35 h transit in BOM from MLE? Any recommendation and suggestions are appreciated Thanks
Feb 28, 23, 12:28 pm
#1102
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Italy
Programs: LH SEN, AF gold, HHdiamond
Posts: 99
yes, that is what i thought... as we are coming from international leg (MLE) isn't that once landed in BOM we have to do the immigration and custom clearance for the luggages before boarding to domestic DEL leg? if that is the case i am not sure we will have enough time by reading previous post...again we travel in early may so not sure about traffic peaks at 5 pm in BOM for that period...i see it though! but either not sure if taking direct with GOFirst sounds a better option
Mar 1, 23, 12:25 pm
#1103
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Gold, Aeroplan 50K, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,139
I just wanted to pop in to get some water/juice. Too bad that its only a water/soda fountain. Food looked sad. I walked out in 2 minutes.
Domestic Travel Club is much better though last year it was also very crowded with lines to get in.
Mar 2, 23, 6:33 am
#1104
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Gold, Aeroplan 50K, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,139
I feel the lines in general at BOM - even comparing to pre-pandemic has gotten worse at every step - getting into airport to check-in to the stupid dom+intl combined security and the new automated trays where you have to be play a few games to push your tray - else you will be waiting forever. Lounges were never this crowded. I find it hard to believe its all due to higher volumes.
Mar 2, 23, 3:22 pm
#1105
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: Former UA1K transitioning to WFBF mentality
Posts: 643
I feel the lines in general at BOM - even comparing to pre-pandemic has gotten worse at every step - getting into airport to check-in to the stupid dom+intl combined security and the new automated trays where you have to be play a few games to push your tray - else you will be waiting forever. Lounges were never this crowded. I find it hard to believe its all due to higher volumes.
Mar 3, 23, 2:08 pm
#1106
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,365
I feel the lines in general at BOM - even comparing to pre-pandemic has gotten worse at every step - getting into airport to check-in to the stupid dom+intl combined security and the new automated trays where you have to be play a few games to push your tray - else you will be waiting forever. Lounges were never this crowded. I find it hard to believe its all due to higher volumes.
Mar 3, 23, 3:44 pm
#1107
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Gold, Aeroplan 50K, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,139
Maybe I am the exception to the rule but I've found Mumbai airport to be extremely efficient with security and immigration in the last few months (just one bad experience out of a dozen or so arrivals/departures) considering the volumes it processes. You invariably find all desks manned at immigration, all checkpoints open at security, plenty of staff around to assist with wayfinding, etc... It is a much improved experience compared to pre-pandemic (dare I say it, since Adani took over management?).
Mar 4, 23, 3:03 am
#1108
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN**
Posts: 45,831
Timing is everything in BOM. If you are not in the massive 1-4am international arrival/departure wave, BOM immigration and security is fine. Going by the CSMIA twitter rants the other bad time for security is the weekday morning domestic departure wave.
Mar 4, 23, 1:49 pm
#1109
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,365
I've been through during all of the above peaks and yes, it was crowded, but everything moved as well as can be expected. Given the volumes that Mumbai processes, it is a remarkably efficient airport.
Mar 7, 23, 8:13 am
#1110
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 718
Please can anybody help? I fly into BOM T2 next Monday arriving 🤞at 06.50. Please can anybody tell me how long it is likely to take to clear immigration and retrieve my luggage if it had deigned to follow me to India? Thank you. Also please can anybody advise me how long it is likely to take to get to the Taj Palace? If I arrive after 9am I get early check in whereas if any earlier I will have to pay 50% of the day rate. Thanks again
