It's a quirk of the Indian immigration system. It also applies to people who are booked on a single PNR.

People transiting a country air side usually have to get a transit visa but that is waived if the airlines make sure that no one stays back when transiting.

Flyertalk: where quirks are lovingly shared for the benefit of all 🥳

There are a few good deals for my trip home from BLR in Feb that involve flying to BOM on 6E and then flying to LHR on VS. Is that a difficult transfer (single ticket), and how much time would I need? I think it's around a 2.5 hr layover.

Depends if the flight from BLR lands in T1 or T2. VS departs from T2 which is on the other side of the airfield from T1. If you have luggage you are setting yourself a nice workout if you have yo change terminals.

That was my worry. I was thinking 6E was primarily out of T1, which would be a pain. Thanks.

I was able to checkin for my BOM-AMS-SEA flights on the KLM app the day before departure, and received a "Confirmation of Checkin" instead of a boarding pass [This is the same process as always over the past two years] Arrived into BOM on UL flight at 1945. There were no UL staffers at gate to ask about the "handover to KL" so I walked onward and got to I-I Transit desk around 2010. Told the desk staff that I need bpasses for my KLM flights, he got on the phone to KLM. I went over to the seats expecting to wait a couple of hours based on replies here. Saw a self-service kiosk next to the vending machine (see pictures below) and decided to see what the Fates had decreed would be my destiny.

Selected KLM, entered my PNR, and selected "Print Boarding Pass" from the options presented. 30 seconds later both bpasses appeared.

Walked over to the Transit agent who was on the phone, interrupted him by showing him the bpasses. He concluded his call (which was about my situation but unknown if he was talking to a KLM staffer or someone else), asked me where I got the bpasses, and seemed surprised when I pointed to the self-service machine about 10 meters from his desk.

He wrote down my flight and passport details in a big journal, and wrote the letters "DT" on my bpass. When I asked what that meant, he explained it represented "Direct Transfer" and would allow me to access the security screening adjacent to the Transfer desk.

From arriving at the Transfer desk to entering the security screening area took about 3 minutes, half of which was Transit agent recording my details into the big journal.

I went through the screening, took the escalator up into the airside shopping area, walked over to Adani West lounge, found an unoccupied almost-lie-flat lounger beyond the massage spa area, and proceeded to spend the next 4.5 hours in comfort and relaxation until it was time for the KLM flight.

At the gate my bpass triggered a red Unable to Board message on the scanner, a staffer took me to the desk, asked where I got the bpass, examined my passport, and let me board. Had I been less elated and self-congratulatory about the events so far, I would have realized that no KLM agent has yet to verify my identity in person (my passport scan was already submitted via the KLM app). I chided myself for not leaving the lounge a few minutes earlier to present myself at the gate counter before attempting to board.

Lessons learned: I-I transfer at BOM with separate PNRs seems to have improved over what FT replies indicate. Perhaps only for the airlines listed on the self-service kiosk?

I hope others find value in my tale, with my apologies for not simply posting "Transit desk has a self-service kiosk for printing boarding passes". [I get paid by the number of words ;) ]

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ecc05d72f7.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...35f414e829.jpg

I'm assuming you didn't get a stamp on outgoing BP since you didn't have to clear exit immigration - this is interesting as BOM stamps Fast track BP's after using the FTI lane, without which there were some reported issues at the gate during boarding. Also, how did you get into Adani West without a separate invitation card from KLM?

Adani West entry desk scanned the barcode on my BP to verify entry, similar to process at recent lounge visits in AMS, CDG, LHR, ICN, and SGN. I assume the lounge gatekeepers are probably aware that a one-PNR I-I transit passenger might not be issued an invitation card for BOM lounge at point of origin?

The "Unable to Board" message occured when my BP barcode was scanned at gate scanner; I dont think the scanner would check for an exit Immigration stamp since Transit passengers wouldnt be expected to have one. I think my issue was lack of identity verification by anyone representing KLM; that's the impression I formed since the gate agent wanted to know where I obtained the BP.

It's possible that my overall experience was unintended and not the intentional 'user journey' for separate-PNR I-I transit passengers at BOM; perhaps the Fates were rewarding me? ;)

As far as I'm aware the immigration stamp is no longer a must, since the new egates have been installed (whch allow select pax to leave/enter the country without any stamps in the passport/BPs)

Unless it has changed recently, my BP was stamped right after I used e-gate to exit at BOM in may.

CMB-BOM-BDQ on AI. Both flights in and out of T2. 10 hour overnight layover. BOM-BDQ is very early in the morning. Options I see are lounges but they are max 3 hours max. Niranta or leave the airport? Assuming both will require me to recheck bags and pass thru security.

I would get a hotel outside, else you can split time in Aviserv arrival lounge and then head to the airside lounge.

We are on separate tickets, landing on BA from LHR at 12:15am with an onward ticket from BOM-DXB on Emirates. Will be in business class on BA and first class on Emirates with carry-on luggage only. Emirates confirmed that we will not be able to check-in online, we will have to get our BP at the airport. Does anyone know if they have reps in transit? How much time should it take from deplaning to getting to the Adani lounge?

You have catch one of the ground handling agents to take you to the transit counter and get the agent of BA to check you in.

I arrived in BOM today at 2.30am and there was quite a line at the transfer desk of about 20 people. 1 kiosk was available that I think can print some airlines bp. Agents were on the phone sorting access for people

Immigration and baggage hall was a mess as well.