May 18, 2016, 11:19 pm
Last edit by: oliver2002
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.
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
TRANSFER at BOM
Air India, Jet Airways 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 and you need to continue to follow the usual practice of changing terminal.
INTL-to-INTL connections:
NOTE: Air-India operates some domestic flight segments as extension of an oversees flight (Typically flight numbers <400 - Double check routing on AI website to confirm example: AI 144 EWR_BOM_DEL). They should be treated as INTL flights for immigration/rechek/customs purpose.
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 dometic looking segments of AI are actually onward leg of continuing International flight such as EWR-BOM-AMD flight. 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 tarrifs 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 your incoming flight to BOM has been classified as international flight then you would have already completed emmigration (exit from India) process at your origination and you will simply follow INTL-to-INTL connection at BOM.
Otherwise, you will go through emmigration process 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.
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
TRANSFER at BOM
Air India, Jet Airways 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 and you need to continue to follow the usual practice of changing terminal.
INTL-to-INTL connections:
NOTE: Air-India operates some domestic flight segments as extension of an oversees flight (Typically flight numbers <400 - Double check routing on AI website to confirm example: AI 144 EWR_BOM_DEL). They should be treated as INTL flights for immigration/rechek/customs purpose.
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 dometic looking segments of AI are actually onward leg of continuing International flight such as EWR-BOM-AMD flight. 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 tarrifs 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 your incoming flight to BOM has been classified as international flight then you would have already completed emmigration (exit from India) process at your origination and you will simply follow INTL-to-INTL connection at BOM.
Otherwise, you will go through emmigration process at BOM airport even when your bags are checked to your final destination directly.
Mumbai CSIA [BOM] connection/departure experience reports
Jan 29, 2018, 7:29 am
#872
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Ahmedabad, INDIA
Programs: Blasé..
Posts: 174
Had a nightmare in Immigration yesterday at BOM - With all 3 9W biggies coming in one after other LHR/AMS/CDG - It was a full house and 9W abruptly offloaded pax from whichever flight came last from the domestic connection - I was connecting from 9W123 - CDG to 9W2001 - AMD and was told that I was offloaded - I retaliated and pushed them, with my checked-in bags already in my hands - they could not deny any further to check me in and hesitantly gave me 1 of the last seats - Upon boarding, I realized lot of PAX who were booked on S24329 to AMD were pushed to 9W2001 - thereby swapping seats!
Rather than helping pax in retrieving bags and getting through Security faster - 9W staff were just plain indifferent and could not cared less!
Rather than helping pax in retrieving bags and getting through Security faster - 9W staff were just plain indifferent and could not cared less!
Jan 30, 2018, 1:46 am
#873
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 3
LHR - GOI
Hello guys, looking for a bit of advice here.
Only yesterday did I discover how hectic BOM sounds, my flights with Jet Airways have been booked since last October and now I’m worried I’m not going to make the connection. I’m travelling LHR to GOI via BOM and these are my arrival and departure times...
LHR - BOM: 0030 arrival
BOM - GOI: 0235 departure
I have heard this will be landing into the new terminal on the 14th Feb? But how likely is it that we will actually make the connection with a 2 hour window?
i have a couple of domestic flights, during my time here through BOM but I’m not overly worried about this. It’s just getting to GOI and then back to London that is a potential worry? I have a tight schedule already, and seems to have been made even tighter.
I also presume that that because I booked the whole thing with Jet Airways, they have to put me on the next available flight if we miss it?
Never had this worry with Turkish at Istanbul
any help and advice would be much appreciated.
Only yesterday did I discover how hectic BOM sounds, my flights with Jet Airways have been booked since last October and now I’m worried I’m not going to make the connection. I’m travelling LHR to GOI via BOM and these are my arrival and departure times...
LHR - BOM: 0030 arrival
BOM - GOI: 0235 departure
I have heard this will be landing into the new terminal on the 14th Feb? But how likely is it that we will actually make the connection with a 2 hour window?
i have a couple of domestic flights, during my time here through BOM but I’m not overly worried about this. It’s just getting to GOI and then back to London that is a potential worry? I have a tight schedule already, and seems to have been made even tighter.
I also presume that that because I booked the whole thing with Jet Airways, they have to put me on the next available flight if we miss it?
Never had this worry with Turkish at Istanbul
any help and advice would be much appreciated.
Last edited by Ryan Piper; Jan 30, 2018 at 1:50 am Reason: spelling error
Jan 30, 2018, 2:40 am
#874
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
The BOM intl arrivals is a madhouse from 1am to 4am. You should be OK around midnight. It takes about 40 minutes to pass immigration, claim your bags and get thru customs, who will screen all handluggage, to the Jet Airways transit recheck. Jet will rebook you to the next GOI flight if you don't make it. Only separate tickets make it a hassle. On the way out of India you just change sides within the same terminal building and level, the luggage is checked thru, there 40 mins suffices.
Jan 30, 2018, 4:45 am
#875
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 3
The BOM intl arrivals is a madhouse from 1am to 4am. You should be OK around midnight. It takes about 40 minutes to pass immigration, claim your bags and get thru customs, who will screen all handluggage, to the Jet Airways transit recheck. Jet will rebook you to the next GOI flight if you don't make it. Only separate tickets make it a hassle. On the way out of India you just change sides within the same terminal building and level, the luggage is checked thru, there 40 mins suffices.
Jan 30, 2018, 7:21 am
#876
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
Hello guys, looking for a bit of advice here.
Only yesterday did I discover how hectic BOM sounds, my flights with Jet Airways have been booked since last October and now I’m worried I’m not going to make the connection. I’m travelling LHR to GOI via BOM and these are my arrival and departure times...
LHR - BOM: 0030 arrival
BOM - GOI: 0235 departure
I have heard this will be landing into the new terminal on the 14th Feb? But how likely is it that we will actually make the connection with a 2 hour window?
i have a couple of domestic flights, during my time here through BOM but I’m not overly worried about this. It’s just getting to GOI and then back to London that is a potential worry? I have a tight schedule already, and seems to have been made even tighter.
I also presume that that because I booked the whole thing with Jet Airways, they have to put me on the next available flight if we miss it?
Never had this worry with Turkish at Istanbul
any help and advice would be much appreciated.
Only yesterday did I discover how hectic BOM sounds, my flights with Jet Airways have been booked since last October and now I’m worried I’m not going to make the connection. I’m travelling LHR to GOI via BOM and these are my arrival and departure times...
LHR - BOM: 0030 arrival
BOM - GOI: 0235 departure
I have heard this will be landing into the new terminal on the 14th Feb? But how likely is it that we will actually make the connection with a 2 hour window?
i have a couple of domestic flights, during my time here through BOM but I’m not overly worried about this. It’s just getting to GOI and then back to London that is a potential worry? I have a tight schedule already, and seems to have been made even tighter.
I also presume that that because I booked the whole thing with Jet Airways, they have to put me on the next available flight if we miss it?
Never had this worry with Turkish at Istanbul
any help and advice would be much appreciated.
find that the immigration and bag recovery was done in GOI. Not sure 9W does the same ? At BOM,
three domestic flights passengers (AMD, GOI and Cochin) were separated to transit directly to
domestic departures. After security straight to GOI boarding gate. At GOI all the passengers
from LHR were led to Immigration line.
Normally this would be a much better way to do things but that day just before our
BOM-GOI landed, there was a flight from Kuwait that had landed in GOI. This created
a One hour backup in GOI immigration. I think doing immigration in BOM would
have been faster because they have may be 25 counters as opposed to 4 in GOI :-(
Check with 9W if your immigration is happening in BOM or GOI....
Jan 30, 2018, 7:29 am
#877
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 3
I did LHR-BOM-GOI on Air India couple of weeks back with one checked bag. I was surprised to
find that the immigration and bag recovery was done in GOI. Not sure 9W does the same ? At BOM,
three domestic flights passengers (AMD, GOI and Cochin) were separated to transit directly to
domestic departures. After security straight to GOI boarding gate. At GOI all the passengers
from LHR were led to Immigration line.
Normally this would be a much better way to do things but that day just before our
BOM-GOI landed, there was a flight from Kuwait that had landed in GOI. This created
a One hour backup in GOI immigration. I think doing immigration in BOM would
have been faster because they have may be 25 counters as opposed to 4 in GOI :-(
Check with 9W if your immigration is happening in BOM or GOI....
find that the immigration and bag recovery was done in GOI. Not sure 9W does the same ? At BOM,
three domestic flights passengers (AMD, GOI and Cochin) were separated to transit directly to
domestic departures. After security straight to GOI boarding gate. At GOI all the passengers
from LHR were led to Immigration line.
Normally this would be a much better way to do things but that day just before our
BOM-GOI landed, there was a flight from Kuwait that had landed in GOI. This created
a One hour backup in GOI immigration. I think doing immigration in BOM would
have been faster because they have may be 25 counters as opposed to 4 in GOI :-(
Check with 9W if your immigration is happening in BOM or GOI....
Thanks guys!
Jan 30, 2018, 8:22 am
#878
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
See the entry in the wiki, AI 001-299 and AI 900- are international flights. BOM-GOI sometimes is one of those. 9W doesn't have this system at all.
Jan 30, 2018, 8:30 am
#879
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
to design the process to avoid any exceptions. In the US all international arrivals
regardless of final destination are processed at the first port of entry. This makes
it easier for Airline staff, Airport staff and passengers...
Jan 30, 2018, 9:00 am
#880
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
The AI system is useful as the the infrastructure supports it. The US is not a transit country so its system is set up differently and cannot be held as a standard.
Jan 30, 2018, 9:03 am
#881
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: KUL (MY), ICN (KR), ZRH (CH) or OTP (RO) - or somewhere in between
Programs: OZ, JL
Posts: 241
And how is the US a good example here, in a thread about BOM airport?
But since you mentioned the US “system”, and this discussion went off-topic anyway, just picture the passengers flying between Europe and Central or South America, for example. No one in their right minds would fly a US airline for such an itinerary, mainly because of the need to enter and exit the US in order to make a simple connection. Luckily there are a lot of ways to fly between those regions without the need to touch any US airport.
And now compare that with, let’s say, flying between Europe and the Far East through BOM. Having an international transit in BOM may not be as straight forward as transiting in HKG, SIN, ICN, NRT, TPE or the likes, but I would take a connection in BOM over ANY US airport in a heart bit.
To conclude, connecting in BOM may pose some issues but there are places like the US, Mexico, Canada, some major airports in mainland China (though not all Chinese airports) where the ordeal to either connect or just arrive is far worse than at BOM.
Jan 30, 2018, 9:55 am
#882
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
Maybe for airline staff and airport staff. For passengers, not so much.
And how is the US a good example here, in a thread about BOM airport?
But since you mentioned the US “system”, and this discussion went off-topic anyway, just picture the passengers flying between Europe and Central or South America, for example. No one in their right minds would fly a US airline for such an itinerary, mainly because of the need to enter and exit the US in order to make a simple connection. Luckily there are a lot of ways to fly between those regions without the need to touch any US airport.
And now compare that with, let’s say, flying between Europe and the Far East through BOM. Having an international transit in BOM may not be as straight forward as transiting in HKG, SIN, ICN, NRT, TPE or the likes, but I would take a connection in BOM over ANY US airport in a heart bit.
To conclude, connecting in BOM may pose some issues but there are places like the US, Mexico, Canada, some major airports in mainland China (though not all Chinese airports) where the ordeal to either connect or just arrive is far worse than at BOM.
transfers ?? Just saying that International to Domestic transfer in Mumbai is DIFFERENT depending on the
Airline you fly in, Domestic Destination and your International starting point. This creates lot of confusion for
everyone that are planning their trips...It is always better to have ONE process for all passengers arriving
in the country regardless of which airline they have flown in or which domestic destination they are going to.
In the case of this guy asking question about BOM airport safe connection time, the answer would be
different if he was flying AI going to GOI or if he was flying Jet going to Pune ! That is my point...
Jan 31, 2018, 2:05 am
#883
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Well, AI offers thos service for their intl pax and it is much appreciated. If I'm arriving in DEL and want to get to CCU, I hate doing the I/D transfer 'experience' which also involved a terminal (on the other side of the airfield) change in the days prior to 2009. Since AI didn't offer west bound nonstop flights from CCU, this was their way of offering a convinient connection. The flights to CCU for example used to continue on to East Bound longhauls and pax starting in DEL for HKG would have the same convinience in CCU.
That said I don't see hordes of lost and confused passengers running aorund aimlessly in DEL or BOM when I iarrive, so it must be working....
That said I don't see hordes of lost and confused passengers running aorund aimlessly in DEL or BOM when I iarrive, so it must be working....
Jan 31, 2018, 5:58 am
#884
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
When I arrived from LHR, there was mass chaos and confusion of passengers at the transit
desk. Lot of yelling, changing of lines etc. etc. It was hard for many older passengers to figure out what they should
be doing. I did not get any instructions about this process from AI staff in London so I was surprised to learn. I am sure
it was confusing for many inexperienced travelers since they were told by their family that they need to pick their bags
in Mumbai...Not a smooth experience, I must say !
desk. Lot of yelling, changing of lines etc. etc. It was hard for many older passengers to figure out what they should
be doing. I did not get any instructions about this process from AI staff in London so I was surprised to learn. I am sure
it was confusing for many inexperienced travelers since they were told by their family that they need to pick their bags
in Mumbai...Not a smooth experience, I must say !
Feb 2, 2018, 3:49 am
#885
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,172
HKG-BOM-LHR same ticket only hand carry
Would appreciate some help.
May be travelling HKG-BOM (CX J) arriving at 11.55 pm and transferring to BOM-LHR (BA J) which departs at 1.45 am. Have 1 hour and 50 minutes and CX said MCT is 1hour.
Am I right that there is no need to clear immigration and no visa required?
Also, do CX and BA use the same or different terminals?
Is 1 hour and 50 min in this situation realistic?
Any tips on what to do and expect?
Thank you very much.
May be travelling HKG-BOM (CX J) arriving at 11.55 pm and transferring to BOM-LHR (BA J) which departs at 1.45 am. Have 1 hour and 50 minutes and CX said MCT is 1hour.
Am I right that there is no need to clear immigration and no visa required?
Also, do CX and BA use the same or different terminals?
Is 1 hour and 50 min in this situation realistic?
Any tips on what to do and expect?
Thank you very much.