COVID19: Testing (and vaccination) Requirements to enter India
Mar 8, 2023, 7:10 am
#931
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 778
Sorry another quick question please - what is happening with regard to the random Covid testing of 2% of international arrivals at Mumbai? Are they selected by the airlines, are you tapped on the shoulder on the plane, at check in or boarding? If so, how do they select them and what happens if you test positive? Many thanks again
Mar 8, 2023, 8:14 am
#932
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: EY
Posts: 852
Mar 10, 2023, 1:51 am
#933
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,656
Arriving into Mumbai 2 weeks ago on Ethiopian, they made an announcement when the doors opened for specific passengers to contact the ground staff. They had a couple of electric carts waiting to take them to the testing area just before immigration to fulfil the 2%. Didn't take long I presume as I saw one of them again at baggage claim a few minutes later.
Mar 10, 2023, 3:59 pm
#934
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: Qantas Plat
Posts: 133
Arriving into Mumbai 2 weeks ago on Ethiopian, they made an announcement when the doors opened for specific passengers to contact the ground staff. They had a couple of electric carts waiting to take them to the testing area just before immigration to fulfil the 2%. Didn't take long I presume as I saw one of them again at baggage claim a few minutes later.
Mar 15, 2023, 12:03 pm
#938
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: VPS, previously SEA and PIT
Programs: DL Diamond/1MM, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,196
Mar 15, 2023, 12:10 pm
#939
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,259
Mar 17, 2023, 2:39 am
#940
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: Qantas Plat
Posts: 133
That suggests it isn't the airlines identifying passengers just the flight itself. I'm always a bit clueless after several hours of travel what my flight number is. Seems like a simple response would remove the issue. Hoping they have an early night the night we fly in.
Mar 28, 2023, 3:24 am
#942
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 270
Another data point - Arrived a couple of days ago at Mumbai by Emirates from Dubai, no sign of any testing. On the long walk from the gate towards immigration, at the point where they used to check for the Air Suvidha, there are still a couple of folks in uniform sitting around, but with nothing to do since Air Suvidha has also been discontinued for all arrivals. No sign that they or anyone else was involved in the 2% random testing.
Jun 7, 2023, 5:44 pm
#944
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Delta
Posts: 270
Two more recent trips (arriving at BOM) and no sign at all of the 2% random testing (although the desks and staff are still there, just yakking amongst themselves or fixated on their phones) I think we can consider all covid requirements "dead" now, especially since the XBB 1.16 "surge" seems to have fizzled out entirely in recent weeks.
