Delhi Transfer to Vistara
Aug 2, 2021, 10:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 2
Delhi Transfer to Vistara
Travelling from sfo->del->maa. United and then Vistara. Chatted with united customer service and they said they will issue boarding passes for Vistara and tag baggage for MAA. First time in Delhi airport and first time travelling with our baby as well.
1. After clearing customs in Delhi, where should we drop off the baggage?
2. Since we will have boarding passes for Vistara, can we go to the domestic security check? How to reach it after passing customs.
3. We have 7 hours between flights. Will they let us access the domestic area. Some threads in this forum mention a 4 hour rule. Does that apply to our situation?
1. After clearing customs in Delhi, where should we drop off the baggage?
2. Since we will have boarding passes for Vistara, can we go to the domestic security check? How to reach it after passing customs.
3. We have 7 hours between flights. Will they let us access the domestic area. Some threads in this forum mention a 4 hour rule. Does that apply to our situation?
Aug 3, 2021, 1:52 am
#2
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
You go thru immgration, pick up you bags from the luggage belt and take it thru customs. After customs you turn left and walk over to the domestic end of the terminal. There you line up for the escalator or elevator and get your boarding pass cross checked with your ID by the CISF before you are allowed to go up the departures level. Some times they refuse you because the 4h rule, but if you are close enough they will let you go up. Or at most keep you in a glass walled holding pen on the departures level. Once up there, you drop the bags at the Vistara counter and go to domestic security. It could be that vistara reissues the bag tags and boarding passes.
An experience report is here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31868043-post470.html
An experience report is here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31868043-post470.html
Aug 3, 2021, 9:19 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,682
this way the 4 hour rule would not apply to you & you would be able to enter the terminal as soon as you clear customs....
Aug 23, 2021, 1:37 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 2
Thanks oliver2002 and Keyser for your input. Our trip is now safely done and this is our experience.
SFO:
1. We had a lot of stuff with us primarily for the baby. TSA staff were super helpful in getting everything cleared.
2. Installed the mamava app to find and unlock lactation spaces in the airport. They are very comfy and private.
Delhi:
1. There is a seperate line for people with babies in immigration - we were second in line and were done in about 10 minutes.
2. The customs line is long. If worried about covid, this is the weak point since there seemed to be little effort towards any social distancing here. Due to a comedy of errors we ended up inadvertently jumping this queue (we tried to ask an airport staff member if there is a seperate queue in customs for people with babies like the one in immigration - I don't think he understood the question but he walked us to the head of the long queue and then out of it after talking to the official there). We were bewildered.
3. Turned towards the place marked domestic transit. Security didn't make any fuss about 4 hours. The vistara bagge dropoff is right there. They reissue new boarding passes and luggage tags. Then we took the elevator up to the departure level.
4. There is a seperate line in security check for business class. No one else were in that line.
5. The vistara business class lounge was closed. Instead we were allowed two free hours in the plaza premium lounge. If worried about covid, it would be best to avoid this lounge. We only went there to ask them if they can store some bottles with breast milk in their refrigerator. They agreed though their refrigerator seemed to not do a good job.
6. It was pretty easy to find places to sit without anyone else near by. At least in the time we were there, it looked like there is no need to book a hotel just to avoid crowds for covid. There is certainly a big crowd but it is very well dispersed that it is possible to easily navigate it without having to come close to anyone.
7. There are comfortable diaper changing stations next to many of the restrooms.
SFO:
1. We had a lot of stuff with us primarily for the baby. TSA staff were super helpful in getting everything cleared.
2. Installed the mamava app to find and unlock lactation spaces in the airport. They are very comfy and private.
Delhi:
1. There is a seperate line for people with babies in immigration - we were second in line and were done in about 10 minutes.
2. The customs line is long. If worried about covid, this is the weak point since there seemed to be little effort towards any social distancing here. Due to a comedy of errors we ended up inadvertently jumping this queue (we tried to ask an airport staff member if there is a seperate queue in customs for people with babies like the one in immigration - I don't think he understood the question but he walked us to the head of the long queue and then out of it after talking to the official there). We were bewildered.
3. Turned towards the place marked domestic transit. Security didn't make any fuss about 4 hours. The vistara bagge dropoff is right there. They reissue new boarding passes and luggage tags. Then we took the elevator up to the departure level.
4. There is a seperate line in security check for business class. No one else were in that line.
5. The vistara business class lounge was closed. Instead we were allowed two free hours in the plaza premium lounge. If worried about covid, it would be best to avoid this lounge. We only went there to ask them if they can store some bottles with breast milk in their refrigerator. They agreed though their refrigerator seemed to not do a good job.
6. It was pretty easy to find places to sit without anyone else near by. At least in the time we were there, it looked like there is no need to book a hotel just to avoid crowds for covid. There is certainly a big crowd but it is very well dispersed that it is possible to easily navigate it without having to come close to anyone.
7. There are comfortable diaper changing stations next to many of the restrooms.
Feb 25, 2022, 7:39 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: non
Posts: 2
info needed for UA/Vistarta connection
sa1121 i need to know a few things as i am booking a flight with United from EWR to delhi and then we need to take visrta to mumbai. We have 2 hrs layover. Is it enough? few questins:
Do we need to collect the luggage at delhi airport and then do security check to go to vistara?
How is customs line and iimigartion line?
I have a special needs child on wheelchair. Need to know if 2 hrs is enough to complete formality. I had a bad experience 8 yrs back so want to make sure.
Do we need to collect the luggage at delhi airport and then do security check to go to vistara?
How is customs line and iimigartion line?
I have a special needs child on wheelchair. Need to know if 2 hrs is enough to complete formality. I had a bad experience 8 yrs back so want to make sure.
Feb 25, 2022, 7:52 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: non
Posts: 2
delhi transer to vistara
Thanks oliver2002 and Keyser for your input. Our trip is now safely done and this is our experience.
SFO:
1. We had a lot of stuff with us primarily for the baby. TSA staff were super helpful in getting everything cleared.
2. Installed the mamava app to find and unlock lactation spaces in the airport. They are very comfy and private.
Delhi:
1. There is a seperate line for people with babies in immigration - we were second in line and were done in about 10 minutes.
2. The customs line is long. If worried about covid, this is the weak point since there seemed to be little effort towards any social distancing here. Due to a comedy of errors we ended up inadvertently jumping this queue (we tried to ask an airport staff member if there is a seperate queue in customs for people with babies like the one in immigration - I don't think he understood the question but he walked us to the head of the long queue and then out of it after talking to the official there). We were bewildered.
3. Turned towards the place marked domestic transit. Security didn't make any fuss about 4 hours. The vistara bagge dropoff is right there. They reissue new boarding passes and luggage tags. Then we took the elevator up to the departure level.
4. There is a seperate line in security check for business class. No one else were in that line.
5. The vistara business class lounge was closed. Instead we were allowed two free hours in the plaza premium lounge. If worried about covid, it would be best to avoid this lounge. We only went there to ask them if they can store some bottles with breast milk in their refrigerator. They agreed though their refrigerator seemed to not do a good job.
6. It was pretty easy to find places to sit without anyone else near by. At least in the time we were there, it looked like there is no need to book a hotel just to avoid crowds for covid. There is certainly a big crowd but it is very well dispersed that it is possible to easily navigate it without having to come close to anyone.
7. There are comfortable diaper changing stations next to many of the restrooms.
SFO:
1. We had a lot of stuff with us primarily for the baby. TSA staff were super helpful in getting everything cleared.
2. Installed the mamava app to find and unlock lactation spaces in the airport. They are very comfy and private.
Delhi:
1. There is a seperate line for people with babies in immigration - we were second in line and were done in about 10 minutes.
2. The customs line is long. If worried about covid, this is the weak point since there seemed to be little effort towards any social distancing here. Due to a comedy of errors we ended up inadvertently jumping this queue (we tried to ask an airport staff member if there is a seperate queue in customs for people with babies like the one in immigration - I don't think he understood the question but he walked us to the head of the long queue and then out of it after talking to the official there). We were bewildered.
3. Turned towards the place marked domestic transit. Security didn't make any fuss about 4 hours. The vistara bagge dropoff is right there. They reissue new boarding passes and luggage tags. Then we took the elevator up to the departure level.
4. There is a seperate line in security check for business class. No one else were in that line.
5. The vistara business class lounge was closed. Instead we were allowed two free hours in the plaza premium lounge. If worried about covid, it would be best to avoid this lounge. We only went there to ask them if they can store some bottles with breast milk in their refrigerator. They agreed though their refrigerator seemed to not do a good job.
6. It was pretty easy to find places to sit without anyone else near by. At least in the time we were there, it looked like there is no need to book a hotel just to avoid crowds for covid. There is certainly a big crowd but it is very well dispersed that it is possible to easily navigate it without having to come close to anyone.
7. There are comfortable diaper changing stations next to many of the restrooms.