Transit Time at BOM - 2 Hours?
 

Just wondering if 2 hours is enough transit time in BOM

if
1. Arrive at international terminal 0330 (March 4)
2. Clear Immigration and Customs
3. Need to catch a flight out of the domestic terminal at 0530.

Assuming no delays in incoming international flight - should I even risk this?

Also does anyone know if the inter terminal shuttle bus run 24*7 - and whats the frequency? Or would a pre-paid cab be better at that time (given that I will only have 2 hours!)

My last experience of this is a year ago so things may have changed but all in all I think a transit in 2 hours is quite optimistic.

Loads of flights arrive at that time of the day (past midnight) and the immigration can be dealt with in 5 min or in 1h, depending on the queue length, whether the airline provided with the immigration document to fill in, etc.

Then you have to transfer. I've heard so many stories of people trying to tell you that inter-terminal buses (what I heard is one every 30min) have stopped their services, etc. and talk you into taking their cars and I get tired only thinking of this so each time I've done this, I've taken an airport hotel (which offer complimentary car pick-up) and moved to the domestic terminal (4km away but it seems to take forever as traffic is quite heavy even at 2am!) the following morning. But if you want to take a taxi, once you step out of the terminal building they'll come to you in masses.

At the domestic airport, after check-in you (there are 2 terminals depending on the airline) get all sorts of security checks with sometimes long queues (don't forget to get a paper cabin luggage tag at check-in, as it will get stamped many times to show your carry-on bag went through proper security channels).

So "if" your flight arrives on time, "if" there are not too many people at immigration, etc. etc. and it is just too many "ifs" for me so I wouldn't do it. I always tend to be on the safe side and don't want to argue but to each his own. This is just my personal experience. Other people's opinion may give you more info.

Give me a flight with Jet Airways any time but not a transfer in Mumbai...

I just came across a document a few days ago that said the official Minimum Connection Time for International to Domestic at BOM was 3 hours. 2 hours is going to be tight considering that the domestic checkin counters will close 45 min before the flight. Take away at least 30 min(if not more) if you have checked baggage on your arriving international flight and you're living dangerously.

Having said that, if your domestic flight is on Jet Airways, you can check in right after going through customs at arrival in either of the international terminal:

http://www.jetairways.com/MSIB21/Fro...ughcheckin.htm

Can't speak for the other domestic airlines, but the Jet Airways coach runs every 30 mins all night long.

Trying to get in to BOM earlier than 0330 but right now seem to have a KLM flight in at that time. Unfortunately the flight to GOI on Air Deccan is at 0530. The next one is much later in the afternoon.

Will try and see if I can get a different BOM - GOI flight in the AM :)

Take the Jet Airways flight at 0630 (daily except Sundays I think). My uncle flew YYZ-AMS-BOM-GOI on KLM, NW and Jet and he was through checked-in all the way to GOI in YYZ.

The fare for WAS-GOI RT might not be much higher than WAS-BOM RT, so you might want to look at buying the whole ticket from NW/KLM with the domestic segments on Jet.

Fly Biz Class on Jet Airways, and enjoy their Loung.. rather can going to some hotel

The jet lounge in BOM opens only at 5 am. As mentioned above Jet takes good care of transit pax and picks you right after you come out of customs. Their tickets are priced higher than Deccan, but they are a full service airline with interlining agreeement with EK, NW, KL etc. If you miss your flight due to late arrival, they will put you on the next flight.