Scanned the archives without coming across the answer - has anyone arrived in CAI with an onward ticket in hand and made their way onto the departing flight without going through customs/immigration? Presumably BA will be willing to tag the bags onto the departing IB flight.

But I need to connect KLM to LH with a 2 hour window and would be interested in any experiences. My last time in CAI I think I saw a transit door before passports, but can't be sure.

(BTW, it's a blowout of my last miles from KLM to pickup the return half of a bargain LH ticket for the miles (and get to SEN) before the programme changes in Aug and I originally took the LH flight to collect an AONE3 which is still valid that I may use to to start another AONEx ex CAI, or may just route down to collect the miles and return on the KLM miles ticket and get a cheap flight to Poland for my next AONEx. Phew. )

A few month ago arrived on BA and departed on LH about 3 to 4 hours later. There is a transit sign and a waiting area. When you get there they take your passport, ticket and make you wait. Around 2 hours later somebody whowed up with all and the boarding passes and we were allowed to go upstairs to the departure level without passing immigration.

Everybody was nice and friendly there, just a little scary to be without passport etc.

Only carry on that time, so no experience with luggage.
If i had more than 3 or 4 hours i would go thru immigration and sit in a restaurant instead of waiting in the transit area.

BA to IB being only 1:35 I may just pay the $15 in that case. Connections near MCT always sound so nice when Ibook them, but when it comes down to the wire they tend to grow a few grey hairs on me.

I recently connected from BA to LH. DO NOT GO THROUGHT TRANSIT....Pay the 15 dollars for a visa...Much easier and you keep your passport

Three weeks ago I did a LH turnaround in CAI.
I received my new ticket before immigration and then went back to the transit area. The guard was somewhat confused at first why I came from FRA and wanted to go back. He called for another person - who took my ticket and passport - and 20 min later he came back with everything and the BP even for the connection ex FRA to JNB and a lounge invitation and told me to go upstairs.
All in all a very smooth process - but as said by a previous poster - the issue of giving your passport out of sight is a bit disturbing.
Then again with the sometimes zoo at immigration and the then at the security before check in - I guess it is a toss up of what to do.

Cheers

Thomas

Interesting question.

BA may not be interested in through checking your baggage to Iberia if not on the same ticket. I recently flew LON/CAI with BA and had LH RTW ticket commencing Cairo. Took 3 tries before I found friendly check in clerk who would through put baggage LHR/CAI/FRA/BKK.

If you are hoping to have no Immigration stamp in your passport it will not work using the transit desk. It's stamped !!

System is unusual but WORKS. As stated your passport is taken but in reality seems to remain in a drawer in a desk within your view... Not so bad. What is unusual however is that your checked piece of luggage is brought to the transit area rather than awaiting your onward flight with that flights luggage. Not sure why. On receiving my boarding card for the LH flight they took the luggage away again for the flight.

When the plane lands, MOVE. You do NOT want to be stuck in a line in Cairo immigration. Getting the stamps is painless and quick. Have exact change and bolt to the immigration line.

There's been discussion elsewhere about BA not being willing to interline bags except to another OW carrier, so perhaps going to IB won't be a problem.

Thanks for the input.

The transit option does have the appeal that once someone takes us under their wing they'll understand the schedule and move us along appropriately. If we get unlucky in immigration we could end up being nameless faces in a sea of faces. And iirc exit formalities weren't exactly speedy, either. Being on two tickets (end of one owe, beginning of the next) I doubt anyone will take responsibiliity for a missed cnx even though we're above mct.

I'll be doing my turnaround on 25th July & I'll post my experiences, maybe JohnAx can let us know how he gets on?

I think I'll be going for the transit option, as my 2hr connection is tight & I'm wary that formal check-in may have closed by the time I clear immigration.

Actually I'm a week behind you so will anxiously await your tale.

All i can say is dont be rude but dont be timid. People will push in front of you and sometimes its hard to make them understand that its just not going to happen. I have noticed that if you start protesting then the Arabic people behind you will begin yelling at the line jumper. Hold your ground, work quickly, and an hour should be fine. Formal checkin. If youre checking bags, then I not only think you are pushing it, I think its insane. But checkin should be open until the plane departs since you cant pass through immigration without your BP. IB has their own dedicated lines so you wont get stuck behind people going to Alexandria in four hours while you have a plane to catch in a half an hour. Your enemy is going to be the ones checking 15 boxes that were taped with duct tape who will not accept the fact that the airline will either not take them or will charge them more. If you have Biz line privilege it makes it a bit easier only because there arent as many people in the Biz cabin. It was late and I was in a bit of a haze but I dont remember exit immigration being that much of an issue. Just lots of lines and all move rather slow.

I�ve, been, turned and survived. Highlights:

� 3 1/2 hours allowed turned into a 2 1/4 actual time due to a tech aircraft on the inbound and a delayed departure
� I was number 2 off the aircraft, but number one by the top of the jetway, a little concerned that an Alitalia flight had beat us in by 5 minutes
� Decided to head to immigration to check queues before taking transit option.
� No real queues at immigration � 2/3 in each line. Bought visa for $15US from first moneychanger (have right money) and stuck stamps into passport and joined shortest queue.
� Through immigration in < 5 minutes, customs in < 1 minute.
� Departures is on the same level as arrivals � go out of the arrivals building, through the large throng of people, and turn left into the warm night.
� Slight confusion with my LH e-Ticket and the guardian to the check-in area. He checked with LH to ensure ticket was valid (had diff time on the receipt since LH had changed the departure times after issue).
� LH check-in completed in 5 minutes at business counters
� 5 minutes through exit immigration (out-igration?)
� Into lounge � no booze, though comfy seats.

I think I managed the whole thing in less than 30 minutes, with no bags and good luck with the queues. Remember that the check-in deadline is ca. 60 minutes for most airlines and that the transit route may be better in a tight spot. I preferred to walk myself through the system (at a cost of $15), but kept control of my passport and ticket and enjoyed waiting in the lounge, not a transit area with hard seating.