bubu-SNA

I'm wondering if its feasible to transit CMB on separate tickets (with different carriers) right now in light of the Covid entry restrictions into Sri Lanka. We would be arriving from MLE to CMB and transiting to a TK flight (which ironically stops over MLE, the joy of an award ticket booked when we thought we'd spend time in Sri Lanka). I assume there is no interline agreement between UL & TK so I'd need to re-check my bags in CMB. The hypothetical transit would happen in July of this year.

Is it possible to collect your luggage and re-check it without clearing Sri Lankan immigration? I know there is a UL staffed transfer desk but I doubt they would assist going to another airline?

There is also the probability that Sri Lanka will allow entry with a negative PCR test in hand which just makes for a longer transit time, is 3 hours enough time to clear immigration and re-check in to the TK flight?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

blandy62

let's face it. right now, transiting these days on separate tickets on different airlines is stupied. I don't know what you are trying todo or to save but this is the perfect receipe to loose all the money or get stranded somewhere

bubu-SNA

I appreciate your sentiment and agree, its not ideal to put it mildly. As previously mentioned I am working with award tickets and I don't have much choice being at the mercy of award seat availability. If I can swing changing the departure to MLE directly, or onto 1 ticket I'd be jumping on it in a heartbeat.

With that said, does anyone know if transiting CMB without clearing immigration is possible on separate tickets?

blandy62

But purely about your question, I did it once between UL and CX. Took a bit of convincing with the staff at the UL desk. Eventually, they took my passport and came back after a while with a boarding pass. So it is not very clear if it can officially be done or more on a case to case basis.

you might find some info there too

Important notice for passengers travelling to and from Sri Lanka (srilankan.com)

dvs7310

CMB is a unique airport. There is a "transit desk" in the area before you go to immigration, they take your passports and retrieve boarding passes from your connecting airline (this assumes no checked luggage, but oddly enough I seem to recall that I've done it before with checked luggage and they handled it, though that was CA to KE <yes, KE had rights from CMB-MLE as 5th freedom>).

Like a few other airports in SEA, CMB puts all incoming and outgoing passengers into the same transit hall. Outbound passengers do security at the gate, same as SIN and KUL. Inbound passengers either go to their next gate (if in transit) or to immigration to stay in Sri Lanka. There's even a transit hotel inside the "transit" area.

uanj

You have two hurdles here, first is finding out if it is permitted, best to call UL and try to get confirmation. The second hurdle will be at the airport at the time of travel. Just getting someone to say yes over the phone does not mean a check in agent will give you the same response. Regardless, at 5-6 months out the situation could evolve (hopefully for the better) so whatever they say now could change.

I transited once years ago on the same ticket (EK to UL I think) and for whatever reason EK did not want to check my luggage through. Took a half hour convincing them in SIN but I was successful in the end. Would not count on the same result in the current environment. If you can get fully refundable tickets and reservations and are willing to take the chance, you could book and it watch. But it is really too early to know if it will be workable or not. Good luck.

bubu-SNA

...where things fall apart is the luggage, with no interline agreement between UL & TK there is no way to re-check your baggage in CMB without clearing immigration.

dls25

UL and TK have an interline agreement. Not sure it is going to help you however.

bubu-SNA

Reviving the thread with new developments...

It is now possible to enter Sri Lanka on a tourist visa but everything I read online ties into a hotel stay, etc. What does the process on arrival actually look like at the airport? Do you clear immigration and are released onward to meet your transportation to the hotel, or is there some sort of escort involved? What I'm getting at is whether its possible to just head over to the check-in area for the onward flight skipping the entire hotel experience?

ashishwadhwa20

Did u find out if u are able to transit, without having to go through immigration/customs? I'm in the same boat, except that I plan on transition via QR from CMB. Please advise.

grails

I am In time situation and I am coming from Australia and going to India via Colombo. I would have my back checked them from Australia and would probably need to pass immigration to recheck my baggage is there Any other way where my baggage can be checked to next Flight.

The two airlines do not transfer my bags because they are separate tickets.

grails

I am In time situation and I am coming from Australia and going to India via Colombo. I would have my back checked them from Australia and would probably need to pass immigration to recheck my baggage is there Any other way where my baggage can be checked to next Flight.

The two airlines do not transfer my bags because they are separate tickets.
Please advise.

grails

So what�s your experience has been going through Colombo for Transiting to next flight. I am In time situation and I am coming from Australia and going to India via Colombo. I would have my back checked them from Australia and would probably need to pass immigration to recheck my baggage is there Any other way where my baggage can be checked to next Flight.

The two airlines do not transfer my bags because they are separate tickets.

bubu-SNA

I was able to interline my luggage, did not have to clear immigration as a result...just went to the gate for the next flight.

Football Fan

I am facing the same situation in January. Coming from MLE on UL, 5 hours transit time, then on QR to DOH (separate tickets). Issuing a transit visa online should be possible because it is a transit under 12 hours, but it says that it cannot be done online right now. Their embassy in Germany says on the website they are not doing it either. On the other hand, these two airlines are in the same alliance (Oneworld) and these transit visa would be free.

bubu-SNA, did anyone even ask you about whether you had a transit visa?