qraec777

There's a transfer desk airside that should be able to help you out! The downside is that they'll issue your boarding passes only three hours before your flights, but you're still airside anyways so there's no problem killing time at the airport and you can even show your inbound boarding pass for a paid access to the Dasman Lounge!

IAN-UK

That's great news, many thanks !

IAN-UK

it worked out as you describe. Helpful staff at the desk phoned through to the lounge to tell them to expect me. Waited in the lounge for check-in to open landside, which meant my airside processing could go ahead.

plunet

Just for the benefit of others who stumble across this thread you mention that lounge access was implicated in your airside transit experience IAN-UK but for someone without lounge access would airside transit still be a possibility?

Dan72

Security is done at the gate, at the main international terminal, so you exit straight into the departure hall. There's a transit desk that appears to arrange for luggage to be re tagged for onward flights. I just needed an onward boarding pass (connecting LH to UL), but they printed out a baggage tag until they realised it was already tagged through.

I assume retagging is for all airlines as they were printing a lot of tags, but this is just what I saw so would be worth confirming. As Kuwait has quite restrictive entry requirements, I presume they need to do this. It's not something I have seen elsewhere.

Given the above, I wouldn't be surprised if KU (NB different terminal) are also happy to link separate tickets, at least KU ones, otherwise I can see them losing business.

IAN-UK

Sure. I was blessed with lounge access, but there'd be nothing to stop you kicking your heels airside sans lounge. Be warned, though, it's notvthe most entertaining space to spend your time: options are very limited! The lounge was only a slight improvement on that 😊

oliver2002

It seems if the airline wants your business they can locate bags on the belt and retag them, I've see AI do that in DEL. You report to the transfer desk and the agent there has a tag printer. He takes the old tag/receipt, scribbles a rough description of the bag on the old tag and attaches it to the new tag. I obeserved one guy collect all the new tags from the agents and once he had about 5-10 tags vanish to go down to the luggage area.

Considering the low labor cost in KWI and general upswing at KU I could imagine they would invest into this.

nitin77

Hi,
I am Indian passport holder with two different airline tickets. Pegasus airline - Turkey to Kuwait. Kuwait Airline Kuwait to India. Do I need a transit visa. Can i get this online or on arrival. Thanks in advance.

Vinay040

I have a similar query, please advise.
Nationality: Indian
Passport type: Normal

I have flight booking from Copenhagen, Denmark to Mumbai, India. Flight details as follows:
CPH to SAW and SAW to KWI(T1) with Turkish Airlines
KWI(T5) to BOM with Jazeera Airways

I have booked the ticked with trip.com and I need to check my luggage by myself at Kuwait International airport.
The thing is my reconnection flights at KWI have transit time of 22hrs.

Do I need transit visa for Kuwait? To collect my checked luggage, do I need to leave transit area or international airport area? Can someone please guide me?

Thanks,
Vinay

plunet

Whilst you might be able to get a transit desk at KWI to intercept and retag your luggage for your onward flight to Mumbai, and give you a boarding pass for your Jazeera flight, you cannot assume any of this is possible. There's obviously positive experience noted upthread, but you need to consider what the check-in agent at Copenhagen has to contractually do for their airline.

When you check in for your flight at Copenhagen, the check-in agent for Turkish will look at your flight booking with them, and they will want to see evidence that you have the right to enter Kuwait which is the limit of their contractural responsibility. They have to assure themselves that you have the right of entry or Turkish airlines will get fined for transporting an inadmissible passenger into Kuwait. The size of the fine is usually more than what you have paid for your ticket, and check-in agents are risk averse as they might loose their job if they make too many mistakes.

Although you might be self-connecting onto another flight 22hrs later that is not their direct concern and they do not have to consider this in their evaluation at the check in desk at Copenhagen. The extended period of time between your flights also adds weight to this, could you practically survive for 22 hrs airside even if you would be permitted to do that?

Unless you can get written confirmation otherwise you would be advised that you need to have permission to enter Kuwait, otherwise you will risk being denied boarding at Copenhagen.

Vyz

I have a similar query, please advise.
Nationality: Indian
Passport type: Normal

Booked on kiwi.com

Hyderbad to Kuwait on Oman airlines
Kuwait to Houston on Turkish airlines

5.5 hrs lay over

No check-in bag

Kiwi.com said it will be separate PNRs

I see transit desk on air side in terminal map. However, not sure if Oman air at Hyderabad will issue boarding passes for Turkish airlines ticket
Kuwait Embassy in LA said ask airlines!?
Does transit desk issue boarding passes?

Any advice or experience appreciated

Ty
V.

plunet

Have you read the whole thread? Used Timatic to see what entry rules the check in agent at your origin would be applying?

Your biggest risk on a self-connect where your passport does not have visa free or easy/cheap entry to the country where you connect is whether the check-in agent at your origin will permit you to board your flight, if you can't show them you have the right to enter Kuwait or the right to do an airside transit then you are likely to be denied boarding.

Vyz

Thank you Plunet for the response!
I did read the whole thread. Just hoping to hear from members posted earlier to see how they completed their journeys.
If it is required, I am happy to get Kuwait visa - but information there is also not very clear. I hear that Kuwait is no longer offering any transit visas.
What is Timatic? How do I access that?

plunet

See post #6 in this thread

Vyz

Thanks again plunet!
Here is what Timatic says. As long as I have confirmed onward ticket and stay on air side, it can be transit without visa

Kuwait - Transit

Visa

Visa required.

TWOV (Transit Without Visa):

Passengers with a confirmed onward ticket for a flight to a third country within 24 hours. They must stay in the international transit area of the airport and have documents required for the next destination.

Warning:

Passengers in transit for more than 8 hours must be accommodated in the airport transit hotel.

Health

Vaccinations not required.