ijgordon

I would also avoid connecting in BOM if possible, although if it's an overnight connection, it's probably not significantly different than any other airport that doesn't have a hotel in the terminal.

DEL does have transit hotel that might meet your needs, if your domestic leg is on one of the full service carriers.

As mentioned there are a number of hotels near BOM. I stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott which was a notch or two above a US Courtyard. I think many of the hotels offer room rates that include airport transfers, I would definitely pre-arrange that. And even though distances may be short in the area around BOM, the traffic can be quite slow at virtually any hour, so plan (and set your expectations) accordingly.

brp1264

I've flown EWR-BOM in Y 5 times in the past year and a half - and yes, as others have said, the flight has been full every time with people gate checking bags like crazy. I like the flatbed CO seat myself, and the fact that you avoid connections and get to where you need to go (or in your case, almost there).

Upon arrival in BOM, it's not so horrible, just bus it from the plane to immigration and then customs. When leaving customs, it can be a little daunting with all the people waiting outside with signs - just be patient and look closely for your pre-arranged driver/car.

A hotel in the area I stayed at before that was good was the Intercontinental Lalit hotel. I believe now, unfortunately, they dropped their relationship with Intercon and are now part of the Lalit family of hotels in India. Either way, it is the closest airport to the international terminal and offers car service to pick you up.

Never flew domestic out of BOM, so can't help ya, but you can just then take the flight the next morning and have the hotel drop you at the domestic terminal.

On the return, you will have access to the LH lounge with a C ticket or *G and Y ticket. The LH lounge is small, but has some decent finger food and drinks. As is typical with flights to the US, there is another security check at the gate, so ditch the liquids and be prepared to queue once again. Also, as others have said, make sure not to arrive more than 3 hours ahead of your flight departure, and have a printed itinerary to show the guards - if either of those is not met, they won't even let you into the airport.

All things considered, if this is your first time in India, I'd follow chinatrader's advice and see about connecting in the ME instead. Well, anywhere except Jeddah... I just home a few hours ago after a 37 hour trip SIN-RUH-JED (South Term)-JED (North Term)-FRA-EWR. The worst part of it was the connection in JED, which makes BOM look like an organized, well lubricated machine.

uwr

Until the new terminal is finished, you should AVOID connecting at BOM. It is a nightmare, by my own experience (several years ago) and that of others:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/india...-airports.html

I agree with the posters who suggest either:
DEN-IAD-DXB-TRV (last leg on EK)
or
DEN-SFO/LAX-SIN-TRV (last leg on SilkAir).

You won't get miles on the last legs, but you'll maintain your sanity.
I took the IAD-DXB-India flight myself last winter, and it was easy. No shower at the LH Senator lounge, but there is a hotel gym with nice shower rooms.

Alternatively, try DEN-EWR-DEL. However, DEL-TRV doesn't run frequently. There is a hotel in the airport.

If you absolutely have to go via BOM, then you need to realize that international and domestic terminals are far from each other. You might want to stay at a hotel near the domestic side of the airport so that you'll have an easy trip in the morning. I have stayed at the Leela in the past, and it was outstanding. Make sure that your hotel arranges airport transportation for you.

harryhood

Thank you all, terrific responses. I don't have to go through BOM, so perhaps I will try to avoid it.

The only issue with going through SIN is that SilkAir only flies to TRV on the day before and the day after the day I actually want to get there. My meetings are on a Monday morning, so I want to get there on Sunday and SilkAir only flies SIN-TRV on Saturdays and Mondays.

I'm sure TRV is fine and everything but I really don't want to be there any longer than I have to. If I take the Saturday flight that means leaving the US on Thursday given time changes.

I may take the SIN route home as that will put me on the SIN-NRT-LAX A380 in C and I will get home the almost same day I leave (more or less, as the SilkAir flight out of TRV is at 1030pm and is a redeye). The SIN-LAX A340-500 nonstop is booked up the day I would want to travel, unfortunately.

Looks like I will go through DXB.

harryhood

Just wanted to update this thread with what actually happened. I booked DEN-IAD-DXB-TRV (first 2 legs UA, last EK). IAD-DXB is 13 hours, filled with people who looked like US military contractors and maybe a few business folks. Boarding was a nightmare at IAD as we had one of the C gates that have very little space between the gate door and the main walkway.

I stayed in the DXB transit hotel as my layover time was 12 hours. This let me catch up on sleep, start transitioning to the time zone, get some work done in private.

The DXB-TRV flight was fine, but not an EK777 -- instead at A330. So no new business class seats. I found the A330 seats, which were recliners, to be too tall, meaning I felt like I was sitting on them, not in them. I'm a big dude and the tray table would not go down across my legs. Not a ton of legroom, but C was only about 1/5 full.

TRV airport is tidy and clean.

The flight home was TRV-SIN-NRT-IAD-DEN. First leg on Silkair, last 3 legs on UA. Layovers of 1.5-2 hours at each stop. Silkair C seats were terrible but the service was fantastic, and the food was probably some of the best airline food I've had in a while. Not sure why I got booked through IAD on the way home, the price must have been cheaper as I normally like to fly through SEA on the way home from NRT. It added about 4 hours to what was already a staggeringly long trip home (32 hours from airplane door in TRV to airplane door in DEN). It may be better to go back the way I came for the next go around, as it looks and feels shorter.

The SQ Krisflyer lounge in Terminal 3 was really nice and offers showers. I didn't need one but nice to know it's there for next time.

UA's 777 C seats are a tough sell to me. They are very narrow and while I had window seats on both SIN-NRT and NRT-IAD (and therefore managed to avoid the middle 4), they are just not comfortable for sleeping compared to the C seats in the 767, which I believe are wider (or at least feel wider).

No delays, no issues, easy trip from a flight standpoint. Service was average UA C service -- nothing spectacular but nice not to have to endure Y. I highly recommend the connection through DXB for those mimicing this trip.

chinatraderjmr

Glad to know someone finally followed my advice . Glad DXB worked out well for you. That's a great transit hotel in T-3 & T-1 so good thing you used it. I forgot EK uses the 330's now on some of the India & Pakistan flights. Sometimes you luck out w the 3 cabin 330 but I agree, those C seats are very strange (they are the oldest in the fleet). EK is getting rid of those 330's so hopefully, if you need to make this trip again it will be on a 773 or 772

NJFlyer_HOHO

I am wondering if UA BF pax can access the Mumbai Airport Lounge Services? UA website does not say it has any lounge access in Mumbai and the Mumbai website (http://www.csia.in/atcsia/cpi-lounge.aspx) is cryptic about who can access the lounge.

I will be flying back from Mumbai next fri BOM-EWR on the night flight. So it would be really nice if I can take a shower, change into something comfortable before I hope on the flight.

IADFlyer123

I don't think any lounges in Mumbai offer showers. Do you have any star alliance status (gold and above)? If so you could access the LH lounges. They are small, but decently stocked with food and a quiet place to relax.

emcampbe

The new T2 at BOM, unfortunately, does not have any airline (or even third-party, I think) lounges - for whatever reason, GVK, who runs the airport, wouldn't allow them to be built. While the LH lounge at the old international terminal wasn't great - it was better then the others on offer (Celebrations and I forget the other one - don't know which one UA used previously).

There are 2 I think, right next to each other. I flew CX out a few weeks ago, and have access in India through my local platinum MC. I went to what seemed like the main lounge, and got directed to another room next door, which was apparently the MC lounge. It was decent, not too bad, but nothing too exciting. A few hot and cold food options (meat and veg), self-serve non-alcoholic drink fridges, cappuccino machine and a bar, power outlets. Not sure about the other one, but it looked bigger.

To answer your question, I'm sure UA has contracted with one of the lounges for access. Not sure which one. If its not offered, make sure to ask for a lounge pass at check in as you'll need it to enter.

Actually, just checked the UA site and does confirm, under the other partner lounges tab, that BF and *G has access to the Mumbai airport lounge. Glad they updated that - that beats the * site, which apparently hasn't updated - the lounge finder there still reported to use the LH lounge.

No LH lounge at the new BOM T2 which opened in Feb. As I mentioned above, no airline was allowed to build their own lounge. Gorgeous new terminal, nice open spaces, beautiful art, much improved customs area both inbound and out. Unfortunately, though, no change service-wise.

IADFlyer123

Good to know

OmahaUnitedMM

I used the new lounge last week coming home BOM-EWR in economy at *G. I can confirm no shower option, but it is large open lounge with the ususal snacks and drinks.

My question is when I fly into BOM and connect with Jet Airways I often have a 10 hour layover to connect to BLR on Jet from the domestic terminal. After I clear customs and recheck my bags with Jet can United get me back through security and into the International lounge. Killing time at the BOM domestic terminal is the worst part of the trip. Thanks.

JDT1955

Here's a related question. I am going to Goa in October, planning to fly EWR-BOM on 48, arriving (in theory) at 2040 and needing to transfer to the domestic terminal. The only flight after 48's arrival departs at 2235. My question is whether there is any realistic likelihood of making this connection or if I should just get a room overnight and reload for the next day? Any recommendations on a hotel between the international and domestic terminals? How much time should I allocate on the return domestic-international transfer? Thanks for your advice! I recall in the past it's been a mess xferring in Mumbai, and I'm not sure if the new T2 has made it better or worse!

bluedemon211

Your best bet is to overnight in Mumbai. The new T2 Terminal is light years better than the old one, but you will walk forever to get from your flight to customs/immigration. Then transferring to Domestic takes time.

Best to grab a room at the airport. I would suggest the Hyatt Regency. It is literally across the street from the arrivals area, they will pick you up at Arrivals, and the rooms are very affordable (<$120) with the current value of the Rupee.

The domestic to international transfer is not much better than it used to be, so you should give yourself at least 4-5 hours between your domestic arrival and international departure. That said, the bus from Domestic drops you off in a much better and less congested area than the old terminal. Use the last door into T2 (less traffic) and you should find the UA counter at "Post M". Good luck.

travel.flier

the mumbai lounge is fantastic. it's not really a lounge, so much as a blocked off gate area. but the food is amazing. it was better than the food in BF on UA. i ate enough so i was stuffed. i didn't see showers or anything really since it's just basically a gate area where they added tables and stuff. i get the sense the size is variable based on time of day, they can move back or push forward where the entrance is. i'm not sure, just a guess. the only thing i didn't like is there were mosquitos and i got bitten like twice.

JonasCLT

I'm planning to visit India in a few weeks. I was curious about the baggage situation with Jet, did you have to pay to check your bags for the domestic connection or did you just retrieve them, go through customs, and drop them back at a generic baggage check area? What about the return flight where you typically fly them first, I didn't see a good list of prices on their site for bag fees?