Mar 31, 2015, 12:44 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Traveling To/From India on UA -- Experiences, Meals, Connections, Lounges, Bags, ....
Mumbai airport (BOM) connection/transfer/transit questions - dedicated thread in India-Based Airlines
Star Alliance lounges in Delhi and Mumbai
India's air bubbles: is transit travel allowed
Travel to/within India on UA/Vistara
Domestic to International Transfer
BOM T2 Lounge
Boarding Gate
Mumbai airport (BOM) connection/transfer/transit questions - dedicated thread in India-Based Airlines
Star Alliance lounges in Delhi and Mumbai
India's air bubbles: is transit travel allowed
Travel to/within India on UA/Vistara
Domestic to International Transfer
- Baggage: 9W and AI will interline bags if on a single ticket. AI may interline on separate tickets, at agents discretion.
- Entry to the airport: To get into any Indian airport you need to show a paper or electronic itinerary or paper boarding pass. Indian airports are not doing electronic boarding passes yet. Entry was permitted earlier than the rumoured 4 hour limit.
- UA counters: They opened about 3 1/2 hours prior to the flight (scheduled for 4 hours). They do doc check, account for interlined baggage, and provide lounge invites. 9W had given me all my boarding passes, but I had to stop at the UA counter to get the lounge invite.
- Waiting Area: If you're early before the lounge opens and in C, there are very pleasant seating areas located on the far right and left sides of the check-in area. It's just past where EK and ANA do their premium check-ins, respectively.
- Fast-Track: UA premiers and business travellers can access a fast-track security and customs line on the extreme right of the terminal. The normal line was pretty busy in comparison.
BOM T2 Lounge
- There are 3 sections in this lounge: First, Premium, and Business. It turns out Premium is used for some airlines to reward their more valuable business class flyers and is a step nicer than Business. UA sends everyone to the normal Business section, including the GS flyers I spoke with. UA agents normally provide an invitation card to the lounge during the check-in process.
- The lounge is really quite nice, very nice decor, comfy seats with individual power outlets. There's a big buffet with hot and cold food and Indian, Asian, and Western selections. You get free Wi-Fi that is stable and fast. A free 15-minute massage treatment is offered. There are showers, but I had to get someone to escort me to the Premium section for a hot shower…apparently business only has cold showers. The bar is fairly good with sparkling wine, still wines, beers on tap, and blended whiskeys. The bar in the Premium section additionally has single malts.
- UA's usual gate is quite close to the lounge, about a 1-2 minute walk once you find the right direction.
Boarding Gate
- There is a slightly bizarro secondary check before entering the gate. They check for the US liquid rule compliance, so no water bottles. You must also remove your shoes and send them through the scanner, and you get a physical pat-down (at least your 4th of the journey, so enjoy!)
- The actual boarding gate area is unpleasantly tiny. Do not get here too early, as it's not nice and very crowded. No restrooms and little seating beyond security.
- Of course, prior to boarding, the Indian version of security theatre checks the stamps on your baggage tag. Do double check that you have the stamped tags attached. You may have to return to security if your stamped tag is missing, or you may have another security screening of your bag on the spot
Consolidated BOM (Mumbai) logistics / connections / lounges
Apr 4, 2014, 11:55 am
#31
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,938
Why not fly direct to BLR? UA doesn't go there, but LH does (on the 747-8!). Much better than spending 10 hours in transit to catch a 1.5hr flight.
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.
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.
Apr 4, 2014, 12:04 pm
#32
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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.
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.
Apr 4, 2014, 12:30 pm
#33
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Omaha
Programs: UA 1K, MM
Posts: 62
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?
Absolutely no way that will happen. For starters, you'd have to get back through departure immigration, in which you "exit" the country. You'd have to get back in, too. Just look back to the thread about the Mumbai flight that canceled about a month ago at the gate to see how that went.
I use miles and fly my wife in first on LH when we go. For paid tickets in Y too many upgrades for the 4 flights into and out of FRA. Also with UA flight in Y I can count on E+ as worst case. On UA get upgrades about half the time or more. The layover is the pits but LH coach seats don't leave much room and LH business seats are hard to sleep in. I would rather chance a lie flat seat on the EWR to BOM route. Last point might seem silly, but two 8 hour flights into and out of FRA make it hard to sleep. You watch a movie and meal and the sleep window is short. With a crazy 15 hour UA flight you watch a move, eat a meal, pop a sleeping pill (only time I use is on these flights) wake up with time for a movie and breakfast. To each his own on these flights.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Apr 4, 2014 at 1:03 pm Reason: merge
Apr 4, 2014, 2:06 pm
#35
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS 4MM
Posts: 583
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.
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.
Apr 6, 2014, 1:11 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,882
Back to the OPs question, and for what it's worth, the LH site on their lounge page seems to list showers as one of the amenities at the Mumbai airport lounge. I haven't been to that lounge, the main one at T2 yet, but will be flying TK out on Tuesday, so will try and find out and report back.
Apr 6, 2014, 2:12 pm
#38
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: PBI, FLL, MIA, MEM
Programs: Mileage plus 1K
Posts: 6
Mumbai
I have made 15 trips to BOM in last 3 years. Even though have not been there since September of 2013, I was always given a Lufthansa lounge invitation card by united check in staff. You must be flying business class or must have at least the gold status with them.
Apr 7, 2014, 12:10 am
#39
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And the terminal being used today for international flights is not the same one as being used last year. There is (as I mentioned earlier) no Lufthansa lounge in the new terminal, nor a lounge belonging to any other individual carrier. GVK would not allow it.
Apr 7, 2014, 5:14 pm
#40
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As promised, back for an update. At the Mumbai lounge now. On the way in, noticed a sign for a new state of the art lounge coming soon. The one now is temporary. Its in a hallway, in fact, I'm seeing gate 86 (unused, of course) as we speak - so its just some nicer furniture/tables in the regular corridor. Theres a buffet of hot and cold food (veg/meat - puffs, pasta, samosa, sandwiches, etc.), espresso machine, variety of self-serve soft drinks/juices, etc. I'm sure there's a bar, though can't see it now, and don't really want to find it. Even the wifi is just the regular airport wifi (need a cell number to activate - and the free connection is not very good - there's a premium option too, have no idea the price because I don't really need it).
I did talk to the agent on the way in and the permanent lounge is supposed to open in October and should be better - entertainment center and showers will be part of that. Presumably lounge wifi that is better than the airport - or at least doesn't require a code that gets SMSd would be good.
I did talk to the agent on the way in and the permanent lounge is supposed to open in October and should be better - entertainment center and showers will be part of that. Presumably lounge wifi that is better than the airport - or at least doesn't require a code that gets SMSd would be good.
Apr 23, 2014, 12:53 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PacNW (SEA)
Programs: AS, IHG and post-loyal
Posts: 523
Have any of you overnighted in the new BOM? I've got an upcoming flight that has an overnight stop in BOM. Land at midnight. Next leg at 8 a.m. I don't & won't have a current Indian visa. How painful will those 8 hours be? (It saves me $3k on a J fare to do this madness)
Apr 23, 2014, 3:56 am
#42
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Have any of you overnighted in the new BOM? I've got an upcoming flight that has an overnight stop in BOM. Land at midnight. Next leg at 8 a.m. I don't & won't have a current Indian visa. How painful will those 8 hours be? (It saves me $3k on a J fare to do this madness)
Apr 23, 2014, 5:11 am
#43
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I had a friend fly, just 2 weeks ago, KTM-DEL on AI on ticket 1 and connecting, 8 hours later, on an ANA ticket DEL-USA on ticket 2. Other than waiting for a few hours in purgatory in DEL there was no problem nor a need for a transit visa.
Apr 23, 2014, 6:35 am
#44
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,528
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!
Aug 18, 2014, 9:18 pm
#45
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Philadelphia, LAX, Paris
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Posts: 3,326
Update on lounge in Mumbai?
I will be travelling to Mumbai on my way to Hyderabad from Newark, and would like an update on the lounge situation on arrival into Mumbai - I will be in BF.
Is the situation still NO lounge for UA BF customers in Mumbai?
I will arrive Mumbai at 21:10PM and will not depart for Hyderabad until 4:30AM the next morning. Sounds like my best option is to check into the Hyatt or the Hilton? Any additional advice?
Is the situation still NO lounge for UA BF customers in Mumbai?
I will arrive Mumbai at 21:10PM and will not depart for Hyderabad until 4:30AM the next morning. Sounds like my best option is to check into the Hyatt or the Hilton? Any additional advice?