Airport safety

backpackindia

I am flying into Mumbai airport at midnight in early jan, and then flying down to Bangalore at 6am to meet up with friends. I guess I need to transfer from international airport to domestic, but I was hoping to stay in the airport (either one) rather than getting a hotel - is this a good idea? (solo, female, first time in India etc etc) Any help would be exremely welcome! Thanks

Paresh

That should be fine. Check out the other thread on IM about this topic.

Haylo

There is a limit to when you can get into the airport, it's around three hours before your flight. Some airports have a separate waiting room you can enter before that, the ones I've seen cost Rs 30 to enter. Hardly the most comfortable of places though!

Security being high, an airport is probably the safest place in India for a single female!

__________________
Men build too many walls and not enough bridges. - Isaac Newton, philosopher and mathematician (1642-1727)

machadinha

I've heard this and it was recently confirmed about Delhi international yes (and there does appear to be a lounge). Are you sure it is so at other Indian airports?

__________________
Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Haylo

Yes I believe it applies to Mumbai airport, but although I've searched online I cannot find any official link to prove it. Perhaps another member who regularly uses this airport can clarify?

BackpackIndia, I would not guarantee you would be allowed into the airport more than three or four hours in advance of your flight, but at the end of the day it's up to the guy on the door.

At Indian airports security is high, unlike in the UK, tickets and passports are carefully checked before anyone is allowed into the airport. Unless friends or family have a special airport pass they are not even allowed to come and see you off!

tsk1979

I have often entered airports 4-5 hours before departure at Delhi. No issues.
Infact its recommended that you enter airport atleast 3 hours before departure in case of International flight.

__________________
good morning

Haylo

Tsk, you're right, they do let people in before the time they officially "should" and during the recent refurbishment of Delhi airport, the recommendation was to arrive five hour before the flight, but equally people have posted on here in previous threads saying they have been refused entry.

BackpackIndia may well have no problem, but I thought it only right to point out that being allowed into an airport a long time before a flight departs is not something that can be be relied on - it's something I'd certainly want to know about.

susan2008

Hi backpackindia, my husband and I are in the same position and have been searching the net for info. We land at 11pm and fly from the domestic terminal at 5.30am. There is a shuttle bus that takes you between the terminals and I have found out that there are lounges at the Domestic Terminal, but nothing about where they are, times of opening, if we can use them etc... It seems daft to go to a hotel for a couple of hours. There is nothing in arrivals but the website mentioned quite a few places to eat at the domestic terminal - if they are open! Anyone been to these recently and at night???
Thanks.

machadinha

(btw Thanks for your reply above, Haylo.)

The question on transfers there gets asked quite a bit here, so you can search around for it. Start in this (Domestic Flights) or the Mumbai sub-forum, and check the International Flights forum while you're at it.

Check also
http://www.csia.in/
http://www.toandfromtheairport.com/mumbai.html (note its last update dates. That nearby hotel they mention as a good tip has been reported here to no longer exist, for instance.)

hal2004

There's a waiting area at Mumbai Domestic Terminal specifically for people who are transferring. When you arrive you go to the transfer desk and get a ticket for the airport transfer bus. Then you wait in the area and they will call you to board the bus a couple of hours before your flight leaves. They won't let you get on the bus more than a couple of hours before.

The area is safe, well attended and there are security guards around.

I arrived at 10pm and was leaving at 3am. I think I had to wait until about 12:30 before they called us to the bus.

susan2008

Hi thanks for the info! As you were waiting at the Domestic terminal, does that mean that you were waiting to be transferred to the International Terminal - the opposite of us? I guess we'd have to be there 3 hours before with all this going on at the moment. Could you get a drink or anything while you were waiting?

hal2004

I waited in the Domestic Terminal to go over to the International. If you can get to the Domestic terminal and wait there, do so! It's much nicer than the International terminal.

susan2008

Thanks Hal, we will!

dipydoo

You are taken by the transfer bus to a different entrance (at least I was). They do check your tickets and stuff, but are not picky about the time.

BUT, given that all airports are under increased security nowadays, I'm not sure though.