Airport safety

backpackindia · Nov 20th, 2008, 22:02

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 · Nov 21st, 2008, 10:05

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

Haylo · Nov 21st, 2008, 10:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by backpackindia

I was hoping to stay in the airport (either one) rather than getting a hotel - is this a good idea?

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!

machadinha · Nov 21st, 2008, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

There is a limit to when you can get into the airport, it's around three hours before your flight.

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?

Haylo · Nov 21st, 2008, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

Are you sure it is so at other Indian airports?

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 · Nov 21st, 2008, 13:34

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.

Haylo · Nov 21st, 2008, 13:53

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 · Dec 1st, 2008, 01:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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 · Dec 1st, 2008, 04:34

(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.)

Hal · Dec 1st, 2008, 04:59

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 · Dec 5th, 2008, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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?

Hal · Dec 6th, 2008, 00:11

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 · Dec 8th, 2008, 15:56

Thanks Hal, we will!

dipydoo · Dec 8th, 2008, 16:06

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.

Nov 20th, 2008, 22:02	#1
backpackindia Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK Posts: 1	Airport safety 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

Nov 21st, 2008, 13:34	#6
tsk1979 Bitter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Noida Posts: 274	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

Dec 1st, 2008, 04:34	#9
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,373	(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.) Last edited by machadinha : Dec 1st, 2008 at 05:41.

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Nov 21st, 2008, 10:05	#2
Paresh No no, I am not a Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: India Posts: 278	That should be fine. Check out the other thread on IM about this topic.

Nov 21st, 2008, 13:53	#7
Haylo Structural Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Middle East and heading Easter Posts: 5,804	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.

Dec 1st, 2008, 04:59	#10
Hal . . . _ _ _ . . . Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,302	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.

Dec 6th, 2008, 00:11	#12
Hal . . . _ _ _ . . . Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,302	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.

Dec 8th, 2008, 15:56	#13
susan2008 Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: London/SWales Posts: 10	Thanks Hal, we will!

Dec 8th, 2008, 16:06	#14
dipydoo A-sitting-on-a-gate Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: India Posts: 225	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.