Can we leave the Mumbai domestic airport?

Gailelliott · May 23rd, 2009, 17:43

Hi,
We are taking an internal flight from Varanassi to Cochin, however there is a 13hour stop over in mumbai . . . we arrive into and leave terminal 1. We were wondering if you can leave the airport as Im guessing the bags will be tranferred from on plane to the other automatically? Can anyone shed any light on this. We are flying with Air India.
Thanks
Ella and Gail
x

machadinha · May 23rd, 2009, 18:58

You'll need to ask your airline(s) about luggage transfer, there's nothing to say about it just like that. Flying with the same company and on an ongoing flight, I'd assume it would just be booked on yes -- but I'd still ask and double- (and triple-...) check about it just to be sure.

(And come to think of it, no, with such a long stop-over I'm not at all so sure that this would automatically be the case. Again, just ask them about it.)

Beyond that, I see no reason why you can't leave. If you have to handle your luggage yourself, I'd assume there'll be a left luggage facility. Or take a cab for the full ride and leave your gear in there or something. (In fact checking for someone just recently, it seemed left luggage at Delhi airport had been suspended for security reasons. If so, maybe the cab would be a good idea indeed; some might worry about your stuff going missing then. I wouldn't really worry about this; keep your valuables and anything you really can't miss on you, of course.)

Just bear in mind depending on time of day traffic to and from the airports could take up to two hours or so (off the top of my head; possibly even more), so including boarding time (and do ask about time needed for any security checks, I've no idea what the Indian deal is currently for internal flights), make sure you get back on time. Again, if you were to hire some cabbie for the entire ride into town, he'll know when it's time to go back (but it can't hurt to impress him with the fact that you really need to make it on time).

vaibhav_arora · May 23rd, 2009, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gailelliott

Hi,
We are taking an internal flight from Varanassi to Cochin, however there is a 13hour stop over in mumbai . . . we arrive into and leave terminal 1. We were wondering if you can leave the airport as Im guessing the bags will be tranferred from on plane to the other automatically? Can anyone shed any light on this. We are flying with Air India.
Thanks
Ella and Gail
x

Other than the luggage issue, there's a restriction in case you have collected both the boarding passes from your point of departure (i.e. varanasi) to cochin at varanasi itself. In India - airport officials do not allow you to leave the premises once boarding passes have been collected and tickets foil surrendered (if its paper) or stamped (e-ticket). This would happen if you're on the same flight and it just stops over. However, given your stopover duration - its unlikely. So, just speak with air india and figure out if these are separate flights and if you could collect the boarding passes for your mumbai-cochin leg at mumbai itself. In that case, the luggage will need to be collected at mumbai (as the previous poster pointed out) and most likely carried around. Also, you will end up doing security etc once more, but that should still be enough time to escape to atleast santacruz or maybe bandra?

good luck.

machadinha · May 23rd, 2009, 19:59

That's a good point regarding those boarding passes, Vaibhav. Struggling now to think if that would be an issue in say Europe. I don't think so really.

Anyway, just a thought here: Wouldn't it be possible to check in your luggage for the next flight, then be on your way?

... Unless that would involve getting your boarding pass while you're at it though. Or if they only start taking luggage X hours ahead. Hm.

vaibhav_arora · May 23rd, 2009, 20:26

thanks !

yeah, that possibility of checking bags earlier is a bit slim and to the best of my knowledge, checking bags in happens only when you take boarding passes out here. We dont really have kerbside check in like in the states. :P
Still, Gailelliott would do well to talk to air india - they're quite unpredictable - and might be in a positive sense for a change!

machadinha · May 23rd, 2009, 20:42

Hm, yes. For that matter (and do give them a ring yes, by all means), I wouldn't want to advocate it, but you can always try just asking at the counter can I leave my bags here for a few hours, ma'am. Who knows, the person might just say yes. They'd probably be in a position to suggest an alternative in any case.

(Yes, yes, I'm aware of today's security concerns. Those bags would have been multi-screened, and you as the owner multi-verified, all along the way though, wouldn't they.)

May 23rd, 2009, 17:43	#1
Gailelliott Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: UK Posts: 1	Can we leave the Mumbai domestic airport? Hi, We are taking an internal flight from Varanassi to Cochin, however there is a 13hour stop over in mumbai . . . we arrive into and leave terminal 1. We were wondering if you can leave the airport as Im guessing the bags will be tranferred from on plane to the other automatically? Can anyone shed any light on this. We are flying with Air India. Thanks Ella and Gail x

May 23rd, 2009, 18:58	#2
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,373	You'll need to ask your airline(s) about luggage transfer, there's nothing to say about it just like that. Flying with the same company and on an ongoing flight, I'd assume it would just be booked on yes -- but I'd still ask and double- (and triple-...) check about it just to be sure. (And come to think of it, no, with such a long stop-over I'm not at all so sure that this would automatically be the case. Again, just ask them about it.) Beyond that, I see no reason why you can't leave. If you have to handle your luggage yourself, I'd assume there'll be a left luggage facility. Or take a cab for the full ride and leave your gear in there or something. (In fact checking for someone just recently, it seemed left luggage at Delhi airport had been suspended for security reasons. If so, maybe the cab would be a good idea indeed; some might worry about your stuff going missing then. I wouldn't really worry about this; keep your valuables and anything you really can't miss on you, of course.) Just bear in mind depending on time of day traffic to and from the airports could take up to two hours or so (off the top of my head; possibly even more), so including boarding time (and do ask about time needed for any security checks, I've no idea what the Indian deal is currently for internal flights), make sure you get back on time. Again, if you were to hire some cabbie for the entire ride into town, he'll know when it's time to go back (but it can't hurt to impress him with the fact that you really need to make it on time). __________________ 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

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May 23rd, 2009, 19:59	#4
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,373	That's a good point regarding those boarding passes, Vaibhav. Struggling now to think if that would be an issue in say Europe. I don't think so really. Anyway, just a thought here: Wouldn't it be possible to check in your luggage for the next flight, then be on your way? ... Unless that would involve getting your boarding pass while you're at it though. Or if they only start taking luggage X hours ahead. Hm.

May 23rd, 2009, 20:26	#5
vaibhav_arora Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: noida, india Posts: 29	thanks ! yeah, that possibility of checking bags earlier is a bit slim and to the best of my knowledge, checking bags in happens only when you take boarding passes out here. We dont really have kerbside check in like in the states. :P Still, Gailelliott would do well to talk to air india - they're quite unpredictable - and might be in a positive sense for a change!

May 23rd, 2009, 20:42	#6
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,373	Hm, yes. For that matter (and do give them a ring yes, by all means), I wouldn't want to advocate it, but you can always try just asking at the counter can I leave my bags here for a few hours, ma'am. Who knows, the person might just say yes. They'd probably be in a position to suggest an alternative in any case. (Yes, yes, I'm aware of today's security concerns. Those bags would have been multi-screened, and you as the owner multi-verified, all along the way though, wouldn't they.)