Charter Flight Entry rules - urgent advice sought!!!

mercedes10 · Mar 16th, 2007, 20:24

I'd heard of this before too, but it does seem bizarre! Lets face it most people would never find out about this in advance, so what exactly is going to happen? As long as you're within your visa limits surely you can just claim ignorance?? I mean what if you just legitimately missed your flight?

And what would be the point in making you miss your scheduled flight only to then get you home on a different one? (or is the suggestion that you'll miss the flight because of the time it takes to clear immigration?) I suspect some Rupees to the immigration guards would solve this problem quickly! At the end of the day you have to leave the country, so what are they going to do?

I'll be very interested to hear how it works out for you, and would love to hear from anyone else who's done it - or any info. on what the fines involved might be.

Nick-H · Mar 16th, 2007, 22:32

I haven't flown in since June 06 --- things could have changed!

Maybe they are relying more on the computers now. But, although the design changed at one point, we had the embarkation/dis-embarkation forms for ten years before that.

cyberhippie · Mar 16th, 2007, 23:47

To be honest I don't think even Indian immigration will see this as their problem.
For me this is all about protecting scheduled airlines.
Your visa is valid for 6 months which is ALL that will concern the customs guy!!

It seems to be a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right is up to!

steven_ber · Mar 16th, 2007, 23:49

I have no idea about the rules, I remember reading a few years ago that the rules were different for charter tourists, I can't remember what the differences were.

But I just have a feeling that Catherine is making a mistake and may pay a bigger price than she thinks, I hope not, but I've just got a strange feeling.

cyberhippie · Mar 16th, 2007, 23:58

Don't worry Steven this is an old guideline from IATA I believe and as I say it's not up to Indian immigration to do the work of the Aviation authority. To make this work they would first need to issue short term visas for package tourists. You cannot IMHO issue visas for 6 months then say you are only allowed to say for 4 weeks due to your method of entering the country!!

Friends of mine do this all the time, at least for the last 10 years, never a problem they usually fly in and out of Goa too with not a hitch. My parents in law have also done this twice without a problem.

There are even charter companies who offer one way tickets...........Many companies offer the old 3 week holiday with flight with a one night stay in dormitory accommodation.
Some just offer flight only!

I think there is probably some lobbying going on from scheduled Airlines to stop this, as it impacts on their profits but it will be a long time before they can enforce this!!

GoanCanuck · Mar 17th, 2007, 00:03

The latest updated rules from August 2006 can be read at http://dgca.gov.in/aic/aic05_06.pdf
Very clearly mentioned on the third page,

Tourists availing ITP charter flights would not be permitted to fly on
inward or outward journeys using a scheduled airline. In emergency
cases like medical etc., DGCA may permit tourists, arriving on a
charter flight to depart on scheduled flights or vice versa.

cyberhippie · Mar 17th, 2007, 00:05

GC this has been a rule for years and every now and again there's a bit of saber rattling that comes to nothing!

cyberhippie · Mar 17th, 2007, 00:07

My mates did it this year too flew into Goa on one Charter and out 5 months later on another. Both times from Dabolim. Actually you shouldn't be able to buy seats on charters out of Goa either but it happens!

mercedes10 · Mar 17th, 2007, 01:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberhippie

My mates did it this year too flew into Goa on one Charter and out 5 months later on another.

Cyber - isn't this slightly different though since your mates still flew in and out on charters? I think the question was about arriving on a charter but leaving from, say, Delhi on a schedule flight.

mercedes10 · Mar 17th, 2007, 01:24

Incidentally, the dgca link also says that charter flights are permitted only for 'inclusive tour packages'. Clearly this is nonsense since it is easy to buy flight-only from the charter companies!

SteamBuff · Mar 17th, 2007, 01:29

On all the flight-only charter flights I have booked (Only within Europe), I have been give a voucher for 1 nights accomodation in a hostel somewhere. (To qualify as a charter it must include accomodation)

mercedes10 · Mar 17th, 2007, 01:30

Further reading of the dgca also says though that you DON'T have to fly in and out of the same airport - but that you need to fly with the same charter operator. It all seems rather complex though and I can't honestly see how it can be enforced (especially when the vast majority of passengers would have no idea about this!)

As for the OP - if it's really likely to cause problems s/he could just cross into Nepal or Pakistan overland and fly home from there!!!

mercedes10 · Mar 17th, 2007, 01:31

I've just booked my charter flight to Goa and there is no accommodation included! (seems like my tour operator is flouting the law huh?!)

GoanCanuck · Mar 17th, 2007, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by mercedes10

I've just booked my charter flight to Goa and there is no accommodation included! (seems like my tour operator is flouting the law huh?!)

How much are you paying?

cyberhippie · Mar 17th, 2007, 15:19

GC the packages can be as cheap as 99GBP todays cheap deal is 109GBP out of Manchester for 15 days!!

Mar 16th, 2007, 23:49	#34
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,569	I have no idea about the rules, I remember reading a few years ago that the rules were different for charter tourists, I can't remember what the differences were. But I just have a feeling that Catherine is making a mistake and may pay a bigger price than she thinks, I hope not, but I've just got a strange feeling. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information. RAC & Waitlists explained.

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Mar 16th, 2007, 20:24	#31
mercedes10 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 556	I'd heard of this before too, but it does seem bizarre! Lets face it most people would never find out about this in advance, so what exactly is going to happen? As long as you're within your visa limits surely you can just claim ignorance?? I mean what if you just legitimately missed your flight? And what would be the point in making you miss your scheduled flight only to then get you home on a different one? (or is the suggestion that you'll miss the flight because of the time it takes to clear immigration?) I suspect some Rupees to the immigration guards would solve this problem quickly! At the end of the day you have to leave the country, so what are they going to do? I'll be very interested to hear how it works out for you, and would love to hear from anyone else who's done it - or any info. on what the fines involved might be.

Mar 16th, 2007, 22:32	#32
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	I haven't flown in since June 06 --- things could have changed! Maybe they are relying more on the computers now. But, although the design changed at one point, we had the embarkation/dis-embarkation forms for ten years before that.

Mar 16th, 2007, 23:47	#33
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	To be honest I don't think even Indian immigration will see this as their problem. For me this is all about protecting scheduled airlines. Your visa is valid for 6 months which is ALL that will concern the customs guy!! It seems to be a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right is up to!

Mar 16th, 2007, 23:58	#35
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Don't worry Steven this is an old guideline from IATA I believe and as I say it's not up to Indian immigration to do the work of the Aviation authority. To make this work they would first need to issue short term visas for package tourists. You cannot IMHO issue visas for 6 months then say you are only allowed to say for 4 weeks due to your method of entering the country!! Friends of mine do this all the time, at least for the last 10 years, never a problem they usually fly in and out of Goa too with not a hitch. My parents in law have also done this twice without a problem. There are even charter companies who offer one way tickets...........Many companies offer the old 3 week holiday with flight with a one night stay in dormitory accommodation. Some just offer flight only! I think there is probably some lobbying going on from scheduled Airlines to stop this, as it impacts on their profits but it will be a long time before they can enforce this!!

Mar 17th, 2007, 00:03	#36
GoanCanuck Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 3,398	The latest updated rules from August 2006 can be read at http://dgca.gov.in/aic/aic05_06.pdf Very clearly mentioned on the third page, Tourists availing ITP charter flights would not be permitted to fly on inward or outward journeys using a scheduled airline. In emergency cases like medical etc., DGCA may permit tourists, arriving on a charter flight to depart on scheduled flights or vice versa.

Mar 17th, 2007, 00:05	#37
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	GC this has been a rule for years and every now and again there's a bit of saber rattling that comes to nothing!

Mar 17th, 2007, 00:07	#38
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	My mates did it this year too flew into Goa on one Charter and out 5 months later on another. Both times from Dabolim. Actually you shouldn't be able to buy seats on charters out of Goa either but it happens!

Mar 17th, 2007, 01:24	#40
mercedes10 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 556	Incidentally, the dgca link also says that charter flights are permitted only for 'inclusive tour packages'. Clearly this is nonsense since it is easy to buy flight-only from the charter companies!

Mar 17th, 2007, 01:29	#41
SteamBuff Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Essex, Endland Posts: 373	On all the flight-only charter flights I have booked (Only within Europe), I have been give a voucher for 1 nights accomodation in a hostel somewhere. (To qualify as a charter it must include accomodation)

Mar 17th, 2007, 01:30	#42
mercedes10 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 556	Further reading of the dgca also says though that you DON'T have to fly in and out of the same airport - but that you need to fly with the same charter operator. It all seems rather complex though and I can't honestly see how it can be enforced (especially when the vast majority of passengers would have no idea about this!) As for the OP - if it's really likely to cause problems s/he could just cross into Nepal or Pakistan overland and fly home from there!!!

Mar 17th, 2007, 01:31	#43
mercedes10 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 556	I've just booked my charter flight to Goa and there is no accommodation included! (seems like my tour operator is flouting the law huh?!)

Mar 17th, 2007, 15:19	#45
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	GC the packages can be as cheap as 99GBP todays cheap deal is 109GBP out of Manchester for 15 days!!