Wait at the Mumbai Intern. airport or at the domestic airport?

emilii · Nov 29th, 2004, 19:52

Hi and thanks for the great forum!

Only 14 days and we`re off to our first trip to India

So, one of the last minute things I am wondering is that which airport in Mumbai would be better for a 12 hour wait before getting to our connection flight to Bangalore?

We`ll be arriving to Sahar international airport at 22.30 and our Air Deccan leaves 11.30 the next morning. (Would rather wait at the airports than to try book a room for a few hours.)

Would You recommed waiting at Sahar or at Santa Cruz domestic airport? Or is there any difference?

With all the best! I´ll appreciate all info

Emilia

Kingfisher · Nov 29th, 2004, 20:12

Emilia: After collecting your bags and clearing customs & immigration you are pretty well dumped on the street at Sahar and don't have access to the more comfortable departure lounge. I'm not sure Deccan provides transport to the domestic side, but as I recall, I wasn't asked to show my ticket for the ride over earlier this month.

The domestic side has had some improvements this year and will be ok for passing some time -- there is a new 24hr cyber-cafe, and the other snack bar was open all night as well. The place is brightly lit, has quite a few mosquitoes and and chairs aren't set up for snoozing, but if you have a book or someone to talk to, you'll be fine. (I arrived late and had a 7:30am flight and didn't think it worth getting a hotel either)

There are 24hr money changers at both terminals, and I did spot an ATM on my way out of Sahar.

cheers!

beach · Nov 29th, 2004, 20:23

Domestic departure terminal has better facilities than the intl. arrival lounge. But I'm not sure how early before the departure they will let you inside the departure terminal (sometimes you can convince the staff). It's about 30 minutes drive from one terminal to the other. The runway and the airport are the same for both though

Jet,Sahara & IA operate free bus service to transfer passengers from one to other. Not sure of the Air Deccan. They are the cheapest so cut all kinds of 'free' stuffs. Simplyfly is what they say about this

Karma Queen · Nov 29th, 2004, 22:40

i had a similar wait to you- 10 hours in mumbai before a connection to bangalore. you have to collect your bags, get a bus over to the domestic terminal (don't tip the boys who put help with your bags) then wait til 3 hours before you leave to check your bags in again. longest 10 hours of my life. the domestic terminal is a dive, but then i'm not sure what the arrival lounge at the international terminal is like. i just found the domestic one dirty and uncomfortable.

emilii · Nov 30th, 2004, 04:09

[quote=Kingfisher]Emilia: After collecting your bags and clearing customs & immigration you are pretty well dumped on the street at Sahar ...

Yikes... really so?

What about the arrival lounge that Karma Queen mentioned... Can´t we stay there for a while?

Does anyone have info about how early before the flight you can get to the Santa Cruz (domestic) terminal?

Emilia

Karma Queen · Nov 30th, 2004, 04:18

i went straight to the domestic waiting room, after changing some pounds to rupees. follow the signs - they led me to the coach. i didn't have any problems

Kingfisher · Nov 30th, 2004, 20:09

Emelia: there is no such thing as an 'arrival lounge' at Sahar -- you collect your gear and get out. As I mentioned, the domestic terminal is open 24 hours and the shuttle runs more-or-less continuously. I think the separate buses for Jet, IA, and Sahara have been combined into a joint service which all passengers (including Deccan) can use as it wasn't necessary to produce a ticket this year (whereas it was in previous years).

Within the domestic airport, (the area that Deccan shares with Jet and Sahara), there is a large waiting area that I described above (basic, but ok). You can't get into the actual 'departure lounge' until you have 'checked in' and the desks normally open a couple of hours before your flight.

emilii · Nov 30th, 2004, 23:10

Thank You so much Kingfisher, Beach and Karma Queen!
You have been a great help : )

Wish You all the best :O)

Emilia

SMeserve97 · Dec 13th, 2004, 09:35

Dear All:

And in reverse travel order? That is, my wife and I fly Cochin-Mumbai, arrive at 2:15pm, and have a 2:40AM international departure out of Sahar. I was hoping to store/check our luggage and taxi over to Juhu for a few hours at the beach before returning to tackle the long night leading up to int'l check-in and departure. Are there bag-check rooms/services at either airport, and are they to be trusted with our bags??

Many thanks in advance for feedback,

Scott

kirangujjar · Dec 13th, 2004, 11:37

hi there.
hope you enjoy your stay in bangalore. hope to meet up.
cheers
kiran

jess.beth · Sep 15th, 2008, 23:17

Hi guys, realise that this was quite some time ago, but i too am arriving at sahar at midnight then have a 10am flight from santa cruz

I definitely want to take the shuttle to avoid getting lost in mumbai, but is there anywhere around santa cruz that would be open, safe and more comfortable? It seems like a waste to check into a hotel but I don't want to be stark crazy by the time I get to Jodhpur!

Cheers.

mairangi_vice · Sep 16th, 2008, 02:51

Sahar airport is no good for waiting, you go through customs and then you are out on the street, there isnt any arrivals lounge (unless they have built one in the last year since I was there). Also you cannot even get into the domestic airport until 1 1/2 maybe 2 hours before your flight, they check your tickets on entry to the building.

My advice is to check into a hotel and get some sleep. If you cant book one, there are always plenty of guys hanging around at the international airport who will take you to one.

Nov 29th, 2004, 19:52	#1
emilii Back to Delhi =)) Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Finland Posts: 164	Wait at the Mumbai Intern. airport or at the domestic airport? Hi and thanks for the great forum! Only 14 days and we`re off to our first trip to India So, one of the last minute things I am wondering is that which airport in Mumbai would be better for a 12 hour wait before getting to our connection flight to Bangalore? We`ll be arriving to Sahar international airport at 22.30 and our Air Deccan leaves 11.30 the next morning. (Would rather wait at the airports than to try book a room for a few hours.) Would You recommed waiting at Sahar or at Santa Cruz domestic airport? Or is there any difference? With all the best! I´ll appreciate all info Emilia

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Nov 29th, 2004, 20:12	#2
Kingfisher slow typing member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: west coast canada Posts: 143	Emilia: After collecting your bags and clearing customs & immigration you are pretty well dumped on the street at Sahar and don't have access to the more comfortable departure lounge. I'm not sure Deccan provides transport to the domestic side, but as I recall, I wasn't asked to show my ticket for the ride over earlier this month. The domestic side has had some improvements this year and will be ok for passing some time -- there is a new 24hr cyber-cafe, and the other snack bar was open all night as well. The place is brightly lit, has quite a few mosquitoes and and chairs aren't set up for snoozing, but if you have a book or someone to talk to, you'll be fine. (I arrived late and had a 7:30am flight and didn't think it worth getting a hotel either) There are 24hr money changers at both terminals, and I did spot an ATM on my way out of Sahar. cheers!

Nov 29th, 2004, 20:23	#3
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	Domestic departure terminal has better facilities than the intl. arrival lounge. But I'm not sure how early before the departure they will let you inside the departure terminal (sometimes you can convince the staff). It's about 30 minutes drive from one terminal to the other. The runway and the airport are the same for both though Jet,Sahara & IA operate free bus service to transfer passengers from one to other. Not sure of the Air Deccan. They are the cheapest so cut all kinds of 'free' stuffs. Simplyfly is what they say about this

Nov 29th, 2004, 22:40	#4
Karma Queen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: England Posts: 365	i had a similar wait to you- 10 hours in mumbai before a connection to bangalore. you have to collect your bags, get a bus over to the domestic terminal (don't tip the boys who put help with your bags) then wait til 3 hours before you leave to check your bags in again. longest 10 hours of my life. the domestic terminal is a dive, but then i'm not sure what the arrival lounge at the international terminal is like. i just found the domestic one dirty and uncomfortable.

Nov 30th, 2004, 04:09	#5
emilii Back to Delhi =)) Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Finland Posts: 164	[quote=Kingfisher]Emilia: After collecting your bags and clearing customs & immigration you are pretty well dumped on the street at Sahar ... Yikes... really so? What about the arrival lounge that Karma Queen mentioned... Can´t we stay there for a while? Does anyone have info about how early before the flight you can get to the Santa Cruz (domestic) terminal? Emilia

Nov 30th, 2004, 04:18	#6
Karma Queen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: England Posts: 365	i went straight to the domestic waiting room, after changing some pounds to rupees. follow the signs - they led me to the coach. i didn't have any problems

Nov 30th, 2004, 20:09	#7
Kingfisher slow typing member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: west coast canada Posts: 143	Emelia: there is no such thing as an 'arrival lounge' at Sahar -- you collect your gear and get out. As I mentioned, the domestic terminal is open 24 hours and the shuttle runs more-or-less continuously. I think the separate buses for Jet, IA, and Sahara have been combined into a joint service which all passengers (including Deccan) can use as it wasn't necessary to produce a ticket this year (whereas it was in previous years). Within the domestic airport, (the area that Deccan shares with Jet and Sahara), there is a large waiting area that I described above (basic, but ok). You can't get into the actual 'departure lounge' until you have 'checked in' and the desks normally open a couple of hours before your flight.

Nov 30th, 2004, 23:10	#8
emilii Back to Delhi =)) Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Finland Posts: 164	Thank You so much Kingfisher, Beach and Karma Queen! You have been a great help : ) Wish You all the best :O) Emilia

Dec 13th, 2004, 09:35	#9
SMeserve97 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1	Dear All: And in reverse travel order? That is, my wife and I fly Cochin-Mumbai, arrive at 2:15pm, and have a 2:40AM international departure out of Sahar. I was hoping to store/check our luggage and taxi over to Juhu for a few hours at the beach before returning to tackle the long night leading up to int'l check-in and departure. Are there bag-check rooms/services at either airport, and are they to be trusted with our bags?? Many thanks in advance for feedback, Scott

Dec 13th, 2004, 11:37	#10
kirangujjar Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: India / Bangalore Posts: 28	hi there. hope you enjoy your stay in bangalore. hope to meet up. cheers kiran

Sep 15th, 2008, 23:17	#11
jess.beth Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London Posts: 7	Hi guys, realise that this was quite some time ago, but i too am arriving at sahar at midnight then have a 10am flight from santa cruz I definitely want to take the shuttle to avoid getting lost in mumbai, but is there anywhere around santa cruz that would be open, safe and more comfortable? It seems like a waste to check into a hotel but I don't want to be stark crazy by the time I get to Jodhpur! Cheers.

Sep 16th, 2008, 02:51	#12
mairangi_vice Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 285	Sahar airport is no good for waiting, you go through customs and then you are out on the street, there isnt any arrivals lounge (unless they have built one in the last year since I was there). Also you cannot even get into the domestic airport until 1 1/2 maybe 2 hours before your flight, they check your tickets on entry to the building. My advice is to check into a hotel and get some sleep. If you cant book one, there are always plenty of guys hanging around at the international airport who will take you to one.