Mumbai International-Domestic Airport Transfers

Dear Members

I have gone through various similar threads but I felt to open a new thread to clearly discuss about the quick transfer details between International and domestic airports so that anyone want to transfer from International to domestic airport or domestic to international airport may be benefited.

The details should start right from exiting a plane to baggage collection, customs, dolor exchange, airport shuttles, taxis, waiting rooms etc and the time taken at each locations.

I request the Admin to keep this topic as sticky so that everyone can be easily understand about transfers without a search.

What is the minimum time required to manage to take a flight at domestic airport after arriving at international airport?.

similarly

what is the minimum time required to manage to take a flight at international airport after arriving at domestic airport?.

Members can share their experince here. The details could also reflect any recent changes in infrastructure at the airports.

I am arriving at Mumbai international airport at 8:15am in late july - roughly how long would it take for check out through customs etc and to get to the domestic airport in Mumbai?(I believe there are regular buses running the domestic airport.)

I would like to pre-book my domestic flight to Bangalore, and would like to make the wait at domestic airport as short as possible without missing my flight.
Can anyone answer my question?

Depends. Late july is midst of rainy season. Delays occur. 0815 is Emirates; and you have 20 minutes before your arrival, two heavies landing - El-Al 747 & a Saudi Arabian 747. It takes about 6-10 minutes from wheel down to aerobridge/door opening. If you have checked luggage, worst case scenario, add 60-75 minutes to clear customs.

Just curious, why BOM when your final destination is BLR ? Emirates flies 3X daily to BLR from DXB.

Good question Nyc, i want to spend a couple of days in mumbai on my way home - despite its chaos i like it. Hopefully by end august the rains would have eased off considerably and i can explore a bit.

Good question Nyc - and thans for pointing out. I want to spend a couple of days in Mumbai on my way home. Hopefully by then (late august) the rains would have eased off considerably and i will be able to explore a bit.

i am now flying qatar airways as its quite a bit cheaper and face a 14 hr layover in Doha (i guess you cant have your cake and eat it hey)

In March, 2012, I came by emirates from Dubai. Arrival time 8.25 AM. I came out one among the first before the customs counter and finished things with in 20 minutes. But checked baggage arrived very late. So lost totally close to 50 minutes at this point. Then proceeded towards Airport Domestic transfer. On the way to it, bags have to go for check and as there were no crowd, I could finish very quick and reached the location for domestic transfer around 9.35 AM, where some 15 passengers were already waiting who came by another flight.

There were no bus. My domestic flight departure was 11.50 AM. But the people waiting there had departures around 11.30 AM. Finally two buses came around 10.10 AM. (I heard at least every 20 to 30 minutes there is a bus - but that day some delay)

Bus started after 5 minutes and it took 10 minutes to reach domestic terminal 1B (Terminal 1A means, need more time). Finished things and came to the gate around 11.00 AM as there were no crowd.

So it all depends. Better have 3.30 hrs time gap for transfers.

Better have 3.30 hrs time gap for domestic departure.

Thanks for tip, i will keep in mind for future.

Hi all,
I am looking to transfer from domestic to international in mumbai...
I have two options as my international flight out of india is at 1.30am

a) catch the indigo flight that arrives at 6.30pm
or
b) catch the indigo flight arriving at 9.40pm.

will option 'b' allow for enough time from anyone with experience from doing this previously?
Also, I have read that they wont actually let you in the airport if you have a significant amount of time before your flight... is this true?

Thanks all in advance

Normatively true.

Thank you for your reply.
Are you aware of how many hours specifically they let you in the airport?

I have entered the airport at least four hours earlier before the flight myself so probably that much at least.

I think your option b should allow enough time "IF" the indigo flight arrives on time.

if you are arriving in indigo flight, you will be using the shuttle to move from domestic to international. budget about 30 mins for the ride and 15-20 min for wait. so, you should be just fine checking in about 3 hrs before intl departure, which is quite ok. usually, they would allow entry 4 hrs before your departure.

Thank you, I think I will be safe with the 4hrs I think.... Hopefully no delays