When we went to Goa in April, we booked flights to Mumbai via BA and then booked internal flights via alternative airlines website - as I was unable to pay for our Indian airlines flights on their website. It cost exactly the same as going direct. We were also very nearly caught on the 8.30 flight change on return home - but I received an email from Alternative airlines whilst in Goa. As they couldn't transfer us to another direct flight, we bought new flights via air deccan and saved £22 each! Indian airlines refunded us with no hassles. When I queried the late notice on our flight change - the reply was "you are meant to confirm flight departures 72 hours before departure". We plan to book all our internal flights via air deccan instead. Lovely new planes - the only catch is luggage allowance is only 15kg - but the excess is only a fraction of the savings!

We are travelling back through Mumbai in November from Goa. However, there is 9 hours between flights Can anyabody please let me know what facilities are like in Mumbai airport. ie. drinks food etc. Have checked right through this thread and can't seem to find anything, or am I just blind I know some of this time will bobviously be taken up with transfers but that still leaves a lot of time to kill. We are on a charter holiday with Somak so not sure how this will work. Any help would really be appreciated.
Gill

Rotielegs
We flew via Mumbai last year. There is one bar which is very nice but a small beer was 500 rupees and food was very expensive. There is a cafe like place which does sandwiches and soft drinks and a few snacks. There is plenty of lie down beds for you to rest . You can get a taxi to a hotel and have a meal but I think they offer special deals from the domestic airport. We were going to do that but made the error of transfering to the international airport and there was no one selling the hotel use there so we had to hang around for about 8 hours. If you ask on this site I am sure people have done it and they might be able to tell you what hotels are the best and cheapest. We go in November and will be giving it ago also.

Air Deccan was in the news yesterday.They had over booked a flight from Goa to Mumbai.Their solution.. 4 passengers with kids were asked to put them on the lap during the flight to accomodate the 4 without seats which they did.Unbelievable only in India........................

John

I still havent forgotton my nightmare journey with Air Deccan last September from Goa to Mumbai, in fact I still get flash backs which are quite scarey.
We were on the prop plane with one crew member...a young girl. She wept most of the journey with her head in her hands. It was Monsoon and the weather was stormy. The plane seemingly dropped out of the sky and tilted alarmingly from side to side, this continued for over twenty minutes. What affected me most were the screams of the passengers Some prayed very loud but most just screamed at full pelt.
There was not one word from the pilot, I presume he had his hands full keeping us in the air! At one point I tied my bag to my arm so my body could be easily identified. Anyway we landed safetly eventually but NEVER again.
Michelle

There is very little to in Mumbai imternational airport until check in opens - a few snack shops and metal seats - but once checked in and gone through to the departure lounge there are a few overpriced duty free shops, an expensive cafe, but several cheap snack bars - a subway and a fast food chinese was the best (lots of cheap meal deals), so eating not a problem. The fully reclined loungers are perfect for a nap. We couldn't check in until 4 hours before our flight - so you may be best to see a bit of Mumbai before heading to the airport. I see you say you are taking a charter flight to India - do you realize that by Indian law, you have to return with a charter flight, not a scheduled one?

Sorry got it wrong, it is a scheduled flight there and back. Heathrow to Mumbai, then onto Kerela, Kereal back to Mumbai then Mumbai to Goa. On the way back, Goa to Mumbai, Mumbai to Heathrow! Sounds a bit of a nightmare to me, especially with the 9 hours between Mumba and Heathrow on the way back, but I know it will be worth it just to be back in Goa.

Gill

I'm travelling to Goa on 6 Sept and have checked all the sites on the internet. At present the cheapest is Manchester to Helsinki to Mumbia at £357.00 but there's a long wait.

The best connecting times for me are with BA at £405.00 although this price fluctuates by £10.00 - £15.00 per day.

I'm on a tight budget at present and cannot book until next pay day - mid July.

Does anyone know if these prices come down nearer the time? or should I just book it?

Thanks

Hi, I have not checked for a couple of days, but HolidayGenie.com were doing Manchester to Mumbai....4th Sept to 5th Oct for £335.00pp. This was with Qatar Airways. You normally find that scheduled flights do not come down in price nearer the time, in most of the time they increase.
regards
Michelle

Michelle (Towpal) sooooo sorry but I have just had absolute hysterics reading your post quote 'at one point i tied my handbag to my arm so i might be identified' ..... I am crying here with laughter, but I do know what you mean cos i have thought similar thoughts when we have ben having a bad flight but just seeing that in print ...
incidentally i think they have changed that rule now about flying back by charter if you go in by chartetr, us and lots of friends have had no problem with it this year and end of last
chilly

At last booked my flight from Manchester to Mumbai with BA £415.00 on 6th Sept.

Trying to book my flight from Mumbai to Goa on internet with SpiceJet, given all my details but it has declined and asked me for my CW/CID No from my credit card.

Does anyone know what this is please?

Thanks

its the security code at the back of the card- the three numbers you have. (where the code is more than 3 numbers, you just give the last three digits)

Yeah, I took a guess and thought it was that. So I put them in but it still didn't work but it wouldn't tell me why!!

Non indian credit cards cannot be used at the moment to purchase from outside India, scroll earlier posts on this thread & the previous page for further info, this is by the order of the Indian Goverment

Mids

Yes, I did read all the posts before about that. The site I went on asked for my UK card details so I thought it would be ok.

I'll see if someone in Goa can make the booking for me.

Thanks

I did the same with Jet & Make my trip it let you input all your details & it all then throws an error afterwards,

we used jet airways for Delhi/Mumbai and Mumbai/Goa. They took my cc.

I could not book via there site, (after inputing all details right at the end it rejected cc details, had to use a travel/booking agent

Phoned Jet and asked and was told to do this, strange

mine was denied to begin with but it turned out to be a problem with my cc company- they denied the transaction as they were suspicious but okd it when I phoned them