We are flying with Virgin to Mumbai, then with Air India to Goa, I heard we have to get a transfer coach to a different airport once we're in Mumbai - is this true? Also do you get your cases back at Mumbai or are they automatically transferred to Goa all the way from UK?
Also is it right that NO liquids are allowed with Air India? Just i usually put minimal stuff in my hand luggage and esp wanted to put some insect repellant in as i heard of people getting bitten whilst at the airport, any advice please

I heard we have to get a transfer coach to a different airport once we're in Mumbai - is this true?

Transfer bus or coach between the International and Domestic Terminals which are on opposite sides of the airport. They run every 40-45 minutes and take 15 to 20 minutes. A few domestic flights do go from the international terminal, best to check what you intinery says.

Also do you get your cases back at Mumbai or are they automatically transferred to Goa all the way from UK?

On the outward trip you have to reclaim baggage in Mumbai because that's where you clear customs. If you are with Jet Airways and certain other airlines you can check the bags back in again at the international terminal. For other airlines you have to take your bags to the other terminal yourself.
Coming back baggage can be checked all the way through depending on which airlines you are with.

Also is it right that NO liquids are allowed with Air India

You can take insect repellant wipes which are sold at Heathrow Boots, or otherwise put the liquids in your checked backs before checking them back in for the domestic flight.

hi all
gonna book internal flight but not sure who with,any ideas or is there not a lot of difference,,,air deccan,jet,goair,spicejet,jetlite

and how long should i give for connecting flight timewise..
on return to mumbai gonna have to spend at least 5-6pm till 2am in the airport or wondering around..
any advice would be great
thinking of flying ba to mumbai
thanks
robbie

give yourself at least 3hours. We flew on to Goa with Jet airlines- a bit more expensive but it had the times we wanted. Thats a long time to spend at the airport on the way back- its not one I'd like to spend a lot of time in.

Agree on at least three hours.
In November came in from UK on BA due (00:40) for first flight in the day with Jet (06:30).
BA flight was late into Mumbai, immigration and customs fairly quick, but un-usually long queue for transfer baggage screening and internal check in, then long queue for bus (now actually a coach). Got over to domestic terminal at 04:30 with only an hour to spare before the security check for the Goa flight.

Coming back there is an advantage in going from Goa with Jet Airways (also Indian Airlines?) in that Goa can check the bags through Mumbai for BA flights. That way you do not have to deal with baggage in Mumbai on the way back.

On the return I've done it twice on the same flights as you are thinking of, also once taking an earlier flight from Goa to Mumbai with Jet. The advantage of the earlier flight was that we had time to take a rickshaw to Santa Cruz station for a return trip on the train into the city. Traffic can be too much of a problem with frequent delays to go all the way into the city by taxi, so the train is best. Coming back to the airport Vile Parle station is closer to the international terminal than Santa Cruz. We once got stuck in very heavy traffic between Santa Cruz and the airport in the evening. If you are on the later flight from Goa then the time is a bit tight to go into the city but it is possible, instead Juhu Beach is only 30 mins or so from the airport by taxi.

In November I was booked on the later flight from Goa and, as I was alone, decided to sit it out at the airport. I got to Goa airport too early and got put on the earlier flight leaving me even more time to kill in Mumbai. I split the time, hanging around at each stage as I knew that once in International Terminal check-in area there is little to do there and you can't go outside again. BA check-in doesn't open until around 22:30 so I hung around outside watching life go by until close to that time. Once the BA check-in is open you can then go through immigration and get to the area with lots of comfy recliner seats.

Geoff

Bunny, if you buy any alcohol on the way out, you need to open your case at the domestic airport and put it in. Good to take a piece of bubble wrap.

thanks fiona and geoff..looking at jet on way back as its the last to leave goa only a little more exp but will still have to hang around till 2am ish,,not good,,so if i go jet they auto check in my luggage at ba and then i suppose i can go and wonder out knowing i wont have to deal with the case or lug it around with me????i think thats what your saying geoff is that correct????

so if i go jet they auto check in my luggage at ba and then i suppose i can go and wonder out knowing i wont have to deal with the case or lug it around with me????i think thats what your saying geoff is that correct????

Yes if you fly from Dabolim with Jet Airways to Mumbai then onward with BA you can get your bags checked straight through Mumbai, you can get a boarding pass and seat allocation for the BA flight at the check-in in Dabolim. You do not see your bags in Mumbai, they transfer them directly to your flight. But you do need to go to the BA check-in at Mumbai to exchange the boarding pass, for hand baggage security and to get your departure immigration form.
Jet Airways also do this for transit to some other airlines (I also believe that Indian Airlines may have a similar arrangement).

On the outward journey you can through check-in but in order to clear customs at Mumbai you have to retreave your luggage, take it through customs and then check it in again straight after leaving customs.

Geoff

thanks sort of undertandthat.
just booked flight with ba on 14 th march used my airlies and paid£170...just gonna look at internal flights and will use jet on the way back and prob someone else on the way there....thanks for the replies..
rob

Does anyone here know what food outlets they have at Bombay airport? We'll be arriving there at 7am and we don't get our transfer flight til 12, I know it's India but all im really gona want is a simple breakfast of cereals and croissant etc, just wondered if they did this, or if I should just bring something over from the UK to eat - I couldn't handle anything spicey that early in the morning lol!!

Does anyone here know what food outlets they have at Bombay airport?

In November I found...

International Arrivals - nothing? Not a lot if anything at all.

Domestic Departures - A Coffee Day stall with a range of drinks, snacks and pastries. Also couple of other stalls. Upstairs there is a nice cafe/restuarant with some sofa seats doing breakfast and other snacks. A Chai walla often wanders the terminal with a chai urn on a trolley.
There is another stall in the area after security check.

Domestic Arrivals - Just one Coffee Day by the baggage reclaim, but it is possible to get through into the arrivals area.

International Departures (outside) - At the front of the building before entering there is at least one shop selling snacks, pizzas, (pastries?) and sandwiches as well as some hot and cold drinks stalls.

International Departures (check-in) - The shop outside also has a window and counter facing into this area plus a small cafe (internet cafe) and a few drinks stalls.

International Departures (departure lounge after immigration) - A western style pub/bar with snacks and a growing number of fast food outlets including Subway and some drinks stalls. Sometimes there is a chai walla around with a trolley.

On the Domestic side I'm refering to the new building that Jet Airways and a few other airlines use, I think some airlines still use the old building.

On the International side I'm refering to part of the Terminal which British Airways, Jet Airways, Virgin and many others use. Air India use the other part which I think is similar.
Geoff

We flew out last month to Dubai with Emirates, I think it was gate 17. That section of the international departures is being modernised and their was very little. No duty free, only a small outlet selling the usual tea, coffee soft drinks, crisps etc Our flight was delayed an hour so I had plenty time to roam around and I'm pretty certain thats all there was in the section under refurbishment. If there is a way over to another part of departures once you are through security I'd be glad to hear of it as we are off back to Goa via Mumbai and will be back in the international departures mid March Alan

yeah if anyone could post that as im in there for 6 hrs unless i can go walkabout,,what shops (dutyfree wise)are there there at the mo and can you by goods before you get on the plane back to uk or is it worth buying them in goa???
thank
robbie

I wouldn't bother with Mumbai Duty Free. Not a lot on offer at the best of times. In November two sections were completely empty.
Even when they do have things it is often cheaper to buy in ordinary shops.

Geoff

Hi All Just to Warn anyone whos booked a return flight from Mumbia international airport
All duty free shops are closed just empty shops the reason when we asked was its going to be refirbished
and also there is just 1 bar there that were charging a massive 450rps for a small glass of beer and 350 for a coffee
sharon

We came through Mumbai airport in November on our way back from Goa. We had about 10 hours to kill and it was dreadful. There are absolutely no facilities once you go through to departures. As in the previous thread there was no duty free whatsoever, not enough seating, so spent most of the time sat on the floor. No screens for information, just people going up and down the concourse shouting out information. It was total chaos and not one I would consider again.

Gill

oh no thats not good,,hope you can put me straight on this,,.
im gonna be leaving goa in march with jet to mumbai,,,,i get to mum at around 8pm my ba flight does not leave till 02.30 am..so thats roughly 6 hrs to hang around any empty building,not good..
am i right in saying when i check in with jet at goa i tell them i have connecting ba flight from mum!!will they give me ticket for luggage so all i do is cross to the int at mum go to ba and show the ticket to them without ever seeing my suitcase????
should i not go into the int airport straight away as i cannot get back out again???was this the case,
then once i go in just head for the ba desk to sort the boarding cards out???
also best to get my cig's and drink in the goa supermarkets then and not the airports(i suppose they do not have duty free or shops in goa domestic..
sorry to be a pain just need to get my head round it all..
regards
robbie

am i right in saying when i check in with jet at goa i tell them i have connecting ba flight from mum!!will they give me ticket for luggage so all i do is cross to the int at mum go to ba and show the ticket to them without ever seeing my suitcase????

Correct.

should i not go into the int airport straight away as i cannot get back out again???was this the case, then once i go in just head for the ba desk to sort the boarding cards out???

Correct, the BA check-in doesn't open until something like 22:30, but queueing does start a bit before that.

At Goa the Jet Airways check-in will label your bags as - BOM, - LHR and give you a boarding pass for your first flight and a folder labelled something like "transfer ticket" with the interim boarding pass, baggage receipt and seat allocation for BA.
At Mumbai you have your hand baggage screened before the BA check-in (a new arrangement last November) and then you take your transfer boarding pass to the BA check-in to exchange it for a BA boarding pass. The BA check-in should be able to look up and tell you that your checked baggage is in their system. The BA check-in should also give you your departure immigration form.

The arrangements do change from time to time and upon arrival at Mumbai domestic (as I have time on my hands) I always look at the baggage belt in case the bag comes through in error and ask the Jet Airways staff there if my bags will go straight through. Security checks and the like can always change.
Jet Airways do have an explanation of this on their website, but it is out of date.

And yes, best to buy in Goa. No duty free for domestics at Goa and very little if anything in Mumbai.

Geoff

geoff
thanks the great advice regards
robbie