Question: Namaste, I am traveling from Bangalore (BLR) to Dubai (DXB) on Kingfisher. The flight goes via Mumbai (BOM). The layoff time is about 6 hrs, so i thought of having a look at the city of Mumbai. Am i allowed to exit the airport and roam in the city before entering the International terminal? Any clauses attached? Dhanyavaad in advance. – Kedar

Answer:
Dear Kedar,

It is possible to come out of Mumbai airport for a quick visit to the city. But I would not suggest it for the following reasons:

1. If you want to exit at Mumbai, you will not be able to avail the ‘Through Check-in’ service offered by Kingfisher. ‘Through Check-in’ allows you to check-in your bags from BLR up to DXB and you do not need to ccollect your bags at BOM. But, if you want to exit the airport at BOM, you will have to collect your bags at BOM domestic terminal and re-check-in again at the BOM international terminal. The international terminal is 30 minutes away from the domestic terminal.

2. If you ‘Through Check-in’ up to DXB from BLR, you will be able to avail the free Transfer bus from inside the domestic terminal at BOM, and you will be dropped at the international terminal. Your baggage will automatically be transferred to your BOM-DXB flight. The transfer coach runs every 30 minutes, and takes only 20 minutes as it travels inside the airport campus.

3. It takes at-least 30 minutes after your flight arrives at the domestic terminal to collect your bags, exit the airport and get a taxi to the city. At the international terminal, it takes at-least 1 hour to screen and check-in your baggage, collect your boarding pass, go through customs and immigration and security check. It may take more depending on the time of the day and traffic at the airport. Kingfisher recommends that you check-in 2 hours before your flight time. This leaves you with just 3 hours which is not a comfortable time to see Mumbai. Most of the places worth seeing in Mumbai (Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Colaba, Fort, etc) are in South Mumbai, which is an hour’s drive from the airport (one way).

In view of the above, I would suggest you avail Kingfisher’s ‘Through Check-in’ facility at Bengaluru (BLR) and the free transfer bus at Mumbai (BOM) and transfer to the international terminal at BOM as soon as possible. There are plenty of shopping, and eating options at theMumbai (BOM) international terminal, and you will find enough to kill the 4 hours time in between your flights.

I hope you find this information useful. If you need any other information about Kingfisher or any other airline, please write to us.

Have a safe and happy flight!

Best Regards,
FlightGuru

Response from Kedar:

Dear FlightGuru,

I thank and appreciate you for the quick response, correct information and time/effort in replying to my query.

I shall follow your guidelines and would not venture out of the airport limits of Mumbai.

With Great Regards,
Kedar