Jet Airways - Mumbai / Bombay Transit (International to national) and vice versa

I'm writing this blog to share my recent transit experience in Mumbai airport. I recently traveled from London to Hyderabad (India) through Jet Airways. Mumbai and Delhi is common transit airport for Jet Airways in India.


While travelling from London to Hyderabad (Transfer from International to Domestic Airport)

• Reached Mumbai at 11:15 AM
• From terminal to Immigration its really long walk (almost 500m walk, but there will help cars available) (10 minutes walk)
• Immigration 10 minutes (you need to fill form if you are Indian Passport holder
• After Immigration we need to collect our baggage (Check In Baggage), this is the most time consuming. I have to wait for almost 25 minutes at baggage counter to get my suitcases.
• After collecting check-in suitcases there will be security check for Hand luggage only. (5-10 mts)
• After that customs clearance. We need to hand over the form which was filled with Immigration Authorities stamp on it. (< 1 minute)
• As soon as customs is done, immediately on right side you can handover the Check in luggage to Jet Airways counter for Internal Transit. Note: Liquor is not allowed as hand luggage in domestic flights, hence if you have purchased any liquor in Duty Free shop try to adjust the same in your check in luggage. (10 minutes)
• If the transit time is less than 2 hours usually you don't go to domestic airport. You will directly get into Domestic flight via steps.
• After handing over the check-in luggage at Jet Airways transfer counter there will be another security check this is for Domestic flights check-in (10 minutes)
• After security check for transfer to Domestic flight, Jet Airways as asked us to wait for few minutes at specific place. Then they arranged bus which will take only Hyderabad passengers. They are arranging separate buses for each destination.
• The bus dropped directly outside where the domestic flight is located and we get inside the flight via steps (didn't went inside the domestic airport) (10 minutes).

So key points - Immigration, collect check-in luggage, customs, transfer desk to handover check in luggage, security check and flight. Minimum time required 1 hour.

By the time I get in to Hyderabad flight is almost 1:00pm (This is because all of the Hyderabad transfer were asked to wait). So it almost took me around 75 minutes from getting out from International flight to domestic flight. But what I found out is that if the time gap is less, then Jet Airways will try to fasten the steps as they will be available at every step to expedite (only for those who have less time on connecting flight). In general if you have transit time anywhere between 90 minutes and above that would be sufficient. (This is based on my experience twice).


Update on Aug 2016: I travelled again from London to Hyderabad via Mumbai through Jet airways on July 2016, with recent update there is no need to travel between International to domestic airport. After custom exit within internal stair case or lift you can connect to main airport again and from there you go for domestic security. No need to travel between airports as state above. 

While travelling from Hyderabad to London (Transfer from Domestic to International Airport)

On return flight to London, Mumbai was transit point again and this time I reached Mumbai at 23:15 and my flight to London was at 1:45am

• You handover Check-in Luggage at starting point. In my case handover at Hyderabad and collect in London, no need to collect and transfer manually in Mumbai
• After arriving in Mumbai, while getting down from flight staff asked to wait all the transfer separately. Didn't get inside the domestic airport again.
• They arranged bus which goes to International airport. This time though your will be completely come out of airport and get into main entrance of International Airport
• Bus will drop outside the entrance counter
• You need to show tickets & Passport to security to get inside the Airport (Either e-ticket in mobile or paper tickets, they will check ticket name and passport name matches).
• After getting inside the Airport you don't need to get into check-in counter, Jet Airways staff will check your passport, ticket and valid visa and put a sticker with signature that they validated (will be used later)
• After that security check (really very long queue), there are too many flights from Mumbai and the queue is considerable long (again if there is no enough time staff arrange separate line for those people).
• Then Immigration again long queue (but quite fast)
• Then to gates (again long walk).
• In general it took me 45 minutes for me from getting to Mumbai and reaching to international departure gates. 

Overall Jet Airways review:

I'm not great reviewer, but in my experience Jet AIrways offers less price (atleast difference in 100 quids) compare to leading airways like Emirates, BA & Other leading companies from Middle East. In past I traveled via BA & Emirates more often.

• Staff - They are friendly and helpful
• Luggage - Very decent allowance from London it was 
• 2 bags x 23 Kgs check-in luggage
• 1 Hand luggage upto 8 kgs & 
• 1 Laptop bag or Hand bag
• Food - Since I was veg it was quite good Indian food (in other ways I need to explicitly insist for Veg, here its easy to get). Food was good 
• Seat space - Its ok as any other economy class

Overall it was good experience on my travel with Jet Airways, nothing to complain.