Any Advice LOT WAW-DEL transitting to AI for DEL-SYD?

[SydneySwan]

I have found a redemption in Y on Krisflyer from WAW to SYD on Sep 20 for 57k + A$65. The routing is WAW - DEL (8 hours) on LOT on 788 with an 8 hour layover in DEL then DEL - SYD (10 hours) on AI also on a 788. This is the first ff redemption I have found in the past few weeks of daily checking and obviously I would prefer J or PE but these seems nothing available and cash prices for a one way from Europe are currently beyond ludicrous in any class. I haven't booked the flights yet. My questions;

1). I understand that I do not need an Indian transit visa as ticket will be one PNR so luggage should be checked through and I just remain airside in transit. Has anyone recent experience that can confirm this?

2). I am triple vaxxed so meet Indian Covid protocols. Anyone know if the Air Suvidha Self Declaration Form is required to be completed by transit pax?

3). I have never flown on either AI or LOT. I don't expect any recommendations but any recent experience?

 

[drcam]

I've flown on LOT in short haul intra-Europe. They were fine, service was even good, in Y.

Never flown on Air India and personally do not recommend it from reviews. Also I would not transfer in India unless it was an intentional multi-day stopover.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Pre-covid I transited in DEL a couple of times… it’s really wasn’t any different to any other airport. You disembark, get your boarding pass checked at the transit point, go through security, and get dropped in the departures area. Head for a lounge or walk around.

I thought DEL airport was comparable to SIN in terms of overall design and comfort… lots of space, carpeted like SIN… clean. The lounges were drab, but passable.

I don’t know how much of that has changed since covid in terms of the transit procedure.

My only concern would be 10 hours… you’d want to find a pay lounge or somewhere to snooze.

Air India is ok as an airline. But ‘ok’ as in ‘ok’, not ‘great’. You get the basics, and the food is usually alright.

 

[Mattg]

I transited through Delhi on a KrisFlyer award ticket in January 2023, ET connecting to AI, and posted about my experience here:

Delhi Airport (DEL) Transit Experinces

This is why I recommend people get Indian visas and spend their transit time landside. I had wanted to but partner didn't. If I had known, I'd have got the visa. When planning the trip, I considered staying a couple of nights. A well travelled friend advised against Delhi. Said his wife felt...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

If you have no other options, it's not the worst thing in the world. But the DEL transit is not fun and I wouldn't really recommend it for a long layover.

The process seems to have changed since pre-covid. You can't just go straight through transit security as they don't accept boarding passes issued at other airports, and it will take around 1-2 hours before Air India staff are able to issue you a boarding pass at the transit desk as they first need to receive various paperwork from LOT (and then do something with that).

To answer your second question, no that form is not needed to transit India AFAIK.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I transited through Delhi on a KrisFlyer award ticket in January 2023, ET connecting to AI, and posted about my experience here:

Delhi Airport (DEL) Transit Experinces

This is why I recommend people get Indian visas and spend their transit time landside. I had wanted to but partner didn't. If I had known, I'd have got the visa. When planning the trip, I considered staying a couple of nights. A well travelled friend advised against Delhi. Said his wife felt...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

If you have no other options, it's not the worst thing in the world. But the DEL transit is not fun and I wouldn't really recommend it for a long layover.

The process seems to have changed since pre-covid. You can't just go straight through transit security as they don't accept boarding passes issued at other airports, and it will take around 1-2 hours before Air India staff are able to issue you a boarding pass at the transit desk as they first need to receive various paperwork from LOT (and then do something with that).

Oh! Thanks mattg. That would make a bit of a difference. Hopefully they might revert back to the pre-covid days. Or maybe the rule was always there but I had BPs issued on AI paper?