Stopover in Bangalore

[PaulyB]

I have an overnight 12-hour stopover in Bangalore next Oct. So quite a while away. We are connecting from a QF to a BA flight to LHR, J class.

Has anyone any experience of whether our luggage would be booked through with the 12 hour gap? It's an award ticket and both flights are on the same ticket.

And - perhaps more to the point, is it possible to leave the airport or will we be stuck in transit?

Any info is welcome.

Thanks!

​

 

[somebol]

Indian airports are not easy to exit if you are in transit or have checked luggage.

It is quite possible that you'd be stuck in an empty transit hall for the majority of those 12 hours.

Your should ask this question in FT's india sub forum, much wider audience there.

 

[PaulyB]

Indian airports are not easy to exit if you are in transit or have checked luggage.

It is quite possible that you'd be stuck in an empty transit hall for the majority of those 12 hours.

Your should ask this question in FT's india sub forum, much wider audience there.

Ah - thanks. I hadn't spotted that...

 

[pjm99au]

We have the same flights but booked for September with a 36 hr layover. The thought being if it’s 12hrs we may as well spend a full day and explore a city we haven’t been to. I’m planning to stay at the Taj hotel which whilst not connected to the terminal is 2 minutes drive away for the 6am departure. You will need a visa to exit the airport but these can be applied for on line.

 

[PaulyB]

We have the same flights but booked for September with a 36 hr layover. The thought being if it’s 12hrs we may as well spend a full day and explore a city we haven’t been to. I’m planning to stay at the Taj hotel which whilst not connected to the terminal is 2 minutes drive away for the 6am departure. You will need a visa to exit the airport but these can be applied for on line.

Ah - thanks. So passport control as well, both ways? I had hoped that there would be an airside hotel but getting out will be good after having been traveling for 14 hours. Our flight is about 6am too!

 

[jpp42]

I've stayed at the Taj at Bangalore Airport before, and despite it being only a few hundred metres from the terminal, took me nearly 15 minutes by their taxi due to traffic congestion... so take that into account! I wanted to get out and walk but it was through a construction site and looked a bit muddy. Hopefully that will be improved when you get there and walking would be an option.

Bangalore traffic like most Indian cities is pretty terrible... it's at least an hour to the centre city but you should allow for 2 hours just in case. I'm not really sure what sights/landmarks there are that you could explore in a short stay, taking into account the travel times plus allowances for passing through customs/immigration/etc on your return. But equally the transit area doesn't exactly have 12 hours of entertainment! Perhaps you can get a day room at the Taj and just relax there.

One thing BLR does have is a pleasant food court/shopping area just outside the terminal airport with cafes and bars. This is useful for people who arrive too early (since you can't enter the airport until 4 hours before your flight, typically).

 

[PaulyB]

This is getting better and better...or scarier and scarier....
We arrive 5pm and leave at 6a so it's going to be a super early check-in. I presume /hope BA has their club there.

There will be a big sleep time so maybe a night at the Taj seems like the way to go as long as we are confident about the transport to and from...

I can definitely do without a trip to the city!!! Thanks!

 

[Mattg]

With a 12 hour layover, I would definitely apply for an Indian visa in advance and leave the airport in order to sleep in a proper hotel. It can be done but you will need a visa (assuming you're an Australian citizen).

 

[jpp42]

This is getting better and better...or scarier and scarier....
We arrive 5pm and leave at 6a so it's going to be a super early check-in. I presume /hope BA has their club there.

There will be a big sleep time so maybe a night at the Taj seems like the way to go as long as we are confident about the transport to and from...

Ah sorry, I should have read more carefully and realised it's an overnight layover. I wouldn't do anything except stay at the Taj in that case. Yes you'll have to brave immigration but it's not terrible (get your eVisa) - still way better than Mumbai or Delhi due to fewer international flights. And although I did have bad traffic that once, it was back in Feb and the construction may have sorted itself out. The Taj will supply a car for you upon request, so you will definitely get there.

As far as the BA club, definitely not, the only options in BLR are shared lounges. BA uses one simply called "BLR International Lounge" which I haven't been to but seems to have relatively poor reviews (which is typically of most lounges in India). It does appear to be open 24 hours. I can't recall that I've been to this one, on my previous flight I was flying Singapore Airlines which uses Oberoi Lounge, which is not great either.

 

[PaulyB]

I wouldn't do anything except stay at the Taj in that case

and

With a 12 hour layover, I would definitely apply for an Indian visa in advance and leave the airport in order to sleep in a proper hotel. It can be done but you will need a visa (assuming you're an Australian citizen).

Ha! Thanks! Yes - Aust citizens...

That is super-useful. Despite all this, it is still a marked improvement over my original award booking (which I changed today) of Syd-Manila-Haneda-LHR with the last leg in PE

 

[blacksultan]

I have an overnight 12-hour stopover in Bangalore next Oct. So quite a while away. We are connecting from a QF to a BA flight to LHR, J class.

Has anyone any experience of whether our luggage would be booked through with the 12 hour gap? It's an award ticket and both flights are on the same ticket.

And - perhaps more to the point, is it possible to leave the airport or will we be stuck in transit?

Any info is welcome.

Thanks!

​

More importantly do you have an Indian visa ? You need to apply for a visa in advance .

Post automatically merged: Nov 12, 2022

I have an overnight 12-hour stopover in Bangalore next Oct. So quite a while away. We are connecting from a QF to a BA flight to LHR, J class.

Has anyone any experience of whether our luggage would be booked through with the 12 hour gap? It's an award ticket and both flights are on the same ticket.

And - perhaps more to the point, is it possible to leave the airport or will we be stuck in transit?

Any info is welcome.

Thanks!

​

Also the airport is a long distance from the city and traffic horrendous .

 

[mandja]

Traffic in Indian cities can be bad but in Bangalore it's another level of bad.
Travel at night is better, but wonder what yo'll see at that hour

 

[blacksultan]

There is actually a helicopter service from the airport to the city !

Post automatically merged: Nov 12, 2022

Ah sorry, I should have read more carefully and realised it's an overnight layover. I wouldn't do anything except stay at the Taj in that case. Yes you'll have to brave immigration but it's not terrible (get your eVisa) - still way better than Mumbai or Delhi due to fewer international flights. And although I did have bad traffic that once, it was back in Feb and the construction may have sorted itself out. The Taj will supply a car for you upon request, so you will definitely get there.

As far as the BA club, definitely not, the only options in BLR are shared lounges. BA uses one simply called "BLR International Lounge" which I haven't been to but seems to have relatively poor reviews (which is typically of most lounges in India). It does appear to be open 24 hours. I can't recall that I've been to this one, on my previous flight I was flying Singapore Airlines which uses Oberoi Lounge, which is not great either.

Many nice hotels in Bangalore apart from the taj .

 

[PaulyB]

There is actually a helicopter service from the airport to the city !

Post automatically merged: Nov 12, 2022

Many nice hotels in Bangalore apart from the taj .

. Unless there is a jam at air traffic control?

 

[jpp42]

Many nice hotels in Bangalore apart from the taj .

Of course, but how many of those are on the grounds of the airport? The point with my comments is that's an excellent choice to sleep in a real bed and avoid the legendary traffic.

 

[PaulyB]

Of course, but how many of those are on the grounds of the airport? The point with my comments is that's an excellent choice to sleep in a real bed and avoid the legendary traffic.

Yes - I have to agree. We are arriving at about 5.30pm. Have to get out of the airport, get a helicopter to the hotel () and then get back for the next leg at about 6am. So it's the only real option outside the terminal, although there does seem to be at least one airside option as well; eg 080 Transit Hotel | Arrival & Departure

 

[blacksultan]

Of course, but how many of those are on the grounds of the airport? The point with my comments is that's an excellent choice to sleep in a real bed and avoid the legendary traffic.

Ok . I didn’t know there was a taj at airport !

 

[Mattg]

Yes - I have to agree. We are arriving at about 5.30pm. Have to get out of the airport, get a helicopter to the hotel () and then get back for the next leg at about 6am. So it's the only real option outside the terminal, although there does seem to be at least one airside option as well; eg 080 Transit Hotel | Arrival & Departure

I'm not sure that you can access the 080 hotel airside? I think the entry is landside (so you'd still need a visa).

Happy to be corrected if someone has stayed there recently.

 

[mandja]

Ok . I didn’t know there was a taj at airport !

yes and looks good. I'll be staying at the Oberoi on MG Road, but that is nowhere near the airport

 

[PaulyB]

I'm not sure that you can access the 080 hotel airside? I think the entry is landside (so you'd still need a visa).

Happy to be corrected if someone has stayed there recently.

Yes - it is definitely airside and have read some excellent reviews. I am unclear if our luggage would be booked through if we stayed at the Taj so all things considered, I think I would stay at the 080 hotel and avoid immigration, visa and reduce chaos. With a 0650 am departure, less will be more, despite the fact that we won't get any fresh air for 24 hours or so!