Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl Airport (BOM) Flights & Flight Status

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) is one of India’s most important global gateways, in addition to being the sole domestic airport serving Mumbai. Like travelling in India more broadly, this sprawling airport can be confusing and stressful. Having navigated BOM several times, I can give you some tips to make your life easier.

How to get to and from BOM and Mumbai

Although several railway and metro stations are in the general vicinity of BOM, none connect directly to any of the airport terminals. As a result, the most practical way of reaching the airport from the city centre is by private car, be that an Uber or a transfer arranged via your hotel.

Because scams are prevalent in India, I highly recommend pre-arranging a ride (whether via Uber or your hotel’s front desk), particularly on arrival at BOM. I learned the hard way not to accept a ride from ordinary taxi drivers, even when using the 'official' airport desk!

Prior to setting off for the airport, do make note of your terminal, as several miles of pavement (and lots of traffic) separate Mumbai’s two terminal buildings from one another. International passengers will always depart from Terminal 2.

Domestic passengers, meanwhile, will leave from Terminal 1 if they’re flying a low-cost airline such as Indigo or SpiceJet, and from Terminal 2 on full-service carriers like Air India and Vistara. When in doubt, contact the airline operating your flight to verify the terminal.

As many long-haul flights to and from Mumbai arrive just before or after midnight, traffic tends to be minimal for travellers flying to or from the UK. In spite of this, traversing the 12 miles or so between BOM and Mumbai’s city centre can often take around an hour, so leave yourself more time than you think you need.

Navigating security lines at BOM

As is the case in airports throughout India, security at BOM is intense and even intimidating. You’ll actually need to scan all your belongings through an x-ray machine and walk through a metal detector prior to entering the airport terminal to check in. All passengers in all classes of service must wait in the same security lines (which are often long and winding) to enter the airport.

If you’re flying internationally, however, you can use the Priority Lane (which includes dedicated queues for both security and passport control), which will decrease your processing time. This is helpful, because in my experience, Indian security personnel are much more stringent in their enforcement of security rules, such as the removal of liquids from luggage.

While not required across the board, you may need to remove shoes, belts, or other articles of clothing on request. As a result, I recommend wearing slip-on shoes or flip-flops and loose-fitting layers, just in case you need to quickly comply with an officer’s request.

Physical pat-downs are standard at BOM, even after passing through a normal metal detector or more advanced scanning machine. However, Indian airports do separate security screening based on your sex, which can mean a less uncomfortable and intrusive experience.

Give yourself longer than you think you need to pass through security formalities at BOM – three hours for international flights and two hours for domestic is the minimum. Staffing shortages and equipment failures are common here, which means that lines move slowly, in addition to being long. Line-cutting is also much less frowned upon in India than it is in Europe or North America.

Depending on your destination, you may also be subjected to a tertiary security check at the departure gate. This applies particularly, though not exclusively, to US destinations. The process could be as basic as someone asking you a few questions, or as stringent as personnel opening all your bags and going through them. I usually like to stop by the gate at least 15–20 minutes before boarding time to account for worst-case eventualities.

Airline lounges and alternatives at BOM

Mumbai International Airport is home to a variety of lounges for business- and first-class passengers, as well as for travellers with certain credit cards and other credentials. Passengers without lounge access will find the food and drink offerings at Terminal 2 more extensive and impressive than those at Terminal 1.

I find the international lounges in Terminal 2 to be the most in line with international standards. Airlines will direct premium passengers to either of the two GVK Lounge locations: one for first class and one for business class. These spacious lounges allow passengers from all airlines to enjoy fresh food and a bar.

If you’re not flying in the pointy end of the plane, you may still be able to use one of BOM’s lounges. While not branded as a Centurion Lounge like most properties abroad, the American Express Lounge Mumbai is nonetheless accessible to holders of premium American Express credit cards like The Platinum Card. I personally only go in here if there’s no line outside, however, as seating in the lounge can be quite limited.

If you have a Priority Pass card, you can use generic airport lounges such as the Loyalty Lounge, Travel Club, or either the airport’s two Aviserv Lounges. Though I don’t find any of these lounges memorable for their food or beverage offerings, I think you’ll appreciate having more room to spread out (and, depending upon how busy they are, peace and quiet).

As far as Terminal 1 is concerned, none of the lounges here are particularly impressive. This makes sense, being that it is a low-cost terminal. However, if you have Priority Pass or don’t mind paying a nominal entry fee, lounges such as the Travel Club and the Oasis Lounge might not be a bad way to pass some time.

Luggage storage at BOM

Each of Mumbai’s airport terminals offers one official 'Cloak Room' facility to store your luggage. Reception desks are located right through the Arrivals doors in Terminal 1 and on Level 1 of Terminal 2 near door P-4. Rates run from ₹200 (around £2) to store a small cabin bag for three hours to over ₹3,000 (around £27) to store a check-in bag for three days.

While the official Cloak Rooms claim to be able to send luggage back and forth between terminals, I would personally suggest taking your bags with you during a transfer. Also, I don’t recommend taking the risk of leaving your bags at any 'unofficial' storage depots.

Transfers at BOM

Depending on your situation, connecting to another flight in Mumbai can range from easy to extremely stressful. On the 'easy' end, passengers connecting between international flights will simply need to re-clear security.

If you’re connecting between an international flight and a domestic flight operated by either Air India or Vistara, the good news is that you’ll transit within Terminal 2. The bad news is that you will need to clear passport control (and, if you’re arriving in India, collect your baggage) as well, which can add some time to your transfer.

As far as how much time you need? Well, I like to give myself at least four hours from the scheduled landing of one flight to the scheduled departure of the next one. This leaves time for arrival delays (which are common at BOM), and also for long lines at security or immigration. If you happen to need less time than that, you can access an airport lounge or buy something to eat within the common areas of the terminal.

If you’re connecting from a domestic flight operated by a low-cost carrier like Indigo or Spicejet to an international flight or vice versa, you will need to take an Uber or taxi between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. While a free shuttle bus operates, it is not particularly reliable, in my experience.

Connecting between two domestic flights is simple, so long as you’re flying on the same carrier. Doing so should take you longer than an hour. I’d personally avoid arriving on a low-cost airline and departing on a full-service one, or vice versa. The stress of changing terminals in Mumbai is not worth the money you will save.

BOM transit hotel

If you have a half-day or overnight transfer at BOM but don’t want or need to go into the city, you can stay at the Niranta Transit Hotel, located in Terminal 2. This saves you the stress of having to travel all the way into central Mumbai.

Do note, however, that unlike other 'transit hotel' properties around the world, this hotel is located outside the secure area, specifically just past baggage claim and customs. Because of this, I do suggest checking out of this hotel 2–3 hours prior to the departure of your outbound flight, depending on whether you need to change terminals or whether you will be flying domestically or internationally.