Two separate tickets for connecting flights - transit visa
Replies: 5 - Last Post: Aug 19, 2012 4:44 AM Last Post By: waw_kate
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Two separate tickets for connecting flights - transit visa
Hi,My husband, daughter and I are planning to fly Emirates from San Francisco to Dubai. From there we will fly Dubai to Mangalore in Air India Express. The Emirates and Air India Express tickets will be booked separately.
We will claim our baggage in Dubai, go through all the immigration process and again check-in for the next flight.
We do not plan to go outside the airport.
My husband and I are permanent U.S. residents and my daughter is a U.S. citizen.
I have understood that my daughter will get transit visa upon arrival in Dubai for free of cost.
From SFO to Mangalore we have 6 hours to change flights.
From Mangalore to SFO we have 8 hours to change flights.
My questions are:
1. Will we need transit visa?
2. Will two separate visas be required for onward and return journeys?
3. If yes, where/with whom to apply for the visa for onward journey and where/with whom to apply for the visa for return journey?
4. Will Emirates Airlines sponsor the visa even though the connecting flight is not with them?
5. Is there a possibility of not getting the visa because the wait time between flight is less than 8 hours?
6. How long will it take to get the visa (We have only 6 weeks left for the travel)?
7. What is the visa fees?
The help (answers) will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you all in advance.
Glow
1
You don't state what passport you're travelling on so it's difficult to offer accurate advice. There is lots of information on the Emirates web site relating to UAE visas:http://www.emirates.com/uk/english/plan_book/essential_information/visa_passport_information/visa_passport_information.aspx
Personally, I would have bought one ticket covering the entire journey, which would then mean that Emirates would through check the bags onto the connecting carrier and you could then go straight to the transfer desk at Dubai airport, meaning you would not need to clear immigration, and would not need a visa. You might still be able to do this with 2 tickets, I've done it myself at Hong Kong and other airports but never tried it at Dubai.
2
oops! Missed the important information. We hold Indian passports.Thank you dxb1969 for the reply.
Mangalore is a small airport in India with international flights only to few places in Middle East. The normal course of travel would be to fly to Bengaluru or Mumbai and wait overnight for an early morning domestic flight to Mangalore. I was just seeing if I could cut short the journey by 6-8 hours.
I called up Emirates help-desk and they said I have to first book the tickets with them and apply for visa online. They also mentioned that visa approval is not guaranteed.
Air India Express clearly mentioned that on return journey they would not allow me to board the flight in Mangalore if I did not have a valid visa.
Once again when I called up Emirates today I was told that they would not sponsor my visa as I am not flying both in and out of Dubai with them. The emirates link that you posted also mentions the same thing.
With so many uncertainties and traveling with a toddler, I guess it is safe to take the longer route.
If anyone has traveled to Mangalore via Dubai please share your experience.
Thank you,
Glow
3
Will we need transit visa?As an Indian you will need transit visas.
Will two separate visas be required for onward and return journeys?
Yes if they are single-entry visas.
But yes, try taking Emirates connecting flight if you can to an airport like Bangalore and then connect.
http://fly1.emirates.com/IBE/SearchResult.aspx
You can book an Emirates flight to Mangalore, which will be a transit in Bangalore.
4
to reiterate - you will only need a visa if you intend to go through immigration and then check in on the 'land side' of the airport. if you remain 'air side' as a transit passenger, as you would be able to do if all flights are on the same ticket, you do not require a visa as long as the transit period is less than 24 hours. The advice to book the entire itinerary (including the flight to Mangalore) on the emirates web site is good advice. It will save you a whole lot of trouble.Edited by: dxb1969
