Frequently Asked Questions

Travel Information for Guests

Arrival at International Airport

Landing at one of India’s large, busy international airports can be both chaotic and confusing, especially if you arrive in the middle of the night after a long and tiring flight. We hope the following information will serve as a helpful guide to smooth your way through India’s complex arrival and departure procedures.

Upon your arrival inside the terminal, you must first pass through Immigration. Present your passport and the disembarkation card, which you should have received and completed on the plane, to the official at the counter. Most airports have separate lines for foreign passport holders.

As you leave Immigration, go to the baggage collection area. Pick up a baggage cart at the far end of the hall, locate your bags, load them on to the trolley (there are no porters inside the Customs Hall) and follow the Green Channel.

You may be asked to X-ray your hand and checked luggage. Have your passport and small stub from your disembarkation card ready; surrender the stub at the gate. Generally, travelers using the Green Channel are not stopped by Customs officials.

If your baggage does not arrive at the baggage claim area for your flight, contact a representative from the airline or notify personnel at the far counter near Immigration. Do not leave the area until you have officially registered the loss of your luggage.

You will be met by a representative from MakeMyTrip just outside the Customs or Arrivals Hall. Only officials and passengers are allowed inside the Customs and Immigrations Hall - therefore, the first place our representative can meet you, is outside the hall’s exit gate.

Our representative will wait for you in this area, carrying a MakeMyTrip signboard with your name and flight number. Through years of experience, our staff has developed an uncanny intuition for identifying you; it helps, however, if you are also on the lookout for him or her!

Domestic Arrival

Domestic flights usually arrive some distance from the terminal; passengers are transferred by bus to the Arrivals area. Collect your checked luggage and proceed to the barrier where you submit your baggage claim tags to the official. Our representative will meet you outside the Arrivals Hall, just behind the barrier.

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

International Flights - If flying directly from or to North America, you may check two pieces of luggage. For all other destinations you are allowed 20 kgs of accompanied luggage for economy class and 30 kgs for executive/first class. Domestic Flights – Full service airlines such as Jet Airways, Indian and Kingfisher Airways allow 20 to 25 kg of check-in luggage on economy class and 30 kgs for executive/business class. Some domestic flights only offer economy class. On certain “no frills” private airlines such as Air Deccan, SpiceJet, IndiGo, Go Air, Jet Lite, etc and on flights using smaller aircraft, checked in luggage is restricted to 15 or 20 kg. You will be asked to pay excess baggage charges at the check-in counter.

INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE

Check-in time required for international flights is 3 hours prior to flight departure, except when flying to the Gulf area and during periods of high security when check-in requires 3-1/2 hours. Check-in time required for flights to Katmandu is 2 hours. Due to fluctuating government restrictions, transfer representatives are sometimes not allowed to accompany clients into the Departure Hall. Baggage carts are located outside the Hall and our representative will assist you as far as the entrance. Have your passport and air tickets handy, as these will be verified at the gate. Get your check-in baggage X-rayed and proceed to the appropriate airline check-in counter. Proceed to Immigration. You must have your passport and completed embarkation card available for inspection by the official. Be sure it is legible or you will be asked to complete another. Some airlines require that you physically identify your bags before they are put onto the plane. You will be directed to rooms to the left or right just beyond Immigration. IMPORTANT: Please remember to pack batteries, deodorants, perfumes, liquids more than 100ml, pen knives, lighters, matchboxes, Swiss army knives, scissors or other sharp instruments in your checked-in luggage as you will not be allowed to carry these on your person. The process of surrendering these belongings to the crew and collecting them again at your destination is laborious and often an unsuccessful one. Duty-Free Shops are located between Customs and Security. Continue to Security, being sure to allow ample time. Airport regulations stipulate that you are allowed one piece only of carry-on luggage. Please ensure you are not over-loaded as this may cause problems - you may be forced to check your extra pieces and may be liable for excess baggage charges. All hand luggage is checked manually and run through an electronic baggage scanner; this is not film-safe, even though signs claim that it is. Ask that your film be hand-inspected or pack it in a heavy lead bag (even this is not a guaranteed protection).

DOMESTIC DEPARTURE

Normal check-in time for domestic flights is one hour before the scheduled departure time. As is the case for international departures, our representative can accompany you only as far as the entry gate. Your ticket and passport will be checked at the entry gate, so keep them handy. All flights are non-smoking A few important reminders concerning the check-in procedure:

» Be sure to attach cabin baggage tags for your carry-on piece(s).
» Before entering the Security Check Hall, there is often a spot inspection of checked baggage. If you bag is chosen, you may be asked to open it for the officer on duty. Have your suitcase keys handy.
» Following this, proceed to the Security Check Hall. Make sure you are carrying only one piece of hand luggage, as the airlines are particularly strict on this policy.
» The regulations about lighters, matchboxes, knives, liquids more than 100ml, scissors and batteries also apply for domestic flights - pack them in your checked baggage.
» It is a wise precaution to remove the batteries, regardless of size, from any electronic appliances and cameras in your cabin baggage and place them in your check-in luggage; vigilant security guards at certain airports confiscate batteries.
» Security personnel will stamp your cabin baggage tag "cleared" once it has been inspected.
» Certain airlines require you to identify your checked-in baggage before it is loaded on the plane. The airline personnel will give you instructions when you check-in.

DOMESTIC FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS

Be aware that there may be delays and occasional cancellations, especially during the monsoon period (June to August) and between the third week of December and early January, when Delhi is usually fog-bound. If you have been issued a paper-ticket for which you would like a refund, you must submit the ticket coupon with its ticket jacket to MakeMyTrip. NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN FOR LOST TICKETS. This is not the case with E-tickets.

ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE BY TRAIN

Indian railway stations are very crowded (the Indian rail system carries over 14 million passengers daily!) and can be both confusing and quite overwhelming. This is compounded by the lack of an effective public address system to announce arrivals and departures. On arrival, our MakeMyTrip representative will do his best to meet you outside your coach; this, however, is not always possible, as passenger information may not be available prior to your arrival. Larger stations such as New Delhi Railway Station have several exit gates. If, upon disembarkation from the train, you do not see our representative, be sure to go to the Ajmeri Gate exit and wait at the information counter. Watch for the agent carrying a MakeMyTrip signboard bearing your name. When departing, our representative will assist with your luggage and help locate your train and coach. For overnight trains, your name will be posted on a list outside your assigned coach.

VISAS

All foreign nationals require a visa to enter India. Visas are valid from the date of issue. Visas must be obtained from the Indian consular office in your country of residence. If you are visiting a neighboring country and returning to India do ensure you get a multiple entry visa. Entry into certain areas such as the north-eastern states of India requires a Restricted Area Permit (RAP). Details will be provided when you sign up for such a trip.

INSURANCE

Indian laws do not allow us to provide insurance coverage for foreign nationals. We do not insure our clients ourselves and we accept no responsibility for damages or expenses, which may arise from mishaps occurring during tours organized by MakeMyTrip. Reservations are accepted only on this understanding. It is prudent to get yourself adequately insured before you leave home. Please insure yourself against sickness, accident, helicopter evacuation, hospitalization and the like, as you would normally do before embarking on a vacation. Medical and evacuation expenses incurred as a result of accident during a trip are chargeable in full to the clients involved. Actually you will be safer on your trip in India than on the roads of many parts of the world, but insurance does not cost much and is a worthwhile precaution. Coverage should include air flights, including charters.

EMERGENCIES

Advise your family that should an emergency arise, they should notify MakeMyTrip to contact you. Our telephone number is 91-124-4395145 and our fax number is 91-124-4395100. Our E-mail address is:ibt@makemytrip.com You should also make a note of the General Emergency Numbers applicable throughout India: Police: 100 / Fire: 101 / Ambulance: 102

MAIL FROM HOME

If you wish to receive mail, give your address as:
C/o MakeMyTrip 103,
Udyog Vihar, Phase-I,
Gurgaon – 122016, Haryana INDIA
Telephone: +91 – 124 – 4395000

Do mention the name of your tour, if you are traveling in a group. Your mail will be held in Delhi until you return. Advise friends and family that mail can take from one to two weeks to reach India. Aerogramme (available from the post office) normally travels faster than other forms of mail. Avoid sending parcels.