I took a Udaipur flight from Mumbai during COVID19
Flying during COVID-19 may seem a bit scary and can trigger a lot of questions about safety concerns, airport procedure and being onboard. The lockdown has been quite challenging for everyone and travelling as this particular time has got complex. In this blog, you will find out my personal experience of the Udaipur flight from Mumbai.
It has been over 9-10 months since my last trip to Jodhpur. After a long wait and endless unlocking months have finally planned a trip to Udaipur before this year ends.
Learning about some airlines and airports are making significant safety and hygiene improvements, I quickly planned my Udaipur flight from Mumbai for this Christmas holiday well in advance.
While booking the flights I was still skeptical whether or not I will be able to make it for this trip, as there were many factors involved before travelling like health(No Symptoms), flight schedule, new lockdowns and more. However, this is what the NEW NORMAL is all about.
Boarding a flight in this NEW NORMAL is completely different than your usual style. Hope this blog can help you guys plan your next trip without any hesitation and ensure certain things before you even take a trip.
Maharashtra COVID 19 Airport Rules
Make sure to learn about your source and destination state’s COVID-19 guidelines. Currently People can travel from Mumbai to other states without presenting the RT-PCR negative report or e-pass. Any passenger can travel from Mumbai airport to other Indian states freely provided they pass through the thermal screening and take the precautionary steps.
Read More at: https://csmia.aero/airport-guide/domestic-departures.aspx
Rajasthan COVID 19 Airport Rules
Domestic passengers travelling to Rajasthan do not require any E-pass or registration before landing/arriving. Also, you do not need to present a RT-PCR negative report while you arrive in Rajasthan.
All symptomatic travellers will be tested on arrival at the airports. No quarantine is needed for the asymptomatic passengers, whereas symptomatic passengers will be taken to a health facility for treatment.
My Udaipur flight from Mumbai was booked a month in advance so it is affordable and I have enough time to pre-plan. To be honest, I was really scared of booking the tickets as you cannot predict when a new lockdown might get announced. Rajasthan was the state with minimal limitation for domestic travellers, so picked Udaipur as my last 2020 destination.
My Udaipur flight from Mumbai cost me 4,500 Rs. pp. bought them on www.ixigo.com with an additional 250 Rs. OFF.
Web Check-in is mandatory
The aviation ministry made it mandatory for passengers to do web check-in to lessen touchpoints at the airport amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It is important to take all precautionary measures for a contactless and hassle-free travel experience for all passengers. Web Check-in is available 48 hours and 60 minutes before the departure time. But my personal experience was quite different, In fact even after doing a prior web check-in, at the airline counter I was given my boarding pass.
I chose Vistara airlines for my Udaipur flight from Mumbai as my last experience was pretty good with them.
I quickly went online to their web check-in tab to get myself checked-in and get the best seats. Firstly it asked me to add my PNR details and Surname, after which there was a self declaration form which needed to be acknowledged by me. After sharing my personal details like Name, Number, Mail-ID etc the airlines provided me with the boarding details and the seat number, you can even choose your own seat but for some reason the website was facing some error while I was picking the seat.
If you miss doing a web-check in, simply go to the airline kiosk for a ticket or show your ID and booking confirmation at your airline’s counter at the airport to get a boarding pass.
Download Aarogya Setu App
Aarogya Setu app has been made compulsory for airline passengers as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). If Aarogya Setu app is not available then a self-health declaration form needs to be completed by the passenger at the airport declaring that he/she meets the eligibility criteria for being permitted to travel.
You can download the app from:
Keep checking to see if your area goes from green to red/orange. Make sure to check during the travelling week if you fall in a declared containment zone.
I have been using the Aarogya Setu App from the time it was launched, making sure me and my surroundings are in a safe zone. Make sure that you take care of your health and don’t show any symptoms for COVID-19. Also, even after my Udaipur flight from Mumbai I made sure to keep a track of the zone where I was staying in Udaipur so that I can mark myself safe.
Luggage Tag
Every airline does provide you both an online/app facility to download the Luggage Tag or Fill in a form with your personal details which will be pasted to your luggage. But now printing the luggage tag and pasting from your end is no more mandatory.
As I was travelling from Udaipur flight from Mumbai from Vistara Airlines during the travel date I simply got a luggage tag from the airline counter itself along with my boarding pass. Or you can also go to the airline kiosk to get the luggage tag printed for your bag.
How the Kiosk works:
Add check-in baggage. Enter your PNR/Booking Ref and Last Name in the fields below.
Select number of baggage. Add the number of baggage(s) against the name of each passenger.
Baggage tag generated. Your baggage tag is to be pasted on your baggage before check-in.
Counters and Airport ticketing offices were all barricaded and social distancing markers were there to maintain a safe distance. I personally placed the check-in baggage on the belt to avoid contact. I would suggest trying to limit the luggage to 1 check-in and 1 cabin baggage.
Limit the use of baggage trolleys as far as possible, as my Udaipur flight from Mumbai was accompanied by my husband we decided to take big check-in luggage and two cabin luggage.
Reach Airport 2 hour before departure
State-run Airports Authority of India has directed passengers-to reach the airport 2 hours before departure. In its standard operating procedures (SoPs), it is mandatory to follow all the COVID-19 travel guidelines right from getting in the airport till the arrival stage. Make sure to wear your mask before entering the Airport.
How does the entire process work:
- Following the social distancing markings on ground I stood in the queue before the entry gate at the Airport.
- At the entry gate I was asked to show Arogya Setu App status on mobile.
- Post that the official behind the barricades asked me for my verification of Boarding pass and ID proof at the entry gate.
- Moving ahead to temperature screening at the terminal entry, an official behind a transparent screen, wearing PPE scanned me for any COVID symptoms.
- Once I was done with the stage 1 of entry, I quickly walked to the airline counter for my tickets and luggage drop
- At the baggage drop counter the airlines provided with the luggage tagand my boarding pass. Make sure to personally carry the luggage on the belt by the airline counter staff. This process was quite hassle-free and I was quickly allowed to move to the security check.
- Before entering the security check area, I was again asked to scan the boarding pass by a CRPF official.
- For security check, it becomes very complex to follow the rules and maintain social distancing. It was a usual security check where we place our cabin luggage and electronic items for scan and get ourselves scanned too. The boarding pass was not stamped. I was allowed to leave and collect my belongings. Throughout the airport, alternative chairs were marked, for no usage to ensure social distancing.
- Boarding Gate: The ground staff from airlines would check Temperature screening and pass at the boarding gate. They will give you a kit which will contain a mask, face shield, sanitizer. The ones occupying the middle seats were given additional PPE, which included a body cover to remunerate for the necessity of social distancing.
- On boarding the aircraft, all the cabin crew was dressed in full-body PPE. The pilot would welcome you and inform you of the latest COVID-19 updates of the airlines.
My Udaipur flight from Mumbai was pretty decent, it looked scary a little at the start as every individual in the flight was wearing the face mask and the environment had turned out to be frightening.
But after some time eventually, you get used to the scenario and eagerly wait for the flight to arrive at your destination.
The Arrival
After landing at the Maharana Pratap Airport Udaipur, I disembarked from the plane and disposed of the mask, and shield used in the marked bins for biohazardous waste. I followed the yellow markings on the floor to promote social distancing.
After receiving the checked-in baggage there were counters before the exit gate where they asked for our names and our previous 15 days travel history. There was no thermal screening done after my Udaipur flight from Mumbai.
Post that I was free to go and booked a cab at the arrival gate to get a ride to my hotel.
Flying during a pandemic can be quite challenging make sure to follow safety tips:
- Carry your sanitizer and wipes to disinfect the seat, belt and arm rest.
- Minimize mask removal and eliminate consuming food sold by others. Pack snacks and fill your water bottle at a hands-free refilling station in the airport before boarding.
- If you foresee wanting to use the bathroom during a flight, go directly after boarding, before it’s been used by others.
- Once on board, if you see that the flight is not very crowded, request if you can sit in an empty row.
- Bring carry-on luggage alone, to reduce the number of people touching your belongings and the need to wait around at the luggage belt.
- Fly direct, whenever possible. Avoid layovers.
Udaipur flight from Mumbai during the time of COVID-19. Check! Happy Flying.
FAQs
Can flying on an airplane increase my risk of getting COVID-19?
Yes. Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on aeroplanes. However, social distancing is difficult on crowded flights, and you may have to sit near others (within 6 feet), sometimes for hours. This may increase your risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.
Do I need to test before traveling?
It depends on which state you are flying to. Make sure to learn about your destination COVID19 travel rules. Majorly most of the states are now opened for tourism and do not need a test report or undergo 7 days mandatory quarantine.
Is it mandatory to have Aarogya Setu app?
It is not mandatory but highly recommended/advisable for everyone including personnel working at the airport and passengers, to have the Aarogya Setu app installed on their mobile before entering the airport premises.
Is there a COVID-19 testing facility available at the Mumbai Airport for All Domestic Arriving and Departing Passengers?
Yes, there is a Covid-19 (RT-PCR) testing facility available for All Domestic Arriving and Departing Passengers at Level 10 – Departures Area. Below are the details:
- Test results will take up to 24-48 hours for arriving passengers and 8-10 hours for departing passengers and will be sent via email
- Valid ID proof such as Aadhar Card and Passport is a must
- Amount charged for the test is Rs. 850 (as per the rate fixed by the government)
- Payment via cash and digital mode available
- Passengers who test negative will be allowed to continue their journey
- Passengers who test positive will be sent for institutional quarantine in Mumbai
RT-PCR test results take more than 24 hours, then how one can do the test within 72 hours of flight and upload on portal at least 72 hours prior the flight?
Sample for COVID-19 test have to be taken within 72 hours of boarding. If the final report is not available 72 hours prior the flight, passengers shall carry the report and can show it on arrival at the airport. Also, such passengers can apply for exemption online & upload proof of test mentioning that they are waiting for result to arrive.
What are the travel guidelines for passengers arriving on domestic sector flights?
As per the guidelines issued by the Government, asymptomatic passengers arriving on domestic flights require to undergo 14 (fourteen) days of home quarantine. If it is a returning/onward journey within 7 days then no quarantine. Passengers need to show their return/ onward ticket during the thermal screening process. For updated information on quarantine rules for domestic flights, please visit https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/en/covid-19
Recently, Maharashtra Government has announced a mandate COVID-19 negative test for every domestic traveller coming from Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa. The passenger travelling from these states will have to carry an RT-PCR negative test report with them and present it to the authorities on arrival in Mumbai Airport, Maharashtra. Passengers who are not carrying the RT-PCR negative report will have to undergo the test on arrival at the airport at their own cost.
There is a Covid-19 (RT-PCR) testing facility available for All Domestic Arriving and Departing Passengers at Level 10 – Departures Area of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
- Test results will take up to 24-48 hours for arriving passengers and 8-10 hours for departing passengers and will be sent via email
- Valid ID proof such as Aadhar Card and Passport is a must
- The amount charged for the test is Rs. 850 (as per the rate fixed by the government)
Very informative article. Thanks.