Air indigo restricting UK transit passengers?

lon_85

Hi everyone 

I booked a flight to India which is not my normal route as I booked late and its holiday season - I had to book in December to use my leftover leave and now I'm travelling from london - Abu Dhabi on etihad and Abu Dhabi to delhi then Chennai on air indigo 

My question is - I noticed on air indigo website the following message and now I'm slightly concerned: As per extant government regulations, customers are permitted to travel to India from the United Kingdom only on a direct flight. Customers shall not be allowed to travel to India through a transit airport of another country. Hence, all customers travelling from the United Kingdom to India via any other/ third country from where IndiGo operates its flight to India, shall not be permitted to undertake travel on such IndiGo operated flight. All liabilities, penalties, costs, losses arising out of such refusal of carriage by IndiGo or proposed travel, shall be borne solely by the customer. 

I reached out to edreams where I bought the ticket - on chat and they said to contact the airline directly- upon speaking to 2 customer service agents at air indigo they said it should be fine....I'm not sure whether to go with this confirmation or how else to confirm this - does anyone know about this rule that can shed some light? I don't want to be stranded at Abu Dhabi...Thanks!

martindow

What do the UK and Indian government websites say?  I would not rely on edreams for definitive information.

I imagine rules are likely to change at very short notice with the new variant of Covid and maybe it is worth thinking hard about whether to travel at all. 

comeandgo

I would go to the air travel part of Trip Advisor and ask there.

emmajones1976

I see nothing here that says it has to be a direct flight

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india/entry-requirements

Caz3121

I wonder it is related to the new requirements 

• On arrival: On 28 November 2021 the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced that from 1 December 2021 (00.01 hrs IST) there will be additional entry requirements on arrival to India for those travelling from the United Kingdom, after the World Health Organization classified SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.1.529; Omicron) a variant of concern.

Thermal Screening: Travellers will be subjected to thermal screening by health officials in the airport.

Travellers are required to submit a self-paid COVID-19 test on arrival.

Travellers are also required to wait for their test results at the arrival airport before leaving or taking a connecting flight. If the COVID-19 test is negative travellers will be required to home quarantine for 7 days.

A further COVID-19 test is required on the 8th day of arrival in India. If the 8th day test is negative, travellers should self-monitor their health for the next 7 days.

lon_85

It says on the air indigo website:

1. As per extant government regulations, customers are permitted to travel to India from the United Kingdom only on a direct flight. Customers shall not be allowed to travel to India through a transit airport of another country. Hence, all customers travelling from the United Kingdom to India via any other/ third country from where IndiGo operates its flight to India, shall not be permitted to undertake travel on such IndiGo operated flight. All liabilities, penalties, costs, losses arising out of such refusal of carriage by IndiGo or proposed travel, shall be borne solely by the customer

I have travel insurance with nationwide- shall I try to cancel the flight and try re-booking on another airline? Will I be able to get my money back? My flight to Abu Dhabi is on monday 6th im feeling stressed now not sure what to do.....

CKhalvashi

http://airlineshq.com/ticket_offices/indigo/abu_dhabi.htm would likely be a good place to start. I don't own this website and can't be responsible for the correctness of information.

Airlines are allowed to set regulations above and beyond those of government requirements, so you must meet the eligibility requirements for your flight and won't be able to benefit from UK/EU legislation in this case as your flight doesn't touch these territories and isn't handled by a carrier of either.

eirewrew

Hi,

I am in the same situation. not sure what to do. 

Did you actually managed to transit through UAE in the end?. 

thanks and advance. 

TadleyBaggie

The OP hasn't logged on since December. 

CKhalvashi

eirewrew said:

Hi,

I am in the same situation. not sure what to do. 

Did you actually managed to transit through UAE in the end?. 

thanks and advance. 

As above ultimately it is your responsibility to choose a suitable ticket, but the link posted above may be of help to you.