Layovers at an airport are a common phenomenon. If you have ever had connecting flights then you must have witnessed the conundrum of layovers. Flight delays and the time gap between connecting flights often results in brief spells of free time at the airport.
Not everyone has the plan to utilize their free time with pre-determined things which leads to the boring idea of waiting for long hours in the lobby area sitting and doing nothing. So next time you book international flights to India from USA, keep track of the layover time for better reasons.
If you ever are hauled in for a long layover with a lot of time at hand then the idea may have crept into your mind of leaving the airport and exploring the city for a while.
Everyone has encountered layovers at some point of time in their life as it saves some money on one’s journey. International flights to india from USA sometimes come with long layovers at various airports. You can catch up with an old friend in the city or check out a beautiful lounge and bar if ever you are presented with an opportunity to move out of the airport for the time being.
This blog helps you out in knowing the rules and exact procedures regarding whether you are allowed to slip out of the airport for the layover time or not.
Leaving an airport during a layover on a domestic flight
Yes, it is perfectly legitimate to slip out of the airport during a layover on a domestic flight. There are no documents or permissions required for doing the same. The only condition is you have to take out the luggage with you.
The problem arises when the layover is of short duration. Moving out of the airport would mean going through the whole procedure of checking in and security again which again is cumbersome and takes time. So plan accordingly. Do check cheap flights to india from USA from tripbeam for amazing offers and no layover flights.
One better approach is to reserve two hours for checking-in and security purposes and plan the remaining for an outdoor stroll. If the layover is very short then it is advisable to keep yourself limited to the airport lobby only.
Leaving the airport during an international layover
Some countries actually allow passengers to actually move out of the airport without a proper visa while some don’t if you don’t have a valid visa. Then you have to stay inside the premises of an airport.
One thing you can do to bypass this rule is to apply for a transit visa beforehand or at the moment, then you can easily move out of the airport for a specific time.
Normally the validity of a transit visa is of 36 hours. If the connecting flights are evenly spaced for a long duration then you should definitely apply for a transit visa. And if you have 8-9 hours only then it is not advisable to move out as moving back with the security apparatus will eat into your already deficient time. For non-stop flights, you can check best travel offers from tripbeam.
Important things to consider before leaving an airport
Calculate your time wisely
Calculate and keep track of your time minutely. The actual time we spend on an activity is always larger than the time we would think in our heads due to added constraints. You will need time to get off the plane and then collect the baggage and then moving out of the airport. Picking a taxi and heading for a location and then coming back. Please make adequate room for traffic delays and other unwanted waste of time. The charm of moving out and enjoying the day out depends on how efficiently you can plan.
The problem with the luggage on a long layover
Check with the airline whether they are going to transfer your checked bag from one flight to the next or not. If not and you have a long layover then head for the luggage lockers. Airports seldom come with luggage lockers so you have to look outside. Train stations are a good place to find lockers for baggage else you can try out hotel locker rooms.
If the layover is in another country
The major problem with a layover in another country is that you have to go through customs and immigration again which is a cumbersome and time-eating process. It can be a 10-minute process or it can take hours, you never know you are in for what. While in the same country you only have to go through only security and not customs. Tripbeam offers without any layovers the best international flights from india to USA. claim them now.
Is a visa required for a layover?
Some countries require a visa to cross the border of the country. You need to have a visa for these countries. Some countries do offer the option of visa on arrival for passengers. You can easily avail of a transit visa beforehand to avoid the last-minute unnecessary hustle.
We hope the article shed a light on the dilemma regarding entry and exit from an airport during a layover and it has answered some of the questions regarding the free time at airports.
