The second phase of the Vande Bharat Mission has begun for the repatriation of some 30,000 Indians from 31 countries including USA, Australia, Canada and UAE. With international flight operations continuing to remain suspended because of the lockdown extended till May 31, Indian government’s evacuation flights operated by Air India are the only way for Indians to return home. Most of those who took repatriation flights till date praised the government sky high and said that the whole evacuation process is infallibly systematic and smooth.
The way Air India has been operating the repatriation flights with an understaffed team seems to define the future of air travel post the Novel Coronavirus pandemic, according to the first-hand accounts of special flights to and from India operated in the first phase of the Vande Bharat Mission. The special Air India flights are being operated in absolute compliance with the precautionary guidelines given by the ministry of health and the civil aviation ministry.
Picture Credit: SOS Global Indians | Facebook | Air India
In the first phase of outbound Air India flights for repatriation of Indians stranded abroad, two H4 visa holders with kids traveled from India to USA. One took the flight from Delhi to Chicago, and the other from Delhi to San Francisco. Both of them carried sufficient disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizers so that they could sanitize the whole seating area including seats, tray holders, seat handles, the window and the bassinet for the infant. After the security check at Delhi airport, they were given a small protection kit carrying a shield mask, two surgical masks and a few pouches of sanitizer.
Since blankets are not provided on special flights, which may be continued as a post-COVID19 air travel trend for some time, they made sure to carry a bed sheet and a blanket for use on board. They recommend it for other travelers. Both of the travelers on H4 visa found pre-packed food boxes and water bottles on their seats after they boarded the flight. They also cleaned the food boxes and water bottles with a disinfectant wipe. The food box had a veg roll, an apple, a samosa, a piece of brownie and some cookies. Kitkat, a cupcake, yogurt, and cheese sandwich were packed in the box for kids.
Carrying some snacks in hand bags is advisable, according to their experience of traveling with kids on Air India’s special flights from India to USA. Food outlets were closed at Delhi airport, except a Café Coffee Day and a liquor shop. The scenario is more or less the same at the US airports where people are boarding repatriation flights to India. No retail food outlet was operating at Chicago O’Hare Airport, according to an Indian returnee.
No luxury of inflight services is available on special flights. Inflight entertainment systems were disabled on board. They suggest carrying some reading materials and personal mobile devices loaded with entertainment content. As the travelers flew with a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old, carrying personal devices loaded with children-friendly content was part of their preparation for the special flight.
As special flights to and from India are being operated with limited human resources, helpers may not be there to assist you with kids or bags on ground. They had to fill out health declaration forms twice: before boarding and after landing. Thermal screening of travelers, both departing and arriving, is part of the ‘new normal’ operating procedure at Delhi IGI Airport and the airport in Mumbai. They said that their temperature reading was taken at the time of check-in and before boarding. A traveler other than these two, who traveled from Mumbai to Newark EWR, reported that there was no thermal screening upon arrival. There was neither health checkup nor thermal screening, a preventive measure against COVID19, upon arrival at San Francisco.
Immigration clearance was smooth both in India and USA. They were asked a couple of questions though, like how long they were in India and where they stay in the US. They were advised home quarantine in USA unlike mandatory institutional quarantine for those who repatriated to India from abroad.
Those who are scheduled to travel from and to India in the Vande Bharat Mission phase 2 should reach the airport 4 to 5 hours before the flight departure, as the travelers were able to check in after 1-2 hours of waiting in the long queue during the first phase of the Vande Bharat Mission. Social distancing was strictly maintained on ground, but it was an absolute no on board as middle seats were all booked in economy. There was a little room for social distancing once the boarding gate opened, as people began to rush in.
Those who repatriated to India on special flights from the US, the UK and other countries had more or less the same experience as shared above. They said that there was no extra meal, no in-flight entertainment and no other in-flight service. One traveler of the Chicago to Mumbai flight that was arranged in the Vande Bharat Mission phase 1 opined that patience is critical to having a good experience on special flights operated by the understaffed Air India team in PPE suits.
Wheelchair assistance for senior citizens and passengers having difficulty movement should be requested during or after the booking of Air India’s special flights to and from India. They may not be able to bear the strain of standing in check-in and thermal screening queues for hours. They are advised to request co-passengers to lift bags from the baggage carousel for them, as the airports are operating with limited resources in India.
14-day institutional quarantine is mandatory for all returnees from abroad, irrespective of age. Quarantine facilities vary from budget hotels to five-star hotels in India. Not much information is provided about quarantine before and at the time of booking repatriation flights to India. Upon arrival at the final destination airport in India, a queue is formed for passengers to select quarantine facilities. Once the selection is done, buses are arranged to transfer them to the quarantine facilities. Not more than 14 persons are allowed in a bus. At the quarantine hotels, the throat and nasal swab of the passengers is collected for the mandatory COVID19 test. Some of the passengers reported that they were given snacks en route to their quarantine hotels.
Repatriated Indians have to shell out INR 30,000 to 100,000 rupees depending on hotels they choose. Their passports were collected at the quarantine hotels and will be released upon completion of 14 days in quarantine, according to most of the returnees.
Travel Beats, an overseas Indian community portal, is a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, a leading travel booking partner of Indians in USA. This story is part of our continued effort to report on the latest developments of air travel to and from India amid the COVID19 pandemic. Subscribe to Travel Beats’ free newsletter and like our Facebook page for latest travel updates, OCI news and NRI community stories.
My daughter has Indian passport ; however her baby is just 6 months old having American citizenship. Will she allowed to travel?
Hi Kiran! Indian government still has the same stand regarding the travel of American citizens to India. Most recently, the Ministry of External Affairs hinted at allowing foreign citizens of Indian origin and OCI card holders in the next phases of Vande Bharat Mission. Please watch out our Facebook page for upcoming updates.
My wife has h4 visa valid for good 2yrs (well stamped) and stranded in india with our two minor US citizens. Can she travel via Air India flights as of this moment ??
i would really appreciate.
Hi Kapil! Yes, she can. Please visit the website of Air India for more information regarding this. We are afraid the outbound special flights of Air India are fully booked by now.
Hi – My friends visa is expiring on July 25th, is Air India allowing them to travel to US?
Hi my wife has valid H4 visa stamping for 6 months and valid visa( H4 petition )for 2 years .can I book the air India ticket ?
Hi,
My wife got her H4 visa stamped in March only. Want to know if she can travel from India to US in repatriation flight.
Hi Piyush! Please contact or visit the website of Air India for special flights to USA.
Hi,
My mother is coming back from Germany on 5th June. She is not able to do most of the chores by herself because of age and back problem. Is it possible to get permission to travel to home city from Delhi and quarantine there instead of quarantine in Delhi. ?
She is not famiiar with Delhi at all.
Hi, I read somewhere that for people traveling with infants to India, there is an option of quarantining at home upon arrival at the destination city. Is that valid info or just hearsay?
Hi Datta! 7-day institutional quarantine is mandatory for every returnee from abroad, as per the latest reports.
I was harassed at the mumbai airport for a bribe and when I refused to pay made to discard my blankets etc which I was entitled to carry on board.
Why so high fare for Indian citizens? mercilessness to citizens in distress. Horrible restriction in democracy. I want to travel from Houston to Vadodara where would be my quarantine?
Hi,
My husband is having L1 visa and i am having L2 visa. We have booked the ticket under vande bharat mission phase 5.
We would like to know what can we purchase extra baggage. Is it allowed ?
Do we need to carry any medical documents?
Hi, my mother 80+ years in India wish to see me. Has been having some health issues. This so – called compelling reasons on Indian embassy site does not include anything for seeing elderly parents/family in India. Am I eligible to fly VBM?
These additional 180 almost daily flights to and from USA to different cities in India…..are they really repatriation only for those who has compelling reasons to fly to India? Their compelling list really restricts many who have elderly parents in India. Many wish to go and see their parents when alive.
As far as we know, the compelling reasons are relaxed.
My family in India, H4 visa validity up to Sep 6, 2020, are they eligible to travel in the 1st or 2nd week of August.
Hi Prem! Not sure. Please check with Air India/United Airlines or the embassy.
Hi,
Is a hot meal provided in AI flight from Mumbai to EWR? I have a flight to EWR on 20/08/20.
Currently, hot meals are not being served on board.
Sir,
Could you please provide information on Wheel Chair availability at Delhi International Airport in the current COVID situation. My old parents flying from Hyderabad – Delhi – JFK and they need Wheel Chair. Will be of great help if you have any information on how frequent the wheel chair accessibility is available or if any of these services were effected.. Without wheel chair they will definitely lose the flight.
HI Sul! You can contact the airlines operating this itinerary and request them to provide wheelchair service to your parents. If it is Air India, you can use Air India’s payable ‘Namaskar Sewa’ service for your parents’ hassle-free airport experience from entry to boarding. For more information, please check https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/air-india-namaskar-sewa/
Thank you very much for the information. Much appreciate your help.
Hi, this is Tushar here,
I am travelling from mumbai to chicago usa on 27th march by air india.
Is there covid-19 RT PCR negative test report mandatory to carry?
What about quarantine rules once i arrived at chicago?
I guess air india route is mumbai to delhi and delhi to chicago.
Whats the covid-19 rules and regulations at delhi?
Hi Tushar! Delhi’s COVID guidelines do not apply to you because you are an outbound traveler. As per the mandate for travelers flying into the USA, you must take an RT-PCR/antigen test within 3 days of your departure from Mumbai Airport. As of now, international arrivals are advised self-quarantine for 10 days in the USA.