Immigration and Customs Process for Air India SFO-BLR Flights

Traveling on Air India from San Francisco (SFO) to Bengaluru (BLR) with a layover in Delhi (DEL) involves specific immigration and customs procedures. Understanding these processes is crucial for a smooth journey.

Layover in Delhi: International Transit Area

When you fly Air India SFO-BLR with a layover in Delhi, you will only need to go through immigration at your final destination, Bengaluru (BLR). During your layover in Delhi, you will remain in the international transit area and will not need to clear immigration there. This means that your baggage will be available, and you can continue your journey without any hassle.

Immigration in Bengaluru (BLR)

Once you arrive in Bengaluru, you will go through immigration and customs procedures at the BLR airport. It is essential to bring all necessary documents, such as your passport and visa, ready for this process. The BLR airport is an international hub, and both Delhi and Bengaluru are international airports, meaning they have their own customs clearance systems.

Changes at Delhi Airport

In your layover at Delhi, there may be a change of equipment from a Boeing 777-200LR to an Airbus A320neo. This sector acts as an international connector, departing from the international side at Delhi and arriving at the international terminal of BLR. Therefore, immigration will take place at BLR, where you will complete your customs and immigration formalities.

Depending on Your Flight

Whether you need to do customs and immigration in Delhi or Bengaluru depends on your specific flight situation. If you are connecting to BLR by a hub-and-spoke flight with a flight number starting with zero and leaving from the international side at Delhi Airport, you can clear customs and immigration at BLR. This is because hub-and-spoke flights are typically used to facilitate passengers traveling to India and further into the interior points of India.

Alternatively, if you have checked baggage to BLR and are not coming out of Delhi Airport, you can get your immigration done at BLR. This rule applies if your flight is purely domestic and leaves from the domestic side of Delhi Airport. You will need to do customs and immigration at Delhi in this case, as per the rule that you must do these processes at first point of entry into the country.

Conclusion

For Air India SFO-BLR flights with a layover in Delhi, your main point of immigration will be at the final destination, Bengaluru (BLR). However, the specific procedures can vary based on the airline's routing and the nature of the connecting flight. Always check with Air India or your travel agent for the most accurate information before your trip.