Goa Flights

Some weeks before leaving Sweden I bought a plane ticket from Aurangabad to Goa (via Mumbai where I changed planes). I bought the ticket through Jet Airways website and it was Rs 5359 for the 22nd of June 2010.

I had asked at the hotel how much an auto rickshaw to the airport was and the man told me Rs 250. I thought it was too much so I walked down to the street opposite the Railway Station to take a metered auto rickshaw. The first rickshaw driver I asked didn’t want to go by meter but said the price was Rs 100 and I accepted that at once. It took about 20 minutes to the airport.

I arrived 1.5 hours before departure and so early there were very few people at the airport, even if my flight was not the first to leave Aurangabad that morning. Well, it seemed that many people were quite late. As you enter the airport building the luggage you will check in is screened before you leave it at the check in desk. In the departure hall there were two places where to buy snacks and coffee, but unfortunately they only had coffee with milk so I decided to wait.

We were 40 minutes late leaving Aurangabad and 1h 20 minutes late to Mumbai (we were not allowed to land first). The flight was supposed to take only 45 minutes, but even if it was delayed I had some time before the connection flight to Goa. I asked for the way to my connecting flight and was directed to Terminal B. I went through security and sat down at a cafe to have coffee and sandwich for breakfast. Food had only been sold on the plan from Aurangabad. When it started to be short of time I went to look for the right gate. It turned out I was in the wrong terminal and had to hurry to Terminal A. I stood in a second queue to go through security and started to feel worried I would miss my plane. Arriving at the gate nothing was written on the sign and no one seemed to know anything. Well, I soon found out I was at the right gate but we were delayed. Half an hour late we left Mumbai for Goa. On this flight, that took an hour, food was served.

In Goa the checked in luggage arrived quickly and I went outside the terminal to a booth for prepaid taxis and took a taxi to Arambol for Rs 980 (June 2010).

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Goa airport (GOI) is a small, but crowded airport with both domestic and international flights. The airport is located in Dabolim, less than 30 kms from the city Panaji. The distance to the nearest beach in the north is 45 kms.

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(Airport Code: GOI)

Dabolim airport is Goa's only airport; a military/naval airport that also handles commercial flights. Renovations & expansion is expected to be completed some time in 2007.

We arrived with Jet Airways from Mumbai. For such a tiny airport, security truly is impressive. Once outside, India partially "hits" and partially embraces you:
Immigration, passport control and luggage services take their time... try to relax and not get annoyed: you're on holiday, so you're probably not in that much of a hurry, am I right?

Outside the terminal, there will be numerous guys wanting to help you with your bags, and of course there are numerous (rather expensive) airport taxis. We had a pick-up arranged by our hotel, so we avoided the initial arrival-hassle and were glad about it.

The toilets? Well... again, you've just arrived in a small airport in India, so don't expect too much (and bring your own paper towels!)

Upon departure, we were surprised to see a rather nice smoking room (most international airports have disgustingly yellow-stained smoking rooms, in a bid to seemingly discourage smokers) where you can spend a pleasant 30-45 min before boarding the plane.

Some internal flights in India can be very expensive for tourists, so check prices before you plan your route, eg: only one airline fly from Goa to Cochin ( its a one hour flight) and they quote me almost 16,000 Indian Rupees return ( they work out price in USD), And then I will still have to pay extra for an agent to book the flight

If you are travelling to Goa from other parts of India check these links out:

www.indian-airlines.nic.in

www.jetairways.com

www.airsahara.net

www.airdeccan.net

www.kingfisher.com

www.spicejet.com

If its your first time..

Arrivals: You walk off the tarmac...then immigration...which can be slow...then downstairs...to get your bags...don't rush for a trolley...its only 50 yards to be outside! There's now an ATM so you can change money. If you are on a package tour...there will be reps..and a coach...but its slow...you'll probably wait an hour...at least...before you leave. There is a taxi service...only costs about 6 pounds to most rseorts...or less!

Departures:

Once you are checked in...DON'T go through to the departure lounge...theres nothing there! Wander around...find a bar...allow yourself an hour to eventually go through...its chaotic...but you'll make the flight!

Flights from all major Indian Cities land at Dabolim airport near Vasco Da Gama.

Small and pretty town with lot of Architectural Houses and Beautiful churches.