3hr airline change in CMB

[BrentH]

Is a 3 hour transit with a change of carrier doable in CMB?

Im flying in from KUL, then back to Australia via SIN on a cheap J with a QF flight number. I'd prefer to spend as little time in CMB, and my choices are either to spend 15 hours there, spend 3 hours in CMB, or fly on a different carrier (not keen on this because they're either expensive or "3rd tier".)

 

[clifford]

Is a 3 hour transit with a change of carrier doable in CMB?

Im flying in from KUL, then back to Australia via SIN on a cheap J with a QF flight number. I'd prefer to spend as little time in CMB, and my choices are either to spend 15 hours there, spend 3 hours in CMB, or fly on a different carrier (not keen on this because they're either expensive or "3rd tier".)

Shouldn't be any problem at all. CMB is a nice, modern, compact little airport (I go there frequently). If you are flying J there should be no need to go land-side, if it's a mainstream airline.

There is a good transfer desk air-side , and they will issue you with a boarding pass. And you will then be able to spend the rest of your time in a nice premium lounge.

BTW, what airline are you flying? Obviously code-share if a QF flight number.

 

[AIRwin]

BTW, what airline are you flying? Obviously code-share if a QF flight number.

My bet is on EK which has 1 daily flight between SIN and DXB via CMB...

 

[BrentH]

My bet is on EK which has 1 daily flight between SIN and DXB via CMB...

Yep!

In a twist of irony, I'm in DXB now... Will be flying from KUL to CMB in Y on MH.

CMB to MEL on QF via BNE and SYD is working out nicely on a 2xSC offer (in J).

 

[benlight]

I've even done a 1 hour transit in CMB with absolutely no issue, with plenty of time to spare in the lounge (although I was flying out on the same plane in that instance)!

The transit desk is only a short stroll from the departure gates, and they should have no problem issuing you with your boarding pass. The EK lounge at CMB opened last year and is excellent, but it might be a bit tricky to find since there was minimal signage when I was there -- once you have your boarding pass, turn around and find the elevator (on the right, just before the pier with departure gates) to bring you to the second floor where the lounge is.

 

[penegal]

Assuming your inbound MH flight is on time, or only a few hours late, you should be fine.

CMB turnarounds are easy. The trick is to never go landslide. The transfer desk are good, although can be a little slow at peak times. I generally check in before I fly the inbound sector (wherever possible).

 

[SQ421]

What penegal suggests (checking in before you get to CMB) works splendidty if doing the turnaround on the same airline.

Having done what you are planning to do, as you walk down the pier, keep an eye out for a massive statue of Buddha (2), the UL transfer desk is directly behind it(3). Arrival (Immigration) is to your left. Have a transit visa organised, but DO NOT clear immigration. The EK lounge(1) is right in the vicinity of the aforementioned statue


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Arrival/Departure gates are down this pier.



The transfer desk will be able to check you in for the EK flight once checkin opens landside. They will need to take your passport (and CC, if applicable) across landside and will return with your boarding pass.


One variable that myself and penegal never had to deal with (as CX doesn't operate its own lounge in CMB) - you might be able to check in in the Lounge, considering it is an EK operated lounge and you are flying EK (albeit as a QF codeshare)

 

[SQ421]

I've even done a 1 hour transit in CMB with absolutely no issue, with plenty of time to spare in the lounge (although I was flying out on the same plane in that instance)!

The transit desk is only a short stroll from the departure gates, and they should have no problem issuing you with your boarding pass. The EK lounge at CMB opened last year and is excellent, but it might be a bit tricky to find since there was minimal signage when I was there -- once you have your boarding pass, turn around and find the elevator (on the right, just before the pier with departure gates) to bring you to the second floor where the lounge is.

1hr transit, same plane, sounds like CX from/to BKK (in which case, hopefully you had your boarding pass for CMB-BKK sector issued before you even got to CMB!)

 

[benlight]

1hr transit, same plane, sounds like CX from/to BKK (in which case, hopefully you had your boarding pass for CMB-BKK sector issued before you even got to CMB!)

Indeed it was! I wasn't able to get the boarding pass in BKK beforehand though despite asking -- on Flyertalk people report mixed success with this, and it seems to depend on how experienced the check-in agent is.

you might be able to check in in the Lounge, considering it is an EK operated lounge and you are flying EK (albeit as a QF codeshare)

Might be worth trying if there's a queue at the transfer desk, since the EK lounge isn't far away (just have to find the right elevator!).

 

[SQ421]

Indeed it was! I wasn't able to get the boarding pass in BKK beforehand though despite asking -- on Flyertalk people report mixed success with this, and it seems to depend on how experienced the check-in agent is.

On my most recent turnaround, the lounge agents in BKK had no idea what to do but the checkin agent at the transit desk was able to sort it out just fine. On prior occasions, lounge agents at HKG have been able to check me in just fine.

Might be worth trying if there's a queue at the transfer desk, since the EK lounge isn't far away (just have to find the right elevator!).

I don't recall there being an elevator involved in getting to the EK lounge whilst in transit in CMB. Much like SIN, the arriving and departing pax walk down the same corridor and the EK lounge is to the left of the pier, kinda-sorta diagonally across from the statue of Buddha near the transit desk.

 

[Jonsykuta]

Hi everyone - my question is pretty much the same regarding transit at CMB. Ill be flying MH SYD-KUL-CMB in J then 3 hr transit and then CMB-SIN-DXB in J/F on QF operated by EK of course. Not sure if I should check my bags from SYD all the way to DXB or go thru immigration at CMB grab bags and check in for EK flights? Just nervous about tagging my bags that far and for a long period of time - and nervous about the transit in CMB. I have applied for the visa in CMB. Can anyone recommend and give me some advice? Cheers

 

[ermen]

Hi everyone - my question is pretty much the same regarding transit at CMB. Ill be flying MH SYD-KUL-CMB in J then 3 hr transit and then CMB-SIN-DXB in J/F on QF operated by EK of course. Not sure if I should check my bags from SYD all the way to DXB or go thru immigration at CMB grab bags and check in for EK flights? Just nervous about tagging my bags that far and for a long period of time - and nervous about the transit in CMB. I have applied for the visa in CMB. Can anyone recommend and give me some advice? Cheers

Wow is this some sort of status run?
I personally would be relatively comfortable checking through all the way to DXB. But I am not sure if SYD would be able to issue boarding passes all the way to DXB? Anyway assuming you can't do this, then in CMB you can either use the airside transfer desk. I don't forsee any issues with them arranging your BPs + baggages onwards to SIN then DXB.

If you are not comfortable, then by all means go landside - there is sufficient time to do this. BUT be prepared for queues coming back in. CMB airport landside is really strange... security check is before check in counters and there did not seem to be any priority lines last time I checked. So its one big mad line. Also, last time I did a turn around SIN - CMB - SIN. Got told off by immigration for using a transit visa instead of a proper visa (apparently turnarounds do not constitute a transit???). Given you are doing KUL - CMB - SIN should be fine!