CMB transit

[cmon0005]

Hi all,

Just wanting to find out what peoples experiences were with transiting between flights at Colombo (CMB) airport.

I am flying Sri Lankan SIN-CMB in J then Qatar airways CMB-DOH in J with a gap of a couple of hours between flights.

-Is the transit experience good or chaotic?
-Do they have split departure/arrivals levels like some airports or is it all one leve?
Any other experiences or tips on transit here would be appreciated as I am travelling with an infant and hoping it will be quick and trouble free! wishful thinking maybe?

 

[smit0847]

This should answer all your questions: http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/05/27/review-srilankan-serendib-lounge-colombo-airport/

 

[mushez]

Assuming you know you need to apply online for a free ETA transit visa to transit in CMB.

Experiences - it is a interesting place to go/transit, with the arrivals duty free stores swapping booze for white wear and people picking up their new fridge or washing machine prior to picking up their checked bags and passing through customs.

-Is the transit experience good or chaotic? - it is interesting, it isn't chaotic. Arrivals and departures mix just like you do in Singapore so when you arrive you mingle with all the departure people prior to customs. There is only one main gangway with 5 aero bridges on both sides. You could go and request your bags get collected and retagged so you don't have to go landslide. If you do go landslide, once you have collected your bags, it should only take 5-10 minutes and you are over at the departures area.


-Do they have split departure/arrivals levels like some airports or is it all one leve? - There are levels, but arrivals and departures are on a single level and are actually different buildings that are interconnected. You come outside to the kerb at arrivals and turn right and you have a outside open air across the carpark stroll for around 50 meters to then get to the departures building.


Any other experiences or tips on transit here would be appreciated as I am travelling with an infant and hoping it will be quick and trouble free. - Well if you ask for them to retag your bags and that does happen - that would be the best option - but if you go through the rechecking in process expect an experience you will probably not get anywhere else.

When you get to departures they body scan and pat you down, but do nothing with your bags to let you in the building.

Then you walk 100mts into the building down the corridor to then have all your bags checked but not your person - before then going to check in counters.

Then immigration

Then normal aviation screening at the gate where your standard LAGS etc apply and they do require you to take off your shoes and have them x-rayed.

 

[cmon0005]

Assuming you know you need to apply online for a free ETA transit visa to transit in CMB.

I wasnt aware of this, I just want to connect between 2 flights, I don't want to leave the airport do I still need a transit visa there? I'll look it up anyway just to make sure, but if they do require it that will be a first needing a transit visa to connect to another flight.

 

[defurax]

I wasnt aware of this, I just want to connect between 2 flights, I don't want to leave the airport do I still need a transit visa there? I'll look it up anyway just to make sure, but if they do require it that will be a first needing a transit visa to connect to another flight.

You don't need the ETA if you are not going through immigration. CMB is like SIN, security is at the gate. So if you already have your BP for your other flight just walk straight to your departure gate.

 

[Austman]

I wasnt aware of this, I just want to connect between 2 flights, I don't want to leave the airport do I still need a transit visa there? I'll look it up anyway just to make sure, but if they do require it that will be a first needing a transit visa to connect to another flight.

You don't need anything. Just arrive, go to the lounge (you are J-class and OWE), relax there and then depart. It's just like SIN, you won't have to go through any passport control provided your bags are through checked. Final security is done at each gate.