Hello, and welcome to the Moon Reading Room. This blog is centered around our family’s first trip to India, a journey that spanned 33 hours from our home on the east coast of America to our destination, Coimbatore in India.

Naturally, we encountered a few challenges along the way, including missing luggage and a missed connecting flight. In this blog, I’ll share some tips for long-haul flights based on my experience. Let’s dive in.

Overall Routes

This marked our inaugural visit to India as a family, and we chose Qatar Airways for our travel. The initial leg of the journey, from our home to JFK, was operated by AA, while the subsequent flights (JFK to DOH, DOH to MAA) were operated by Qatar Airways. Upon reaching MAA, the local airline IndiGo transported us from MAA to Coimbatore.

With us were three large suitcases brimming with gift items.

Challenge with checked-in luggage

On the scheduled departure day, we checked in these three large suitcases. However, due to a delay in the first flight from home to JFK, we were certain we’d miss the connecting flight from JFK to DOH. At the last minute, we decided to reschedule the entire flight for two days later, following the same route. As a result, our three suitcases remained in JFK while we rebooked.

Two days later, we embarked on the same itinerary, hoping our checked-in luggage from two days prior would meet us at our final destination. Airline staff assured us the bags would accompany us. Fingers crossed.

ORF -> JFK

The flight to JFK proceeded on schedule. I was eager to make use of the lounge at JFK. However, the lounges available were in Terminal 4, while we were in Terminal 8. Exiting the terminal would have required another security check, considering JFK’s size, we opted not to take that risk and instead enjoyed a meal at the food court.

At the gate for the DOHA Qatar Airways flight, we were summoned to the counter for a passport and E-visa check for India. An issue arose with my E-visa; the arrival date coincided with the entry date’s expiration. While this should not have posed an issue, airline staff wanted to verify with the Indian immigration department.

Lesson 1: When applying for an Indian E-visa, wait until 15 days prior to your arrival date. The E-visa process usually takes one or two business days. Rushing to apply is unnecessary.

Lesson 2: If you have checked-in luggage, sticking to the flight itinerary whenever possible can reduce your stress.

JFK -> DOH

Arriving in Doha was exhilarating, opening the doors to a new world. The airport, Hamad International Airport (DOH), continues to impress with remarkable growth in passenger traffic, boasting a 33.5% increase in passenger traffic and 18.1% increase in aircraft movements in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year. source

I was equally thrilled to experience my first lounge. AL MAHA Lounge on Level 2 of Duty Free South provided a relaxing break. To reach the lounge from the Teddy Bear Area, proceed straight ahead and take the lift or escalator on the left. It’s conveniently located near Gates A, B, and C.

DOH -> MAA

While waiting for the flight to Chennai at the gate, I already felt the essence of being in India. 🙂 This was another late-night flight, arriving at 2:30 AM.

I inquired with two more Qatar Airways staff members about the status of our three suitcases. They assured me the suitcases were accompanying us on the flight. However, I tried not to raise my hopes too high.

And there we were, in India! A triumphant arrival!

As we waited in the luggage claim area, we waited a little more. We were the last to remain, but our three suitcases were nowhere to be seen. We proceeded to file a claim for misplaced luggage.

Lesson 3: Keep pictures of your luggage. The claim form will require details such as the brand name, size, material, and color of your luggage.

While awaiting our luggage and filling out the claim form, we realized we had missed the subsequent connecting flight to Coimbatore with IndiGo, the domestic airline. We made the necessary adjustments at the airport, which meant an additional 4-hour wait until 8:30 AM.

At the Chennai airport, the security line was segregated by gender – women and men. This was a new experience for me.

LOUNGE: Travel Club in Chennai

We relished an Indian breakfast at the Travel Club lounge. We discovered this gem on the second floor of domestic Terminal 1.

MAA -> CJB

Finally, we reached Coimbatore! It had been a 33-hour journey from the US to India. We were delighted to meet a friend and head to their home. We are going to have three weeks of travel in India. We look forward to exploring and experiencing the new world of India.

Here are snapshots from our first car ride in India.