Mumbai Airline Crew Layover Guide
Reviewed by Captain AL
Crew car rental deal ↓Hotel deals ↓
The BOM crew card
| Into town | Mumbai Metro Line 3, the Aqua Line, runs underground from the CSMI Airport T2 station into South Mumbai. The operator’s fare calculator prices CSMI-Airport T2 to Churchgate Metro at INR 70 over 26.353 km, and to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Metro at INR 60 over 24.523 km. It publishes no journey time for any pair |
|---|---|
| First and last train | The metro operator publishes line-level times only: first train from Aarey JVLR at 05:55, last train from Cuffe Parade at 22:30. No first or last train time is published for either airport station. Ticket counters close 10 minutes before the last train |
| Payments | An NCMC card gives contactless entry at all Line 3 stations. Without one, buy a paper QR ticket at the ticket counter or a Ticket Vending Machine, or buy online through the operator’s website or app. The machines accept INR notes only, so do not count on plastic at the gate |
| Tap water | Not safe from the tap |
| Emergency | 112 (112 is the national all-in-one number, and India runs several parallel lines alongside it: the Ministry of Tourism’s own emergency page lists 100, 101, 102, 104, and 108 as current at the same time. Read the scopes on this card, they matter in Mumbai. 112 is the integrated all-services number. For an ambulance dial 108, NOT 102: the Maharashtra health department states 102 is a maternal and child referral service operational everywhere except Mumbai. For women’s assistance the state police gives 103 in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, while 1091 is the number for the rest of Maharashtra.) |
| Solo & at night | Prepaid taxi counters run at both terminals, and the airport also lists app cabs and metered auto rickshaws. Government of Canada advice for India is to use officially marked taxis or pre-paid transport services at the airport, to avoid travelling alone especially at night, and not to share taxis with strangers |
| Crew knows | An auto rickshaw cannot take you to South Mumbai. The airport states they run only in the suburbs, Borivali to Bandra in the west and up to Sion in the central region, so Colaba, Fort, and Nariman Point sit outside their range. Metro Line 3 is the one link from the terminals that reaches them without a road leg, at INR 70 from Terminal 2 to Churchgate. |
| Crew deals | Verified car rental and hotel rates for airline staff: on this page, right below this guide. |
airlinecrewdiscount.net · BOM crew card · Checked Aug 2026 · Next check Nov 2026 · Screenshot this card for offline
Every number on this page comes from an official source. Where no official source gives a number, we say so instead of guessing.
Flying into BOM again? Add this page to your home screen (or Ctrl+D / Cmd+D), and skip working this out at 23:40 next time.
Getting from Mumbai Airport into the city: Metro Line 3, a prepaid taxi, or an auto rickshaw?
Two facts shape every trip out of BOM. The airport sits in the northern suburbs, and what most crew mean by Mumbai, meaning Colaba, Fort, and Nariman Point, is more than 25 km south of it on the metro operator’s own alignment distances. Metro Line 3 is the only link that runs from the terminals themselves into South Mumbai without a road leg, and that stretch of it is underground.
👉 Swipe sideways to see the full table
| Mode | Time | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro (Line 3, Aqua Line) | not published by the operator; its fare calculator returns no journey time for any station pair Monday to Friday 5 min in the peaks (8 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 7 PM) and 7 min off-peak; Saturday 7 min peak and 8 min 30 sec off-peak; Sunday a flat 9 min |
INR 70 to Churchgate Metro, INR 70 to Cuffe Parade, INR 70 to Vidhan Bhavan, INR 70 to Hutatma Chowk, INR 60 to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Metro, INR 50 to Dadar Metro, INR 30 to Bandra-Kurla Complex, all from CSMI-Airport T2 | The line runs 33.5 km with 27 stations from Aarey JVLR to Cuffe Parade, 26 of them underground, and the operator lists its status as Normal Service. Both airport terminals have their own station, CSMI Airport-T1 and CSMI-Airport T2. At the T2 station the operator lists gates A1 and A2 as open with location Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport-T2, and gate B1 as closed. For a station that is not listed, use the operator’s own fare calculator. |
| Prepaid taxi | no fare, fare table, or estimate is published by the airport or by any reachable transport authority | The airport states that prepaid taxi services are available at the domestic and international terminals and that private taxi services have counters in the arrival area. Government of Canada advice for India is to use officially marked taxis or pre-paid transport services at the airport, to negotiate fares in advance or insist that the driver use the meter because you may be overcharged, and not to share taxis with strangers. Book at the counter and take the printed slip rather than agreeing a price on the kerb. | |
| App cab and fleet taxi | app-priced; the airport publishes no fare | At Terminal 2 the booking zone is on the Arrival Level and Level 1, and most app cab pick-ups are at Level 1 Ground transportation, Multi-level car park P4, with Uber Black and Uber XL at Level 2 Arrival west, Multi-level car park P6. At Terminal 1 the booking zone and pick-up zone are both on the Arrival Level. Road time is the variable here: Government of Canada advice for India records severe traffic congestion, and that driving conditions may be hazardous during the rainy season with some roads impassable. Naming limitation: the operator’s page renders only Alyte, Uber Black and Uber XL as text. The other brand names are readable only from logo image filenames with empty alt attributes, and the page carries further partners beyond the ones commonly listed, so treat any brand list as partial. One service picks up at the multi-level car park P7 West rather than P4. | |
| Auto rickshaw | metered; the airport states a fare chart is available in all auto rickshaws and that passengers should pay according to the metre reading | Read the geography before you pick this one. The airport states that auto rickshaws operate only in Mumbai’s suburbs, from Borivali to Bandra in the west and up to Sion in the central region, so an auto cannot take you to Colaba, Fort, or Nariman Point. They are available at both terminals. | |
| BEST bus to the suburban rail stations | not published; BEST sets concession rules but prints no fare table for these routes, so keep small notes ready and confirm the fare on board | Route 312 runs from Terminal 1 to Vile Parle (East) and Andheri (East) railway stations. From Terminal 2, Route 321 goes to Vile Parle (East) and Route 308 to Andheri (East). Those two stations are the nearest suburban rail, Vile Parle (East) for the domestic terminal and Andheri (East) for the international terminal. The airport also lists luxury air-conditioned buses connecting Thane, Andheri, BKC, Navi Mumbai, and Colaba, but links them to a private operator and publishes no fare or timetable. |
Best Areas for Crew Stays in Mumbai, from Andheri beside the airport down to Colaba and Fort
Colaba, Fort, and Nariman Point: The southern tip and the postcard Mumbai most crew picture, sitting at the far end of the metro line from the airport.
Bandra: Sea-facing streets, cafes, and shopping roughly halfway between the airport and the old city.
Bandra-Kurla Complex: The planned business district, glassy and quiet once the offices empty, and the first of the city stops the metro reaches from the airport.
Andheri and Sahar: The working neighbourhood wrapped around the airport itself, and where the airport hotel belt sits.
Dadar: The middle of the island city where the rail lines meet, busy at almost any hour and a natural halfway stop.
What to Do on a Mumbai Layover, and Why It Starts with Your India Visa
Under 5 hours: Stay airside. The airport itself recommends allowing at least 3 to 4 hours for an international connection and 2 to 3 hours for a domestic one, especially if you are changing terminals, which leaves nothing worth spending. Leaving also needs a valid India visa, which is a hard gate rather than a preference.
5 to 9 hours: Enough for one anchored move if you hold a valid India visa: the metro south to a single station, one neighbourhood on foot, then the same line back. Fix the return train before you leave the platform, because the operator publishes no first or last train time for the airport stations and the ticket counters shut 10 minutes before the last train.
9 hours plus: Realistic for South Mumbai proper, Colaba and Fort, with a meal, still on one metro line each way. Give the return leg more room than the distance suggests if you plan any part of it by road.
Crew Tips for Mumbai and CSMIA: the visa gate, the cash-only ticket machines, and the terminal transfer
You cannot leave the airport without an India visa: This is the one that ends layover plans at BOM. The airport’s own transit guide states you may exit only if you have a valid visa for India and sufficient layover time, and that you must complete all immigration and customs formalities before re-entering. Check the visa before you plan anything landside, not after.
T1 and T2 are a journey, not a walk: The airport runs a complimentary inter-terminal coach between Terminal 1 (domestic) and Terminal 2 (international), available 24/7 with departures every 25 minutes. Its two published pick-up points are the arrival exit towards Departure Gate 2, and Level 1 Ground Transportation Level (P4), but the operator’s own two pages assign those to opposite terminals, so follow the airport’s inter-terminal coach signage or ask staff rather than trusting a printed location. Metro Line 3 also links the two, CSMI Airport-T1 to CSMI-Airport T2, priced at INR 20 over 2.675 km.
Paying for the metro with no rupees and no Indian SIM: Ticket Vending Machines accept INR notes only. Paper QR tickets for single and return journeys are sold at the ticket counter and at the machines, and tickets can also be bought through the operator’s website and app. A single journey ticket is valid 30 minutes before you enter the paid area and 2 hours after. An NCMC card gives contactless entry at every Line 3 station and works across Lines 3, 2A, and 7, but the operator’s list of stations that issue NCMC cards does not include either airport station, so do not count on buying one on arrival.
Airport Wi-Fi without a local number: The network is #MumbaiAirportWiFi and the airport describes it as unlimited free Wi-Fi. The normal route sends a one-time password by SMS to a local or international mobile number. If you have no SIM and no roaming, go to an Information Desk or a Wi-Fi Kiosk with your passport and they issue a password; the airport states the identity check is a mandatory Department of Telecommunications requirement. Kiosks are listed at Level 2 Arrival near Gate B and the international information desk near belt 8, on Level 3 domestic near gates 42 and 50, on Level 4 departure near the information desks at gates 3 and 4, and on Level 4 international near gates 48, 67, and 74.
Left luggage and who to call: The airport publishes a Cloak Room and Left Luggage contact for each terminal: +91 9619023052 for Terminal 1 and +91 9619020490 for Terminal 2. It publishes no opening hours and no price for either, so call before you build a plan around dropping bags. The airport’s 24 hour helpline is 1800-572-111111.
Never time a road trip by the distance: The airport is in the northern suburbs and South Mumbai is more than 25 km away, but distance is not what decides the trip. Government of Canada advice for India records severe traffic congestion, roads including major highways poorly maintained, and driving conditions that may be hazardous during the rainy season with some roads impassable. No official source publishes a road journey time from BOM to the city, so treat any figure you are quoted at the kerb as a guess and take the metro if the clock matters.
Emergency Numbers for Mumbai, Maharashtra, and India
👉 Swipe sideways if the numbers do not fit
| National emergency number (all services) | 112 |
| Women’s assistance, Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra State Police) | 103 |
| Police | 100 |
| Fire | 101 |
| Free maternal and child referral transport, NATIONAL number. The Maharashtra health department states it does NOT operate in Mumbai, so do not dial it for an ambulance here | 102 |
| Medical helpline | 104 |
| Ambulance and emergency medical service (Maharashtra Emergency Medical Service) | 108 |
| Women’s helpline, NATIONAL. Maharashtra State Police scopes 1091 to the rest of the state and gives 103 for Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai | 1091 |
| Tourist helpline (Ministry of Tourism) | 1363 |
| Crime Stopper / senior citizen line (officially labelled both ways, see notes) | 1090 |
| Airport Police Station, Terminal 1 | +91 22 26156315 |
| Sahar Police Station, Terminal 2 | +91 22 26817485 |
| CSMIA 24 hour airport helpline | 1800-572-111111 |
| India country code (calling from abroad) | +91 |
| Mumbai disaster management (MHO) | 1916 |
Save these before you fly; numbers work from any phone.
How do I get from Mumbai airport to the city?
Take Mumbai Metro Line 3, the Aqua Line, from the CSMI Airport T2 station. It is underground the whole way and runs 33.5 km with 27 stations from Aarey JVLR to Cuffe Parade. The operator’s fare calculator prices CSMI-Airport T2 to Churchgate Metro at INR 70 over 26.353 km and to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Metro at INR 60 over 24.523 km. It publishes no journey time. Prepaid taxis, app cabs, and metered auto rickshaws also serve both terminals, but auto rickshaws are limited to the suburbs and cannot take you to South Mumbai.
Can I leave Mumbai airport during a layover?
Only with a valid India visa. The airport’s transit guide states you may exit only if you have a valid visa for India and sufficient layover time, and that you must complete all immigration and customs formalities before re-entering. It recommends allowing at least 3 to 4 hours for an international connection and 2 to 3 hours for a domestic one, especially if you are changing terminals.
How do I get between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at Mumbai airport?
The airport runs a complimentary inter-terminal coach, available 24/7 with departures every 25 minutes. Its two published pick-up points are the arrival exit towards Departure Gate 2 and Level 1 Ground Transportation Level (P4), but the airport’s own pages assign those to opposite terminals, so follow the inter-terminal coach signage or ask staff. Metro Line 3 also connects the two terminals, CSMI Airport-T1 to CSMI-Airport T2, at INR 20 over 2.675 km.
Is tap water safe to drink in Mumbai?
No, not from the tap. Government of Canada advice for India is boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation treats the supply to IS 10500:2012 before distribution, but its Environment Status Report 2024-2025 records an average of 0.46 percent of drinking water samples across the 24 wards as unsafe that year, with B Ward at 3.2 percent. Use sealed bottled water.
What time does the Mumbai airport metro stop running?
The operator publishes line-level times only: the first train runs from Aarey JVLR at 05:55 and the last from Cuffe Parade at 22:30. No first or last train time is published for either airport station. Ticket counters close 10 minutes before the last train, and the operator states refunds are not possible if you miss it, though it adds that customer care will handle emergency situations.
Spotted a change? Tell us and we fix it for the next crew.
Crew Discounts in Mumbai: verified car rental and hotel rates for airline staff sit right below this guide. Bookmark this page before you head down to the metro. Next Mumbai rotation you start on the rates instead of from scratch.
