Lounge at Mumbai? (and Indian tips)

I’m heading to India on business in a couple of weeks time. I can’t find any reference on the VS site about a lounge at Mumbai. Is there a Virgin one or are there any other recommendations?

The flight home (BOM-LHR) leaves at 02:35, so it would be handy to have somewhere to hang around long after I have been chucked out of my hotel.

Its my first time in India, so any other hints or tips very gratefully received.

Thanks

Martin

I think it is a shared lounge. There is a list of them on the VS website. It should also say on the Mumbai airport page in the airport guides section,

I’m heading to India on business in a couple of weeks time. I can’t find any reference on the VS site about a lounge at Mumbai. Is there a Virgin one or are there any other recommendations?

The flight home (BOM-LHR) leaves at 02:35, so it would be handy to have somewhere to hang around long after I have been chucked out of my hotel.

Its my first time in India, so any other hints or tips very gratefully received.

Thanks

Martin

I lived in Mumbai on/off for two years in 2007/2008.....back then it was a shared lounge for VS and I still think it is today. As I left Mumbai in November 2008 the whole airport was under going a bit of a make over.....not sure how far it got.

I lived at the Renaissance hotel and apartments at Powai lake. How long are you in the city for, as I can certainly make some recommendations. I simply fell in love with India and its people and though a massive city, I really liked Mumbai, such a fascinating city......

Jon

Not flown out of Mumbai only in but if anything like Delhi it will be a shared lounge. I tend to use Delhi as the International terminal is far more pleasant than the clapped out heap that is Mumbai.
Be prepared for normal Indian officialdom and showing your passport every 20 metres, make sure you have new baggage tags on all hand luggage after checking in, for security to put their rubber stamps on after they have gone through the scanners, these are checked before you board. There is no uniformity on what you have to take out of your hand baggage to get though the scanners.
I regularly fly out of Pune, a shared military airport and in the past I have had to have everything electrical out of the bag, wires, chargers the lot plus pens and coins, took 30 minutes to get through on may last trip.

I have the joy of Mumbai flying virgin upperclass every 6 weeks. The lounge is a shared one (sorry cant remeber its name) and to be honest is pretty shocking. At best it's somewhere to sit down away from everyone, but by UK standards its terrible..

Thanks for the repsonses guys.

@Jon - I'm in Mumbai for 5 nights, with a day trip to Delhi. I should have the last day, Saturday free to do something interesting/touristy.

@markna - thanks for the fore-warning about officialdom. I have heard that from a few places. Good job I'm the patient philosophical type

The lounge is a shared one and to be honest is pretty shocking.

@Nick - "a shocking shared lounge" is what I expected, but I'm ever the optimist.

I also mailed the Flying Club and this is what they said. So the offical line is there is no lounge at Mumbai.

Dear Mr ....

Thank you for your enquiry.

It's great to see you'll soon be travelling with us!

We don't have a Clubhouse or a shared lounge for the use of Virgin Atlantic passengers in Mumbai unfortunately.

I would advise you to ask the airport staff when checking in if there are any lounges that you can access on the day.

If you do require any further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us again or call our Customer Service team on 08448 747 747, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Thank you for contacting Virgin Atlantic, we look forward to welcoming you onboard.

Kind regards

.... ....
Contact Centre Customer Service Team

Martin, it all depends on where about's in the city you are staying in terms of what is reasonable to do. I lived in Powai which was about 30mins from the international airport and to get down to South Mumbai use to take around 2hrs on a Saturday....I would recommend a visit to the Gateway of India and then maybe a cocktail in the Taj hotel across the road and if the seas are not too rough......maybe a boat out to elephanta Island.....which is worth a look.

Obviously it's monsoon season so everything does take longer in the heavy rains.

In the Colaba area some interesting markets to pickup some hand carved items.....likewise a cocktail watching any sunset you get at Juhu at the JW Marriott hotel is worth enjoying.

Obviously time is precious so PM if you need any recommendations or further tips, but I am sure your visit will whet the appetite for a longer visit another time. So much to see and do.

Really will look forward to your TR.

Jon

There's a bar called Breeze bar on the 8/9 floor a building other side of Lake Powai from renaissance - quite interesting place, view all over Mumbai - beer is expensive by Mumbai standards, but the view makes up for it. Open to sides, but covered on top - so rain is fine.

http://www.zomato.com/mumbai/breeze-powai for the address.

The view is well worth the secluded location - and ignore the security guards as you walk in! Open in evenings - just bear in mind no alcohol served on some hols in India.

Apart from that, no real tips, apart from check in early (very) on return if in econ, the queues are horrid. The lounge used is passable - as is the PP lounge if you have access. One drink limit in the PP lounge, but the food was good!

I'd add I'm back for 2nd visit in August, and may be back again in Jan - cracking country/place to visit, despite many reservations before trip - especially after chat from the occ health dept here. I'll probably have more to share after that - as first trip I saw office/apartment only apart from 2 evenings in a pub and the trip to breeze. Next trip I'll get a weekend to visit places/do things.

Enjoy!