Air India

Date: January 21, 2025

After six days in India’s financial capital, it was now time to head home. I checked out of ForRest Hostels and made my way to the newly opened Aqua line of the Mumbai Metro.

Bandra breakfast idli vada Mumbai morning — En route, I spotted a Tamilian selling *idli vada* from his cycle. For just ₹30, I had a dosa, 2 idlis and 2 vadas. I have never had breakfast this cheap!

Bandra Colony metro station Mumbai India — Bandra Colony Metro Station is 700 metres from ForRest Hostels

Bandra Metro station Aqua line Mumbai — I was impressed by the interiors of the Aqua line stations

Aqua Line underground metro station Mumbai India — Truly world class… until it rains heavily above ground. Hope they fix that.

Mumbai Metro map India — This is the map of Mumbai’s metro network (much of it under construction)

Inside Alstom Aqua Line train Mumbai — The trains were from French engineering major Alstom, manufactured in their Chennai factory. Same as Kochi Metro.

Aqua line Mumbai metro airport station India — This is the Mumbai Airport Terminal 1 station

The lack of people in the trains and stations were due to the fact the Aqua line only had a few stations open back in January 2025.

Mumbai airport T1 metro station India — Aqua line is a lot busier now

Taj Santacruz Hotel Mumbai — Taj Santacruz hotel is right outside Terminal 1

Air traffic control tower Mumbai T1 airport — Mumbai’s air traffic control tower

Walkway Mumbai airport T1 India — And just as I was walking to Terminal 1, I looked at my ticket again

My Air India flight back to Bangalore… was from Terminal 2!

I just assumed all domestic flights had moved to Mumbai’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 was only for international. Nope. Air India operates all their flights from Terminal 2, including domestic.

I immediately ran back to the metro station and got off at the Terminal 2 station. I then ran to the terminal as it was a bit of a walk. Fortunately, I still had some time.

Mumbai Terminal 2 airport entrance — Lesson learnt, always check the ticket for terminals and don’t just assume

A word of advice to all — if at all you make the same mistake, DO NOT hire a taxi or auto as they will most likely over-charge you and take advantage of your desperation. Just take the metro, it’s quick and now there is a new bridge that connects the metro station to Terminal 2 making the walk a lot quicker.

Mumbai airport terminal 2 domestic check-in counters — The Air India check-in process was quick as I had no luggage to check-in

Mumbai airport T2 pillar design — Mumbai Airport Terminal 2 was designed by New York-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Mumbai airport T2 interior domestic — Terminal 2’s long-span roof is designed to allow in natural sunlight

Mumbai Airport T2 shops domestic — Although Mumbai Terminal 2 is largely for international flights, Air India uses Terminal 2 for all its flights

Bars Mumbai airport T2 domestic — No shortage of restaurants, shops, and bars inside Terminal 2

Starbucks The Irish House Mumbai airport T2 — I made my way to the gates

Mumbai airport T2 domestic gate waiting area — Which was of no use because in typical Air India fashion, the flight was delayed, and later changed gates!

Vistara Mumbai airport Terminal 2 — When the plane finally arrived, it was a Vistara jet

Vistara was an airline service TATA Group started in partnership with Singapore Airlines. After trying for decades, Air India was finally sold by the Indian government back to the TATA Group in 2022. Despite Air India being privatized, the airline still faces a lot of operational issues, and airplanes are in much need of upgrading!

Inside Vistara plane Mumbai — The flight from BOM to BLR was largely full

Mumbai airport from takeoff India — My flight took off nearly an hour late… making me realize there was no need to rush from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 😒

Aerial view Mumbai airport oil tanks — Goodbye Mumbai. First impression wasn’t very good but I can see why many love this city.

Mumbai city Vistara flight view — The things to like about Mumbai grows on you after some time

Flying out of Mumbai Vistara coastline — An airstrip near the sea… I wonder if it’s still in use

Vistara chicken snack meal Air India — One thing good about Air India? The food. This chicken dish was very good!

So good that upon landing, I asked the cabin crew if they had any left I could take home and give my brothers. She handed me two. For those who don’t know, in full-service carriers, any leftover meals are thrown away. So there is no harm in asking for extras. Don’t try that in budget carriers like Indigo though — there’s a reason why they mostly serve cold sandwiches and packaged food.