Check-in: Clipper Lounge, Mumbai CSI Airport Terminal 2

• Introduction
• Clipper Lounge, Mumbai CSI Airport Terminal 2
• Jet Airways Economy Class Mumbai to Brussels
• British Airways Galleries Club Lounge, Brussels National Airport
• American Airlines Business Class Brussels to New York JFK and Five-Star Arrival
• American Airlines Premium Check-in and Flagship Lounge, New York JFK
• American Airlines Economy Class JFK to London LHR
• American Airlines Arrivals Lounge, London LHR
• Sheraton Heathrow Hotel, London
• American Airlines Flagship Check-in and Flagship Lounge, London Heathrow
• American Airlines Economy Class London to Chicago
• American Airlines Flagship Lounge at Chicago ORD
• American Airlines First Class from Chicago ORD to Dallas Fort Worth
• Hyatt Regency Hotel, DFW
• Hyatt Regency Hotel, Bellevue
• Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles
• Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles
• American Airlines First Class from Los Angeles to Chicago ORD
• American Airlines Business Class from Chicago ORD to Delhi
• Jet Airways Economy Class from Delhi to Mumbai
• Conclusion

My journey from Mumbai to New York was going to start with a flight on Jet Airways, however booked on stock of American Airlines as a codeshare. This meant I was going to be, for all purposes, be treated an American Airlines passenger in Mumbai Airport. No wonder, if I wanted EQMs, I had to put in my AAdvantage number on the ticket, and I was hoping to receive all the privileges associated with being a oneworld member elite.

However, British Airways crashed my dream to finally access the British Airways Galleries Lounge at Mumbai Airport’s International terminal, where they were confused if they were supposed to allow me access or not. However, I have still not heard from British Airways on why this was the case. I sure was not going to wait it out for 3 hours in a crowded location like the Mumbai Airport

Mumbai Airport Airside

I walked over to the next door Clipper Lounge, where my MasterCard provided me access to the lounge. Jet Airways was not obliged to give me elite benefits since I was on (my) buck of American Airlines and as their elite member.

The first interesting thing popped up at the entrance to the lounge itself, I noticed that other oneworld member airlines Cathay Pacific was also using this Clipper Lounge instead of going to the oneworld member British Airways lounge.

Clipper Lounge Airlines List

As I arrived into the lounge, I swiped my MasterCard credit card which allowed me access, and to my surprise found the lounge to be less crowded than the usual it is. I was ushered into the Business section of the lounge, while I tried peeping into the First Class section, where I never have been before. I got a table to myself at the peak hour of 1 AM, which is very hard to find at those times since so many airlines conduct night departures from Mumbai and they share this contract lounge.

Seating Area (Dimmed Out)

There is a lot of seating, and about 10 schmooze chairs which are usually occupied. Since there were people sleeping, I did not click pictures of the sleep section of the lounge.

I proceeded to check out the food and beverage selection. The alcohol selection wasn’t out of this world, but still good enough for someone who’d like a drink before getting on a plane.

Beverages on Offer

The Chiller Area

I went with a can of Coke, and proceeded to check out the food selection. The lounge had quite a few non-vegetarian and vegetarian snacks and a couple of gravy options on offer. There was some Chicken Biryani, Chicken Sandwiches and Chicken Gravy on offer for the non-vegetarian options. Vegetarian small bites, sandwiches, Pav Bhaji gravy, cookies and Indian sweets were on offer on the vegetarian palette. A whole closet full of chips and instant noodles were there for those who wanted a ready-to-eat option.

I went with a quick bite of Pav Bhaji, wafers and sandwiches with a Coke, before I got down to some work on my computer.

Since it was quite early in the morning, and I had to keep up another couple of hours before I could try and get some sleep in my Economy seat on the Jet Airways B777, I went with a cappuccino to top off the little midnight meal and get back to work.

Cappucinno, no cookies!

At 2:30 AM, boarding for my flight was announced and I headed over to the gate across the alley.