Here is my recent travel experience:
Onward journey:
Travel date: 12/5/2021 - 12/6/2021
Route: JFK → New Delhi → Vijayawada
Airlines: Air India (for all the flights including New Delhi to Vijayawada)
Air suvidha, rtpcr report, vaccination record - one hard copy was collected at the destination (Vijayawada).
In all other places (JFK, New Delhi), I just had to show the documents. They did not collect them.
I carried hard copeis. But had soft copies as a backup.
Print air suvidha in color (only on one side of the paper).
For the RTPCR test, it is 72 hours before departure (not arrival).
Luggage is only checked in till New Delhi.
I had to collect them and recheckin at New Delhi.
Customs, immigration, luggage transfer etc., took 3+ hours in New Delhi.
Return journey:
Travel date: 12/25/2021 - 12/26/2021
Route: Vijayawada → New Delhi → JFK
Airlines: Air India (for all the flights including Vijayawada to New Delhi)
RTPCR test
should be done 24 hours before departure.
was checked at Vijayawada during checkin
was checked at New Delhi before entering immigration
Luggage booked all the way (Vijayawada to JFK). Did not have to collect or transfer it at New Delhi.
Immigration took a long time at New Delhi.
Long lines + very few employees.
I had 2 hr 30 minutes gap between the flights and it was not enough.
I almost missed the flight and had to run.
Suggest to have 3+ hours in between.
Immigration took long time at JFK also.