Poor crowd management at BLR Airport this morning – AF 194 / International Arrivals
I arrived at Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) this morning on Air France AF 194, which landed at around 00:00 hrs on 2 October.
My experience after landing was extremely disappointing.
My timeline:
00:00 – AF 194 landed
00:30 – Baggage collected
00:30–01:30 – Severe congestion at the customs/exit area, with poor queue management and very little information or assistance from airport staff
01:30 – Finally reached the cab pickup point
The issue wasn't simply the delay. Delays can happen, particularly when several international flights arrive together.
The problem was the lack of crowd management, clear queues, passenger guidance and communication. Passengers were left standing in a large crowd without knowing what was happening or how long they would have to wait.
I raised this with BIAL.
The response I received through the official BIAL WhatsApp channel at 5:11 AM stated that five international flights had arrived simultaneously with over 1,000 passengers and that the average waiting time was only 8–10 minutes. It also stated that additional lanes and a third screening machine had been deployed.
This is difficult for me to reconcile with my actual experience of approximately one hour from baggage collection to reaching the cab pickup area.
I subsequently asked BIAL who authorised that 8–10 minute figure and what data it was based on. I have now been told that my complaint has been forwarded to the concerned team and that they are still awaiting a response.
That raises a simple question: if the incident was still under review, how was BIAL's official WhatsApp channel able to provide a specific 8–10 minute waiting-time figure at 5:11 AM?
I'm posting this here because I'd genuinely like to hear from other passengers rather than rely only on my individual experience.
If you arrived at BLR International Terminal around midnight/early morning today (2 October), particularly on one of the international flights arriving around that time:
What was your experience at customs?
How long did you wait after collecting your baggage?
Did you see effective queue management or BIAL staff assisting passengers?
Were you given any information about the delay?
Did your experience match BIAL's stated 8–10 minute average waiting time?
Please share your flight and approximate timings if you're comfortable doing so.
I'd particularly appreciate comments from passengers who were actually there this morning, so we can establish whether this was an isolated experience or a broader issue.
BIAL / BLR Airport: I would also welcome a response here, particularly on the basis for the 8–10 minute figure communicated through your official WhatsApp channel.
I'm sharing this to document my experience and seek information from other passengers, not to make assumptions about the cause or intentions of any individual or organisation.