Anyone landing at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport for the first time quickly learns one thing: getting out of the airport can be harder than getting into the city. For visitors and non-locals,
the confusion is often worse. App-based taxis like Ola and Uber regularly show long wait times, sudden cancellations or no cars at all, especially late at night or during peak travel hours.
Now, a Reddit post by a frequent flyer is viral for spelling out a workaround that many Bengaluru regulars quietly rely on but rarely explain to outsiders.
The bus-first trick that many overlook
The post opens by addressing a common frustration. The Reddit user writes that they have been “seeing reports of people not getting Ola / Uber and spending time waiting forever” at the airport. They add, “I thought by now people would’ve realized that BLR airport probably has one of the best bus services in India.”
For first-time visitors, this is an important detail. Bengaluru airport is located far outside the city, and traffic congestion near the terminal often makes it difficult for cabs to enter and exit quickly. That congestion is exactly what causes long delays and repeated cancellations on ride-hailing apps.
The “bus-first” hack
The Redditor’s suggestion is not to avoid cabs completely but only to avoid them at the airport itself.
Bengaluru operates dedicated airport buses run by the city transport system. These buses are clearly marked, run throughout the day and night, and connect the airport to major parts of the city. They are designed for travellers, with space for luggage and fixed ticket prices.
The hack works like this: instead of booking a cab at the airport, take an airport bus and get down at a major junction called Mekhri Circle. This is a well-known traffic junction closer to the city, where cab availability is much higher.
“I would always board the bus, get down at Mekhri Circle and book my Ola / Uber to my house,” the post reads.
For non-locals, the advantage is clear. Once you are away from the airport crowd and traffic bottleneck, ride-hailing apps start working normally. Cars arrive faster, cancellations are fewer, and fares are more predictable.
What is Mekhri Circle and do you need to know it?
You don’t need to know the city well to use this trick. Mekhri Circle is one of the first major city entry points from the airport. Many airport buses stop there, and it is easy to ask the bus conductor to alert you when the stop arrives.
The Redditor ended the post saying, “When will people understand this? find your bus route and FIND YOUR OWN MEKHRI.”
In simple terms, that means: take the airport bus to any major, well-connected area closer to your destination, and then book a cab from there.
Check out the post here:
Why even travellers with luggage are backing it
Many joined in saying they have followed similar strategies, using different drop-off points depending on where they live.
Several commenters pointed out that the airport bus network covers large parts of the city, runs frequently, and is often faster during peak hours. Others admitted they had ignored buses for years, assuming cabs were always more convenient.
“Even with luggage it’s very easy to trolley your bags to the bus, and load them in. The buses are low height and there’s ample space to store them. Conductors are sweet enough to help if they see you struggling with it. It’s mostly an Indian mental block that public transport is not convenient with luggage. BIAL buses are exceptionally good!” wrote a user.
“Another easy way to the airport, especially late at night, if you are from south Bengaluru, is to take any bus to Shantinagara and just wait. All south Bengaluru airport buses pass through that bus depot so you will usually get something within 30 mins,” suggested another user.
Complaints about app-based taxis at Bengaluru airport have surged in recent months, especially during late-night arrivals and holiday rushes. It also taps into a growing frustration among Bengalureans. Not everything needs an app. Sometimes the old systems work better.
