India - Leave airport for a few hours or pay for lounge access in New Delhi?

Hello everyone,

I sincerely apologize if my questions have already been answered in a previous thread, but I've looked all over the forums and can't figure out if the information is current or outdated.

My husband and I will be flying from Toronto to Kolkata, with an 8-hr layover in Delhi, flying into Terminal 3. I've heard that we'll have to find our luggage and go through Immigration/Customs at Delhi airport: is this correct? Does this we have to leave the airport entirely during our layover? If so, is the Radisson attached to the airport still the best place to spend a few hours?

If we needn't leave the airport, is there a lounge at T3 where we can pay a fee to rest for a few hours before our connecting flight? We are flying Jet Airways, in economy.

I'd really appreciate any help. Thank you!

The Eaton Smart Transit Hotel in Terminal T3 is now operational. Read this (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/india/1150726-new-transit-hotel-del-open-already.html) for a discussion on this facility. You can book a room in the domestic portion of the hotel and it can be booked for an overnight stay or in blocks of a few hours. At present the booking is done by email or calling them and not via the traditional secure web page. This may be a much better option than going to the Radisson as you don't have to leave the airport T3 terminal.

Jet Airways (9W) operates out of terminal T3.

I've heard that we'll have to find our luggage and go through Immigration/Customs at Delhi airport: is this correct?

welcome to ft bittenkitten....yes, you are correct....

Does this we have to leave the airport entirely during our layover?

no....both flights operate out of t3....

If so, is the Radisson attached to the airport still the best place to spend a few hours?

the radisson is not attached to the airport but its a 5 minute drive away....as row2aisle said, the airport hotel is now open so no need to go to the radisson....

If we needn't leave the airport, is there a lounge at T3 where we can pay a fee to rest for a few hours before our connecting flight? We are flying Jet Airways, in economy.

most lounges are paid lounges as well so you can pay a fee & use them before your flight....

Hello everyone,

I sincerely apologize if my questions have already been answered in a previous thread, but I've looked all over the forums and can't figure out if the information is current or outdated.

My husband and I will be flying from Toronto to Kolkata, with an 8-hr layover in Delhi, flying into Terminal 3. I've heard that we'll have to find our luggage and go through Immigration/Customs at Delhi airport: is this correct? Does this we have to leave the airport entirely during our layover? If so, is the Radisson attached to the airport still the best place to spend a few hours?

If we needn't leave the airport, is there a lounge at T3 where we can pay a fee to rest for a few hours before our connecting flight? We are flying Jet Airways, in economy.

I'd really appreciate any help. Thank you!

You are right that you have to go through customs and immigration in DEL T3. Assuming that 8 hours is the time between arrival from Toronto and departure to Kolkota, effectively you have 5-6 hours layover since it would take about an hour or less to go through customs and immigration and a couple of hours to get to your departure gate domestic part of T3.
There are some eating places in arrivals area where you can easily spend a a few hours with your luggage in tow. If you check into a hotel you will have even less time than that. If you want to save money, the hassle of getting to and from a hotel for a few hours, and not too tired or with children, I would while my time away at one of the eating places in the arrivals area. Two beers, a chicken tikka sandwitch, chicken spring roll and a cup of coffee put me back by about Rs 1000 plus tip, much cheaper than a hotel.

Thanks so very much, everyone!
I've written to the Eaton Smart at T3 to ask if we can access the T-Lounge by paying a fee rather than booking a room for the minimum 5-hour slot. We do have a pretty long flight to DEL, with a stop in Brussels, so I was hoping to be able to freshen up before we both land in Kolkata and are surrounded by family, but not necessarily sleep (I hate short naps).

For everyone's reference, here are the room rates:
5 hrs: INR 3,900
6 hrs: INR 4.650
7 hrs: INR 5,400
8 hrs: INR 6,150
Overnight: INR 6,900

So I'm guessing it wouldn't be a bad idea to call the various lounges and ask for their fees? I'll post back here if/when I get the rates.

Thanks again for everyone's advice!

Deleted. Duplicate post.

Lounge fees are generally 500 rupees or so per person.

I am not sure if domestic lounges at DEL have showers.

If you really want some rest, best to get that airport hotel room. (is my opinion).

At those prices it might be cheaper to go into the city if you have an indian visa

At those prices it might be cheaper to go into the city if you have an indian visa

We do (Indian passport and PIO), and we actually have relatives in the city, but rather reluctant to leave for only 5 hours!

At those prices it might be cheaper to go into the city if you have an indian visa

+1

Thanks so very much, everyone!
I've written to the Eaton Smart at T3 to ask if we can access the T-Lounge by paying a fee rather than booking a room for the minimum 5-hour slot. We do have a pretty long flight to DEL, with a stop in Brussels, so I was hoping to be able to freshen up before we both land in Kolkata and are surrounded by family, but not necessarily sleep (I hate short naps).

For everyone's reference, here are the room rates:
5 hrs: INR 3,900
6 hrs: INR 4.650
7 hrs: INR 5,400
8 hrs: INR 6,150
Overnight: INR 6,900

So I'm guessing it wouldn't be a bad idea to call the various lounges and ask for their fees? I'll post back here if/when I get the rates.

Thanks again for everyone's advice!

room rates are quite high IMO.. Its better worth to have a night sight seeing trip of delhi IMO if visa is not a issue or check out other hotels around the airport ..hotel booking sites and TA will be helpful here @:-)

I am having a similar dilemma now. I have an overnight stay in Delhi, I want to go out, get some food and come back before my 6am flight. I will have baggage and am wondering where I can store it. I don't want to take it with me.

I am having a similar dilemma now. I have an overnight stay in Delhi, I want to go out, get some food and come back before my 6am flight. I will have baggage and am wondering where I can store it. I don't want to take it with me.

There is a baggage storage facility in the airport.. IIRC it costs something like INR 400 but am not sure..
http://www.newdelhiairport.in/airport-facilitie.aspx

There is a baggage storage facility in the airport.. IIRC it costs something like INR 400 but am not sure..
http://www.newdelhiairport.in/airport-facilitie.aspx

Thanks. It does say a short period of time, I hope that means 6hrs :-)

Thanks. It does say a short period of time, I hope that means 6hrs :-)

Whille I have not stored luggage in T3, in other airports u can store for much longer and I feel the same will also be there for delhi T3..

We are travelling from Delhi to Singapore on a 8:55am flight with Jet airways and to avoid delays, plan to stay at the Eaton transit hotel from 11:00pm the night before. We are travelling with small children and want to avoid any possible delays.

Upon looking at the Eaton hotel website, I have two questions;

1. In one part of there site, they state "For the International wing you need a valid boarding pass". We will not have a boarding pass as the boarding gates only open 3 hours before departure. Also, web checkin is not an option as we are travelling with children and are on a code sharing flight.

2. On another part of the site they state "the 57 rooms at the International Terminal are reserved for transiting passengers or those who have cleared customs". Could someone please advise whether you clear customs without having to checkin onto your flight?


Thanks in advance for any help.

We are travelling from Delhi to Singapore on a 8:55am flight with Jet airways and to avoid delays, plan to stay at the Eaton transit hotel from 11:00pm the night before. We are travelling with small children and want to avoid any possible delays.

Upon looking at the Eaton hotel website, I have two questions;

1. In one part of there site, they state "For the International wing you need a valid boarding pass". We will not have a boarding pass as the boarding gates only open 3 hours before departure. Also, web checkin is not an option as we are travelling with children and are on a code sharing flight.

2. On another part of the site they state "the 57 rooms at the International Terminal are reserved for transiting passengers or those who have cleared customs". Could someone please advise whether you clear customs without having to checkin onto your flight?


Thanks in advance for any help.
It's a transit hotel and you would not be in transit, when travelling from Delhi to Singapore. Can you stay in the domestic wing of the hotel?
Does having children preclude one from on-line check-in?

Personal Opinion: It's not really that difficult to get to the airport in time for an 8:55 a.m. flight. Unlike some places, where rush hour for traffic begins as early as 6:00 a.m., fortunately, Delhi rush hour begins when you should already be at the airport. Having to repack your stuff in the transit hotel is a hassle I find unnecessary.

We are travelling from Delhi to Singapore on a 8:55am flight with Jet airways and to avoid delays, plan to stay at the Eaton transit hotel from 11:00pm the night before. We are travelling with small children and want to avoid any possible delays.

Upon looking at the Eaton hotel website, I have two questions;

1. In one part of there site, they state "For the International wing you need a valid boarding pass". We will not have a boarding pass as the boarding gates only open 3 hours before departure. Also, web checkin is not an option as we are travelling with children and are on a code sharing flight.

2. On another part of the site they state "the 57 rooms at the International Terminal are reserved for transiting passengers or those who have cleared customs". Could someone please advise whether you clear customs without having to checkin onto your flight?

Thanks in advance for any help.

welcome to ft slic....my advice would be to stay at the radisson....its only a 5 minute drive from the airport....

There is a hotel facility available at the airport that is available for domestic arriving passengers long before checking in for an international flight. In such circumstances I'm not sure if the bed arrangements are such in any of its rooms that it would be cheaper than the Radisson, but the Radisson is only several minutes away and could well work out reasonably well too. [The Radisson will charge ordinarily more than 4000 INR for 6 hours overnight.]

I have a similar question. I have an overnight layover on Kingfisher from HKG to KTM via DEL, getting into DEL around 2200 and leaving around 1300. Which of the following is the best option for me?
1. Stay in the transit lounge (I'm flying Kingfisher, can I do this?)
2. Buy a pass for an airline lounge (I used to be OW emerald, but I've fallen to just ruby now). If so, which lounge?
3. Stay in the T3 transit "pod", which I think charges by the hour
4. Get a transit visa, store my luggage at the airport, get a room somewhere, explore the city in the morning before coming back to DEL to catch my 1PM flight. (Any recommendations on where to go / what to see in such a short time?)
5. Something else?

I'm quite adventurous and would love to see a bit of Delhi, but I would love your insights on whether that is reasonable given my time constraints. I've spent a good portion of my adult life in airline lounges and hotels so I would rather check out a city I've never been to before if it's feasible.

Thanks in advance for all your insights!

I have a similar question. I have an overnight layover on Kingfisher from HKG to KTM via DEL, getting into DEL around 2200 and leaving around 1300. Which of the following is the best option for me?

i presume both your hkg - del & del-ktm flights are on kingfisher????

1. Stay in the transit lounge (I'm flying Kingfisher, can I do this?)

what class are you flying????spending around 15 hours in the lounge will be painful....

2. Buy a pass for an airline lounge (I used to be OW emerald, but I've fallen to just ruby now). If so, which lounge?

most lounges will give you access for a small fee....but once again, 15 hours is a long time to spend in the lounge....

3. Stay in the T3 transit "pod", which I think charges by the hour

i believe the charge is $9 an hour....if you stayed here for about 12 hours then you are spending a little over $100....you will find it hard to get a hotel room for that much so this is a good option....

4. Get a transit visa, store my luggage at the airport, get a room somewhere, explore the city in the morning before coming back to DEL to catch my 1PM flight. (Any recommendations on where to go / what to see in such a short time?)

this is not a good option....for a 1pm flight you need to be back at the airport by 11am, which means you will probably have to leave your hotel by 10am....not enough time to see anything in the city....

5. Something else?

the sleeping pods seem like your best option....

I'm quite adventurous and would love to see a bit of Delhi, but I would love your insights on whether that is reasonable given my time constraints. I've spent a good portion of my adult life in airline lounges and hotels so I would rather check out a city I've never been to before if it's feasible.

given your time constraints i'm afraid you won't have time to see anything in delhi....

Keyser, thanks so your detailed advice. Sounds like the pods are my best bet, but here are my answers to your questions.

i presume both your hkg - del & del-ktm flights are on kingfisher????

Yes, both segments are on Kingfisher.

what class are you flying????spending around 15 hours in the lounge will be painful....

Unfortunately, I'll be in economy for both legs of the trip. I heard the transit lounge is a zoo, is that true?

Unfortunately, I'll be in economy for both legs of the trip. I heard the transit lounge is a zoo, is that true?

the transit lounge can get pretty crowded & i would definitely not want to spend more than a hour or so there....stick to the pods....they are very comfortable & not that expensive....a night in a hotel will cost you more....

Will do, thanks!

My situation:

Getting into New Delhi at 20:00 (8pm) and will be flying out to Kathmandu the following day, 20:00 (8pm). I'd like to stay overnight at the airport hotel, and then go out the next morning for siteseeing. I do realize I need a transit visa, but am I able to stay in the Eaton, and go out? If I go out, will I have to take my bags out with me?