India - New Delhi Airport

Hello:

I was last there when it was under construction in 2008 and it was a nightmare getting backs checked, through security etc. Has this improved? How much time do you need to allocate to get checked in? Many thanks!

Hello:

I was last there when it was under construction in 2008 and it was a nightmare getting backs checked, through security etc. Has this improved? How much time do you need to allocate to get checked in? Many thanks!

there are multiple threads about the new delhi airport....a simple search will get you many results....i would suggest going through some of them....

Hello:

I was last there when it was under construction in 2008 and it was a nightmare getting backs checked, through security etc. Has this improved? How much time do you need to allocate to get checked in? Many thanks!

It's much better at the new airport, especially if you don't check your back. :D

It will take you about the same amount of time to check-in as it did in T2 before it became inadequate.

there are multiple threads about the new delhi airport....a simple search will get you many results....i would suggest going through some of them....

Hi I just spent about an hour trying to go through all the past threads (also found your past thread summarizing all the DEL related postings), but I still can't seem to find an answer to my quesiton:

I am flying F out DEL on BA flight leaving at 3am in the morning, assuming that I will have bags (although I am not 100% certain) how much in advance should I check in?
I really would like to get a hotel room somewhere near the airport and be able to nap as long as I can prior to boarding.

Thanks for your help!

...I am flying F out DEL on BA flight leaving at 3am in the morning, assuming that I will have bags (although I am not 100% certain) how much in advance should I check in?

2 hours max if you plan to visit one of the lounges after immigration and security.


I really would like to get a hotel room somewhere near the airport and be able to nap as long as I can prior to boarding...

I've stayed here (http://newdelhiairport.eatonhotels.com/) twice earlier this month. They don't allow you to take luggage you plan to check in into the hotel room; there is a storage area where they'll hold it for you until you depart. You'll be escorted to the hotel after a seperate security check and baggage screening for the hotel. You'll have to call the hotel to send someone to escort you to the hotel from the terminal.

[QUOTE=ROW2Aisle;17914308]2 hours max if you plan to visit one of the lounges after immigration and security.


QUOTE]

Thank you! What's "minimum"... I actually will be arriving at about 5:40pm on a flight from Udaipur, and was hoping to go to the Imperial Hotel, have dinner at their famed... Spice Route and maybe ask them for a "half day" rate at the hotel... If the flight leaves at 3:30am (and I assume there is a fast track?), what time should I leave the hotel?

Thank you! What's "minimum"... I actually will be arriving at about 5:40pm on a flight from Udaipur, and was hoping to go to the Imperial Hotel, have dinner at their famed... Spice Route and maybe ask them for a "half day" rate at the hotel... If the flight leaves at 3:30am (and I assume there is a fast track?), what time should I leave the hotel?

you can leave the hotel by 1am & should get to the airport by 1:30am....

2 hours max if you plan to visit one of the lounges after immigration and security.



I've stayed here (http://newdelhiairport.eatonhotels.com/) twice earlier this month. They don't allow you to take luggage you plan to check in into the hotel room; there is a storage area where they'll hold it for you until you depart. You'll be escorted to the hotel after a seperate security check and baggage screening for the hotel. You'll have to call the hotel to send someone to escort you to the hotel from the terminal.

Our international flight departing India takes off at 5.50AM. Can we use that transit hotel for the night before our flight? Arrive at, say, 10PM...check luggage, clear immigration/customs, sleep for 5 hours or so, wake up at 4AM, proceed to our departure gate...

If that isn't allowed, how far away is the domestic part of this hotel? I guess we could just stay there and then check in for our flight like normal in the morning. (Flight is RJ to AMM if it matters...)

Our international flight departing India takes off at 5.50AM. Can we use that transit hotel for the night before our flight? Arrive at, say, 10PM...check luggage, clear immigration/customs, sleep for 5 hours or so, wake up at 4AM, proceed to our departure gate...

If it is an international to international transfer you can use the international wing of the hotel without having to clear customs and immigration; if connecting from domestic to international or international to domestic then you can only use the domestic wing. The hotel guests in the two wings are kept isolated from each other. You can use international wing iff you have an onward international boarding pass and have cleared customs and immigration.

If that isn't allowed, how far away is the domestic part of this hotel? I guess we could just stay there and then check in for our flight like normal in the morning. (Flight is RJ to AMM if it matters...)

Since you are unlikely to be allowed to check in until about 3-4 hours prior to international departure you can use only the domestic wing. It takes about 5 minutes to walk from the domestic wing of the hotel to the international check-in desks. So my recommendation is to check into the domestic wing of the hotel (make sure you have a reservation), get a good few hours sleep and then checkout and proceed to the international check-in counters for your flight and then after this you'll then clear customs & immigration and then security before proceeding to the boarding gate.

Perfect...that's good enough for me. We probably be spending the final couple days of our India trip in Delhi... Since it's such an early flight, we were thinking it might be wise to get out to the airport late the night before instead of relying on getting a cab at 3AM.

My guess is that we'll be at the Le Meridien in Delhi for a couple days...I'm assuming that isn't exactly around the corner from the airport.

My guess is that we'll be at the Le Meridien in Delhi for a couple days...I'm assuming that isn't exactly around the corner from the airport.

depending on the time of the day (or night), it will take you between 30 minutes to a couple of hours to get to the airport from the le méridien....

depending on the time of the day (or night), it will take you between 30 minutes to a couple of hours to get to the airport from the le méridien....

:D That's sort of what I guessed... If I get the two-hour trip, I might as well get it at 10 or 11PM the night before the flight.

[QUOTE=ROW2Aisle;17971379]If it is an international to international transfer you can use the international wing of the hotel without having to clear customs and immigration; if connecting from domestic to international or international to domestic then you can only use the domestic wing. The hotel guests in the two wings are kept isolated from each other. You can use international wing iff you have an onward international boarding pass and have cleared customs and immigration.

Just to get the sequencing right... if I have an International flight from DEL, I would go to the checkin first, clear customs and immigraiton and then go to the hotel?

*bump*

How bad is international check-in at DEL these days? Is 3 hours advance arrival still advised? (The DEL website notes this as the minimum check-in time, but it also seems to be the maximum check-in time based on other threads in the forum.)

*bump*

How bad is international check-in at DEL these days? Is 3 hours advance arrival still advised? (The DEL website notes this as the minimum check-in time, but it also seems to be the maximum check-in time based on other threads in the forum.)

its not bad at all....i usually get there a couple of hours before my flight....

Thanks! That's reassuring to hear...

I gave myself two hours and ended up needing only about 20 minutes to get through the formalities... more time to enjoy the lounge spread, I guess.

T3 is gorgeous. Makes BKK look like a dump in comparison (there I was subjected to a 30-minute madhouse line for inbound immigration AND outbound passport control yesterday...)

I gave myself two hours and ended up needing only about 20 minutes to get through the formalities... more time to enjoy the lounge spread, I guess.

T3 is gorgeous. Makes BKK look like a dump in comparison (there I was subjected to a 30-minute madhouse line for inbound immigration AND outbound passport control yesterday...)

Comparisons are meaningful when you compare widgets with similar characteristics. DEL would be a bigger nightmare, if it were as successful as BKK.

Hi, I'm working on an article on airport lounges in India. Would you share your suggestions and experiences?

Hi, I'm working on an article on airport lounges in India. Would you share your suggestions and experiences?

welcome to ft mbhaduri....are you looking for anything in particular????

Thank you. Yes, I would like to know of the various lounges Indian airports have to offer and experiences from people who are regular visitors/travelers or have experienced something interesting or unique. Would greatly appreciate everyone's/anyone's input.

I gave myself two hours and ended up needing only about 20 minutes to get through the formalities... more time to enjoy the lounge spread, I guess.

T3 is gorgeous. Makes BKK look like a dump in comparison (there I was subjected to a 30-minute madhouse line for inbound immigration AND outbound passport control yesterday...)

Yes, the new International terminal is fantastic - though it's slight disconcerting that they use exactly the same female voice for announcements as LHR (another sign that you spend too much time in airports). I too made the mistake of allowing far too much time to check in (based on previous bad experiences at BOM and other Indian airports) but it was a breeze.

I wouldn't go as far as calling BKK a dump, but it's a confusing mess where all of the important areas are miles away from each other. I've been through BKK about 10 times and still get lost and I took me 4 visits before I even found the food court.

Makes BKK look like a dump in comparison
Only in comparison.
Clearly, you haven't been to BOM. For a major airport, it is a p.o.s.

Only in comparison.
Clearly, you haven't been to BOM. For a major airport, it is a p.o.s.

BOM is by far the worst airport I have been through anywhere in the world. I'd gladly take any rerouting to avoid it.

Thank you. Yes, I would like to know of the various lounges Indian airports have to offer and experiences from people who are regular visitors/travelers or have experienced something interesting or unique. Would greatly appreciate everyone's/anyone's input.

There are 2 major lounges on the top floor in DEL, the one to the left (wooden look) is much nicer and calmer, but both lounges are excellent.

There is also a Mercedes lounge, not sure who has access to that, the Mercedes lounge is in BIG hall that leads to all gates.

If it is an international to international transfer you can use the international wing of the hotel without having to clear customs and immigration; if connecting from domestic to international or international to domestic then you can only use the domestic wing. The hotel guests in the two wings are kept isolated from each other. You can use international wing iff you have an onward international boarding pass and have cleared customs and immigration.



Since you are unlikely to be allowed to check in until about 3-4 hours prior to international departure you can use only the domestic wing. It takes about 5 minutes to walk from the domestic wing of the hotel to the international check-in desks. So my recommendation is to check into the domestic wing of the hotel (make sure you have a reservation), get a good few hours sleep and then checkout and proceed to the international check-in counters for your flight and then after this you'll then clear customs & immigration and then security before proceeding to the boarding gate.
DEL-LHR-DFW

Leaves at 8AM and my office is in Noida... so that's not gonna work. Thinking of going the Eaton Hotel route the night before as well. Check in on the domestic side and walk over at 6AM?

I didn't realize customs and immigration were in DEL and not the destination? Like YUL? That would have REALLY ruined my morning!

I didn't realize customs and immigration were in DEL and not the destination? Like YUL? That would have REALLY ruined my morning!

No, India has exit control immigration that you must pass through before you depart on an international flight. There is no pre-clearance, you will have to pass through immigration/customs at your destination as well.

No, India has exit control immigration that you must pass through before you depart on an international flight. There is no pre-clearance, you will have to pass through immigration/customs at your destination as well.
Thanks!