bosbiz

Very nice set of trip reports DFW. Thanks.

Yaatri

Unfortunately, that's not going to change. New technology, new gadgets/toys for the police, new infrastructure for the people, but the same police with the same old mindset.

Taxis, limousines, shuttle vans and buses being given preference or private cars is quite common, and with good reason, at many airports.

Nothing new there also. It adds another link that serves little purpose, except not allowing hordes of F&R. This problems of F&R would be more severe in India.
Lounge not being ready is not good. After all the fanfare and claims of a world class airport, there is no lounge for First Class passengers? But this is typical. DIAL beating its drum prematurely with little substance. An airport is world class not because its builder says so, but when users think it is.

I hope they introduce a fast track line.

Absence of whole body scanners is one thing I won't complain about.

That's true. Duty free in the U.S. is a joke. BKK and SIN are pretty good too. I haven;t been to HKG in a long time so I can't say anything about HKG. If you are travelling to the U.S. and have a connection in the U.S., make sure you have the means to pack it in your checked luggage after customs inspection or you will end up losing it. This goes for many other airports too. It's easier to use duty free when arriving in India.

That's good news. I rarely eat at airports prior to departure. My stomach can;t take it until I am relaxed.

Great to hear that they have learnt something. But a swanky world class terminal needs more than three lounges.

Well, not being able to get burgers in McDonald's is no big loss. Since when does McDonald's serve real burgers anyway? The very presence of McDonald's there ought to be acknowledged gratefully by those who enjoy the stuff served there.

That will be good for those with overnight layovers in DEL.

Vast empty spaces now will provide room for more shops. restuarants, cafes or lounges in future as traffic grows.

That's great. At many airports, the exit from the moving walkways is not near the gate. Either you have to walk up, or go beyond the gate on the walkway and walk back.

Agreed that keeping the carpet clean is a challenge, and that it makes it difficult to pull your rollaboard. Nice tiles cleaned with spic and span or some such thing will also serve the purpose of giving a feeling of openness. The gold colour will look dirty in no time.

CO and AA. Who else requires secondary screening at the gate?

I have seen reports of the ramp (aerobridge) being rather narrow. What was your impression?

I hope things get better soon. But broken tiles and leaky ceiling is not good.

Keyser

i guess this is the end of any lounge activity for me when traveling with my wife....is she spots either a starbucks or coffee bean then we never make it to the lounge....she like to sit at either one of these places for hours....

abhilife2001

and both

Keyser

don't even get me started on that....

chanp

So it's the morning of the 15th in DEL now, is the IT lounge open? Anyone try it yet? Reviews? Pics? Etc?

ffI

Nothing I have read makes me think this is world class for connections.
The higher level for departures is a concept taken from UK T4-T5.
These guys should take one look at ORD, or LHR or FRA.

If I ever have to go to India, I would MUCH rather change in DXB, SIN, LHR, FRA or even CDG!

abhilife2001

I guess its good they didnt look at LHR..Many many ppl are just scared to fly thru it because of the condition their baggage makes it in to the destination ( if the baggage makes it that far )
CDG-- less said the better..

Keyser

give it time....its unfair to compare airports in the US & europe with airports in india....

DELYOW

I had the pleasure to arriving into T-3 on Friday from DXB. Here are some preliminary impressions.

1. The terminal is still very much work in progress.
a. As others have noted the moment one leaves the baggage hall you run into a construction site.
b. Until the Metro Station is ready, accessing the car park will involve a long walk in sweltering conditions.
c. The quality of workmanship in some cases is requires closer attention. (e.g. peeling paint, glass fittings splattered with paint, broken tiles, etc.) Doesn't diminish the quality of workmanship, but certainly diminishes the overall experience. I hope they will fix all these things once the whole airport is completed.

2.Functionality
Positives:
a. The arrivals layout is very intuitive. Just follow the direction of the travellators.
b. Very spacious and airy interiors.
c. Very comfotable transit area. (I think the 3 hour rule before they let you into the departure area is stupid)
d. Many many immigration counters. Indeed the immigration area is well lit,spacious and quite beautiful. The immigration officers are couteous and professional as always (and expressed concern about how far people had to walk)
e. Mutiple aerobridges at each gate makes for smoother disembarkation. The bridge is rather narrow. Comparable what one experiences at LHR T3 or DUS or the older bridges in AMS.
f. I recieved my priority tagged luggage with 5 minutes of clearing immigration.
g. Spacious well signposted Baggage and Arrivals hall. Lots of space to stand around the carousel.

Negatives
a. The carpet - for those of us who travel on business with hand luggage only, it really slows one down. Still it brightens up the piers.
b. The access point from pier to immigration area is poorly designed. It causes crowding at immigration counters closest to the escalator and holds up movement at the base of the escalator.
c. X-Ray machines at point of exit from customs area. They didn't have them in T2, why the f*#k slow down passengers in this more 'efficient' airport? (Or maybe they only use these for flights from DXB)

Overall, very functional indeed. I hope the fit and finish will be as good as HYD or even BLR once complete.

I'll report on departures tomorrow.

Yaatri

Commencement of domestic operations of T3 has been put off until after the Commonwealth Games. It's true that the T3 has just begun operations but then touting its horn before it has settled into operations is asking for ridicule.

Yaatri

Won't comment about the positives, because a world class terminal has got to have some positives.

Agreed. Any comments about the carpet will be met by T3 apologists with name calling or ratioinlastion that it's a noise abatement measure.

It's even dangerous. when all lines are deep enough to reach the escalator, people will crowd at the bottom of the escalator, making it downright dangerous of people still coming down. I have almost been stepped over by people behind me in a similar situation in Washington D.C. metro.
Actually, they had been installed at T2 many years ago to catch people who brought dutiable items. The X-ray machines were not always used.
Will look forward to it.

Yaatri

Your wife has trained you well.
My wife is very cooperative. We must have saved thousands of $$$'s on F&B at airports, when my wife and I travelled a lot with the kids, as we lived in different cities. She refuses to pay $5 plus for a cup of coffee to Starbucks and the like.

Keyser

lucky you....as it is my wife hates to sit in the lounge....she claims its very boring....given the fact that her weakness is coffee (she has well over half a dozen cups a day), if we spot a good coffee shop at any airport then that completely ends my chances of making it to the lounge....

abhilife2001

maybe u can go to the lounge and leave her in the coffee shop.. but then u risk a much higher bill for the DF items h

this post will be shown to my wife today evening
My wife has also been cooperative till now atleast.. many a times the LH lounge dragon does not allow me to take her to the lounge and then I go in for a quick coffee and a bite while she goes into DF or a coffee shop and then I join her there..