Jan 6, 2022, 1:47 am
Last edit by: TheBagman
Terminal 3 at DEL handles all international flights as well as domestic flights of Air India, Vistara and Air Asia India.You can transit D-I, I-D, I-I and D-D.
I-I transfer desks are open as of August 2022.
Below are the details for transit within T3.
A. Domestic to international transit at T3:
If both your domestic and international flights are on a single ticket, your baggage will be checked through at the origin airport itself and you should get your onward boarding passes there as well.
At DEL there are 5 ways to get from arrivals to departures (one level up), listed here in order of least walking to most walking.
1. Domestic - intl transfer gate: After you deplane from your domestic flight (or get off the bus) and go down the escalator (or stay on the same level coming from a bus) there is a special facility for transit passengers in the hall with the copper hands on the wall (red gate in the image below). It leads directly to immigration counters and security check after which you can access departure gates, lounges etc. Service on this entry point are hit or miss, but will save you a lot of walking. There are AI and AF-KL agents roaming the queues and will fast track you if running late. However, this only works if you already have your boarding pass for your International flight, have checked your luggage through from your point of origin, and have less than 4 hours between your domestic and international flights. If you are on separate tickets, have more than 4 hours for your international flight, or the lines are too long try one of the other options below.
2. Transfer desk in the middle of the arrivals concourse: always crowded. Here you could theoretically drop your bags and take the lift up to the security or checkin desks. Its a night mare, never used it due to crowding.
3. The escalator & lift on the international end: collect your bags, turn LEFT when you exit the first set of doors after the baggage belt. At the complete end of the concourse a lonely CISF jawan polices that way up. S/he will check if you have a international onward ticket/BP or send you packing to the other ways. Once you go up you get into a glass walled holding pen with yet another CISF checkpoint that will only let you ínto the checkin area if your flight is in 4h or less.
4. Escalator & lift on the domestic end: collect your bags, turn right when you exit the first set of doors after the baggage belt. At the complete end of the concourse a lonely CISF jawan polices that way up. S/he will check if you have a domestic onward ticket/BP or send you packing to the other ways. Once you go up everything is cordoned off and you are shown out the terminal by the CISF guy sitting at the glass door to the checkin area you end up curbside and have to enter the terminal again.
5. Just walking out as if you want to go to Delhi: here you exit the terminal and pretend to be a regular pax arriving in Delhi. Once you exit there are walk escalators where you push your cart on and get transported to the departure level. Select one of the many gates where there are no major lines and enter the checkin area.
B. International to domestic transit at T3:
For Air India I-D flights where your domestic flight is from AI 010-399 or 900-999, you will follow the procedure for I-I transfers (see this for details). Otherwise follow the procedure given below.
For all other flights, you will go through immigration in Delhi. After immigration you have to collect your bags and go through customs. Then follow steps 3, 4 or 5 in the section above.
Security will generally not allow entry into the domestic terminal until T-4 (four hours before the departure of your flight).
Transit hotel: For overnight transit (int'l flight arriving at night and domestic connection departing following morning), the transit hotel within Terminal 3 (IHG Holiday Inn Express) is perfectly acceptable. And the views of the tarmac when having the included breakfast aren't bad. You need to have a domestic flight departing from T3 in order to use it. The T-4 restriction does not apply to use the transit hotel. But it goes for quite a premium in rates over what the other hotels in the area cost (if willing to exit the terminal building for overnight stays). To reach, turn right after Customs and look for the Holiday Inn Express help desk inside the terminal. Staff will escort you to the hotel and help with other formalities.
For other terminals:
T2 is a (long) walk from T3. Exit the terminal, turn left and follow the signs.
T1 is ~8km by road and takes about 15 minutes by taxi. There is also a shuttle bus outside the terminal which is free if you are a woman or have a boarding pass for an onward flight, and costs INR 25 otherwise. There are no airside connections.
C. International to International transfer
After landing look for the board saying "International Transfers" (DO NOT go through immigration).
1. If you are on a single ticket and already have boarding pass in hand with "DT" (Direct Transfer) printed on it, walk past the transfer desks and go through transit security. Then you can proceed to the departure lounges and gates. Note: if your boarding pass does not have "DT" printed on it, you need to talk to the transfer desk, otherwise the I-I security checkpoint will likely not let you through and send you back to the transfer desk.
2. If you have separate tickets or don't have your onward boarding pass in hand, you have to go to the transfer desk where the airline staff will check documents and issue your onward boarding pass. You cannot check-in online or get an e-Boarding Passes for international flights out of India. Check-in generally opens 4 hours before and closes 60-75 minutes before departure. Then go through transit security as in point 1.
3. There are no priority security lanes in transit security so it is advisable to keep adequate time (>2 hrs) between connecting flights even if you are in F or J.
4. If you have separate tickets, in addition it is advisable to hold an Indian visa or e-visa as you may be denied boarding at origin otherwise.
5. A transit hotel for overnight stays (up to 24 hours) is available after transit security.
I-I transfer desks are open as of August 2022.
Below are the details for transit within T3.
A. Domestic to international transit at T3:
If both your domestic and international flights are on a single ticket, your baggage will be checked through at the origin airport itself and you should get your onward boarding passes there as well.
At DEL there are 5 ways to get from arrivals to departures (one level up), listed here in order of least walking to most walking.
1. Domestic - intl transfer gate: After you deplane from your domestic flight (or get off the bus) and go down the escalator (or stay on the same level coming from a bus) there is a special facility for transit passengers in the hall with the copper hands on the wall (red gate in the image below). It leads directly to immigration counters and security check after which you can access departure gates, lounges etc. Service on this entry point are hit or miss, but will save you a lot of walking. There are AI and AF-KL agents roaming the queues and will fast track you if running late. However, this only works if you already have your boarding pass for your International flight, have checked your luggage through from your point of origin, and have less than 4 hours between your domestic and international flights. If you are on separate tickets, have more than 4 hours for your international flight, or the lines are too long try one of the other options below.
2. Transfer desk in the middle of the arrivals concourse: always crowded. Here you could theoretically drop your bags and take the lift up to the security or checkin desks. Its a night mare, never used it due to crowding.
3. The escalator & lift on the international end: collect your bags, turn LEFT when you exit the first set of doors after the baggage belt. At the complete end of the concourse a lonely CISF jawan polices that way up. S/he will check if you have a international onward ticket/BP or send you packing to the other ways. Once you go up you get into a glass walled holding pen with yet another CISF checkpoint that will only let you ínto the checkin area if your flight is in 4h or less.
4. Escalator & lift on the domestic end: collect your bags, turn right when you exit the first set of doors after the baggage belt. At the complete end of the concourse a lonely CISF jawan polices that way up. S/he will check if you have a domestic onward ticket/BP or send you packing to the other ways. Once you go up everything is cordoned off and you are shown out the terminal by the CISF guy sitting at the glass door to the checkin area you end up curbside and have to enter the terminal again.
5. Just walking out as if you want to go to Delhi: here you exit the terminal and pretend to be a regular pax arriving in Delhi. Once you exit there are walk escalators where you push your cart on and get transported to the departure level. Select one of the many gates where there are no major lines and enter the checkin area.
B. International to domestic transit at T3:
For Air India I-D flights where your domestic flight is from AI 010-399 or 900-999, you will follow the procedure for I-I transfers (see this for details). Otherwise follow the procedure given below.
For all other flights, you will go through immigration in Delhi. After immigration you have to collect your bags and go through customs. Then follow steps 3, 4 or 5 in the section above.
Security will generally not allow entry into the domestic terminal until T-4 (four hours before the departure of your flight).
Transit hotel: For overnight transit (int'l flight arriving at night and domestic connection departing following morning), the transit hotel within Terminal 3 (IHG Holiday Inn Express) is perfectly acceptable. And the views of the tarmac when having the included breakfast aren't bad. You need to have a domestic flight departing from T3 in order to use it. The T-4 restriction does not apply to use the transit hotel. But it goes for quite a premium in rates over what the other hotels in the area cost (if willing to exit the terminal building for overnight stays). To reach, turn right after Customs and look for the Holiday Inn Express help desk inside the terminal. Staff will escort you to the hotel and help with other formalities.
For other terminals:
T2 is a (long) walk from T3. Exit the terminal, turn left and follow the signs.
T1 is ~8km by road and takes about 15 minutes by taxi. There is also a shuttle bus outside the terminal which is free if you are a woman or have a boarding pass for an onward flight, and costs INR 25 otherwise. There are no airside connections.
C. International to International transfer
After landing look for the board saying "International Transfers" (DO NOT go through immigration).
1. If you are on a single ticket and already have boarding pass in hand with "DT" (Direct Transfer) printed on it, walk past the transfer desks and go through transit security. Then you can proceed to the departure lounges and gates. Note: if your boarding pass does not have "DT" printed on it, you need to talk to the transfer desk, otherwise the I-I security checkpoint will likely not let you through and send you back to the transfer desk.
2. If you have separate tickets or don't have your onward boarding pass in hand, you have to go to the transfer desk where the airline staff will check documents and issue your onward boarding pass. You cannot check-in online or get an e-Boarding Passes for international flights out of India. Check-in generally opens 4 hours before and closes 60-75 minutes before departure. Then go through transit security as in point 1.
3. There are no priority security lanes in transit security so it is advisable to keep adequate time (>2 hrs) between connecting flights even if you are in F or J.
4. If you have separate tickets, in addition it is advisable to hold an Indian visa or e-visa as you may be denied boarding at origin otherwise.
5. A transit hotel for overnight stays (up to 24 hours) is available after transit security.
Delhi IGI [DEL] connection/departure experience reports
Sep 27, 2015, 5:12 pm
#166
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Sydney & London
Programs: UA Lifetime Exec Plat (2MM)
Posts: 744
1. DXB-DEL-DXB on EK;
2. DEL-MUC-DEL on LH.
I will have a layover of approximately 4 hours in each direction, and was planning to do a transit without visa as I will be staying airside and will have only a small carry-on.
Based on your above response to another question, I was wondering whether I could do this or if I would have to get a visa of some sort.
Sep 28, 2015, 12:21 pm
#167
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,528
I did this two weeks ago, so my two cents:
Arrived on AI business class from HKG with a 3 hour connection. Went to the transfers counter as advised.
Depart on UA to EWR in business class. It took the transfer counter 90 minutes to find a United agent, at which time the flight to EWR was almost boarding. This was after I stood in front of the counter the whole time, asking every 5 minutes where the United agent was. They wanted me to "take a seat and we'll come get you." I wonder how long it might have been then...
That said, once the "United agent" arrived she was AMAZING and took great care of me, escorting me through security, through a back secret corridor shortcut to the lounge, and then to the gate where she blocked the seat next to me. Major props!
Arrived on AI business class from HKG with a 3 hour connection. Went to the transfers counter as advised.
Depart on UA to EWR in business class. It took the transfer counter 90 minutes to find a United agent, at which time the flight to EWR was almost boarding. This was after I stood in front of the counter the whole time, asking every 5 minutes where the United agent was. They wanted me to "take a seat and we'll come get you." I wonder how long it might have been then...
That said, once the "United agent" arrived she was AMAZING and took great care of me, escorting me through security, through a back secret corridor shortcut to the lounge, and then to the gate where she blocked the seat next to me. Major props!
Sep 29, 2015, 1:36 am
#168
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Sydney & London
Programs: UA Lifetime Exec Plat (2MM)
Posts: 744
However, based on oliver2002's recent comments, I assume that I will have to get a 2-entry Transit Visa in advance to avoid the possibility of denied boardings. Any further thoughts on this?
Sep 29, 2015, 9:11 am
#169
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,528
AI never checked my visa in HKG (although I do have a 10 year multi entry) but I suppose they know transit regulations better than most? They did ask about my onward ticket from DEL, but never asked to see it....
Sep 30, 2015, 8:50 am
#170
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
You have to get a ETA for 60$. The nice part is that you (assuming UK citizenship?) now can do it from your pc... 
Sep 30, 2015, 8:51 am
#171
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
AI has a lot more going on in DEL. Doing an EK-LH transfer with two separate tickets is a different matter.
Sep 30, 2015, 3:58 pm
#172
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Sydney & London
Programs: UA Lifetime Exec Plat (2MM)
Posts: 744
Oct 17, 2015, 12:31 am
#174
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Sydney & London
Programs: UA Lifetime Exec Plat (2MM)
Posts: 744
I really didn't need to go through India, travelling from SYD to FCO, but it would have been convenient using a combination of paid and reward tickets. However, with EK's 50% off reward tix offer, it is now more convenient and cost-effective to transit CMB (where I've been many times), and a heck of a lot more convenient from the visa point of view.
I really don't think I will ever plan to visit or transit through India again (and I'm sure they don't give a damn either).
Nov 11, 2015, 1:13 am
#175
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Sydney & London
Programs: UA Lifetime Exec Plat (2MM)
Posts: 744
FWIW I feel that my decision was vindicated. I booked 2 tickets on EK, SYD-CMB and CMB-FCO (one paid and one FF award). Transit time in CMB was approx 90 mins, but was quite effortless, as I received my onward boarding pass within 10 mins of landing, at the EK lounge (I'm a Gold with EK). Still time to have a glass or two of Moet.
Can't do that in India, irrespective of airline or class, and no visa was needed (although I always carry a Sri-Lankan transit visa - which is free - just in case).
This may not work for non-elites of EK, but it certainly worked for me.
Can't do that in India, irrespective of airline or class, and no visa was needed (although I always carry a Sri-Lankan transit visa - which is free - just in case).
This may not work for non-elites of EK, but it certainly worked for me.
Dec 17, 2015, 9:51 am
#176
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 2
Delhi to Surat connection question
I will be traveling with 2 small children from Chicago to Delhi on Air India. They recently started offering connections to Surat (Gujarat). Without thinking, I booked that connecting flight. So the whole trip is on one PNR from Chicago to Delhi to Surat. My question is whether I will have to collect my bags in Delhi and recheck them for Surat if Air India is the only flight involved? My concern is how will I be able to do that in less than 2 hours connecting time with 2 small children with me. 
Dec 18, 2015, 4:38 am
#177
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Easy peasy, just did the same in DEL last weekend. You collect your bags, walk thru customs, then turn left (not right as suggested by the signage) and take the elevator up. The checkpoint on the left is always empty, because everyone turns right as signposted.
Your papers will get checked by CISF twice, once at the elevator, once when you enter the checkin desk area. Then look carefully: there is a general checkin desk bank for AI, a carefully hidden side for *G and First/Executive passengers, and 2-3 desks for 'baggage drop'. You can use the latter to drop off your bags. The line is pretty short there too.
Your papers will get checked by CISF twice, once at the elevator, once when you enter the checkin desk area. Then look carefully: there is a general checkin desk bank for AI, a carefully hidden side for *G and First/Executive passengers, and 2-3 desks for 'baggage drop'. You can use the latter to drop off your bags. The line is pretty short there too.
Dec 18, 2015, 10:10 am
#178
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 2
Any airport help available?
Easy peasy, just did the same in DEL last weekend. You collect your bags, walk thru customs, then turn left (not right as suggested by the signage) and take the elevator up. The checkpoint on the left is always empty, because everyone turns right as signposted.
Your papers will get checked by CISF twice, once at the elevator, once when you enter the checkin desk area. Then look carefully: there is a general checkin desk bank for AI, a carefully hidden side for *G and First/Executive passengers, and 2-3 desks for 'baggage drop'. You can use the latter to drop off your bags. The line is pretty short there too.
Your papers will get checked by CISF twice, once at the elevator, once when you enter the checkin desk area. Then look carefully: there is a general checkin desk bank for AI, a carefully hidden side for *G and First/Executive passengers, and 2-3 desks for 'baggage drop'. You can use the latter to drop off your bags. The line is pretty short there too.
Dec 18, 2015, 11:43 am
#179
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
None available. If you want to bve sure, book the allwaysvip service: https://www.allwaysvip.com/files/IND...s_flyer_v2.pdf
4000INR well spent.
4000INR well spent.
Dec 30, 2015, 5:47 pm
#180
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: DL PM, SPG Gold
Posts: 34
Report on Domestic to Eaton Transit Hotel to International
Hi all, I hope this is the right thread for a quick experience report on my travels through DEL yesterday...
I had booked LAX-AMS-DEL-AMS-LAX on KLM in J several months ago and booked a private tour company to handle accommodations and travel within India.
The tour ended with an AI flight from Jaipur to Delhi, which arrived T3 at 5:00pm on the 29th. The KLM departure was at 3:00am on the 30th.
The tour company booked us into the Eaton Transit Hotel since the layover was so long, and we didn't want to try to go back into Delhi for dinner. I was a little worried that baggage / security might be a problem, based on mixed reviews, but my experience was perfectly smooth:
We were greeted at the gate by an Eaton representative when we arrived DEL. The rep walked us to baggage claim and helped us load our five bags onto a trolley.
The rep walked us through security at an elevator to the right of badge claim, through security at what appeared to be a transit lounge, and through baggage X-Ray for all of our bags (to-be-checked and carry-on).
He then walked us to the elevator to the hotel (which is indeed hard to locate, and the hotel name does not appear anywhere -- apparently they're going through a name change (not sure whether Eaton is the old or new name)).
The rep checked us into our room and let us keep our bags and the trolley in the room. This was great for reorganizing / repacking. The room was small, but not cramped. The view was of the international check-in area. Everything was clean and modern. The shower had very hot water. All was good. We had dinner in their cafe which has international menu (pasta, etc in addition to Indian food) and breakfast all day.
On check out, we took our trolley full of bags down to international check-in, got our boarding passes, checked our bags, went through security, and hit the ITC Green lounge before heading to our gate.
I had read elsewhere that you can't access your checked bags at the transit hotel, and maybe that's true on the international side (for international-to-international connections). But on the domestic side (for domestic-to-international, etc), everything was easy.
Hope this helps, and happy travels.
I had booked LAX-AMS-DEL-AMS-LAX on KLM in J several months ago and booked a private tour company to handle accommodations and travel within India.
The tour ended with an AI flight from Jaipur to Delhi, which arrived T3 at 5:00pm on the 29th. The KLM departure was at 3:00am on the 30th.
The tour company booked us into the Eaton Transit Hotel since the layover was so long, and we didn't want to try to go back into Delhi for dinner. I was a little worried that baggage / security might be a problem, based on mixed reviews, but my experience was perfectly smooth:
We were greeted at the gate by an Eaton representative when we arrived DEL. The rep walked us to baggage claim and helped us load our five bags onto a trolley.
The rep walked us through security at an elevator to the right of badge claim, through security at what appeared to be a transit lounge, and through baggage X-Ray for all of our bags (to-be-checked and carry-on).
He then walked us to the elevator to the hotel (which is indeed hard to locate, and the hotel name does not appear anywhere -- apparently they're going through a name change (not sure whether Eaton is the old or new name)).
The rep checked us into our room and let us keep our bags and the trolley in the room. This was great for reorganizing / repacking. The room was small, but not cramped. The view was of the international check-in area. Everything was clean and modern. The shower had very hot water. All was good. We had dinner in their cafe which has international menu (pasta, etc in addition to Indian food) and breakfast all day.
On check out, we took our trolley full of bags down to international check-in, got our boarding passes, checked our bags, went through security, and hit the ITC Green lounge before heading to our gate.
I had read elsewhere that you can't access your checked bags at the transit hotel, and maybe that's true on the international side (for international-to-international connections). But on the domestic side (for domestic-to-international, etc), everything was easy.
Hope this helps, and happy travels.