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
#286
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 50K, MR Plat
Posts: 52
T3 Domestic -> Int'l
Hi Oliver I'm travelling BLR->DEL->YYZ
BLR-> DEL on AI 503 (code share on AC)
DEL->YYZ via AC 71.
My question are:
Per this post it looks like I need to go to counter 45/46 to clear customs in DEL
BLR-> DEL on AI 503 (code share on AC)
DEL->YYZ via AC 71.
My question are:
- I presume I would be checking in at the domestic AI counter in BLR even though i'm on an AC code share?
- Would I clear customs in BLR or in DEL?
- Will bags be tagged all the way until YYZ or pick up in DEL
- Will BP's all be printed in BLR, or do I need to check in at DEL with AC?
Per this post it looks like I need to go to counter 45/46 to clear customs in DEL
#289
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: UK/Australia
Programs: BAEC Silver, UA2MM, QF Platinum, VA Platinum., Volare Executive Club
Posts: 2,512
I have a business class ticket for May, CMB-DEL-LHR on Air India. There has been a schedule change, meaning that instead of 3 hrs 35 mins in DEL I now have only 1 hr 55 mins. It still shows as bookable on Air India's website. I will only have a carry-on and I wasn't planning to get a transit visa.
The flights concerned are:
AI282 CMB-DEL 8:30-12:05,
AI111 DEL-LHR 14:00-19:00.
I was wondering if this left enough time to do a reasonably comfortable transit.
The flights concerned are:
AI282 CMB-DEL 8:30-12:05,
AI111 DEL-LHR 14:00-19:00.
I was wondering if this left enough time to do a reasonably comfortable transit.
#290
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,682
I have a business class ticket for May, CMB-DEL-LHR on Air India. There has been a schedule change, meaning that instead of 3 hrs 35 mins in DEL I now have only 1 hr 55 mins. It still shows as bookable on Air India's website. I will only have a carry-on and I wasn't planning to get a transit visa.
The flights concerned are:
AI282 CMB-DEL 8:30-12:05,
AI111 DEL-LHR 14:00-19:00.
I was wondering if this left enough time to do a reasonably comfortable transit.
The flights concerned are:
AI282 CMB-DEL 8:30-12:05,
AI111 DEL-LHR 14:00-19:00.
I was wondering if this left enough time to do a reasonably comfortable transit.
#293
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: CO
Posts: 25
I've read the thread and believe the answer is I don't need a transit visa but want to confirm. I have a single PNR arriving into DEL on LH and connecting to AI flight 263 to the Maldives. If I understand correctly I will go the the transfer desk to retrieve boarding passes without a need to clear customs & immigration. Therefore a transit visa is not needed. The same would hold true returning through DEL on AI 264 connecting to an OZ flight a few hours later. Thank you for the help.
#295
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA silver, Flying Blue gold, Marriott titanium
Posts: 71
Double intl-intl connections in DEL
I've gone through this thread, and thought we had everything figured out with visas, etc, but I'm concerned we might have issues boarding flights. We have EU passports and are transiting through DEL twice next month, both international connections on separate tickets. First we arrive KLM, depart Indigo to KTM with an 10 hour layover. Our plan is to stay airside in T3, hand baggage only and we have booked a room at the Holiday Inn airside.
On the way back, we have a two day layover and have secured an e-visa for the return. Is there a possible problem boarding our KLM flight to DEL as they will want to see a visa as we are not on connecting tickets? We can show them our e-visa (which is for our return and states the intended entry of the return transfer). Assuming not an issue, is there anything else we should be concerned about for the initial transfer to ensure we do not have to go landside? I'm not sure we will be able to apply for a second e-visa if we had to use it both ways.
Thanks for your assistance!
On the way back, we have a two day layover and have secured an e-visa for the return. Is there a possible problem boarding our KLM flight to DEL as they will want to see a visa as we are not on connecting tickets? We can show them our e-visa (which is for our return and states the intended entry of the return transfer). Assuming not an issue, is there anything else we should be concerned about for the initial transfer to ensure we do not have to go landside? I'm not sure we will be able to apply for a second e-visa if we had to use it both ways.
Thanks for your assistance!
#299
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Here is my situation.
I am travelling to Frankfurt from Kochi via Delhi. But I am confused about the transfer in Delhi. Sorry, it might sound silly but I am having a transfer via a Domestic Airport for the first time.
My concerns below, please help
COK - DEL -> AI - 47
DEL - FRA -> LH - 761
1. How can I get to LH - 761 if the aircraft arrives at Domestic Terminal ?
1. Do I need to collect my baggage at Delhi and proceed to the International Terminal ?
2. The transfer time is 3.25hours, will that be enough ?
I am travelling to Frankfurt from Kochi via Delhi. But I am confused about the transfer in Delhi. Sorry, it might sound silly but I am having a transfer via a Domestic Airport for the first time.
My concerns below, please help
COK - DEL -> AI - 47
DEL - FRA -> LH - 761
1. How can I get to LH - 761 if the aircraft arrives at Domestic Terminal ?
1. Do I need to collect my baggage at Delhi and proceed to the International Terminal ?
2. The transfer time is 3.25hours, will that be enough ?
#300
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 124
Hi GintoT,
I don't have personal experience but going through information online, I would like to share:
There is a less possibility of International Aircraft arrives at domestic terminal.
Not sure, but you need to collect your baggage at Delhi and it doesn't take much time, might be 15-30 mins.
Not have an idea.
I don't have personal experience but going through information online, I would like to share:
Not have an idea.