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
Feb 18, 2018, 3:38 am
#361
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 once managed to do this in less than 30 minutes....they are very good with transfers....
Feb 18, 2018, 6:52 am
#362
formerly gantid
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Mileage Plus Platinum, Marriott Platinum elite, *G, Hilton Gold
Posts: 198
I did a BOM-DEL-EWR run last year (1 hr 40 min transfer time) but unfortunately my BOM-DEL flight was almost an hour late. This caused a great deal of hassle. I did make it but it was a difficult process. A great deal depends on the number of people in line at the transfer/emigration-security counters.
Since this is your wife's first trip to India, I would suggest getting a direct flight from BOM-YYZ and avoid uncertainties.
Since this is your wife's first trip to India, I would suggest getting a direct flight from BOM-YYZ and avoid uncertainties.
Feb 21, 2018, 11:55 am
#363
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 377
The transfer desk will issue you the boarding passes for the onward flight or print you a new one on their card stock. If the ticket is interlined, they usually make note of your baggage details in their system to make sure it gets loaded on the connecting flight. The transfer desk is not supposed to locate luggage that was not checked to the final destination. Also note that Delta will not let you board a flight to India if you don't have valid travel documents (like a visa) for entry into India. That you have an onward connection on a separate ticket will not impress the DL agent whose computer will say 'no'.
Our trip plans for India changed, but we decided to keep the MCT-DEL flight, as it was simple to change the dates without change fees on our Finnair flight.
Mar 1, 2018, 12:11 am
#364
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 23
I'll be flying DEL-IST-ORD on TK in J, but I need to get to DEL from HYD. I was thinking of booking that leg (separate ticket) with Vistara just to try them out, but should I perhaps go with 9W or AI with the hope of getting my bags tagged all the way through? I expect 6+ hours between arrival and subsequent departure. Regardless of which domestic carrier I take, it sounds like my options are to leave the airport and wait outside for ~3 hours or use the holding area (once I find the elevator)? If I fly Vistara, I would have my bags in the holding area with me and if I fly 9W/AI, I wouldn't. Does this sound accurate? If it helps, I may have domestic arrivals lounge access but I'm not sure I would want to leave my bags at baggage claim while I hang out in the lounge for a bit.
Mar 1, 2018, 4:33 am
#365
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/9W will not tag your luggage thru on separate tickets, no chance. The PP arrivals lounge is after luggage claim. In December I managed to get thru to checkin even before the 4h limit, the CISF people let me thru, but the checkin desk had not opened. So I was walking the checkin area with my luggage and did soome people watching...
Mar 5, 2018, 7:20 pm
#366
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 16
Need to make CZ 360 (DEL -> CAN) at 11:25pm on a Saturday evening. Flying economy. I am Skyteam Elite+ (Delta Gold) and Global Entry.
Can I take the following or is it too tight of a window? I will need to pick up bags from domestic flight and check-in to international flight.
6:50 PM – 8:20 PM
Ahmedabad (AMD) – New Delhi (DEL)
Air India 11 · Economy Class · Airbus A321 (Sharklets)
How often are AMD - DEL planes delayed? Any idea how the new AMD repairs/closure from 10am - 7pm will add to delays? So it is either that AI flight above or an early morning flight.
Would any meet/assist services help bypass lines or be ideal for this situation?
Can I take the following or is it too tight of a window? I will need to pick up bags from domestic flight and check-in to international flight.
6:50 PM – 8:20 PM
Ahmedabad (AMD) – New Delhi (DEL)
Air India 11 · Economy Class · Airbus A321 (Sharklets)
How often are AMD - DEL planes delayed? Any idea how the new AMD repairs/closure from 10am - 7pm will add to delays? So it is either that AI flight above or an early morning flight.
Would any meet/assist services help bypass lines or be ideal for this situation?
Mar 6, 2018, 10:12 am
#367
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 16
When you say transfer...do you mean DOM - Intl on separate PNR? So domestic baggage claim, pick up luggage, (shuttle to intl terminal if dom flight not landing at T3), check in to intl flight, and go through security again? All within 30 mins?
Mar 20, 2018, 1:55 am
#368
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: FLG
Programs: AA ExP, UA Platinum, Marriott Platinum, IHG PlatInum
Posts: 88
A lot of good information here. Here's my situation which sounds a bit unique. All flights are on single PNR issued by United for an award ticket in J class. I can see all 4 flights on airindia.com when using the AI PNR provided by United.
KTM-DEL AI 216 15:35-16:50
DEL-BOM AI 24 18:00-20:10
BOM-YYZ AC 47 23:30-05:15+1
YYZ-PHX AC 1837 09:15-10:57
So I'm going from international to "domestic" to international (most other posts on this thread have been about I-to-D or vv; I haven't noticed an I-to-D-to-I scenario). I assume based on previous information in this thread that AI 24 is one of the AI flights that's treated as international and therefore I won't need to go through immigration/customs at DEL (which I guess also means I don't need a transit visa). So unless there's a major delay on the KTM-DEL flight (which is always a possibility cause ... KTM), 70 minutes of connecting time would sound like it should be enough. But it also sounds like part of that might depend on whether I already have my DEL-BOM boarding pass or whether I have to stand in line at the international transfer desk at DEL T3.
Does anyone know which boarding passes AI will give me at KTM? Will it be all 4 passes, just the 2 AI passes, or only KTM-DEL? Will my baggage tags show PHX as the final destination (I know I'll have to clear customs in YYZ)? If AI only issues the AI boarding passes, will there be an AC agent at the BOM transfer desk to issue my AC passes or will I get those at the gate? Thanks in advance for any assistance offered.
KTM-DEL AI 216 15:35-16:50
DEL-BOM AI 24 18:00-20:10
BOM-YYZ AC 47 23:30-05:15+1
YYZ-PHX AC 1837 09:15-10:57
So I'm going from international to "domestic" to international (most other posts on this thread have been about I-to-D or vv; I haven't noticed an I-to-D-to-I scenario). I assume based on previous information in this thread that AI 24 is one of the AI flights that's treated as international and therefore I won't need to go through immigration/customs at DEL (which I guess also means I don't need a transit visa). So unless there's a major delay on the KTM-DEL flight (which is always a possibility cause ... KTM), 70 minutes of connecting time would sound like it should be enough. But it also sounds like part of that might depend on whether I already have my DEL-BOM boarding pass or whether I have to stand in line at the international transfer desk at DEL T3.
Does anyone know which boarding passes AI will give me at KTM? Will it be all 4 passes, just the 2 AI passes, or only KTM-DEL? Will my baggage tags show PHX as the final destination (I know I'll have to clear customs in YYZ)? If AI only issues the AI boarding passes, will there be an AC agent at the BOM transfer desk to issue my AC passes or will I get those at the gate? Thanks in advance for any assistance offered.
Mar 21, 2018, 7:38 am
#369
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 will check your lugage thru till PHX and probably even issue all boarding passes. In DEL you will have a boarding pass with a big T printed on it and can proceed directly to AI 24 after a security screening. In BOM you need to contact AC at the transfer desk immediately after deplaning. They will take your luggage tags and issue you a fresh boarding pass.
Mar 21, 2018, 12:42 pm
#370
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: FLG
Programs: AA ExP, UA Platinum, Marriott Platinum, IHG PlatInum
Posts: 88
AI will check your lugage thru till PHX and probably even issue all boarding passes. In DEL you will have a boarding pass with a big T printed on it and can proceed directly to AI 24 after a security screening. In BOM you need to contact AC at the transfer desk immediately after deplaning. They will take your luggage tags and issue you a fresh boarding pass.
Mar 21, 2018, 3:49 pm
#371
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: FLG
Programs: AA ExP, UA Platinum, Marriott Platinum, IHG PlatInum
Posts: 88
Of course, I made the mistake of going to flightaware.com and checking out the history of AI216. Over the past 4 months, that flight has arrived in Delhi on average 61 minutes late and I have a "scheduled" 70 minute layover! I was a bit relieved when I checked the same history for AI24 and found that on average it has departed Delhi 41 minutes late. I guess that means that on an "average" day, I'll have 50 minutes to make the connection (minimum listed Int'l-to-Int'l connecting time for Delhi T3 is 60 minutes). In theory there's a later AI DEL-BOM flight that would get me to BOM with enough time to make my connection there (AI624), but it's a true "domestic" flight which I could only get on if I had a visa.
I'm debating whether I should just be proactive and change my flights while there's still United award space left in J. Otherwise, the odds are fairly decent that I'll be depending on an Air India Delhi transfer desk agent trying to rebook me on United award space out of Delhi. #firstworldproblems
I'm debating whether I should just be proactive and change my flights while there's still United award space left in J. Otherwise, the odds are fairly decent that I'll be depending on an Air India Delhi transfer desk agent trying to rebook me on United award space out of Delhi. #firstworldproblems
Mar 22, 2018, 7:31 am
#372
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
KTM is a tricky airport depending on the season. AI has a number of direct US flights from DEL, and can rebook you onto *A.
Apr 21, 2018, 9:07 am
#373
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,756
How is T3 immigration in the mornings? My flight's STA is 5:25 am (AY from HEL). What would your best estimate be from gate to the metro (no bags)?
I would leave on a 10:20 am, flight (AY to HEL), with no bags to check in and a boarding pass in hand. How much time would I need at the airport for immigration and security? Also, I hear there is a security check at the metro station before you can enter the platform. Will this take a lot of time at New Delhi Railway Station?
Thanks!
I would leave on a 10:20 am, flight (AY to HEL), with no bags to check in and a boarding pass in hand. How much time would I need at the airport for immigration and security? Also, I hear there is a security check at the metro station before you can enter the platform. Will this take a lot of time at New Delhi Railway Station?
Thanks!
Apr 22, 2018, 2:25 am
#374
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: SAS Diamond (*G), Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 424
Hi,
I will be arriving to Delhi from Stockholm on AI168.
I plan to book a separate ticket for my domestic leg to Mumbai on Air India. I understand that there are some flight that leave from the international terminal. How do I know which ones?
Do I still need to clear immigration in Delhi (separate tickets)?
I'm only bringing carry-on and have Star alliance gold for fast track (hopefully!).
I will be arriving to Delhi from Stockholm on AI168.
I plan to book a separate ticket for my domestic leg to Mumbai on Air India. I understand that there are some flight that leave from the international terminal. How do I know which ones?
Do I still need to clear immigration in Delhi (separate tickets)?
I'm only bringing carry-on and have Star alliance gold for fast track (hopefully!).
Apr 23, 2018, 12:51 am
#375
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 would leave on a 10:20 am, flight (AY to HEL), with no bags to check in and a boarding pass in hand. How much time would I need at the airport for immigration and security? Also, I hear there is a security check at the metro station before you can enter the platform. Will this take a lot of time at New Delhi Railway Station?
Thanks!
Thanks!