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
Nov 23, 2021, 6:39 am
#511
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
The PP arrival lounge has showers, but then you sacrifice precious time before reporting to the Vistara checkin desk. The AI domestic lounge has showers, but you are on UK...
Nov 23, 2021, 8:52 am
#512
formerly gantid
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Mileage Plus Platinum, Marriott Platinum elite, *G, Hilton Gold
Posts: 198
Thanks oliver2002. UK seemed to be a better choice after the long flight from YYZ.
I sent several emails to PPS requesting information on the availability of showers.I was wondering if COVID restrictions required their closure. I have not heard back from them.
I am assuming that UK uses the PPS lounge for domestic flights.
I sent several emails to PPS requesting information on the availability of showers.I was wondering if COVID restrictions required their closure. I have not heard back from them.
I am assuming that UK uses the PPS lounge for domestic flights.
Nov 23, 2021, 10:02 am
#513
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Yes they do, but the domestic PP has no showers in their airside lounge, only in the landside arrivals lounge.
Nov 26, 2021, 2:31 am
#515
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Some observations on recent I-D and D-I transit in DEL T3:
As you may recall there are 5 ways to get from the arrivals to the departure level:
- the domestic - intl transfer service: 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 pax who checked their bags thru in the hall with the copper hands on the wall. Service on this entry point are hit of 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
- the 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.
- the transfer desk in the middle of the arrivals concourse: always crowded. Here you could theorectically drop your bags and take the lift up to the security or checkin desks. Its a night mare, never used it due to crowding.
- 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 oínto the checkin area if your flight is in 4h or less
- just walking out as if you want to go to Delhi: here you pretend to be a regular pax arriving in Delhi. In the middle of the terminal 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.
As you may recall there are 5 ways to get from the arrivals to the departure level:
- the domestic - intl transfer service: 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 pax who checked their bags thru in the hall with the copper hands on the wall. Service on this entry point are hit of 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
- the 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.- the transfer desk in the middle of the arrivals concourse: always crowded. Here you could theorectically drop your bags and take the lift up to the security or checkin desks. Its a night mare, never used it due to crowding.
- 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 oínto the checkin area if your flight is in 4h or less
- just walking out as if you want to go to Delhi: here you pretend to be a regular pax arriving in Delhi. In the middle of the terminal 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.
Dec 13, 2021, 9:08 pm
#516
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: FRA/MAA
Programs: Asiana Gold, Asante Gold, Emirates Gold, Marriott Gold Elite, Hilton Gold, Royal Jordanian Gold
Posts: 4
Hi! I'm landing at DEL in two weeks on UA801(EWR-DEL) at 9:30PM. My next connecting flight is on UK833(DEL-MAA) at 7:20AM.
Assuming that I take max 2hrs to clear immigration and baggage claim, and that domestic check-in only opens 2.5hrs before departure, that leaves me with roughly 5 hours to burn.
Is the ideal option for me to goto the Plaza Premium lounge? I'm confused on this since online it shows that the International Arrivals lounge is closed. Is that the case? Could anyone confirm? If it is indeed closed, then my next best option would be to goto to the Plaza Premium Transit Hotel. However, I'm confused on that as well, since I don't clearly understand their definitions of landside and airside. Are the lounge and transit hotel after immigration/custom/baggage claim?
Thanks!
Assuming that I take max 2hrs to clear immigration and baggage claim, and that domestic check-in only opens 2.5hrs before departure, that leaves me with roughly 5 hours to burn.
Is the ideal option for me to goto the Plaza Premium lounge? I'm confused on this since online it shows that the International Arrivals lounge is closed. Is that the case? Could anyone confirm? If it is indeed closed, then my next best option would be to goto to the Plaza Premium Transit Hotel. However, I'm confused on that as well, since I don't clearly understand their definitions of landside and airside. Are the lounge and transit hotel after immigration/custom/baggage claim?
Thanks!
Dec 13, 2021, 10:00 pm
#517
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 118
FWIW one of the Plaza Premium arrivals lounges is open. It's pretty barebones, you get seating & power points to charge devices, and a round of tea/coffee/soft drinks. They 'limit' you to three hours on a priority pass, but you can re-swipe your card after three hours if you need to wait longer. They also have nap rooms in that lounge, but it's not included with priority pass, IIRC the nap rooms were ~Rs 3000 for 3 hours the last time I was there.
The lounge is landside, you turn left after you exit customs and it's right there.
There is a holiday inn express inside the airport that you can book by the hour. There are a few threads on this forum about that hotel.
Domestic check-in opens 4 hours before the flight. IME if the CISF security guards allow you to enter the check-in area (4 hours before the flight), UK will let you check-in. Once you check-in you can access the better Priority Pass and AMEX lounges that are airside.
The lounge is landside, you turn left after you exit customs and it's right there.
There is a holiday inn express inside the airport that you can book by the hour. There are a few threads on this forum about that hotel.
Domestic check-in opens 4 hours before the flight. IME if the CISF security guards allow you to enter the check-in area (4 hours before the flight), UK will let you check-in. Once you check-in you can access the better Priority Pass and AMEX lounges that are airside.
Dec 13, 2021, 10:21 pm
#518
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: FRA/MAA
Programs: Asiana Gold, Asante Gold, Emirates Gold, Marriott Gold Elite, Hilton Gold, Royal Jordanian Gold
Posts: 4
FWIW one of the Plaza Premium arrivals lounges is open. It's pretty barebones, you get seating & power points to charge devices, and a round of tea/coffee/soft drinks. They 'limit' you to three hours on a priority pass, but you can re-swipe your card after three hours if you need to wait longer. They also have nap rooms in that lounge, but it's not included with priority pass, IIRC the nap rooms were ~Rs 3000 for 3 hours the last time I was there.
The lounge is landside, you turn left after you exit customs and it's right there.
There is a holiday inn express inside the airport that you can book by the hour. There are a few threads on this forum about that hotel.
Domestic check-in opens 4 hours before the flight. IME if the CISF security guards allow you to enter the check-in area (4 hours before the flight), UK will let you check-in. Once you check-in you can access the better Priority Pass and AMEX lounges that are airside.
The lounge is landside, you turn left after you exit customs and it's right there.
There is a holiday inn express inside the airport that you can book by the hour. There are a few threads on this forum about that hotel.
Domestic check-in opens 4 hours before the flight. IME if the CISF security guards allow you to enter the check-in area (4 hours before the flight), UK will let you check-in. Once you check-in you can access the better Priority Pass and AMEX lounges that are airside.
Thanks for the reply!
Actually the Holiday Inn is quite expensive(double the cost), and also considering that I won't be able to sleep, I guess the lounge is the better option.
Also, are you sure that Domestic Check-In opens 4 hrs before? Because Vistara's website says 2.5 hours and also if I leave 4 hrs prior, and CISF tells me "Nope, come in 2 hrs", I'll be basically stranded there for 2 hrs.
Dec 14, 2021, 12:08 am
#519
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Vistara has other flights and opens a few counters at 2am that will accept your baggage, after which you can get past security and to the airside lounge.
Note that you will be there in the peak wave of travel, usually thousands are either at checkin for the international flights between 11pm and 2am and thousands arrive and want to get out on the morning domestic wave. So things become a cluster around that time.
Arriving at 9.30pm you will get a spot in the landside arrival lounge easily. They have about 8 recliners with a small bench to put your feet on and the area is kept dark. You normally sit there and wait for time to pass. You aim should be to kill time and wait for the mayhem at checkin to subside a bit till about 3.30-4am.
Note that you will be there in the peak wave of travel, usually thousands are either at checkin for the international flights between 11pm and 2am and thousands arrive and want to get out on the morning domestic wave. So things become a cluster around that time.
Arriving at 9.30pm you will get a spot in the landside arrival lounge easily. They have about 8 recliners with a small bench to put your feet on and the area is kept dark. You normally sit there and wait for time to pass. You aim should be to kill time and wait for the mayhem at checkin to subside a bit till about 3.30-4am.
Dec 14, 2021, 2:36 pm
#520
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: FRA/MAA
Programs: Asiana Gold, Asante Gold, Emirates Gold, Marriott Gold Elite, Hilton Gold, Royal Jordanian Gold
Posts: 4
Vistara has other flights and opens a few counters at 2am that will accept your baggage, after which you can get past security and to the airside lounge.
Note that you will be there in the peak wave of travel, usually thousands are either at checkin for the international flights between 11pm and 2am and thousands arrive and want to get out on the morning domestic wave. So things become a cluster around that time.
Arriving at 9.30pm you will get a spot in the landside arrival lounge easily. They have about 8 recliners with a small bench to put your feet on and the area is kept dark. You normally sit there and wait for time to pass. You aim should be to kill time and wait for the mayhem at checkin to subside a bit till about 3.30-4am.
Note that you will be there in the peak wave of travel, usually thousands are either at checkin for the international flights between 11pm and 2am and thousands arrive and want to get out on the morning domestic wave. So things become a cluster around that time.
Arriving at 9.30pm you will get a spot in the landside arrival lounge easily. They have about 8 recliners with a small bench to put your feet on and the area is kept dark. You normally sit there and wait for time to pass. You aim should be to kill time and wait for the mayhem at checkin to subside a bit till about 3.30-4am.
My question relating to domestic check-in was more so related to CISF. Would the CISF allow me to enter 3 hours before departure?
Dec 17, 2021, 9:10 am
#522
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 16
Original UK 966 schedule change delayed scheduled departure by 25 mins recently. My new connection time is only 1 hr 25 mins. Both on same PNR and Business class. Will I make my UA 802 flight? How much delay in AMD is acceptable before I should be worried? Both should be in T3 so I shouldn't need to go through security again, but I'm sure there will be some customs/security checks at the UA gate. What are my options if there is a delay and I miss the connection? When is the next flight out that Vistara would try to accommodate me on?
Ahmedabad to New Delhi – UK 966
8:40 PM–10:20 PM
New Delhi to Newark – UA 802
11:45 PM–4:25 AM
Ahmedabad to New Delhi – UK 966
8:40 PM–10:20 PM
New Delhi to Newark – UA 802
11:45 PM–4:25 AM
Last edited by ghostwolf; Dec 17, 2021 at 9:23 am
Dec 18, 2021, 2:01 am
#523
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 will use the Dom-intl transfer in T3 and have to do immigration and security. The connection is doable but tight.
Dec 20, 2021, 4:12 am
#524
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 319
Original UK 966 schedule change delayed scheduled departure by 25 mins recently. My new connection time is only 1 hr 25 mins. Both on same PNR and Business class. Will I make my UA 802 flight? How much delay in AMD is acceptable before I should be worried? Both should be in T3 so I shouldn't need to go through security again, but I'm sure there will be some customs/security checks at the UA gate. What are my options if there is a delay and I miss the connection? When is the next flight out that Vistara would try to accommodate me on?
Ahmedabad to New Delhi – UK 966
8:40 PM–10:20 PM
New Delhi to Newark – UA 802
11:45 PM–4:25 AM
Ahmedabad to New Delhi – UK 966
8:40 PM–10:20 PM
New Delhi to Newark – UA 802
11:45 PM–4:25 AM
My guess is first they will try UA itself with a different routing, there are two more UA flights to ORD (2 am) and SFO (4 am)...after that keeping with *A there is Air India to JFK and ORD at around 2 am and SFO around 4 am.
Of course this depends on the availability of seats in any of these alternative flights in that order...right now I believe most of them are departing full due to bubble limitations.
In any case you should let the staff on board UK 966 know that you have an onward connection and DEL. Being in business you will get off the plane first and they might arrange some ground staff to expedite your transit (AI does this for domestic-international connections). If all else fails and you miss your flight ask for rerouting, and if it is not available the same night they should put you up in a hotel at DEL at their expense till they find you an alternative flight.
Dec 20, 2021, 5:46 am
#525
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Or go for the 'allways' service that PP offers in DEL: https://www.allwaysvip.com/loc/delhi-india
They know how to fast track you
They know how to fast track you