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
Aug 18, 2013, 10:04 am
#93
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: HHonors Gold; Accor Plat; SQ/TG
Posts: 111
You should be fine doing an international transit through DEL via the transfer desk without going through customs / immigration, however plan on having a really horrible experience doing it.
Just did two international transits through DEL in the last month (SQ F -> TG J; TG J -> SQ F) and each took at least 1.5 - 2 hours. Essentially you go to a crowded transit desk (which doesn't have any signs/areas for airlines) and all the agents will be on their cell phones assisting the hordes of other folks trying to transfer. You'll try and get someone's attention but need to get lucky as only the agent that handles the airline you arrived on will help you (again, no labels so you just have to keep asking). Once you find the agent, they'll take out a piece of paper (I didn't see anyone use a computer) and take down your arriving flight #, departing flight #, luggage slip #(s), passport number, and name. Then they'll proceed to make about 20 calls on their mobile while you sit to one side for about 1-2 hours and if they don't forget you (check every 20-30 mins just to make sure) you'll get a boarding pass. Then you can proceed through security and into the departure hall. May just be my experiences, but I say don't plan a short connection to be on the safe side.
I imagine if you are able to get a boarding pass issued at the country of departure you'll be able to skip the worst part of it.
Just did two international transits through DEL in the last month (SQ F -> TG J; TG J -> SQ F) and each took at least 1.5 - 2 hours. Essentially you go to a crowded transit desk (which doesn't have any signs/areas for airlines) and all the agents will be on their cell phones assisting the hordes of other folks trying to transfer. You'll try and get someone's attention but need to get lucky as only the agent that handles the airline you arrived on will help you (again, no labels so you just have to keep asking). Once you find the agent, they'll take out a piece of paper (I didn't see anyone use a computer) and take down your arriving flight #, departing flight #, luggage slip #(s), passport number, and name. Then they'll proceed to make about 20 calls on their mobile while you sit to one side for about 1-2 hours and if they don't forget you (check every 20-30 mins just to make sure) you'll get a boarding pass. Then you can proceed through security and into the departure hall. May just be my experiences, but I say don't plan a short connection to be on the safe side.
I imagine if you are able to get a boarding pass issued at the country of departure you'll be able to skip the worst part of it.
Aug 19, 2013, 1:33 am
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Posts: 29,682
You should be fine doing an international transit through DEL via the transfer desk without going through customs / immigration, however plan on having a really horrible experience doing it.
Just did two international transits through DEL in the last month (SQ F -> TG J; TG J -> SQ F) and each took at least 1.5 - 2 hours. Essentially you go to a crowded transit desk (which doesn't have any signs/areas for airlines) and all the agents will be on their cell phones assisting the hordes of other folks trying to transfer. You'll try and get someone's attention but need to get lucky as only the agent that handles the airline you arrived on will help you (again, no labels so you just have to keep asking). Once you find the agent, they'll take out a piece of paper (I didn't see anyone use a computer) and take down your arriving flight #, departing flight #, luggage slip #(s), passport number, and name. Then they'll proceed to make about 20 calls on their mobile while you sit to one side for about 1-2 hours and if they don't forget you (check every 20-30 mins just to make sure) you'll get a boarding pass. Then you can proceed through security and into the departure hall. May just be my experiences, but I say don't plan a short connection to be on the safe side.
I imagine if you are able to get a boarding pass issued at the country of departure you'll be able to skip the worst part of it.
Just did two international transits through DEL in the last month (SQ F -> TG J; TG J -> SQ F) and each took at least 1.5 - 2 hours. Essentially you go to a crowded transit desk (which doesn't have any signs/areas for airlines) and all the agents will be on their cell phones assisting the hordes of other folks trying to transfer. You'll try and get someone's attention but need to get lucky as only the agent that handles the airline you arrived on will help you (again, no labels so you just have to keep asking). Once you find the agent, they'll take out a piece of paper (I didn't see anyone use a computer) and take down your arriving flight #, departing flight #, luggage slip #(s), passport number, and name. Then they'll proceed to make about 20 calls on their mobile while you sit to one side for about 1-2 hours and if they don't forget you (check every 20-30 mins just to make sure) you'll get a boarding pass. Then you can proceed through security and into the departure hall. May just be my experiences, but I say don't plan a short connection to be on the safe side.
I imagine if you are able to get a boarding pass issued at the country of departure you'll be able to skip the worst part of it.
Jun 19, 2014, 6:44 pm
#95
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 39
Transit in Delhi airport question
I am flying Toronto- Brussels- Delhi by Jet airways and have an open jaw return: Chennai-Delhi-Brussels-Toronto, all in Business class.
I am asking for help with a few questions
1. My arrival time at Delhi on the MAA-DEL flight is 8:30PM, the Brussels-Toronto flight leaves at 2:40AM. Can I enter the International terminal right after getting off the MAA-DEL flight? I read somewhere (on these forums) that passengers are allowed in only 3 hours before, does that apply to transit passengers as well?
2. Would my bags be checked through to YYZ at MAA?
3. Any ideas how to kill time at DEL?
I am asking for help with a few questions
1. My arrival time at Delhi on the MAA-DEL flight is 8:30PM, the Brussels-Toronto flight leaves at 2:40AM. Can I enter the International terminal right after getting off the MAA-DEL flight? I read somewhere (on these forums) that passengers are allowed in only 3 hours before, does that apply to transit passengers as well?
2. Would my bags be checked through to YYZ at MAA?
3. Any ideas how to kill time at DEL?
Jun 20, 2014, 10:53 am
#97
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My arrival time at Delhi on the MAA-DEL flight is 8:30PM, the Brussels-Toronto flight leaves at 2:40AM. Can I enter the International terminal right after getting off the MAA-DEL flight? I read somewhere (on these forums) that passengers are allowed in only 3 hours before, does that apply to transit passengers as well?
Jun 23, 2014, 2:12 am
#99
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Oh, then you should be fine. 9W are good at checking luggage through in my experience (even to other carriers), then you are free to use the international connections channel, which will take you straight to emigration and security, well before 3 hours in advance.
That said, personally, with a connection that long, I'd be tempted to jump on the metro and head into the city for something late to eat - depends how comfortable you would be doing so with relatively limited time. Catch the lastish metro back and then you're good to go. If you do want to do this, do *not* follow the connections channel as there is no way out.
The international terminal at DEL is pleasant enough - plenty shops and cafés, if that's your thing, and some fairly acceptable lounges. I'd struggle to recommend spending any significant town there, though.
That said, personally, with a connection that long, I'd be tempted to jump on the metro and head into the city for something late to eat - depends how comfortable you would be doing so with relatively limited time. Catch the lastish metro back and then you're good to go. If you do want to do this, do *not* follow the connections channel as there is no way out.
The international terminal at DEL is pleasant enough - plenty shops and cafés, if that's your thing, and some fairly acceptable lounges. I'd struggle to recommend spending any significant town there, though.
Jun 24, 2014, 6:42 pm
#101
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 39
You might be correct. My question was based on one prior experience when I arrived more than 3 hours before the flight time for an international flight from MAA. The security guard inspected my e-ticket, and told me I can enter only 3 hours ahead of time. He was quite polite, and suggested that I go get dinner in the meanwhile!!
Jun 25, 2014, 1:14 am
#102
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they do stop you....while there is no official deadline, they usually don't let you enter 3 hours before an international flight & 2 hours before a domestic flight....
Jun 25, 2014, 5:45 am
#103
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
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Last Sunday I landed with AI at 20:46, was done with picking up luggage at the domestic belt at 21:10 and wanted to take the elevator to go up to the departure level shortly after. The CISF guard standing there looked at my papers clearly showing a 00:45 departure and let me thru after looking at my picture ID without any further comment.
Jun 29, 2014, 11:19 am
#104
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Int. to int. transfer
May I piggy-back with a similar question?
What is the procedure for an international to international (T3->T3) transfer at DEL?
Is there a transfer point to get directly from arrivals to departures? I cannot see one on the terminal map, but there is supposed to be a way AFAIK.
What is the procedure for an international to international (T3->T3) transfer at DEL?
Is there a transfer point to get directly from arrivals to departures? I cannot see one on the terminal map, but there is supposed to be a way AFAIK.
Jun 29, 2014, 4:49 pm
#105
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For international to international transfers at DEL there is a transfer desk. People show up rather often at passport control at DEL on the way from Europe to places beyond India only to get directed on what to do, which involves going back to follow the transit signs and get to the transfer desk. Re-clearing security is also involved, but you don't generally need to go airside for such international to international transit flights.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/india...one-delhi.html
More than 4 hours in advance for an international flight, anticipate being told to wait; for international flights in less than 4 hours, I've never been denied.
I'm talking about DEL-originating trips, as transit has no such cut-off history.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/india...one-delhi.html
I'm talking about DEL-originating trips, as transit has no such cut-off history.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jun 29, 2014 at 4:59 pm