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
Mar 20, 2022, 10:14 am
#571
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, Marriott & SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, ShangriLa Jade, Enterprise Plat, Taj Gold
Posts: 3,331
Mar 21, 2022, 7:24 pm
#572
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: MA, USA
Programs: Continental, BA
Posts: 200
Us Covid test requirement with domestic connection
Does anyone have recent experience with within one day requirement of Covid test with single ticket domestic connections. I have a domestic connect to Delhi and international flight after many hours. I was wondering if I can take Covid test at Delhi airport or will I be forced to show Covid test within 1 day of first flight. My first flight is air India and international is Lufthansa in all one ticket.
any one who may have done single ticket domestic connection, can you pl share experience? Were all you have to show Covid test result?
any one who may have done single ticket domestic connection, can you pl share experience? Were all you have to show Covid test result?
Apr 2, 2022, 12:26 am
#574
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 319
Does anyone have recent experience with within one day requirement of Covid test with single ticket domestic connections. I have a domestic connect to Delhi and international flight after many hours. I was wondering if I can take Covid test at Delhi airport or will I be forced to show Covid test within 1 day of first flight. My first flight is air India and international is Lufthansa in all one ticket.
any one who may have done single ticket domestic connection, can you pl share experience? Were all you have to show Covid test result?
any one who may have done single ticket domestic connection, can you pl share experience? Were all you have to show Covid test result?
Covid testing is available at Delhi airport. They have a desk right outside the terminal.
Apr 2, 2022, 4:17 am
#575
formerly gantid
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Mileage Plus Platinum, Marriott Platinum elite, *G, Hilton Gold
Posts: 198
Just flew UA 82 from EWR to DEL. Flight itself was great, it left onetime (close to it) from EWR and landed in DEL a few minutes past the scheduled arrival time.
That is where good things stopped. UA flight crew handed us customs declaration for (a full page document similar to the tiny piece of paper we used to complete). There were a few confusing announcements by the crew regarding the 'customs declaration form'. they were not sure if foreign citizens with OCI cards had to complete the form.
The UA flight crew did not give all foreign citizens the standard landing form that every foreigner must complete. I assumed that GoI has changed this process since the same information has been uploaded on Air Suvidha form.
Since this was my first trip to India after 3 years, I did not know that the arrival immigration process in India has been changed. As soon as you come down to the immigration hall, the first few lines dedicated to Business/First class passengers have been changed to "Business/First class India passport holders". All non-Indian passport holders MUST use the area on the right that used to be dedicated for handling e-Visa visitors.
The 'foreign' citizen area was absolutely crowded with overflowing crowd since 2-3 flights had just landed. There were just two immigration officials handling 'Business/First class - Foreign passport holders'. My wife and I were 15th/16th in the line for 'Foreign passport holders First/Business class passengers'. It took us an hour to complete the process. The digital finger print capture devices wouldn't work so it would take 3-4 times of trying before they worked. There were several people scrambling to complete the 'Arrival form'. When they reached the immigration counter, they were told that an 'arrival form' MUST be completed. When we saw that one of the people in the line went out and brought a handful of the forms to give us all. So, many were trying to complete the forms while standing in the line.
I am sure that complaining comes naturally to me, but this is a situation that can be easily avoided. Perhaps UA can hand out this form as they used to do in the past and Indian government can open additional counters for foreign citizens to ease the process.
btw, I was watching the lines in the main immigration hall for Indian passport holders. There were no long lines and the Business/First class line was just 5-10 deep. I sure hope that the process can be improved.
That is where good things stopped. UA flight crew handed us customs declaration for (a full page document similar to the tiny piece of paper we used to complete). There were a few confusing announcements by the crew regarding the 'customs declaration form'. they were not sure if foreign citizens with OCI cards had to complete the form.
The UA flight crew did not give all foreign citizens the standard landing form that every foreigner must complete. I assumed that GoI has changed this process since the same information has been uploaded on Air Suvidha form.
Since this was my first trip to India after 3 years, I did not know that the arrival immigration process in India has been changed. As soon as you come down to the immigration hall, the first few lines dedicated to Business/First class passengers have been changed to "Business/First class India passport holders". All non-Indian passport holders MUST use the area on the right that used to be dedicated for handling e-Visa visitors.
The 'foreign' citizen area was absolutely crowded with overflowing crowd since 2-3 flights had just landed. There were just two immigration officials handling 'Business/First class - Foreign passport holders'. My wife and I were 15th/16th in the line for 'Foreign passport holders First/Business class passengers'. It took us an hour to complete the process. The digital finger print capture devices wouldn't work so it would take 3-4 times of trying before they worked. There were several people scrambling to complete the 'Arrival form'. When they reached the immigration counter, they were told that an 'arrival form' MUST be completed. When we saw that one of the people in the line went out and brought a handful of the forms to give us all. So, many were trying to complete the forms while standing in the line.
I am sure that complaining comes naturally to me, but this is a situation that can be easily avoided. Perhaps UA can hand out this form as they used to do in the past and Indian government can open additional counters for foreign citizens to ease the process.
btw, I was watching the lines in the main immigration hall for Indian passport holders. There were no long lines and the Business/First class line was just 5-10 deep. I sure hope that the process can be improved.
Last edited by washingtonian_2017; Apr 2, 2022 at 4:29 am
May 10, 2022, 8:40 pm
#576
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE, HH Gold, Marriott Titanium, National EE, Sixt Platinum, Hertz PC, AVIS PC
Posts: 1,910
Transiting though DEL
Quick question..
I'm Canadian.. thinking about flying YYZ-DEL-BKK .. with 6 hour layover in DEL. Vaccinated and boosted. Is this permitted? Do I need anything else?
Ron.
I'm Canadian.. thinking about flying YYZ-DEL-BKK .. with 6 hour layover in DEL. Vaccinated and boosted. Is this permitted? Do I need anything else?
Ron.
May 11, 2022, 1:49 am
#577
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,670
Same or separate tickets?
Which airlines?
Ideally it should not be a problem as everything now seems to be working almost the same as pre-covid times.
Which airlines?
Ideally it should not be a problem as everything now seems to be working almost the same as pre-covid times.
May 11, 2022, 6:35 am
#578
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE, HH Gold, Marriott Titanium, National EE, Sixt Platinum, Hertz PC, AVIS PC
Posts: 1,910
May 11, 2022, 6:46 am
#579
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,670
May 19, 2022, 5:16 am
#580
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 22
Will end up with separate tickets. Have booked VS (Virgin Atlantic) departing DEL at 10:30a. What is the latest I should book an arriving domestic flight?
Debating booking Indigo (arriving 6a or 7:40a) or Vistara (arriving 8:20a).
Would prefer to book Vistara for the easy T3 transfer but 1 hour seems to be too small a period for some delays + baggage claim + re-check in, right? I believe the VS desk closes an hour before...so 9:30a.
If I have to book Indigo, what's the best way to get from T1 to T3 with large family and lots of luggage? Family with US Passports, mix of OCI and Tourist and e-Visas. Adults, Senior Citizens, Kids, etc. Vaccinated.
Safe to book the 7:40a Indigo arrival instead of 6a in this case?
Also, I assume Vistara will not check bags all the way through to final US destination despite the interline baggage agreement with Virgin Atlantic, because of separate tickets...right?
Debating booking Indigo (arriving 6a or 7:40a) or Vistara (arriving 8:20a).
Would prefer to book Vistara for the easy T3 transfer but 1 hour seems to be too small a period for some delays + baggage claim + re-check in, right? I believe the VS desk closes an hour before...so 9:30a.
If I have to book Indigo, what's the best way to get from T1 to T3 with large family and lots of luggage? Family with US Passports, mix of OCI and Tourist and e-Visas. Adults, Senior Citizens, Kids, etc. Vaccinated.
Safe to book the 7:40a Indigo arrival instead of 6a in this case?
Also, I assume Vistara will not check bags all the way through to final US destination despite the interline baggage agreement with Virgin Atlantic, because of separate tickets...right?
May 19, 2022, 6:40 am
#581
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,670
Will end up with separate tickets. Have booked VS (Virgin Atlantic) departing DEL at 10:30a. What is the latest I should book an arriving domestic flight?
Debating booking Indigo (arriving 6a or 7:40a) or Vistara (arriving 8:20a).
Would prefer to book Vistara for the easy T3 transfer but 1 hour seems to be too small a period for some delays + baggage claim + re-check in, right? I believe the VS desk closes an hour before...so 9:30a.
If I have to book Indigo, what's the best way to get from T1 to T3 with large family and lots of luggage? Family with US Passports, mix of OCI and Tourist and e-Visas. Adults, Senior Citizens, Kids, etc. Vaccinated.
Safe to book the 7:40a Indigo arrival instead of 6a in this case?
Also, I assume Vistara will not check bags all the way through to final US destination despite the interline baggage agreement with Virgin Atlantic, because of separate tickets...right?
Debating booking Indigo (arriving 6a or 7:40a) or Vistara (arriving 8:20a).
Would prefer to book Vistara for the easy T3 transfer but 1 hour seems to be too small a period for some delays + baggage claim + re-check in, right? I believe the VS desk closes an hour before...so 9:30a.
If I have to book Indigo, what's the best way to get from T1 to T3 with large family and lots of luggage? Family with US Passports, mix of OCI and Tourist and e-Visas. Adults, Senior Citizens, Kids, etc. Vaccinated.
Safe to book the 7:40a Indigo arrival instead of 6a in this case?
Also, I assume Vistara will not check bags all the way through to final US destination despite the interline baggage agreement with Virgin Atlantic, because of separate tickets...right?
I would be most comfortable with a minimum 3 hour connection at T3 on separate tickets.
In your scenario the 6AM 6E arrival would be the safest. You can easily get a large cab to switch terminals. It would typically take you anywhere from 60-90 minutes from the time you land to the time you get to the VS check-in counter. So even if your incoming flight is delayed, you would still have enough time to make your international flight. With the other 2 flights, any delay will jeopardize your ability to make your next flight.
May 26, 2022, 12:39 am
#582
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 22
Ideally 2 hours would be enough time for a domestic to international transit at T3 however there is always a possibility of the incoming flight getting delayed which will result in you missing your international flight & would also get no protection since you are on separate tickets.
I would be most comfortable with a minimum 3 hour connection at T3 on separate tickets.
In your scenario the 6AM 6E arrival would be the safest. You can easily get a large cab to switch terminals. It would typically take you anywhere from 60-90 minutes from the time you land to the time you get to the VS check-in counter. So even if your incoming flight is delayed, you would still have enough time to make your international flight. With the other 2 flights, any delay will jeopardize your ability to make your next flight.
I would be most comfortable with a minimum 3 hour connection at T3 on separate tickets.
In your scenario the 6AM 6E arrival would be the safest. You can easily get a large cab to switch terminals. It would typically take you anywhere from 60-90 minutes from the time you land to the time you get to the VS check-in counter. So even if your incoming flight is delayed, you would still have enough time to make your international flight. With the other 2 flights, any delay will jeopardize your ability to make your next flight.
Which airlines do you recommend most for domestic baggage allowance? Coming from business class on Delta and want to minimize excess fees. Seems indigo and spice offer international transfer excess baggage options but Vistara does not. Also, many of the airlines seem to clarify weight limits but not baggage quantity. If vistara lists 30kg, can that be across 2 bags or 3 bags?
May 26, 2022, 2:51 am
#583
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,670
Thank you! On the way in, I arrive to DEL at 2:05am. What's the earliest you'd recommend booking separate ticket departure for DEL to AMD? There are 4:45am, 5:45am, 6a, and 6:30a departures. Don't want to end up in a scenario where customs only takes 30-40 mins and I'm stuck waiting 4 hrs for the last leg.
Which airlines do you recommend most for domestic baggage allowance? Coming from business class on Delta and want to minimize excess fees. Seems indigo and spice offer international transfer excess baggage options but Vistara does not. Also, many of the airlines seem to clarify weight limits but not baggage quantity. If vistara lists 30kg, can that be across 2 bags or 3 bags?
Which airlines do you recommend most for domestic baggage allowance? Coming from business class on Delta and want to minimize excess fees. Seems indigo and spice offer international transfer excess baggage options but Vistara does not. Also, many of the airlines seem to clarify weight limits but not baggage quantity. If vistara lists 30kg, can that be across 2 bags or 3 bags?
As far as the baggage allowance is concerned, I have managed to spread that out between multiple bags on all domestic airlines so you don't have to stick to a single bag.
Jun 7, 2022, 2:40 am
#585
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,159
Intl Transfer has resumed, you need to validate your QF BP at the transfer desk (somebody will mark your BP with 'D/T') and then pass thru transfer security.