Transfer at DEL?
 

I may have a 12 hour layover in DEL on my way to Kathmandu next week. I assume that like most airports, I would not need a visa to hang around the airport or to transfer ternminals, but can't verify. Does anyone know?

Does DEL have a hotel or someplace nice to spend 12 hours?

Thanks!
Jer

Inside the terminal you don't need a visa. To leave the airport you need a visa. These transit visa are available for a reasonable amount at you local indian mission. The international terminal in DEL can be completely surveyed in 20 mins. There are some lounges which offer TV and snack food and you have WiFi from Tata Indicom, but thats about it.

http://www.wifi.vsnl.in/docs/index.html

Though you may not need to leave the terminal the terminal is pretty sparse. If at all possible try to get out of the terminal and check some of the other threads. Specifically these two:

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=545775

and


http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=551850

They both have recent discussions of hotel options keeping in mind the need to be back at the airport in a reasonable amount of time.

From my last experience, I would not recommend hanging out at the Terminal. Too dull, nothing to do.

I think you might have put an extra zero on that 2. I would say max 2 mins to walk around the 2 Duty free shops in the terminal. Get a Visa and stay at one of the 5* near by.

I have a hard time checking in 2hrs early for a flight at DEL, could not imagine 12 hrs earlier. Don't even get me started on the toilets.... Trust me stay out somewhere.

Need some help with my July trip: I'm arriving in DEL on a Kingfisher domestic flight into Terminal 1A at 7:45pm and need to take the SQ flight from the international terminal at 11:10pm. How does one get between terminals - taxi? or is there a shuttle bus?

Btw, which of these lounges is the best of the worst? Is there a smoking area in DEL airport?

Ashok Lounge
ITC Maurya Sheraton Lounge
Clipper Lounge

I would definitely take a taxi from Domestic to Intnl.
it should be no more than 200 INR...nothing more than that...If the cab wants more try another cab!
In fact they might even have a prepaid taxi stand at domestic.
it should take no more than 30 minutes..not too much trafic at that time!

wali

Prepaid taxis are an option there too. Just make sure to opt for an A/C one. :eek:

There's a bus option too, I've just never done it myself. The prepaid taxi is maybe the equivalent of US$8 (at most).

They have a inter-terminal bus leaving on the hour. Once you arrive, register (on
the left after you enter the terminal) for the bus collect the bags and hop on.

If you cant make the bus in time, the pre-paid taxi will do. Last I remember
(In January) it was about Rs. 100 INR from Domestic to International
and Rs. 200 from Intl to domestic.

Don't leave the terminal before getting a pre-paid taxi voucher.

the travel time should be about 30 minutes.

like the others said don't bother with the bus. Get the taxi. For me the best lounge is the ITC one. Although even that one is nothing to write home about. Smoking isn't a problem in DEL airport. There are enough places.

If you are close to the Bus time, i'd recommend the bus. it goes through the
airport and not from outside roads. You always have the traffic factor outside.

Thanks, all. I probably won't make the bus if it leaves on the hour, so prepaid taxi looks like it.

I've used both. Sometimes you may get there even before the
arrival time and you may get lucky. :)

Out of half a dozen times, I've only managed the bus once. I had
less than 45-60 minutes between arrival and departure and I still made it.. Phew!
(I dont recommend doing this though... I did it without any luggage)

Good luck! ^

In the middle of the monsoons, with all those delays at BOM? I'll be lucky if my flight lands at DEL before 8pm :D

You never know. I've had flights leave 15-20 minutes early to beat the fog!
they sure rushed us and got us to the destination fast..

I've been rushed one other time... and departed 30 minutes post departure :(

I made it on time for the coach - it left five minutes past the hour....thank goodness for IST (Indian Stretchable Time :D ). Your instructions were spot on...thanks! ^

Got to the international terminal in about 15 min...and the coach is airconditioned too ^

Great :) the coach is indeed nice. I'm glad you made it.

When you return, I'd love to hear which lounge(s) you visited and what they were like. I have a list of what looks like 6 lounges, 3 from AA and 3 from Diners Club, although AA and Diners Club might be referring to the same lounges by different names.

I am preety sure there are only 3 lounges there. There is also a bar area which some airlines class as a lounge too. I wouldn't really class it as a lounge though as anyone can walk into and pay for a beer.

There aren't now at least 4 lounges available to the general public with entry contingent upon airline AND class of service or status? That is, the three "public" lounges upstairs (separate from the restaurant up there) and the one "public" lounge on the ground floor?

The Air India lounge upstairs?
The BA mini-lounge upstairs or was that just temporary?
he ITC Maurya Sheraton lounge upstairs?
And the Clipper (aka fmrly. referred to by some as the Oberoi lounge) downstairs?

In any event, I'm glad I've been checking in with only sufficient time to get to the flight and not need the lounges there as of late -- especially since it's too often you can't even find a seat.

Where abouts was/is this? Was there any space to have another lounge upstairs?

For a little while early this year, BA was using the small room right at the top of the stairs (i.e., stairs leading upto the ITC Maurya Sheraton lounge); it was the room to the right just before the door to the restaurant that you come across right before entering the ITC Maurya Sheraton lounge and it seemed a carve-out from the restaurant itself. [I don't know who is using that additional seating area as of late or not since I've been able to cut my arrivals down to just in time (due to special circumstances).] I'll try to check out things myself more next week.

Yeah even I try and time my check-in so that I can just go straight to boarding.
You know what really gets on my nerves is the Immigration que for Foreign Nationals upon arrival at DEL. Recently my collegues got out 30 mins before me as they were Indian Nationals. Once the que started at the start of the escalators upstairs before the immigration department

I think that was is now called the Ashok Lounge...

There are 4 lounges that I saw:
1. The Clipper Lounge downstairs (didn't go inside but it looked like it had been renovated or something.
2. The Ashok lounge which looked like a little room leading into a restaurant
3. The ITC Sheraton Lounge...went there because its the only one that allows smoking. The "Smoking Section" is just two rows of seats on one side with no separation from the non-smoking section.
4. The Air India Maharajah lounge

The last three were upstairs....and I do mean stairs because they didn't seem to be accessible via escalator or lifts.

The ITC Sheraton lounge was definitely one of the Diner's club lounges as I saw a couple of folks getting in that way, and they did have paid access as well, but I didn't ask how much. Food was passable - few snacks. Foster's/Kingfisher beer and a bartender.

The Person of Indian origin card will cut down some people's time and get them out in an even faster line on arrival, all rather often.

The line for other foreign nationals has become much longer in the past 10 months than it has been for most of the preceding 5 year period. :(

Do you know how long it takes to get one of these cards?

Got mine in 4 working days at the embassy in SIN.
http://www.embassyofindia.com/pass_services_pio.htm

"· For adults, the fee is S$570 (Singapore Dollars Five hundred and seventy only), and "

Quite expensive!

Still better over 15 years than a 1yr multiple entry visa that costs S$130. Plus it allows one to buy/sell property in India and repatriate the money overseas (I think up to US$100,000 a year without any hassles or Reserve Bank permission).

Yeah its worth it in that regard. I still have 4 years of my Visa left. So will probably think about it when towards the end.

How difficult was it to get your card? I am sure its going to be much harder here though!

I dont recall the procedure exactly. but it needs some proof that you are a PIO..
like your old passport or your parent's or grand parent's passport.

upto 4 pictures and your currentr passport (of your current nationality)

check your local consulate/embassy site for the details.

it usually takes around a work week.

Piece of cake...filled in a form downloaded from the website, gave them a copy of my old cancelled Indian Passport and current foreign passport and 4 photographs. Twenty minutes in queue, two minutes of actual counter time, no questions asked, collect in 4 days.

Cool!! Thanks ^

When flying home, I'll be flying PNQ to DEL, 3 hour layover, DEL to ORD, and then on to DFW.

My question is: when I check in to Sahara Airlines in PNQ, will I be able to check my bags all the way through to DFW, or will I have to pick them up in DEL and then re-check to DFW? I ask as when flying out here, I checked my bags all the way through to PNQ, but I still had to pick them up at DEL International and carry them to DEL Domestic and then recheck.

Pick up at DEL and get them checked in again at DEL.

Thanks.

I thought that might be the answer. :( But I was hoping it would be otherwise.

Lounges in Delhi
 

Here's my summary of the lounges in Delhi. Due to the recent privatiziation of the airport (AAI ceded control to DIAL, which includes the operators of FRA, in April), things are likely to change...hopefully for the better.

Terminal 1A (Domestic - Indian and Kingfisher)
Indian (Airlines) lounge. Located to the far left of the check-in counters. Recently renovated, bright & airy, ample seating although it can feel a little crowded during peak periods. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks. No smoking area or toilets. Low-speed internet (one terminal); mobile phone chargers; two TVs. IC reception/help desk. Access by invitation only (Indian business class pax).

Welcomgroup Port Lounge. Located to the far right just inside the terminal and before the first security railing. Decor is nothing to write home about, ample seating, have never seen more than a few people inside. Full range of drinks (including beer and espresso/cappuccino), reasonable buffet. Internet terminal which never seems to be working. One big flat screen TV. Used by Kingfisher for KingFirst pax; open to all others on a chargeable basis (Rs 75 for a coffee has always worked for me). Only legal smoking area in Terminal 1A. No toilets.

Terminal 1B (Domestic - Jet, Sahara, all others)
Welcomgroup Lounge. Located on the upper level towards the right side of the terminal; some distance from the check-in desks and security. Like most of Terminal 1B, the lounge is a dump. Since it is used by all the airlines for their business class pax it is usually crowded and dirty. Good variety on the menu plus a buffet. Full range of drinks. Small smoking area in the far back right corner. Have never looked for toilets here and probably wouldn't use them if they were there.

Terminal 2 (international)
Maraharaja Lounge (Air India). Located on the upper level to the left at the top of the stairs. Catered by the Intercontinental, nice range of snacks and drinks. Smallish but I've never seen it too crowded since it's only used by A-I. Smoking permitted at the bar in the back of the lounge. Probably the nicest lounge in Terminal 2.

Clipper Lounge (formerly Oberoi). Located on the ground floor just to the right of the security lines. Perhaps 2-3x the size of the A-I lounge but used by many airlines so it's usually packed. BA will cordon off a section for its FIRST and Gold pax, at least for the 8 am departure. Probably the best food on offer of any of the lounges, full range of drinks. Small toilet facilities, usually pretty clean. No smoking, no internet, several TVs. Second nices T2 lounge, used by most airlines for their FC pax.

Welcomgroup Lounge (aka Sheraton). Located on the upper level on the right side. My personal version of airline lounge hell, used by every airline for their J class pax. Always packed, food offerings look like they've been there for days. Full range of drinks. Multiple TVs; at least one internet terminal (when it's working). Large smoking area in the back near the bar. Small toilet facilities near bar, usually dirty and always a line.

Ashok Restaurant. On the upper level, to the right just before the Welcomgroup Lounge. Basically a bar and restauarant that anyone can use, although BA have hired a small room for their CW and Silver pax. No smoking in the BA part but there are about three tables in the restaurant area where smoking is permitted. Have never tried the food here...usually I am just stopping in for a quick smoke. Open to the public on a chargeable basis...IIRC about Rs 150 for a Coke. When airlines have flight delays this is where they send pax for meals so it can often be very crowded.

As many of the other posters have noted, DEL is not an airport where one wants to spend a lot of time. Hopefully this will change with the new private operators.

DFW DL

Thanks for the useful info re the DEL lounges. I'm having a little trouble matching up the info I have with the lounges you've described. I would really appreciate it if you could help me figure this out.

I'm flying J on AA.

AA says I can use the Sheraton Maurya Lounge in Terminal 1A, first floor, for departure only. I don't see this on your list and, anyway, I'm not sure why I'll be in Terminal 1A if I'm flying DEL-ORD. Wouldn't I be in Terminal 2 for an International flight?

I have a Diner's Club Card. DC says I have access to the following lounges:

Terminal 1A: ITC Port Lounge (This must be the Welcomgroup Port Lounge with no toilets);

Terminal 1B; ITC Port Lounge (Is this the Welcomgroup Lounge with the toilets I probably don't want to use?)

Terminal 2: ITC Welcomgroup Sheraton Lounge (I see this one in your list)

I arrive from Chicago. The next day I fly DEL to Leh on Jet Airways and then back to DEL in a few days. I assume that the DEL-Leh-DEL flights are in and out of Terminal 1B. Does that sound right?

All in all, it sounds like I don't want to pee in the airport.

For the sake of simplicity, DEL international and DEL domestic are basically two airports (an international one and a domestic one) from a passenger perspective -- even if they are noted as terminals of the same airport.

ITC Welcomgroup Sheraton Lounge and the Maurya Sheraton Lounge are one and the same lounge in reference to the international airport. When it says the lounge is on the first floor of the international airport (terminal), that's first floor UK/Indian-style (i.e., the second floor American style so you have to go upstairs literally).

The bathrooms in the ITC Welcomgroup Maurya Sheraton Lounge (international) are ok for use and are standard toilets that I don't hesitate using.

The Delhi-Leh flight leaves from the domestic airport and when you mention to the driver you are flying on Jet Airways (domestic), they'll take you to the right terminal for the domestic airport.

We're headed to India in Dec/Jan and are doing a side trip to the Andamans and a stopover in Bahrain on the way back to the US. Was hoping to find a same-day connection from the Andamans to BAH (may be possible, changes at MAA and DEL or BOM). As it stands now, our tickets are out of DEL.

Our Indian Airlines flight arrives at 10:45 AM. Expedia is showing a connection from S2 (Air Sahara) to GF in DEL, departing MAA at 11:40 and into DEL at 15:35, then departing DEL to BAH at 18:55. That gives 3:20 for a connection in DEL and 55 minutes in MAA.

The other option is departing MAA at 13:40 9W (Jet Airways) that gets into DEL at 16:15, leaving ~2:40 connecting time, I imagine that would be very tight especially if we would have to wait for baggage then taxi+ checkin at DEL..

Via BOM might be better time-wise, but no Biz class on that day. Another option is overnight in DEL, which is a pain as we would be there ~16 hrs but wouldn't be able to go to Agra before the 8 AM flight the next day.