What to do in DEL on a 6 hr layover?
Jan 16, 2003, 6:32 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Santa Clara, CA, USA AA Plat. 1.4MM, Hilton Gold, Virgin Red, fly fisher
Posts: 119
What to do in DEL on a 6 hr layover?
I have to go Bangalore and it looks like a six hour wait at the Delhi airport. Any suggestions as to time to kill? Are there showers, day rooms for rent, etc. I will be coming in on the Virgin flight.
Jan 18, 2003, 11:29 pm
#2
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,449
Nasty! Not sure what time the VA fight gets in, but if it is similar to BA then you have a 6 hour wait in the early hours! It's not the greatest airport by any standards, and reflects the lack of investment in Indian airports generally.
There are 'retiring rooms' at the airport, and they are cheap but none to pleasant - they are second hand comments from Indian colleagues. The best bet is either
1. Take a room at the Radisson which is only a few km from the airport.
2. If you are flying business on to BLR, go and sit in the lounge. I've not done this in DEL, so you would need to check out with the airline concerned.
Hope that helps, and have fun in Bangalore!
There are 'retiring rooms' at the airport, and they are cheap but none to pleasant - they are second hand comments from Indian colleagues. The best bet is either
1. Take a room at the Radisson which is only a few km from the airport.
2. If you are flying business on to BLR, go and sit in the lounge. I've not done this in DEL, so you would need to check out with the airline concerned.
Hope that helps, and have fun in Bangalore!
Jan 21, 2003, 12:56 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: UK
Programs: reformed ex basic Member
Posts: 3,148
It all depends on when you are travelling, but flight times into Delhi are not sticking to timetable at present - due to fog.
This is an annual event, when flights cannot land at Delhi, due to some technical part not being installed, that has supposedly been gathering dust at the side of the runway for years.
Anyhow, if that isn't enough, based on my last trip to India, the domestic flights will most likely leave from a different terminal - this is important to check and get your travel agent to book a car transfer for you.
If this is the case, then after dealing with the lines at immigration, the transfer, then checking in and security check at the domestic terminal, i dont think you'll have much time left to spend elsewhere.
The hassles of travel aside, enjoy India.
This is an annual event, when flights cannot land at Delhi, due to some technical part not being installed, that has supposedly been gathering dust at the side of the runway for years.
Anyhow, if that isn't enough, based on my last trip to India, the domestic flights will most likely leave from a different terminal - this is important to check and get your travel agent to book a car transfer for you.
If this is the case, then after dealing with the lines at immigration, the transfer, then checking in and security check at the domestic terminal, i dont think you'll have much time left to spend elsewhere.
The hassles of travel aside, enjoy India.
Jan 25, 2003, 6:16 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: yow
Posts: 30
I have been thru DEL many times..from the plane-passed customs-retrieved bags-out to the street in no less than 30 minutes.
If the flight gets in during the day... hire a prepaid taxi at the booth...go to Connaught Place...have the best Milkshake on earth at Keventers...take the same cabby to the domestic terminal and board your flight to bangalore...total time APT-DWNTWN-APT...
about 4 hours....cost..25USD..
If the flight gets in during the day... hire a prepaid taxi at the booth...go to Connaught Place...have the best Milkshake on earth at Keventers...take the same cabby to the domestic terminal and board your flight to bangalore...total time APT-DWNTWN-APT...
about 4 hours....cost..25USD..
Jan 25, 2003, 10:09 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal to the rest of the world...
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Posts: 6,699
The nonstop LH flight is the better option.... I would second that. Going through one Indian airport is bad enough going through three (Intl Delhi, Domestic Delhi, Bangalore - Yes I do consider Delhi's intl and domestic TWO airports due to the distance)
Jan 30, 2003, 7:30 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: United Kingdom, Gold Bracelet, Gold Ring, Gold Watch, Tesco Club Card, Green Shield Stamps
Posts: 122
I too would recommend the direct flight with LH.
On my last trip to DEL, the return flight from DEL was something of a silly hour.
On another trip again about this time of the year, the flight was diverted to Bombay. What a nightmare that was. A whole day wa wasted.
Seriously, take the direct route, as customs and immigration is a joke
On my last trip to DEL, the return flight from DEL was something of a silly hour.
On another trip again about this time of the year, the flight was diverted to Bombay. What a nightmare that was. A whole day wa wasted.
Seriously, take the direct route, as customs and immigration is a joke
Jan 30, 2003, 3:04 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Posts: 326
Why all this India bashing! This is a board of frequent flyers who have experience traveling all across the globe and realize that customs/immigration can be very different in many different parts of the world.
1. The fog in Delhi really is awful(the worse I have ever seen) but the airport is not to blame for that.
2. Immigration needs to spend more time on incoming flights considering the hostile borders India faces.
I realize that the airport in Delhi is in need of a major upgrade but flight times, layovers, fog problems are problems beyond the control of the country or airport authority.
Mike
1. The fog in Delhi really is awful(the worse I have ever seen) but the airport is not to blame for that.
2. Immigration needs to spend more time on incoming flights considering the hostile borders India faces.
I realize that the airport in Delhi is in need of a major upgrade but flight times, layovers, fog problems are problems beyond the control of the country or airport authority.
Mike