Waiting in Delhi International Airport

nixster

Hi all,

I will be arriving in the Delhi International Airport approximately 6 hours ahead of the group I am travelling with. I am planning on simply waiting in the airport, and was wondering if anyone had suggestions on what to do while I am there.

Are there internet kiosks readily available? What about restaurants or small places where I could get some chai, tea and/or food? What are the prices like? I will have some US$ on me, as well as Rupees once I locate the ATM within the airport. I am also happy just sitting somewhere and doing some reading, I have no problem with the few hours wait - any semi-comfortable (possibly even somewhat quiet, but I know in India that is doubtful!)...

Thanks!

camelgirl

Why are you waiting in the airport for your group? Are you in transit to somewhere else within India or to another country? Will you be arriving in the International airport? How long will you have been flying before you arrive in Delhi? Are you arriving from within India or on an International flight?

I personally would never want to hang out any longer than necessary at any airport in India. Delhi International isn't like one of the really fun airports where you can kill lots of time (like Singapore or Amsterdam).

My recollection from a year ago arriving in the middle of the night from the USA is that once you get through immigration/customs, there isn't anything there to do.

After you tell us why you want to wait there, maybe someone else has more info. on this.

My opinion is get to where ever your group is going, if it's in Delhi, and meet them there. Get out of the airport!

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karuna

There are some seats (they replaced the old ripped ones recently- hurrah!), overpriced (but nice) coffee, overpriced water, a couple of phone stands, a bunch of grumpy drivers who've been standing there for an hour holding a misspelled sign and trying to stay awake, and some taxi touts.

There are no watch or diamond shops, Starbucks, art installations or piped muzak. I've hung around there for a couple of hours before, waiting for my parents' flight. You need a good book or an Ipod, and patience. The taxi touts were quite discreet with me, for fear of getting chucked out no doubt.

capt_mahajan

You don't say where your group is going next. If they are taking a domestic flight, and if you want to wait at the airport, the domestic terminal is a better bet.. more food, place to sit (even outside, there is a small resteraunt/self service area).
Internet is available (I think, not sure) inside the domestic terminal.

Waiting at the international terminal is more crowded with fewer facilities.

If your group will be in Delhi, I second camelgirl.. get out of the airport and meet them somewhere else.

tjane

At the moment there is construction work going on at Delhi airport & it's like a bomb site - it's chaos! There is nowhere quiet to sit & wait & there are people everywhere. If you have to wait there, do so, if not, I'd advise to get the hell out of there as quickly as you can.

nixster

Thanks, all!

To camelgirl, et al - I am travelling with a college group (through my university) and my professors have advised me NOT to attempt to get to our hotel (actually, an ashram) and, since I am under their supervision, to remain at the airport. Have discussed the situation in length with my parents as well, and thus have decided to remain at the airport. (Trust me, if I could get out of there, I would!)

Yes, I will be arriving at the International airport after a VERY long flight direct from the US.

Karuna - Thank you for your advice. I will have books on me (including 'City of the Djinns' and 'Interpreter of Maladies' if I haven't devoured them on the flight!) and my iPod, yes, so I will have stuff to do.

Thank you all. Looks like I will just deal with the construction/noise/crowdedness and attempt to find myself a corner, possibly with some good Indian coffee, and my iPod/books.

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karuna

You're welcome! Tip: the good coffee place is on the left as you walk up the ramp into arrivals. The one on the right is more expensive.

Are your parents/professors likely to worry? There are usually policemen around- the police stand is just outside arrivals so tell them not to.

capt_mahajan

Since you must be at the international airport I would suggest this.

After all the formalities are done and you walk out (after Customs) with your bags, you will reach a meeting area. It is a huge hall, with some coffee stalls, a Cafe Day plus some other small stalls-juice and the like. More importantly, it has some seating, and is tout free (since visitors from Delhi have to pay 50/60 rupees to enter).

Sit down with your book, get a coffee when you want it, there are arrangements to get a bite to eat too.

Not a bad place to meet your group, either.

Note: Do not exit the building, you can't really miss the hall, plus visitors will be meeting their friends and family here.

Aishah

I've passed quite a bit of time in the airport and it is not so bad. There is a lot of construction going on, but you can find a quiet place to read, pass time, watch the passing traffic etc. Coffee prices are the same as outside anyway (Cafe Coffee Day) the only thing which is annoying is Mineral Water which is exorbitant. I use the Drinking Water (free) to fill up my small water thermos and use that - it's o.k. for me but not sure exactly how 'safe' it is. People using it say perfectly alright - it is supplied through a filter machine.
Anyway, as Captain has posted you will be fine passing the time and meeting your group. By the time you've got out, into say Connaught Place, then come back not worth all the hassle if you are a new arrival person and meeting your group there. Getting back to the airport with traffic jams etc. and the pollution can be very frustrating. More relaxing to stay put and pass the time!

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nixster

Again, thank you all! I have written down all the information so I will now have some semblance of what to do when I get through customs.

camelgirl

Now I understand why you'll be there BUT I don't agree with whomever is leading your group. If they could organize this trip, they could also organize a special pick-up for you to get you to the ashram.

IMHO It's a bit insulting to think that you could go that far on your own and then not get to the ashram. It can be very confusing to leave the airport and get transportation BUT if the group leaders could give you very clear information and have a driver with a signboard with your name on it where you exit, then you should have no problem getting to your destination.

Anyway, have a great experience and if it starts with 6 hours in an airport, even that will be interesting You can even take a snooze on the floor or in a chair--just keep bags close or use them as a pillow!

I should add that waiting six hours for anything in India isn't all that unusual...so maybe it's just good practice!

nycank

I presume you,ll be taking Continental and the rest of the group probably is taking a one-stop change-in-EU flights. As everyone has suggested, it's preferable to go to your guest house/ashram and rest for those six hours.

nixster

All,

Thank you again for your advice. Unfortunately, my group leaders feel that it is better for me to simply wait for them. And yes, the rest of the group is taking a one-stop change-in-EU flight and I am going direct. As I have been to India once previously (a simple 5 days in Chennai/Madras), I am very excited to go back.

I love to people watch, so am actually looking forward to some 'down time' in the airport without the crazy hustle-and-bustle of India that I know (and love!) as I will be experiencing that for the 3-week trip thereafter.

Thanks again!!

karuna

Little update as of first week of Feb. The construction has shortened the arrivals hall so you kind of go up the ramp into a blank wall! All the seats have been moved to one side. It's still bloody freezing (at night, in the winter). Nothing's really changed in immigration or baggage reclaim at all, but there are "sorry for inconvenience" signs up around the place so I guess something's afoot.

In departures, some of the new check-in counters are in operation on the extreme left and right of the building, but when I was there the info screens didn't work, so you had to wander about to find your check-in desk. These sections look very bright and shiny. Immigration has been condensed to about half the size it was and at busy times this may be a small nightmare. Duty free is looking much better, but all the seating has gone from one side of this hall- they seem to want to get you through security pretty quick.

They've re-arranged things in departures so now all gates can be reached through central security (before some gates were off to the side). The departure lounge has many more amenities than previously- there's a Nirulas doing a roaring trade, a watch-shop, and soon a duty free place as well. The toilets are way way way off to the left down a corridor, quite inconvenient conveniences.

Oh, and all the roadwork is completed- the new flyover. It's a much smoother run to the airport now.

Aishah

Great that flyover is completed! Wasn't last time I went out. Are there still quite a few takeaway food places that seemed to be tucked around a corner away from the Duty Free Area? Or is there only Nirula's? e.g I thought there was a Cafe Coffee Day there (there's one in Domestic).