Airports (in Delhi) explained

mountaingirl

All ye,

There are two different airports: International and domestic. Both are called the Indira Gandhi international airport (god only knows why?) but have different terminal numbers.

The easiest way to go to the right place is to say specify where you want to go (the cab drivers & most people here will NOT be able to understand the terminal numbers) . If you want to go to the International airport - say you want to go to International airport.

In the domestic airport, there is one arrival building. However, the confusion lies in there being TWO departure terminals: One is exclusively for Indian Airlines flights. The other departure terminal, is next to the arrival terminal - and all private airlines domestic flights leave from here. So, tell the cab diver: Indian airlines departure terminal Or, private airlines departure teminal.

any questions?

beach

The same story for Mumbai (Bombay) also.

The international and domestic terminals are a bit far apart. You need to catch a local taxi or the coaches to travel from one to other. The local taxi drivers are more comfortable with the place name rather than the terminal number and all. The domestic terminal is called “Santa Cruz “ and the international terminal is called “Sahar”. Both are about ½ hours travel apart.

At the domestic airport also there are two terminal buildings about a kilometer or so apart.

The JET AIRWAYS and SAHARA is located at one.

INDIAN AIRLINES, ALLIANCE AIR is located at the nearby building.

These buildings also the local drivers identify with name ‘Jet’ or ‘Indian Airlines’ building. Tell them beforehand so that you need not have to walk all the way from one to the other. They may not know the terminal 1 or 1A , even though the sign boards are clear.

At Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Cochin, Trivandrum - it is a single building or very close. Walkable from domestic to international point.

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Hampi info

sam371

Hey Mountaingirl,

I was under the impression that the domestic airport was called Palam airport. If you ask a cabbie to take you to the domestic airport - just ask for "Palam Airport" - unless this has changed recently.

peace.

jaz

Delhi Airport

yeah say International Airport and will get you there. They won't let you in if you arrive more than 3-4 hours early for the flight but you can head to the arrivals lounge and pay Rs25. Also at the duty free places they only accept US$ and if you pay in rupees you defo get a raw deal

flamingo2004

And if you are in transit your domestic airline should have a free shuttle for you between the airports both in Delhi and Mumbai.

Merchant

"They won't let you in if you arrive more than 3-4 hours early for the flight but you can head to the arrivals lounge and pay Rs25."

I hear this often and annoyingly from airport employees, including the shuttle bus operators, in Mumbai. It's totally bogus. They're trying to drum up business by shunting people to the hotels. They also say the 3-4 hour wait is for "security"--the rhetorical refuge of liars the world over. Just take your ticket and enter the airport. The guards aren't checking flight times anyway.

I've had the shuttle drivers pull me aside, and me alone (am a white guy), to tell me about the 3-hour rule. At which point I tell them where they can go. I have also had them suggest that I and a complete stranger--a woman--share a room so we can take a shower and relax before our flights. The drivers get really irritated when you refuse their offer. Proof again of malfeasance.

I can't imagine that the rules in Delhi are different from those in Mumbai at the international airports. Besides, with all the long lines and the to-ing and fro-ing you have to do just to get on your flight--you need at least three hours.

flamingo2004

"a complete stranger--a woman--share a room so we can take a shower"

Is that absolutely a bad suggestion?

Merchant

No, not in the abstract. I just assumed there would be some pimping fee, and I would rather pick up girls by myself.

mountaingirl

Hi Sam! Yes, it is also called Palam...but remember there are two separate departures - Indian airlines and private airlines.

Jaz is correct....and so are the rest

rikko

I think this 3-4 hour rule is totally randam...I was there at Delhi airport in March last year. The security guy tells me that 3 AM for a 7.30 AM flight was too early. There were mosquitos galore so I told the security guy to let me in because I was being eaten by mosquitos, so he let me go in. So be polite and plead....it works more often than you might think, in India.

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Amrik

guerik

I got to IGA about 4 hours early in February (2004) and they wouldn't let me in, even when I asked nicely and had no rupees left anyway.
In the end had to depend on the kindness of strangers and borrow some money from a Kosovar guy - on the off chance he ever reads this, THANKS!

lalooprasadyadav

The International and Domestic airports in Mumbai use the same runways! This wasn't obvious because you had to travel a long way on the public highway to commute between terminals. Now the Jet Airways shuttle bus service doesn't leave the airport complex. I was driven from the domestic to international terminal along the perimeter of the airport compound. The odd part is, when you get to the international terminal, the bus leaves the compund to set you down at the public departures entrance.

Does anyone know if its the same in Delhi.

phacops

Arriving Delhi Int´l at 11.50 pm and leaving from domestic for Leh 05.40 am, what would you suggest:

Staying in the lounge at Int´l and getting the shuttle later? Is it running all night long?
Or is it advisable to do the transit immediately and stay at the domestic. Is there a lounge or at least some chairs?

Thanks for advice!

phacops

shere

The lounge up stairs at Indira G airport is free to enter if you are a passenger (they say you can enter 3 hours before a flight). Not much to do in there besides watching television.

The shops have very high prices in the lounge.

As for the duty fre whops. I have never been swayed by the prices. I find many of the items are cheaper to buy in Europe.

mountaingirl

Hi! My advise would be to stay at the International airport: two options here: (1) step in to the departure lounger (it's a glass house) - it is air-conditioned if that helps :-) and u can get tea & some snacks if you like - spread out your carrymat and try to take a short nap or do whatever.
(2) take up a bed at the dormitory. Some people have complained of bed- bugs but it may do u good to get as much rest as possible before flying to Leh.

Have someone wake u up in case u oversleep. Around 4.30 am - u can head for the domestic departure. the other advantage is that it will start getting brighter by 5 am or so - so that u can see where u are going.

There are some hotels on the road between the international and dmestic airport. They are on the same street as the Radisson hotel. the flights kind of fly over these hotels - I am not sure if u can get some sleep unless u have the gift like I have :-)