H, I am flying in to Terminal 3 International at 8.30 pm. After going thru immigration, Baggage collection,(only 12 Kg) ,I will end up in the arrivals hall , My next flight is a Domestic flight to Guwahati leaving from Terminal 3 Domestic leaving at 11.30 am.
I am told that I cannot enter the domestic terminal from the International terminal until 4 hours before the departure as the boarding pass will not be issued.
Any suggestions where I could spend the 9 odd hours ? many thanks, Sri Australia.

If you just want to relax, the ITC Green Lounge is fabulous. If you want to take a nap, there are sleeping pods also available on the terminal.

Airport lounge is the best area as you are arriving in the night and would not be able to visit any nearby places in Delhi, etc. Wish you a safe trip.

Hello. Many thanks for the replies, Shall look up ITC Green Lounge. Sleeping Pods are in TRansit area , and I cannot get there as I will be in the arrivals hall in the international terminal.

The ITC Green Lounge in in Terminal 3, in the secured Departure area. I don’t think you can get there, at least not without leaving your bags circulating on the arrival belt until the morning. The only way to use the lounge would be to stay in the secured/“airside” area of T3 which is <i>before</i> Immigration and Baggage Clam. Once you go through Immigration, you won’t be allowed back into Terminal 3 unless you have a ticket for a departing international flight.

There is a Plaza Premium Lounge in the Arrivals hall that I think you could use, as it is after Baggage Claim, see http://www.newdelhiairport.in/nap-massage.aspx

There may be some limited waiting areas in T3 once you are in the Arrivals Hall, but in my experience, most everything at the airport shuts up sometime around 1 - 2 AM, so bring some food and water.

If you are not aware of it, the Domestic terminal is some miles from T3. You have to take a taxi or there is shuttle bus that runs on sort of a schedule (I would opt for the taxi).

The domestic airport does not have very much to do in terms of food or beverage, there are some waiting areas. There is a paid lounge, but it is in the secured area, see http://www.newdelhiairport.in/premium-lounges.aspx

You are correct that you will not be allowed to enter the terminal until a few hours before your flight. I always thought it was 6 hours before a flight, but I have never gone that early so have not tested it. This would be something you should confirm, see the airport website at http://www.newdelhiairport.in/traveller.aspx


Personally with that much time, I would go to a hotel. The new JW Marriott hotel is at the airport and is quite nice. There are others not too far, such as the Radisson Blu. If you search this thread you should find some reeccos in various budgets, or look at tripadvisor.com

OP didn't say if he/she is flying the same intl/domestic airline. If so, you won't have to worry about your luggage as it'll be checked straight through to your final destination. Even if it's not the same carrier but carriers of the same alliance, the same holds true. In fact, most airlines -- even those not of the same alliance -- will interline your bags. Unless you're flying a low cost carrier in India...

I have not flown to/from Delhi, but I have run into the time constraint entering the terminal at other Indian airports. In my most recent experience - at Lucknow - it was two hours for a domestic flight.

You might find this interesting: http://www.sleepinginairports.net/asia/delhi.htm

The OP is arriving on an internatioanl fight and changing to a domestic one. As her first point of arrival into India will be Delhi, she has to collect her bags and go thorugh Immigraiton and Customs. Her bags won't be automatically transferred.