Delhi IGI Airport T3 complete guide — international check-in route, lounges, transfers, airport express and prepaid taxis

Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI, DEL) operates three passenger terminals. Of theseT3IsAll international flightsIt is a representative terminal used by some domestic flights such as Air India and Indigo. It opened in 2010 ahead of the Commonwealth Games and is still considered the most modern terminal in India. In fact, 100% of Korean passengers entering Delhi enter and exit at T3.

It is easy to understand T3 as having a three-layer structure. When approaching by vehicleInternational departureYou must go up to the 3rd floor (Departures) via the upper ramp, and go down to the 1st floor (Arrivals) when picking up arriving passengers. If you get on the wrong floor, you will have to go around the ring road one more time, so check the information board in advance.

Differences from T1·T2

• T1— Focused on low-cost domestic flights. It reopened after expansion and remodeling and is used by some Indigo routes.
• T2— It operates as an auxiliary terminal for low-cost domestic flights, and assigned flights are flexible depending on the renovation situation.
• T3— All international flights and some full-service domestic flights.

Most importantly, the three terminalsphysically separateThe fact is that it has been done. Travel between T3 and T1/T2 is only possible by the airport's free shuttle bus, which bypasses city roads.Allow at least 3 to 4 hours for transfers.It is safer to secure it.

The biggest feature of Indian airports isEntry into the airport building itself is controlled.no see. CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel are stationed at each entrance on the T3 departure floor.Passport and airline ticket (printed electronic ticket or mobile QR)Let them in only after checking. In principle, family members or acquaintances who are seen off are not allowed inside, so greetings must be exchanged in advance at the door.

Recommended arrival time

• international— Recommended arrival 3 hours before departure. During peak season and late at night, 3 hours and 30 minutes is safe.
• Domestic flights— Recommended arrival 2 hours before departure. If you do not have checked baggage, 1 hour and 30 minutes is also possible.

Check-in → Immigration screening → Security search sequence

1. web check-in— Completed on the airline app or web 24 to 48 hours before departure. If you don't have checked baggage, you can skip the counter, which saves a lot of time.
2. Bag Drop— Even after web check-in, if you have checked luggage, you can use the bag drop service where you can only check your luggage at the airline counter.
3. Immigration— Present your passport and boarding pass. When leaving India, your passport isBecause the departure stamp is stampedIf the stamp is missing or blurred, it may cause problems during the next re-entry or visa renewal, so be sure to visually check it on the spot.
4. Security— CISF searches passengers and baggage. Indian airportsSeparate female and male linesfemale passengers are searched in a separate booth with a curtain.
5. boarding gate— After security check, go to the gate on the 2nd floor. Because T3 is quite longThe far gate is a 10-15 minute walk.It may take a while, so make sure you have plenty of time to travel.

For reference, Indian domestic flights areSecurity stamp on tags of carry-on baggageis stamped, and this stamp may be checked at the boarding gate. Be sure to get a stamp as you go through security screening. For most international flights, this procedure is omitted, but it may vary depending on the airline and time of year, so just follow the line's instructions.

T3 is the terminal with the best international lounge infrastructure in India. It is broadly divided into three types:Airline exclusive lounge(for business/commercial members),Third party operated public lounge(Plaza Premium, Encalm, etc.), andLounge directly managed/affiliated with credit card issuer(American Express, etc.) Since usage conditions vary from lounge to lounge, you must check the benefits of your card/program before visiting.

Representative T3 international lounge

• Air India Maharaja Lounge— For Air India/Star Alliance upper class and business class passengers. An Indian and Western buffet and a quiet seating area are provided.
• Plaza Premium Lounge— Several locations in the international departure and transfer area. Partnered with Priority Pass, Diners Club, and some credit card programs. Even if you are not a memberPaid walk-in at single rateThis is possible.
• Encalm Privé / Encalm Plus— The Indian premium lounge brand is expanding its branches in the international area. Priority Pass, accessible subject to domestic credit card company partnership conditions.
• American Express Lounge— Only for high-level members such as AMEX Platinum and Centurion.

The method most frequently used by Korean expatriates isLounge programs such as Priority Pass or Love Me provided by domestic credit card companiesto enter Plaza Premium or Encalm lounges. However, by loungeFree/paid policy for one accompanying person and maximum usage time (usually 2-3 hours)These vary, so check the conditions before visiting.

Tips for use

• When there are large flights late at night and early in the morningThere may be a wait even in popular loungesdo. It is safe to arrive 2 hours and 30 minutes before boarding.
• Some loungesshower boothIt is useful before and after long-distance flights. Usage time is often counted separately, so please inquire when registering.
• Exact locations, operating hours, and affiliated card lists change over time.Delhi Airport Official SiteWe recommend that you reconfirm immediately before travel.

Delhi is a popular hub connecting routes to Europe, America, and Southeast Asia, so there are many transit passengers. Since the travel route is completely different depending on the type of transfer, when planning your itinerary,Which scenario does this apply to?You need to check first.

1) Transfer between T3 → T3 international flight

This is the simplest case. After arrival"Transfers" information boardIf you follow, a separate transfer counter will issue you a boarding pass for the next flight, and you can move to the boarding area by simply going through security screening again. Checked baggage is usually automatically routed to its final destination, so there is no need to re-claim it.

2) T3 international flight → T3 domestic flight transfer

Although it is within the same T3, the international → domestic procedures are much more complicated. certainlyImmigration screening (entry) → Baggage claim → Go through customs and exit the arrival hall, then go back to the domestic departure level and re-check in.You must do it. Domestic flight ticketSingle PNREven if you are issued a ticket, you must go through the Indian entry process without exception, so allow at least 3 hours.

3) T3 ↔ T1/T2 transfer — shuttle bus required

T3 and T1/T2 are physically separated, so journeys from a T3 international flight to a T1 or T2 low-cost domestic flight must beFree airport shuttle busYou must ride .

• The service interval varies depending on the time of day, but in general,Every 20~40 minutes, one way travel time: 20 to 30 minutes.
• On the shuttle rideOriginal boarding passes and passports for both itinerariesConfirmation is required.
• Considering the risk of road congestionAllow at least 3 to 4 hours for transfers.The standard for practice is to catch .

India domestic flights and international flightsanother reservationIf you have purchased a ticket, your luggage will not be automatically connected and you will need to pick it up and re-check in, so it will take more time. In particular, low-cost airlines have frequent delays and gate changes, so be sure to take this into account when planning your itinerary.

The most efficient way to travel from downtown Delhi, Gurgaon, or Noida to IGI T3 isDelhi Airport Express Line (Orange Line)no see. Regardless of road congestion, punctuality is very high, and there is a separate large luggage rack on the train, making it convenient to take luggage with you.

Airport Express Route Overview

• route— New Delhi Metro Station ↔ Shivaji Stadium ↔ Dhaula Kuan ↔ Delhi Aerocity ↔IGI Airport T3↔ Dwarka Sector 21
• New Delhi Station ↔ T3 Travel Time— You can travel on time in about 20 minutes, a section that takes more than an hour by taxi depending on road conditions.
• transfer point— You can transfer on foot to the Yellow Line at New Delhi Station, the Blue Line at Dwarka Sector 21 Station, and the Pink Line near Dhaula Kuan Station.
• baggage— There is a carrier rack in the train so you don’t have to force yourself to stand in front of your seat.

The exact interval, fare, and first and last train times are adjusted depending on the time of year, so be sure toDMRC (Delhi Metro) official site or official appCheck the latest information here. The Airport Express operates a separate fare system from the Delhi Metro's regular routes, and you can use a dedicated smart card or QR ticket.

Note for residents of Gurgaon and Noida

• GurgaonFrom the southern end (HUDA City Center, etc.), you can take the Yellow Line to New Delhi Station and then transfer to the Express, but the Yellow Line travel time is long.Taxis are practical on days when you have a lot of luggage.It often happens. The characteristics of each region in Gurgaon areGurgaon area guidePlease also refer to:
• noidaFrom , you can take the Blue Line via Yamuna Bank or Rajiv Chowk and transfer to the Express at New Delhi Station or transfer to the Express at Dwarka Sector 21.

Taxi and rideshare apps are convenient during the early morning and late night hours when the metro does not run, or when you have a lot of luggage. Ground transportation available upon arrival at IGI T3 is largelyprepaid taxi, Rideshare such as Uber, Ola, etc., Radio taxi/5 star hotel limousineIt is divided into:

1) Delhi Police Prepaid Taxi

Before leaving the arrival hall,Prepaid taxi counter operated by Delhi Traffic PolicePlease tell us your destination and pay the fare.prepaymentdo. Get on the taxi (usually black/yellow Ambassador or white sedan) with the number written on the receipt, and hand the receipt to the driver at your destination to complete the settlement.No extortionate prices or stress of bargaining, open 24 hours a dayThe biggest advantage is that it is especially recommended for passengers who are new to India.

2) Ride share services such as Uber and Ola

Uber and Ola are available at T3 arrivals level.Designated Pickup ZoneYou can only ride at . Be sure to follow the arrival signs and look for signs, and pickup location instructions will also be displayed within the app.

• Payment is automatically processed by registered card or UPI.No cash required. How to use UPIPaytm·PhonePe Complete GuidePlease refer to .
• In many cases, the airport entry toll is automatically added to the fare, so check the price estimate on the app before boarding.
• Waiting times may be longer late at night (midnight to early morning).I tend to turn on the app in advance according to the expected time for immigration screening and baggage collection.This is good.

3) Radio taxi/hotel limousine

Radio taxis such as Meru have a separate booth in front of the T3 arrival hall, and 5-star hotel limousine service can also be reserved at the desk inside the arrival hall. The fee is higher than prepaid or appScout, vehicle status, and driver identity managementSince it is stable in terms of aspect, it is used for executive pickup, etc.

If you are settling down in Delhi or Gurgaon for the first time,Checklist for your first 30 days in IndiaIt may also be helpful to check this as well.

Lastly, we will summarize practical tips that are frequently asked when using T3. Although it may seem trivial, it is a point that most first-time users stumble over at least once.

Wi-Fi, SIM, currency exchange

• Airport Wi-Fi— Indian Airport Wi-FiSMS verification with Indian mobile numberThis is often necessary. Verification may not be possible with a roaming Korean number, so prepare lounge Wi-Fi or personal roaming data.
• sim card— There is an Airtel/Jio booth in the arrival hall, so you can use your passport and visa to open a SIM card, but foreigners cannot use it.Local guarantor number for OTP authenticationIn some cases, it is safer to accompany a company representative or have it processed at a city branch within a few days of arrival. (For detailed procedures,Guide to Settlement in Indiareference)
• currency exchange— The exchange rate at the arrival hall currency exchange booth is less favorable than in the city.Exchange only small amountsIt is the standard of life in India that most payments are made by card·UPI.

Things to keep in mind when arriving/picking up late at night

• International arrivals to India0~4 amIt is very crowded. Immigration screening and baggage collection may take over an hour, so be sure to inform the person picking you up of the expected waiting time.
• When picking up family/companiesParking overtime finesTherefore, it is common to wait on the ring road outside the arrival hall and stop briefly when passengers leave.
• passport immigration stampBlurred or missing imagesIf this happens, it may cause problems during your next immigration, so make it a habit to visually check it on the spot at the immigration screening counter.

Check the latest information for each service

Details such as airport express fees, shuttle bus dispatch, prepaid taxi rates, and lounge partnership conditions frequently change depending on the time of year. Indian Airport OperatorsDelhi International Airport Ltd.(DIAL)official site andDMRC (Delhi Metro)It is safest to double-check the latest information on the official site just before travelling.