Delhi Airport

✅ Trip Verified | Delhi Airport is run by incompetence and is a complete shambles. On a positive side - the airport is very clean, including the toilets. On our arrival into the airport, it was very early in the morning and there were very few people around, but it took us nearly 40 minutes to get through passport control as the people were finger print scanning everyone and insisting on all paperwork being filled out the way they wanted. Once they had this paperwork, they were very slow at processing it. The whole arrivals area looks pretty grim, particularly past customs. After you collect your bags, you have to walk through a long shopping mall before you finally get to customs and out to the door. We were expecting people and touts everywhere, but surprisingly this wasn't the case and it was a calm and peaceful entry into India. Our departure was the opposite.... as I said before - complete shambles. Delhi Airport's International terminal had been completely upgraded / rebuilt and looks very nice and clean - unfortunately the government must have run out of money after paying for the President's new jet and could not afford to put in a decent security screening system - I'll get back to this later. Before getting into the airport, you must have a boarding pass, which we didn't have so we had to argue with the soldier on duty and he finally let us in after we showed him our passports and a flight ticket. There are several of these check points and it is not clear which check point you have to go to unless you are in an Indian Airline. Inside the terminal looks nice, fresh and clean and I guess they want to keep the touts, pickpockets etc out of the airport. After check in was passport control - the guy on the desk did his job, but was surly and he stamped our passport and boarding pass - at this stage I thought things were going too smoothly until security. Security at Delhi Airport requires you to wait in line while removing all electronics and plugs out of your bag and holding on to them. When you get to the front of the queue you have to get your boarding pass out again and passport and show it to a security staff member, you have to find several small trays to put all of your things in so nothing is on top of each other, then wait in another line (we had to hold 6 of these trays). When we got to the front of this queue, we had to get our boarding passes and passports out again and show them to another security staff member. Next, males and females are separated, walk through the metal detector to another staff member and show your boarding passes and passports again. Eventually our bags and belongings turned up from the scanner about 5 minutes later, but there was no table or space we could comfortably put our things back into our bags. As I mentioned before the Indian Government has made a nice looking modern airport (departures side) with clean facilities, plenty of space and adequate eating places, but it has not invested in a decent and efficient Security screening system, which is why it is complete shambles. My only other complaint is why all the areas where you can sit and watch the planes coming and going are all locked off as departure gates and people like me can't find somewhere to sit and watch the aircraft coming and going. Overall, I would have a good impression of Delhi Airport if they fixed the security screening, but we won't be flying into Delhi again.

Not Verified | I used to really like Delhi airport. There is a great range of food and drink outlets at reasonable prices, including pay for lounges, which again are competitively priced compared to many European countries. Some really nice shops also for all budgets, unlike the overpriced designer outlets which dominate many other countries. They really need to do something about the queuing times, which are some of the worst I have experienced anywhere. Arrivals can be hit or miss, but this time on departure, I arrived a full 3 hours before the flight, but had to queue first 10 mins to enter terminal (normal in South Asia) then appalling 1 hour to check-in for Air India. There were no bag drops for people who had checked in online. After that there was 30 mins for immigration, then security another 30 mins. There were not a substantial amount of people, it was just the process was so slow, and many counters were unattended. If you want any time to shop or relax and eat, you probably need to arrive 4 hours before your flight. My flight was boarding by the time i cleared security.

✅ Trip Verified | Had a domestic to international transfer. Followed the signs to an area that looked like customs. They seemed to be turning non Indians away and told us essentially to go out through arrivals. Asked for help a few times as the signs were very unclear. Finally ended up walking what must have been a kilometer to very poorly signed location where a guard directed us up to the main departures area. Went to go through customs and redo security but customs wouldn't let me through as I had a long transfer (8 hours). At any regular airport this would not be an issue but of course here they make life difficult. I tried to get help but everywhere I went I was told there was nothing that can be done and all told me different times I could pass into the international terminal. I paid for a business class ticket so I could stay in the lounge during the layover but instead I was in the departure hall with hundreds of people with many sitting on the ground due to lack of seats. No restaurants or anything in the departure hall so just stuck there. I had to go to the washroom but couldn't stomach it. I tried to return to arrivals as I had seen a lounge there but I wasn't allowed. I tried to leave the airport and even that was not permitted they told me I'd have to walk to the other side of the airport to exit. I tried getting help from the airline and they were unhelpful. This airport is to be avoided. The other airports in India that I've been to have been ok but this one is really subpar and treats their passengers, especially transit passengers very poorly. Security is also extremely picky wanting any cable or anything electronic to be taken out. It becomes very chaotic as you are separated from your belongings. Honestly security at airports is never a pleasant experience but they seem to aim to create extra chaotic situations in an already stressful environment. Avoid if you can I certainly will in the future.

Not Verified | I experienced both Terminal 3 and Terminal 1 at Delhi Airport during this trip. Terminal 3 experience is always good, though slightly clinical, unfortunately Terminal 1 is very disappointing. I understand Terminal 1 is under redevelopment but basics can be taken care of easily. The charging points in most areas do not work. The security screening process is a nightmare and you could see the staff struggling (no blame on them, they were in a tough situation). The number of F&B outlets is very limited and extremely expensive. Considering it is mostly LCCs who use this terminal, it is often important to refuel before the flight which becomes difficult. Lack of vending machines means that the few outlets who serve this terminal can charge any amount they please for drinks. I would recommend you actively avoid flights departing from this terminal till the renovation is completed.

✅ Trip Verified | We transited from Heathrow to Kathmandu via Delhi and returned from Kathmandu to Heathrow via the same, via Delhi’s T3. On both occasions our ‘transfer/transit experience’ was completely unacceptable, bordering on downright disgraceful. We expected the transfer to be similar to what we’d experienced at other major airports in the past, (like Heathrow, Bogotá, Lisbon), however, Delhi was an exception. On arrival, we found ourselves being ‘held’ in the ‘Transfer Area’ - were we had to wait for 2-3 hours (each way) for our tickets to be stamped. We were informed this could only be done by ‘Airline staff’ and we’d have to wait for ‘someone to come’. Hundreds of other passengers from other aircraft founds themselves having the same experience, some having waited for 5 or more hours. There isn’t ample seating, no shops, restraints or vending machines, just an area that looked and felt like an Emergency Department hospital waiting room with confused, anxious, tired and upset people waiting for ‘someone’ to stamp their boarding pass. The whole operation lacked any order, with staff behind kiosks saying ‘you have to wait’. After hours of waiting, and constantly asking, our boarding passes were initialled by the same man who’d told us to ‘wait’ and we then proceeded through a security area that seemed that it hadn’t changed in 20 years. There was no automated belt/carousel to place items on ( we all shudder our trays along a table) and ever passenger was asked to stand on an elevated wooden box (in front on 100’s waiting) whilst an ignorant security guard waved a wand, and abruptly stamped the boarding card. I can compare this 2-3 hour ‘ordeal’ to transiting at Heathrow - one of the worlds busiest airports - which took 20 minutes. If you are simply using Delhi to transit/transfer, please consider another airport. I am writing to our travel agent to ask they consider my experience, and others who’ve also documented the same on this site, so they might instead re-route their customers via another hub. This was a terrible ordeal, I can’t imagine what this would be like if we were travelling with children or elderly. Please I ask you to strongly consider another airport.

✅ Trip Verified | Worst airport to be in. No one assisted for transfers. People are horrible for not helping travelers find their way. They are even mad and rude to answer questions. Very limited facilities for resting and charging phones. To connect to wifi they have to get your passport details from a kiosk, how troublesome especially the queue for it.

Not Verified | It’s unclear why but the airport demands you would have a check-in boarding pass from a kiosk. As a light traveller, I only get online check-in boarding pass and copies of it (just in case I lose my phone). Well, apparently it’s not enough! (And the only thing they do is stamp it. You can literally stamp any paper). So I got to wait in the airport for 14 hours with no shops nor drinks. Self check-in is unavailable (unless some specific airline) measure that against any European airport, and you realise how horrible was experience here. Staff are super rude in CISF and immigration (I met 2 very kind CISF guards in the departure area only). The rest were talking in raised voices, throwing passport around. I hate this airport with every fibre in me. Avoid like a plague and choose other transit/departure destination.

Not Verified | Delhi airport has improved a lot from what it was a couple of years ago. Entry through departure gates was really quick and after check in, immigration check was quick too with all counters working. Security check had reasonable queue as expected and once you are thru', it's an easy ride with many good shops and eating places. The airport is very well maintained with proper signage and plenty of greenery. Thanks to the maintenance team and all staff for a remarkable experience.

✅ Trip Verified | Rude immigration staff who throw the passport at travellers after stamping. Non existent crowd control, unclean restrooms (men). Will definitely avoid this airport if I have the option. Not worthy of being called an international airport.

✅ Trip Verified | I am so happy and feel amazed with customer service at Terminal 1. My query was very professionally resolved by Sh. Suresh Chand Meena at PRM counter. Really appreciate his professional approach and helping me out with my query in timely manner. All the very best,