Lounge Access and Transiting in Delhi

[aaron868]

Has anyone travelled from Delhi recently? From what I can tell, there is no lounge access for QF, or any OneWorld at all currently. Can anyone confirm? Thanks in advance. (my reading is that Qantas use the Plaza Premium lounge, but that's currently closed).

I've got a 7.30pm flight out of Delhi on the 22nd May. I need to travel from Mumbai that day to make that connection and am trying to work out how much buffer to leave for contingency, and also what I'll do in Delhi if I have lots of contingency. My options broadly are to arrive in Delhi (same terminal) just on 2.5 hours before or 5 hours before. From memory I won't be able to re-enter the departures area more than 3 hours prior anyway. Transiting in India is never particularly easy.

Thanks very much in advance for any advice.

 

[Foreigner]

Has anyone travelled from Delhi recently? From what I can tell, there is no lounge access for QF, or any OneWorld at all currently. Can anyone confirm? Thanks in advance. (my reading is that Qantas use the Plaza Premium lounge, but that's currently closed).

I've got a 7.30pm flight out of Delhi on the 22nd May. I need to travel from Mumbai that day to make that connection and am trying to work out how much buffer to leave for contingency, and also what I'll do in Delhi if I have lots of contingency. My options broadly are to arrive in Delhi (same terminal) just on 2.5 hours before or 5 hours before. From memory I won't be able to re-enter the departures area more than 3 hours prior anyway. Transiting in India is never particularly easy.

Thanks very much in advance for any advice.

Do you have Amex card(s)?

American Express has a lounge and more info can be found in this review:

First Look: American Express Lounge Delhi International Airport - Live From A Lounge

First Look inside the American Express Lounge Delhi International Airport which is available for Amex Cardmembers from March 2021 onwards.

livefromalounge.com

 

[aaron868]

Do you have Amex card(s)?

American Express has a lounge and more info can be found in this review:

First Look: American Express Lounge Delhi International Airport - Live From A Lounge

First Look inside the American Express Lounge Delhi International Airport which is available for Amex Cardmembers from March 2021 onwards.

livefromalounge.com

I have this Amex Card. I think it gives 2 passes a year for their lounges in Sydney and Melbourne. Have always found access to Amex Lounges confusing.

Qantas American Express Ultimate Card | Amex AU

Earn Qantas Points with the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. Enjoy flights, airport lounge access, and more. Start earning Qantas Points today.

www.americanexpress.com

 

[Daver6]

QF sent me to The Irish House in December. You can order off the menu shown and it's free. Not a lounge but better than nothing. Food is pretty average.

 

[aaron868]

QF sent me to The Irish House in December. You can order off the menu shown and it's free. Not a lounge but better than nothing. Food is pretty average.

View attachment 325984View attachment 325985

Post automatically merged: Apr 29, 2023

Thanks for that info. Looks a bit grim!

 

[blacksultan]

I used a lounge when I flew out of India in Jan 22 . Usually in india if flying biz the airline will give you a invite to a private lounge if they don’t have their own .

 

[Daver6]

Post automatically merged: Apr 29, 2023

Thanks for that info. Looks a bit grim!

Grim probably would summarise most lounges in India from my limited experience.

DEL airport is just like any new modern airport though. Comfy enough with plenty of outlets. One thing I did find severely lacking though was in the departure gate area of the domestic terminal at DEL there was a lack of places to get power to charge devices.

 

[blacksultan]

Grim probably would summarise most lounges in India from my limited experience.

DEL airport is just like any new modern airport though. Comfy enough with plenty of outlets. One thing I did find severely lacking though was in the departure gate area of the domestic terminal at DEL there was a lack of places to get power to charge devices.

The Adani airport in Mumbai is quite ok .
Lots of chaos at Delhi airport at security etc and in queues .

 

[aaron868]

I used a lounge when I flew out of India in Jan 22 . Usually in india if flying biz the airline will give you a invite to a private lounge if they don’t have their own .

I've travelled through Delhi a few times and have used a generic lounge (Plaza Premium from memory) which i understand is what Qantas would use if it was currently open. It looks like there is no lounge there for any OneWorld Airline. Given Cathay and BA fly there it's quite baffling.

 

[aaron868]

Grim probably would summarise most lounges in India from my limited experience.

DEL airport is just like any new modern airport though. Comfy enough with plenty of outlets. One thing I did find severely lacking though was in the departure gate area of the domestic terminal at DEL there was a lack of places to get power to charge devices.

The lounge a level below in Mumbai I've found is good (in their reasonably new terminal). One World is definitely a second class citizen in India though. If only Kingfisher had survived, we might have had better options given their pending OneWorld entry at time of collapse.

 

[astrosly]

New arrangement for lounge at DEL for QF ... no longer the irish pub but now the holiday inn.

BP says HI but it is actually the landside holiday inn express. You need to locate Guardian pharmac_, turn right and find the correct set of lifts to 5th floor of the HIX.

OK space (for a hotel lounge!), very limited drinks such as no wine but they have one beer and a handful of spirits including dark rum and happy to pour a double . Good view of tarmac and saw QF69 coming in to land. Toilets outside of lounge. Food looks OK for a standard but small lounge buffet and I didn't eat any.

Staff at HIX lounge said it is only temporary until they finish renovating the normal airport lounge.

 

[oneworldsapphire]

Travelled through Delhi last week, transit only. Travelled business class on the QF70 DEL-MEL was directed to the holiday inn airport cafe lounge. Very ordinary. Overcrowded, had to pay AUD $36 for a shower and for tonic water. Surprised no oneworld lounge at DEL given QF/AY/JL/QR/BA/MH and I think CX all fly there. EK pax we’re also sent to the same holiday inn cafe lounge. Wouldn’t recommend Delhi as a transit stop was chaotic and very basic.

 

[bussyboy]

I must've missed the Amex lounge option when I was there in April 2022; but enjoyed a lazy meal at Cafe Tonino when I was waiting for my flight to SIN and quite enjoyed the food and atmosphere.

 

[AbsolutelyAnything]

When I was there last year, before I flew I managed to get Delta to status match my QFF Platinum which then gave me access to the Air India lounge.

To be honest, that wasn't that good, very hot being on a mezzanine level!

 

[chingy17]

Just departed from Delhi on a Oneworld airline (Sri Lankan) in J. No lounge access offer, not even directed to Irish Pub / Holiday Inn. Was told lounge is not yet open.

Had less than 30 minutes through check in, immigration and security.

 

[Mr H]

Just departed from Delhi on a Oneworld airline (Sri Lankan) in J. No lounge access offer, not even directed to Irish Pub / Holiday Inn. Was told lounge is not yet open.

Had less than 30 minutes through check in, immigration and security.

I have been through Delhi multiple times over the past 15 years. The lounges have improved but are still not really worth bothering with - even when they are open. They are often quite full, but the seating is marginally more comfortable than on the general concourse. I would opt for a paid cafe.

The airport itself and its procedures have improved immeasurably in the past few year - but still some way to go - particularly for transit and being able to enter the terminal.

 

[garybatz]

Hi, any update on the Delhi lounge situation? The QF website says we can access the Encalm partner lounge, while the Oneworld website does not include QF in the list of airlines eligible to use that lounge. Will be flying out of Delhi in February and it would be nice to have somewhere to use. Thanks

 

[FlyingFiona]

The airport itself and its procedures have improved immeasurably in the past few year - but still some way to go - particularly for transit and being able to enter the terminal.

I'm a little unclear about the transit procedure...

Below screenshot is from the QF website

But the airport website itself makes no mention of this and says:


Are you able to confirm?

 

[Paul Mc]

Hi, any update on the Delhi lounge situation? The QF website says we can access the Encalm partner lounge, while the Oneworld website does not include QF in the list of airlines eligible to use that lounge. Will be flying out of Delhi in February and it would be nice to have somewhere to use. Thanks

I just used the Encalm Lounge at Delhi T3. Very new and very nice! Beautiful decor and the food selection is extensive and excellent. Flying QF70 back to Australia. I am Platinum / Emerald and also travelling in Business via a points upgrade. Hope this helps clarify re Qantas passenger eligibility re being able to use the Encalm Lounge. A couple of pics attached.

 

[garybatz]

I just used the Encalm Lounge at Delhi T3. Very new and very nice! Beautiful decor and the food selection is extensive and excellent. Flying QF70 back to Australia. I am Platinum / Emerald and also travelling in Business via a points upgrade. Hope this helps clarify re Qantas passenger eligibility re being able to use the Encalm Lounge. A couple of pics attached.

Thanks Paul Mc, that is great to hear, it looks very nice indeed. We're also on QF70 in J so sounds like eligibility is there, will be nice to have a quiet space to relax before the flight