Transport Guides · Practical travel advice
Delhi Airport Terminal Transfers: T1, T2, T3 & Connections
A Delhi airport terminal transfer depends on the terminals printed for your actual flights, baggage arrangements and whether the airline offers a protected connection. Check the official free shuttle and airline transfer instructions before booking a private landside vehicle. No road-transfer estimate can guarantee that you will make a flight.
Start with the actual arrival and departure terminals
Check both flight numbers, the local travel date and the arrival and departure terminals in your airline booking and current airport information. Domestic does not mean one fixed terminal: T1, T2 and T3 all need flight-specific verification. Terminal assignments can change.
For a Delhi airport T1 to T3 transfer or Delhi airport T2 to T3 transfer, save the onward flight details offline and compare them again after landing. A connection across midnight needs special care: the departure date may be the following calendar day. Do not send a driver to a terminal based only on the airline’s usual pattern.
Same-terminal and different-terminal connections
Same-terminal connections can still involve immigration, baggage collection, a new check-in and security. Different-terminal connections add navigation, waiting and physical movement between buildings. A through-ticket and separate tickets may have different airline arrangements.
Delhi Airport publishes separate domestic-to-domestic and international-to-domestic guidance. Follow staff instructions for the actual connection rather than automatically exiting to meet a driver. An authorised transfer process inside the airport is different from a landside taxi service.
| Connection | What needs checking |
|---|---|
| Same terminal | Transfer route, bags, security and airline cut-offs |
| T1 ↔ T3 | Actual flight terminal and official shuttle instructions |
| T2 ↔ T3 | Current walking/buggy/shuttle advice and assistance |
| Separate tickets | Missed-connection responsibility and baggage recheck |
| Private pickup | Landside meeting point and agreed waiting terms |
Immigration, baggage and onward check-in
For an international arrival connecting to a domestic flight, Delhi Airport describes immigration, baggage collection and customs before the onward transfer process. Check with the airline how your checked luggage is handled; a printed baggage tag and staff confirmation are more useful than an assumption that bags travel automatically.
The departure airline’s check-in, bag-drop and boarding cut-offs still apply. Work backwards from those cut-offs and allow for each queue. For a Delhi airport international to domestic transfer, clarify entry formalities with the airline and official Indian entry guidance if relevant to your nationality; this guide is not an immigration eligibility decision.
Official terminal-transfer options and assistance
Delhi Airport lists free inter-terminal shuttle buses alongside cabs/taxis and T2–T3 buggy options. Use the airport’s current terminal-specific commute page and help desk for pickup points, eligibility, assistance and operating arrangements. There is no need to buy a private transfer simply because the terminals differ.
If walking distance, luggage or boarding steps are a concern, request airline or airport assistance in advance and confirm where that assistance begins and ends. A private driver cannot replace an airport wheelchair service or enter secure areas to collect you.
Separate tickets, delays and an overnight decision
On separate tickets, ask both airlines what happens if the first flight is late and whether the next booking is protected. Avoid treating a short road journey as the entire connection time. Immigration, bags, waiting, check-in and security can take longer than the transfer itself.
If an overnight stay is sensible, confirm whether the proposed hotel is landside or airside and whether you are eligible to reach it. Check the actual room date, check-in time and return transfer. Do not book a city excursion into a tight connection without a realistic return and airport-entry plan.
When a landside private transfer is useful
A landside private transfer can be useful for an agreed airport-to-hotel, airport-to-city or onward outstation journey, or a terminal change where you deliberately choose that option. Request the terminal, flight number, meeting instructions, luggage capacity, waiting allowance and delay-contact procedure in writing.
Use Delhi airport pickup planning for an arrival journey or airport-to-outstation transport for a longer route. The transport enquiry below does not arrange airline rebooking, immigration clearance or access to a boarding gate.
Build a connection worksheet
Write down arrival terminal → immigration if applicable → baggage instructions → official transfer route → departure terminal → bag drop → security → gate. Add the airline cut-offs beside the final stages. Ask the airline whether your actual connection is acceptable; this worksheet deliberately avoids a single minimum time that would be wrong for many passengers.
Traveller questions
How do I confirm the terminal for my travel date?
Check your airline’s current booking or flight-status information and Delhi Airport’s terminal guidance. Recheck after landing, especially if the onward flight or travel date changes.
Do I collect my bags before a domestic connection?
For an international-to-domestic connection, the airport’s guidance includes baggage collection after immigration. Confirm your specific handling with the airline and follow the airport transfer instructions.
Is there a free inter-terminal transfer option?
Yes. Delhi Airport lists a free inter-terminal shuttle. Confirm the current boarding location and eligibility with airport staff; a private taxi is an optional alternative, not a compulsory connection service.
Do I need to leave the terminal during my connection?
Not automatically. Follow the airline and airport route for your connection. Exiting to the public arrivals area can change what you need to do before boarding again.
Can a private driver help inside the secure airport area?
No. A private landside driver meets you only in the permitted public pickup area. Secure-area navigation and special assistance belong with the airline and airport team.
Who should I contact if my first flight is delayed?
Contact the onward airline or its transfer desk first to understand rebooking options. Then update any hotel or private pickup provider using the agreed delay-contact process.
Turn the research into your travel plan
Request only the services you need. Share dates, route, party size and practical preferences; ask for a written scope, exclusions and change terms before paying.
Related planning guides
Official references and updates
Reviewed 18 October 2026. Official links support the factual guidance; planning examples are advisory. Recheck operational rules and availability for your dates.
- Delhi Airport: inter-terminal commute
- Delhi Airport: international to domestic
- Delhi Airport: domestic to domestic
Found a changed rule or need a route-specific check? Contact the planning team. An enquiry requests a written proposal; no service is confirmed until its scope, availability and terms are agreed.