We have had some threads about traveling through Delhi airport to/from KTM. Still some questions don't seem to have been answered.

1. How long is considered transit time? Can I get out of airport if transiting?

2. If I have through fare (ticketing all the way to KTM), my understanding is that my luggage will be checked in all the way to Kathmandu and the same return trip. Can I still leave the airport to go to the city for rest/refreshing if the transit is long?

3. I heard departing out of Delhi is usually bad because of multiple lines. How early should I get to the airport if I decide to venture out to the city?

just check out in delhi airport. stay a few days. check out the place. take the next flight. whats the big deal here?

Santosh, thanks for info.
I plan to spend only 5 or 6 hours in Delhi to get refreshed at a friend's place. However, I'd prefer not to drag my baggage around if I don't have to.

YOU CANNOT COME OUT OF THE AIRPORT IF YOU ARE IN TRANSIT UNLESS THE FLIGHT HAS BEEN DELAYED BY MORE THAN 6 HOURS THAN THE USUAL TIME. IN SOME CASE, THEY WILL LET YOU OUT IF YOUR TRNSIT TIME IS MORE THAN 12 HOURS. AND FOR YOUR LUGGAGE, IT WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED TO THE FLIGHT TO KATHMANDU. YOU CAN CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE AIRPORT WITH INTENTION NOT TO RETURN, HOWEVER YOU CAN STILL COLLECT YOUR LUGGAGE FROM KATHMANDU AIRPORT ON YOUR ARRIVAL NEXT DAY BY DIFFERENT FLIGHT. BUT ALL THIS YOU ARE TAKING A GREAT RISK AS YOU KNOW THE STAFF AT KTM AIRPORT.

naryanbdr, you cannot come out if in transit? that would be a real bummer...
spending 9+ hours in delhi airport? i've always heard that there is nothing to do in the airport to kill time.
i thought maybe nepalese passport holders can come out since we do not need visa for india.
next option would probably be checkout and re-checkin. is this recommended? i heard this is a bigger pain due to long lines.

Hey aRT, when r u going?? We can have a company, if we are going on the same date ni.

May be for a few hours, but usually there is no way you can check out of the airport more than a few hours without checking out the luggage. If you are talking about a few days, you must check out your luggage as the luggage is under the custody of the Indian government, not the airlines. I had tried this without success for a day.

Off course there is nothing in the Delhi Airport to kill time and Nepali passport holders don't need visa. But keep these factors in mind if you want to spend your transit time in the city:
A. Even by taxi it takes minimum 1 hour to reach the city .
B.You will have to pay airport tax approx IC 300 if you check out of the airport. Plus the taxi fare around 200 one-way ( unless your friends or relatives come to pick u up.)
C. Delhi traffic is a chaos, chances are you may not make it on time to the airport.
BON VOYAGE !

take prepaid taxi on the airport itself which is cheaper and safer, else they could cheat you easily. It is a good idea to check the city, it is great.

AVIATION RULE IS THAT THE TRANSIT PASSENGER CANNOT COME OUT UNLESS THE FLIGHT HAS BEEN DELAYED OR CANCELLED, AND THE AIRLINE ITSELF WILL MAKE THE ARRANGEMENT IF THAT IS THE CASE. IF YOU REALLY NEED TO COME OUT THEN BOOK SEPERATE FLIGHT. IF YOUR FLIGHT HAS BEEN BOOKED AS ONE UP TO KTM THEN THERE IS NO CHANCE.

ADVISE YOU TO TAKE AN IPOD TO KEEP YOU OCCUPIED DURING TRANSIT.

narayanbdr, whether transit passengers can clear immigration, go outside the airport, and back in again depends a lot on the airport.

Are you talking from specific experience at Delhi, or in general? I do know of a number of people who've stayed overnight at hotels in Delhi between flights... even if the flights were booked on the same ticket. In other countries it's very easy to do (assuming you have a valid visa) ... clear immigration, meet a friend or whatever, and 2 hours later go back in.

thanks everyone for suggestions/experiences...

it seems like i will have to find out the hard way... find out which way the wind is blowing.

purush... i'm arriving in delhi on the 23rd. and u?