Which lounge to choose at Delhi, terminal by terminal
Which lounge to choose at Delhi, terminal by terminal

Which lounge to choose at Delhi, terminal by terminal

At Delhi the choice of lounge revolves around one brand, Encalm, and one terminal, Terminal 3, where there are lounges for both domestic and international flights. What decides, however, is above all the type of access: with Priority Pass you enter the standard Encalm lounges, while the Privé is paid for at the door and Air India's Maharaja asks for a premium ticket or a status.
What matters first is whether the flight is domestic or international, because each departures lounge serves one specific side. At Terminal 1 the lounges are for domestic departures. The Encalm Lounge, on the level 5 mezzanine near the food court, opens with Priority Pass, DragonPass or by paying the entrance fee and offers a bar and hot dishes, but alcohol is paid for separately. In the same area there is the Encalm Privé Lounge, the paid premium version, less expensive than the international Privé at Terminal 3. At Terminal 2 the Encalm Lounge for domestic departures is temporarily closed: those boarding from here, for now, have no Encalm lounge to count on.
Which lounge to choose
Lounge Where Hours Priority Pass Paid entry Showers
Encalm Lounge T1 · Domestic flights Open 24 hours Yes Yes —
Encalm Privé Lounge T1 · Domestic flights — No 4,000 INR —
Encalm Lounge T3 · Domestic flights Open 24 hours Yes Yes —
Encalm Lounge T3 · International flights Open 24 hours Yes Yes —
Encalm Lounge (Arrivi) T3 · All flights Open 24 hours Yes 2,550 INR —
Encalm Privé Lounge T3 · International flights Open 24 hours No 5,150 INR Yes
Plaza Premium First T3 · International flights — No Yes Yes
Plaza Premium Lounge (Lounge A) T3 — No — —
Plaza Premium Lounge (Lounge B) T3 — Yes Yes Yes
Air India Maharaja Lounge T3 · International flights Open 24 hours No — —
Air India Maharajah Lounge (Domestic) T3 · Domestic flights Open 24 hours No — Yes
Encalm LoungeTemporarily closed T2 · Domestic flights Open 24 hours Yes Yes —
Independent T1 · Domestic flights Priority Pass
Encalm Lounge

Departures, mezzanine of level 5, near the food court

Bar and dining for those departing on a domestic flight.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass and DragonPass or by paying; alcoholic drinks are paid for separately.

  • Hot food
Independent T1 · Domestic flights
Encalm Privé Lounge

Domestic departures

Encalm's premium version for domestic flights, less expensive than the international Privé in Terminal 3.

Paid entry
from 4,000 INR

Children under 6 free. Paid entry at the door for a maximum of 2 hours: 4,000 INR including taxes, 2,800 INR for children aged 6 to 11.

Independent T3 · Domestic flights Priority Pass
Encalm Lounge

Domestic departures, mezzanine

Encalm lounge for Terminal 3 domestic flights, with bar and dining.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass and DragonPass or by paying.

Independent T3 · International flights Priority Pass
Encalm Lounge

International departures, mezzanine

It offers bar and dining to passengers on international flights.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass and DragonPass or by paying.

Independent T3 · All flights Before security Priority Pass
Encalm Lounge (Arrivi)

Arrivals, ground floor, near gate 4

Designed for those who have just landed, before leaving the airport.

Hours
Open 24 hours
Paid entry
from 2,550 INR

Access with Priority Pass and DragonPass. Paid entry for a maximum of 2 hours: 2,550 INR including taxes, 1,800 INR for children aged 6 to 11.

Independent T3 · International flights
Encalm Privé Lounge

International departures

Encalm's premium lounge for international departures, the most expensive of the Encalm lounges in Delhi.

Hours
Open 24 hours
Paid entry
from 5,150 INR

Children under 6 free. Paid entry at the door for a maximum of 2 hours: 5,150 INR including taxes, 3,600 INR for children aged 6 to 11.

  • Showers
  • Bar
  • Rest area
  • Spa and massages
Independent T3 · International flights
Plaza Premium First

Private cabins, suites with shower and à la carte menu in the international area.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
Independent T3
Plaza Premium Lounge (Lounge A)

International departures, mezzanine (level 3)

Asian and Indian cuisine with coffee, tea, soft drinks, beer and wine; it has an accessible bathroom and screens with flight times.

Independent T3 Priority Pass
Plaza Premium Lounge (Lounge B)

International departures, level 4

Showers and massages, a buffet of continental, Chinese and Indian cuisine, workstations and free Wi-Fi.

Paid entry available.

  • Showers
  • Spa and massages
Airline T3 · International flights
Air India Maharaja Lounge

International pier

Opened on 16 February 2026, it is Air India's first flagship Maharaja lounge: 16,000 square feet for nearly 300 people, a First section with a sleep suite, the Aviator's Bar and the Crystal Bar.

Hours
Open 24 hours

First and Business passengers, Maharaja Club Platinum and Gold members and eligible Star Alliance Gold status holders. Not accessible with Priority Pass.

  • Bar
  • Rest area
Airline T3 · Domestic flights
Air India Maharajah Lounge (Domestic)

After security

Air India lounge for domestic flights, with showers.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Air India Business and First passengers, Maharaja Club members and Star Alliance Gold status holders.

  • Showers
Independent T2 · Domestic flights Priority Pass Temporarily closed
Encalm Lounge

Domestic departures, second floor, boarding area after security (SHA), near the food court

Before boarding on Terminal 2 domestic flights: bar and dining service.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass and DragonPass or by paying.

The bulk of the offer is at Terminal 3. On the international side, the most direct choice for those with Priority Pass or DragonPass is the Encalm Lounge on the mezzanine, with bar and dining. The two Plaza Premium lounges offer something different. The Plaza Premium Lounge (Lounge B), on level 4 and with paid entry, pairs showers and massages with a buffet of Continental, Chinese and Indian cuisine, with workstations and Wi-Fi; the Plaza Premium Lounge (Lounge A), on the mezzanine, focuses on Asian and Indian cuisine, with beer and wine. One step up is the Encalm Privé Lounge at Terminal 3, Encalm's premium lounge for international departures and the most expensive of the Encalm lounges in Delhi. You pay at the door, the stay has a time limit and small children enter free: it makes sense for those who want a more private lounge and have neither a card nor a premium ticket. Those flying Air India in First or Business, who are Maharaja Club Platinum or Gold members or who have eligible Star Alliance Gold status, have instead the Air India Maharaja Lounge, on the international pier. Opened in February 2026, it is the airline's first flagship Maharaja lounge, with a First section equipped with a sleep suite and two bars, the Aviator's Bar and the Crystal Bar. Here Priority Pass is not valid. For Terminal 3 domestic flights, the reference lounge with Priority Pass and DragonPass is the Encalm Lounge on the domestic departures mezzanine. Finally, those who have just landed and want to freshen up before leaving can stop at the Encalm Lounge (Arrivals), on the ground floor near gate 4, open to all arriving passengers with Priority Pass, DragonPass or paying, for a limited stay.
In the end, at Delhi the choice follows three questions. Which terminal you leave from: Terminal 3 has almost everything, Terminal 1 covers domestic flights, the Terminal 2 lounge is currently closed. What you have in your pocket: Priority Pass and DragonPass open the standard Encalm lounges, while the Privé and the Plaza Premium Lounge (Lounge B) open by paying. And which ticket you fly on: in First or Business with Air India, or with Star Alliance Gold status, the Maharaja Lounge is the natural destination.
airport lounge Delhi Encalm Air India Priority Pass

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