The Air India Maharajah Lounge in Delhi (DEL) Terminal 3 frankly beat my expectations, though they were quite low to begin with. As the lounge now undergoes renovation through April 2025, I am hopeful that it will emerge as a true flagship lounge for an airline that aspires to be a leading carrier of the world.
Air India Maharajah Lounge Delhi Review (DEL – T3)
Since my visit, this lounge has closed and will remain closed through next spring as it undergoes a total refurbishment. This review of the Air India Maharajah Lounge in Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is intended as a historical marker of what this lounge looked like leading to its closure so that when the new lounge opens, I can update this review with a side-by-side comparison.
Based on some of the accounts I have heard about this lounge, I pictured something smelly and dirty, perhaps even with evidence of rodents. It certainly was not this. In fact, I thought it was rather comfortable and appeared (mostly) clean to me, though I’ll address one glaring exception below.
This is (well, was) a 24/7 lounge open to Air India and all Star Alliance first class, business class, and Gold card holders. Located on the upper level past security, it was easy to reach from the transit area and there was no line to get in.
In fact, at 2:30 pm the lounge was mosty empty. Seating included chairs with end tables or round tables between them placed around the lounge so as to create clusters of seating for two or four passengers. Unfortunately, power ports were few and far between, but the lounge was so empty we had no trouble finding them (mostly against the wall – we found a few built into end tables, but they did not function).
There were even a couple reclining chairs that could have been used for snoozing.
…and a glass-enlosed room that may have once been a smoking area but was being used an area to make phone calls.
Internet worked…not fast, but it worked.
Even the restrooms were clean, with shower facilities available (purportedly at a cost of 200INR each, about 3 USD, though I saw no signs).
I appreciated the baby changing room as well…always nice to have when traveling with young children.
Let’s talk about the food and drink. Soft drinks, tea, coffee, and water were self-serve while the bar area was staffed (and adult beverages were only available to passengers 25 years of age and older).
Food included a wide selection of Indian food, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, plus soup, salads, and bread.
No, I did not try anything. This wasn’t my first time through India…I’ve been four times in the past and love the country…but I just wasn’t in the mood to risk “Delhi Belly” when I had a four-hour flight ahead of me, followed by an eight-hour layover, then a 15-hour flight, three-hour connection, then six-hour flight, two-hour connection, and finally a one-hour flight home (you get the idea…).
I did drink some (bottled – very important) water. I guess even the lime wedge was a risk…
Now, I thought about making myself a coffee, but then I noticed the steam wand (used to froth milk) looked like it had NEVER been cleaned. Yuck…
I appreciated the magazine and newspaper selection…so rare these days to see physical reading material.
CONCLUSION
In all honesty, this lounge wasn’t bad at all…and I suspect it will only get far better once the renovation is complete. I was not brave enough to try the food, but I appreciated the quiet and comfortable place to rest and work between flights.
Air India is starting to turn things around under Tata Group. Flew LHR-DEL in J after a delay with LX would prevent me from catching to ZRH-DEL flight, and was thoroughly surprised.
Very wise to not risk the food and drink.
***Fixed a Typo
Delhi Belly? Its a bit offensive. You ate the food which was loaded up onto the plane at the DEL airport while you were traveling to DXB. You could have just said that you were NOT in a mood to eat which would have been perfectly fine rather than stereotyping. I am a fan of your articles. But, this one struck the wrong chord..
I’ve been through that Lounge twice now, eaten all the curries both times, and had no problems on my 15-hour flights to New york. Granted that’s anecdotal, but so far, so good!