The Plaza Premium lounge in Delhi T3 has long been one of the busiest airport lounges in the country. After my visit in early February 2021, I left convinced it might be one of the busiest in the world. Regardless of global comparisons, the crowding here is undeniable.
Locals and frequent flyers have reported heavy occupancy at this lounge for years. In my recent visits, I’ve rarely seen the lounge less than 80% full. That’s why before 2020 I often used alternative facilities like the Vistara lounge to avoid the crowd.
Even the Amex Lounge used to run at full capacity for long stretches during my visits last year.
With both Amex and Vistara lounges currently not operational, Plaza Premium has experienced an even greater influx of passengers, pushing crowding to a new level.
Note: Business class travelers, Club Vistara Gold/Platinum members, Priority Pass holders and select premium cardholders still appear to have access to the business-class section of the lounge.
During my visit in early February 2021 there were more than 40 passengers queuing to enter the lounge.
Table of Contents
- What’s the cause?
- What can be done?
- Bottomline
What’s the cause?
Three main factors explain the overcrowding:
- Proliferation of cards offering lounge access: A growing number of entry-level credit cards now include complimentary lounge access. While this benefits cardholders, it increases footfall and reduces the quality of the lounge experience.
- Peak-hour concentration: The lounge sees intense spikes during peak travel times. On my visit, the queue swelled significantly between arrival and departure times, which is common and persistent.
- Operational shortcomings: The airport’s failure to expand capacity or manage crowds effectively seems to be a major contributor. Given the traffic and revenue the lounge generates, it’s difficult to understand why additional capacity hasn’t been provided.
Whatever the mix of reasons, the lack of more lounge options is a missed opportunity. Long queues and crowded seating not only frustrate passengers but also limit spending across terminal outlets and underutilize terminal space.
It’s puzzling that this problem has persisted since 2018. Perhaps decision makers have other priorities, but the situation is plain to see for travelers.
What can be done?
- Open a second independent lounge, ideally at the opposite end of the terminal to spread demand.
- Reopen or expand airline and partner lounges such as Vistara and Amex with greater capacity.
Given the size of T3, a second public lounge should be feasible and would significantly improve passenger experience. Many other major metro airports already operate multiple lounges; Delhi’s single large public lounge (excluding smaller airline and card lounges) is an anomaly.
A comparison with airports like Bangkok (BKK) highlights the difference. There, multiple accessible lounges sit close to each other, offering travelers genuine choice and reducing congestion. That level of traveler-centric planning would benefit Delhi as well.
To give a sense of scale, walking from the Plaza Premium lounge to some gates can take over ten minutes—adding to the argument for distributed lounge facilities across the terminal.
Bottomline
Queues exceeding 40 people are already common even with reduced travel during COVID-19. It’s sobering to imagine how much worse congestion will be when traffic returns to normal levels.
If you visit the lounge and find it crowded, consider waiting in the public seating areas or using the time to explore nearby shops. While lounge access is desirable, think of fellow passengers who may be waiting for a quick snack or a place to rest before boarding.
Hopefully the airport authority and operators will add capacity or new lounges soon to restore a better pre-flight experience for all travelers.
Have you been to the Plaza Premium lounge at Delhi T3 recently? Feel free to share your experience.