New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport had arrivals lounge in the past which no one cared because they were hardly of any use to anyone as they used to serve few biscuits along with tea/coffee in a compact lounge when I previously visited them about 5 yrs back.
But now with the all new Encalm lounge at the arrivals level at Delhi T3, we can experience regular lounge food and ambience infact lot better than any other departure lounge for that matter. Here’s everything you need to know about this new Encalm lounge at Delhi T3 arrivals.
Table of Contents
Overview
| Type | Arrivals Lounge |
| Card accepted | Priority Pass & IDFC Cards |
| Location | T3 Arrivals |
| Plug points | Yes |
| Ambiance | Beautiful interiors with dining & lounge space |
| Food options | Tasty food (a-la-carte) |
One of the best airport lounge in the country with a-la-carte dining options which might make you feel privileged like those of Amex lounges in Mumbai & Delhi.
Location
It’s located in the arrivals level after baggage pick up area. Ideally, post arrivals you would turn right and go for taxi, however if you need to access the lounge, you’ll need to turn left and walk few mins to spot the encalm lounge on the right.
I’ve availed the meet & greet service during this trip so fortunately finding the lounge was easy, as meet and greet is also being handled by Encalm.
Access
- Priority Pass
- IDFC First credit and debit cards (premium variants)
I used my IDFC First wealth credit card to get access to the lounge. It’s quite surprising to see that IDFC is taking steps to this level to give access to arrival lounges.
While I’m guessing that only wealth/private cards are accepted, I’m unsure if other cards would go through, as the guys in lounge were not sure either.
That aside, remember that only few priority pass cards are not chargeable for swipes in India, like the one issued by HDFC Infinia.
Seating & interiors
It was such a cool place. The interiors with bright dining tables and proper seating arrangements looked beautiful & luxurious.
I’m happy that plaza premium lounges are out of business at most airports in India, as I personally feel that their interior design is so dull and monotonous across the globe.
By the time I was there, I hardly saw 4 people in the lounge while it can easily accommodate 40+. It’s certainly a luxury these days to see lounges running at low capacity.
But I’m not expecting it to remain the way it is. Only matter of time until it gets crowded.
Food
They had some snack & main course options, along with a dessert. I tried samosa & Phirni and they tasted so delicious. Here are some pics of the food options and more.
Bottomline
- Cardexpert rating: 5/5
I felt that I’ve visited an amazing airport lounge after a long time. It was more like 080 lounge at bangalore except that there is no crowd here. The food and service are top notch and so it’s obvious that it’s now one of the best lounges I’ve been to in the country.
And glad to see that IDFC Wealth Credit Card is having some unique benefits now.
Have you been to the Encalm arrivals lounge at Delhi T3? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below.
Can I use IDFC select credit card for this lounge access?
Not sure as I mentioned. Might go through as it’s still one of the premium cards of IDFC.
Hi sid sir,
If possible, can you please arrange a list of lounges at arrival (repeat arrival only) in India that accepts our cards.
Only DEL & BOM has arrivals lounge AFAIK, not sure of the updated status at HYD. Vibes at BOM arrivals lounge was not so good from my experience.
Bangalore Terminal 2 also has an arrival lounge and accepts Priority Pass, Diners etc
Does this lounge have shower facilities? Would be of great benefit to folks arriving international and having a domestic connection.
No. They don’t have a washroom either, but can find one opp. to the lounge. But Ya wish arrivals lounge comes with shower facilities.
Does HDFC not charge any amount when we swipe the priority pass issued with Infinia (both, primary and add-on) on domestic lounges?
I think i read somewhere that the charges are $27 + GST, thats why i have never used it in India.
Not on Infinia issued PP. But over using them might make them re-think, just like Axis did so recently.
Hi , do we need to have active boarding pass to access lounge ? Suppose my travel ends at Delhi still I can access lounge ?
Regards
Not required, as it’s an arrivals lounge and not a transit lounge.
Will IDFC select debit card work for this lounge?
Yes
Hyderabad too got replaced with encalm from plaza premium lounge. Already used thrice and food was just excellent for dinner..
One thing I noticed is Chennai domestic lounge is doing scam. Even though lounge is empty they will not allow you inside to the point that either you leave or forcibly pack your food (take away) they keep insisting since queue would get pretty long 20 plus people. I did not shoot video nor alerted queue because I was getting late to board flight. Did anyone else experience this in Chennai domestic lounge.
Is it available for international arrivals or domestic arrivals or for both. Thanks for reply in advance
Both.
IDFC Wealth card is proving to be a hidden gem especially bcoz its LTF. But it has a condition of spends in previous month to be able to use lounge access, right?
PS: Sorry for a noob question, but whats this concept of arrival lounges? Suppose my travels ends in Delhi and I can just head home, instead have an option to use a lounge to relax? Do they allow entry without an active Boarding pass?
Yes, 5K INR, which is fair enough. I wish it is quarterly/annual requirement though.
Suppose my travels ends in Delhi and I can just head home, instead have an option to use a lounge to relax?
– Yes. It’s useful when you travel economy & couldn’t access departure lounge at departing airport. Happened to me this time as DED lounge was fully packed and had to leave in under 5 mins. So some snacks on arrival helps.
Do they allow entry without an active Boarding pass?
Yes, as it’s not a transit lounge.
I tried using arrival lounge service at Encalm Delhi. My idfc wealth card didn’t work.
Got an error on machine –
Caution – H00I4
Invalid outlet or Terminal (Code 115)
What could be the reason?
Hi!
I visited the lounge during my Jammu visit in July end. The lounge is perfect👌We were four people and enjoyed loung access with our Credit Cards of Rupay and Visa categories.👏👏
I noticed that Yes Bank has completely withdrawn the Priority Pass that came with Yes First Exclusive. Aside from the Priority Pass issued with HDFC Infinia, are there any other Priority Passes that provide complimentary access to domestic lounges?
Citi Prestige
Yes I have linked my diners club black with priority pass and it worked for me for domestic terminal 1 in Mumbai. I tried it in Chennai and for some reason it didn’t work. You could also try Rupay cards as others have mentioned in comments above. HTH
Did you use your IDFC first wealth card or the dreamfolks card which came along with wealth?
Also, if we spend 5K in previous month. what exactly we get next month?
4 International lounge with Dreamfolks? + 4 Domestic lounge with IDFC Wealth CC + 4 Spa’s? Really confused what all we get.
You only get overall 4 across 3 categories. Not 4 each.
Do we need to prebook/ reserve the lounge? We had tried to access one of the lounges couple of years back but we couldn’t as they said it is chargeable.
Please provide website for booking if any
Delhi arrival lounge is amazing, kinda exclusive. The food options feel limited if you use it more than once, but still they are great.
This however replaces the PP arrival lounge, which I feel was better from a rest perspective but nowhere near in terms of food.
I am of the opinion that BOM arrival lounge is better. Food is nothing to write home about, but larger area and other facilities available (most are chargeable though) make up for it. Also washroom right near the entry of BOM lounge are better than the DEL ones.
My wealth credit card didn’t work. They asked for debit card
Debit card to be pay or it was free?
My wealth card also didn’t work.
Got some error on their machine – invalid outlet oe Terminal code 115
Could someone please confirm what should I do?
So it looks like now only Wealth Debit card is allowed and not the Wealth credit card.
It makes sense, probably coz they issued quite a lot of wealth CC via onecard and allowing Wealth CC would be a loss for them.
sad, I spent 5K just to use arrival lounge on my IDFC wealth cc. Otherwise I had many cards for departures lounge.
I visit T3 arrivals every week for some meetings, do you have which card I should apply for just to get T3 Encalm arrival lounge access? any LTF CC or Debit card with less MAB. Thanks!
One of the best lounges I have used
It has a best cordial staff.. I often vist it..
able to access the lounge with both IDFC select and wealth debit cards
with IDFC select debit card it’s free? (account which is 25K mab one)
how many per quarter?
Idfc select debit card works at this lounge?
If my flight arrived at Terminal 1 or 2, can I access this arrival lounge at Terminal 3? Is there any way to visit Terminal 3 from Terminal 1 or 2 arrival?
No. And even if there was , it wouldn’t have been worth the trouble!
Does anyone know if I can grab some food to go here or I must finish it here?
Can I use IndusInd bank exclusive visa signature card at Delhi international Airport launge at the time of arrival?
Used IDFC wealth debit card, and after swiping the chargeslip says “Limit Left : 5” . They allow 2hr usage per swipe.
Arrivals lounge is a much needed facility in big cities.
Some of the items served at this lounge are identical to what the Amex lounge serves on a given day. To the extent that even their salad has the same toppings. Both lounges must be having the same source.
That’s right. Both have same source. I visited Amex lounge in Delhi a month back. They said its managed by Encalm. I think that’s the reason both are similar
Happy to add that I have used my DCB Metal accessed the lounge.
@Srinivas Reddy
Dcb in general has no issues with lounge for primary and add on across India and tried once in first class lounge in Colombo. Absolutely no issues. Problem is only with card usage across pos terminals.
What other Cards are accepted now? Will my Amex Platinum Charge allow me access here?