Airport lounges are great places to spend while waiting for flight boarding. Almost every major airport in the world has lounges nowadays. India also has lounges in all the metro city airports and a few Tier-2 city airports. You just need a credit card which gives complimentary lounge access and you can spend up to 3 hours and eat as much as you can for free.
Ever since I got my first credit card (HDFC Diners Club Premium credit card), I have visited the lounge every time I have flown. Recently, we visited Encalm Lounge at Delhi Airport T1 Terminal when we flew from Delhi to Bagdogra for our Sikkim trip. Encalm Lounge is the only airport lounge at T1 and is located at Level 2, after the security check area. The lounge was previously named Plaza Premium Lounge.
Table of Contents
Check-In
We had a morning flight and we reached the Encalm lounge at about 8:30 AM. There were only a couple of people before us and we entered the lounge within 5 minutes on presenting our priority pass along with the boarding pass. We had got a priority pass as a complimentary to HDFC Infinia credit card. It provides unlimited complimentary access to all the domestic and international airport lounges that are part of the Priority Pass club.
Interior
The lounge is spacious and the seating space is a mix of a regular lounging area and a dining area. The seating capacity is bigger with better quality seats as compared to the Plaza Premium Lounge of T2 and T3 (Domestic).
Food
One-time entry allows 3 hours of lounge access with a complimentary buffet and unlimited soft beverages. The buffet had parantha with aloo sabzi, milk, cornflakes, idli, sambar and desserts. It also had omelette and dosa live counters. Parantha and aloo sabzi were delicious.
Soft beverages include cold drinks, buttermilk and juice. One can also have mocktails but they are chargeable.
Final Thoughts
I have been to Encalm Lounge once before in 2018 when it was Plaza Premium Lounge. There has been hardly any difference in interior and breakfast buffet spread between now and then. Between all the domestic lounges at all the terminals of Delhi Airport, we found Encalm Lounge to be far better both in terms of space and food. We had visited T2 and T3 terminal lounges when Covid restrictions were still present, so service and experience may be better now.
Have you been to Encalm Lounge at Delhi Airport T1 terminal? Share your experience in comments below.
Which company credit card accepted at Terminal 1 ? please confirm bank names.
Almost all major Indian banks have atleast one credit card that provides complimentary lounge access to Delhi airport lounges
ICICI axis and all mojor banks except HDFC which has been stopped accepting at t1 as explained by the staff
How many times can an eligible customer avail lounge access in a quarter?
That depends on card to card. Entry-level credit card may have 1 complimentary lounge access in a quarter. More premium cards may allow more lounge access in a quarter. I hold HDFC Infinia credit card which offers complimentary priority pass which in turn gives unlimited lounge access.
Excellent omlettes made by Bharti
Good ambience and food
Well attended by khushi