Indians know this rule but for travellers coming from other countries, this one airport rule comes as a surprise (even before they have reached the check-in counter). Unlike airports in several other countries, almost all Indian airports do not allow family members, friends or anyone to enter the terminal building. This means only people with a valid flight ticket can enter the terminal building to board the flight. The passengers must also have a valid boarding pass and a government-issued photo ID to get inside.And not many must be aware of this difference. But a Polish travel creator Dominika Patalas-Kalra, (domipatalas on Instagram), shared her experience comparing Indian airports with those in Europe which went viral. Her observation In her video, Kalra compares this little-known difference. She says that at airports across India, entry to the terminal is restricted to passengers who are actually travelling. She starts the post with a question: “Is there any other country in the world that has such rule?”She further writes, “If you are travelling to India you have to know that to every airport in India can enter only the person with boarding pass and valid passport/id who takes flight. The airports are not overcrowded then and it’s also for the security reasons. It’s very different than in Europe where you can enter any airport with all your family or friends and grab a cup of coffee just before the flight or just simply say bye before the flight.“The post quickly started a discussion among travellers who all admitted they were surprised by India’s airport entry system.A rule every traveller to India should be aware of
Polish Traveller (@domipatalas)
If you are flying from an Indian airport, at the entrance gate, a security personnel will verify your identity. He will check your travel details before letting you into the terminal.Documents needed A valid boarding pass (printed or digital) A confirmed air ticket (if applicable)A government-issued photo ID or passportVisa and travel documents for international journeys (if required)Relatives, friends and others not allowed
Assam Airport
Anyone with a traveller, be it parents, friends, spouse, relatives, or anyone, must usually say goodbye outside the terminal building unless they possess a special airport entry permit.For international visitors arriving from countries where airports function as public spaces, this often comes as an unexpected cultural difference.Why India follows this systemThe short answer is security. India has one of the strictest airport security policies in the world. Not everyone is allowed inside the terminal and there are myriad advantages of doing so:Less crowd Easier passenger movement Helps security personnel monitor only genuine travellersMinimises potential security threatsBetter crowd management during peak travel seasonAt busy airports such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, among others, limiting entry becomes important during peak holiday seasons when lakhs of passengers travel.What happens in Europe and the U.S
St Pittsburg
Dominika made the comparison because many European airports operate differently.Many European airports are generally open to the public before the security checkpoint. So family members can be seen with travellers inside the terminal, enjoying meals at airport cafés, shopping and saying goodbyes till the passengers proceed through security.In Germany, France, Spain, and Poland, and many other European nations, it is common to see families spending time together at the airport.Even in parts of North America and Southeast Asia, non-travellers can get inside public terminal areas. Only those with valid tickets go through security screening but the landside area is often accessible to the general public.Can non-travellers without a ticket enter Indian airports?
Navi Mumbai
The answer is yes, but only in specific conditions.Many Indian airports have Visitor Entry Tickets (VETs) or airport entry passes allowing non-travellers to enter the terminal for a limited period. These passes are issued in restricted numbers and require identity verification, and a fee. Availability and conditions vary by airportIndia’s travel culture
Airport
It is a fact that India’s airports are among the busiest in the world. Some of the airports in India are known for handling hundreds of millions of passengers annually and managing such huge traffic is not an easy task. It requires high security procedures that may feel stricter.While it may surprise travellers from other nations, for frequent Indian flyers, showing a ticket and ID at the airport gates has become second nature. As Dominika Patalas-Kalra’s viral Instagram post shows, sometimes it isn’t India’s monuments, food or festivals that surprise foreign travellers the most—it can be something as ordinary as walking into an airport.
