What's in the name? T1, T2 or T3?

I was rushing to get to airport in my city Mumbai. I had to take a 6 am flight via Indigo Airlines to Delhi through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Terminal T1. As confusing as it may sound, it was a domestic flight, flying from a domestic terminus, which is named international terminus. The obvious question in your mind will be, then how do people differentiate domestic and international terminus? It's from symbols T1 & T2.

As a resident of Mumbai its a common knowledge to us that T1 is the Old Terminus or Santa Cruz Terminus or more commonly known as Domestic Terminus. One added level of comfort was that certain airlines such as Indigo operates from Domestic Terminus and other airlines such as Air India and Vistara operates from International Airport or T2 terminus.

As I reached to Airport and was entering it in a Queue, the person in front of me was informed by security personnel that his particular Indigo Airline flight operates from T2 terminus which is International Airport. It was rude shock to him and within a minute he showed all five stages of grief namely denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, that his particular Indigo flight operates from International Airport. The security personnel showed him that in his ticket it was printed, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Terminal T2 and referenced to my ticket which was printed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Terminal T1. With a heavy heart and hopefully believing he will make it, he rushed out towards taxi stand, I always believe, "Hope is good thing".

This news of Indigo also flying from T2 or International Terminus was new to me and I inadvertently asked security personnel, "How many people are missing this?" He said, "Sir, too many people are confused, out of 10 it will be atleast 2-3 people." Even if he was exaggerating, taking half of that number will be closed to 10-15% all people flying via Indigo are missing this new development. To be fair while landing at Delhi, their was in flight announcement that some random flight numbers 53001, 23456, 78985, 67450 & bla-bla (literally these much and no info on Mumbai to which destinations) are also flying from T2. Hope you will be able to recall these random flight numbers next time you are taking an Indigo from Mumbai.  

I reached Delhi and had to return in the evening next day after finishing my last meeting of the day. My colleagues in Delhi told me, you are cutting it fine to reach Airport on time but still try to finish meeting early considering Rains and traffic situations in Delhi. I heeded to their advice and booked an Uber for Airport while making sure I reach at least 90 minutes before departure time. My earlier visits to Delhi airport has been a pleasant experience, with its renewed Indira Gandhi International Airport, which was spacious with many shopping and eating joints. I reached well on time and in the queue to enter the airport, security Personnel told me, "Sir your flight is from Domestic Terminus T1 or earlier called 1D." Deja Vu? I was like, wait a minute, there are two airports in Delhi? Security personnel showed to me that in my tickets its mentioned Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi T1 while the person behind me the queue had written Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi T3. 

It took 5 seconds, probably 1 second for each, to go through five stages of grief namely denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I reminded myself, "Hope is good thing" and rushed to search for cab to get to T1 or 1D. Ola and Uber plainly refused to entertain as they needed booking and all cab bookings had to get from Arrivals section and god knows how to reach there from Departure Section. All hopes were waning and suddenly I saw a glimmering hope dressed in "Black & Yellow". It was a local black-Yellow van which dropping a few passengers. I rushed to him and said I want to go to T1 and I have to reach within 15 minutes to make it. He assured that if anyone can take him there in 15 minutes its him. The driving angel drove like Schumacher to make me reach my destination within 15 min.

I had to write an email to Airport Operator in Mumbai and Indigo Airlines about this sheer inconvenience. My argument was simple use a Lingua Franca. If in vernacular languages, in popular literature, in newspapers and common people know something as Domestic Airport and other as International Airport, why it can't be mentioned in Tickets, apart from mentioning only T1, T2 or T3 as differentiating texts. This is the reply from Mumbai Airport Management - "We would like to inform you that Terminal – 2 is an integrated terminal having both domestic as well as international operations. Globally there is a terminal demarcation given for the identification of flight operations. You may also contact our 24 x 7 airport contact center number (+91 22 66851010) for any queries pertaining to flight and terminal." Clearly not giving any thoughts to consumer troubles. 

 Certainly Indigo's reply was better but I am not sure if its just a courteous reply or anything will be done regarding the same? This is Indigo's revert -"Greetings from IndiGo! With reference to your email, we would like to thank you for your suggestion.Further, keeping in mind the value of our customer feedback/suggestion, we have forwarded and shared the same with our concerned department." 

Meanwhile my new mantra apart from a good hope, specially while taking flights from synonymous airports and flying from Indigo is, "The Devil is in the Detail"