Terminal 1 (Domestic)

Gate change screens in T1 often point you toward IndiGo and SpiceJet

Terminal 1 at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) handles domestic flights for IndiGo, SpiceJet, AirAsia India, and GoAir. Check your boarding pass before you even enter the building; AMD also has T2, and some first-timers walk to the wrong terminal. T1 is entirely domestic, so no immigration or duty-free here, just security and straight to the gates.

Food options: Havmor for ice cream, Subway for something quick

Past security, you usually spot Subway and Havmor first. Subway covers the basic sandwich/salad need at airport pricing, so expect to pay more than city outlets for the same sub. Havmor leans hard on ice cream and kulfi, good if your flight is delayed 30–40 minutes and you’re killing time landside or airside. Many of the smaller “Food & Beverages” counters sell packaged snacks and tea/coffee rather than full meals.

Two domestic lounges: The Lounge and Premium Lounge

T1 lists The Lounge and a Premium Lounge, both after security. Exact hours flex with the first and last departures of IndiGo and SpiceJet, but plan on early-morning opening around the first departures and closing near the last bank at night. Access usually runs through credit card tie-ups or pay-at-door; prices tend to sit in the mid-range for Indian domestic lounges, so check your card benefits before you pay. Don’t waste a lounge visit if you land with less than 40 minutes before boarding; AMD security plus a quick drink and snack isn’t worth the fee.

Shopping: from WHSmith to Fabindia and Shoppers Stop

In the retail strip, you see WHSmith and Relay for books, magazines, and last-minute chargers. Shoppers Stop, Pantaloons, and Fabindia sell clothes that can bail you out if your bag goes missing on a same-day connection. Croma Zip is the place to grab power banks, basic headphones, and travel adapters; prices are closer to regular Croma stores than to tiny kiosk markups. Hidesign handles leather bags and wallets, while Archies stocks small gifts and cards if you forgot something for family in Ahmedabad.

Services: ATMs, forex, baby care, and cab help

T1 has an ATM and a forex counter, so you can pull cash or switch currency before stepping outside. A signed Baby Care room gives parents a quieter place to handle diaper changes instead of doing it at the gate seats. You also see a staffed Information Desk near the main flow of traffic; this is the easiest place to confirm your airline’s check-in row if the display boards lag by a few minutes. Cab booking counters near arrivals guide you to prepaid taxis or app-based pickup zones.

Power, trolleys, and parking all line up logically

Scattered charging points sit near several gate seating zones, but they fill fast during evening departures, so grab one as soon as you see it. Baggage trolleys line the curb and arrivals hall, which helps if you’re juggling two or three checked bags off a GoAir or IndiGo flight. Parking is in the T1 sector of the airport campus; keep your entry ticket handy, as guards often check it again when you walk back to the car after a late-night pickup.

One last tip

Build the buffer: reach T1 at least 90 minutes before a domestic departure on IndiGo, SpiceJet, AirAsia India, or GoAir, then clear security first and only then wander to Subway, Havmor, or the shops.