Front-row bays near T1/T2/T4 doors come with a catch
At Chennai International, the so-called Premium Parking Area usually means the first one or two rows closest to the terminal entrances of T1, T2, and T4, roped off with cones or temporary barriers. Attendants sometimes quote a higher rate here than the standard printed tariff, but there’s no board clearly listing a separate premium price right at the entry to these rows. It’s the same open-air surface lot, just a shorter walk of roughly 1–3 minutes to the doors.
Reviews on Google Maps from 2023–2024 say these “VIP” slots sit right by the main drop-off lane, and one local notes government vehicles frequently occupy the bay closest to T4. Another reviewer mentions staff cars and licensed taxis taking up much of this zone during peak hours, which leaves just a handful of practical spaces for regular private cars even when you accept the higher fee.
Multiple travellers complain that there’s no valet, no separate exit lane, and no extra security compared with the regular Chennai airport car park. They point out that you still fight the same access road traffic, which can add 10–20 minutes at rush hour, and that there’s no dedicated CCTV tower, shade structure, or barrier gate that marks this as a genuinely different product.
Regulars writing in Tamil and English reviews say they park in the normal rows a bit farther back and walk the extra 100–200 meters to T1, T2, or T4 to avoid surprise “premium” charges. One frequent flyer commented that attendants only mention the higher price after you’ve already parked in the front row, which kicks off arguments at the pay counter.
Tip: On arrival, drive slowly past the first two rows and check for any posted premium tariff near the cones; if nothing is clearly written, skip the front row and head to the standard bays to keep both cost and drama down.