The last time I used Madras Domestic Terminal was on 21st September 2001. I hadn’t used it since 1999 at that point and I wasn’t looking forward to the endless columns of bored brainless customers at the security checks, check-in counters and customs desks. I also wasn’t looking forward to the dreary Business lounge. It was a few days after Sept 11th and the columns of inmates were longer due to the extra security. Set your expectations low and you’ll never be dissapointed; and that’s true.... I was searched, including my hand luggage three times before finally boarding the Jet Airways flight to Delhi, by which time I was wondering at which point could any self respecting terrorist refresh his arsenal of weapons, but I wasn’t dissapointed by Jet Airlines themselves who provided me with a nice steel knife with my meal (the September 11th hijackers were only armed with packing knives, so my hat is off to Jet Airways with their unswerving support to the novice terrorist community). But the security checks in Madras just added to the usual misery of collecting pointless pieces of paper and stamps on worthless documents (which rain forest no longer exists because of all this mindless torture?). What was a pleasant surprise was the newly improved business lounge/cafeteria. The Taj group have taken it over, cleaned the place, polished it, added new furniture and decor, as well as adding decent edible food. Navigating your way upstairs to it is just the challenge it always was, but at least there’s a reason to go there now.
I can’t really offer an alternative in Madras to the existing domestic service unless you fancy travelling to Bangalore by bus, so I can’t really criticise too much. Just a warning other than the cafeteria there is nothing else in the airport to keep you sane during the wait for your flight call...