US man compares Delhi airport with Bengaluru's, shares blunt advice for tourists

An American traveller praised Bengaluru airport while criticising his experience at Delhi airport. Delhi airport responded to his viral post, and social media users shared their own take on what he had to say.US man compares Delhi airport with Bengaluru’s, shares blunt advice for tourists (Photos: @DamonZumbroegel/X)New Delhi,Oct 15, 2026 15:30 ISTA man from the US shared how his experiences at airports across India had left him with sharply contrasting impressions, with Bengaluru earning his praise while Delhi remained firmly on his list of places to avoid.Damon Zumbroegel, an American architect, traveller and digital creator from California, shared a video from Bengaluru airport as he prepared to fly to Gujarat.Referring to an earlier video in which he had criticised his experience at Delhi airport, he doubled down on his assessment while pointing to other Indian airports he had enjoyed visiting.In the video, Zumbroegel praised Bengaluru airport for its facilities and the people he had encountered there. He also spoke positively about his experiences at airports in Kolkata and Kozhikode, saying he had travelled both domestically and internationally through Bengaluru and found the experience pleasant. Delhi, however, was a different story. He described the airport as confusing and complained about the people he encountered there. He went on to argue that foreign visitors should avoid entering India through Delhi, insisting that the airport offered a poor introduction to the country. In the caption accompanying the video, he recommended flying into Bengaluru, Kozhikode, Kolkata or another city instead.Watch the video here: Coming to India? No foreigner should enter India through Delhi. It’s a horrible introduction into India. I’ve flown into many cities in India, and Delhi is hands down the worst experience. My advice: Avoid Delhi, and fly into Bangalore, or Kozikode, or Calcutta, or ANYWHERE ELSE! #travel #India— Damon Zumbroegel (@DamonZumbroegel) October 15, 2026The post also received a response from Delhi airport's official X account. Addressing Zumbroegel directly, the airport wrote, “Dear Damon, we are sorry to learn that your experience did not meet your expectations. Kindly DM us a copy of your boarding pass along with details of your travel, including the specific concerns or interactions you encountered. This will help us review the matter.”Several social media users weighed in on his criticism. One user said that even as an Indian citizen, they tried to avoid Delhi airport, including for connecting flights.They also argued that many foreign YouTubers chose Delhi as their entry point before heading to Old Delhi to film scenes that reinforced stereotypical images of poverty in India.Another person questioned why foreign visitors often landed in Delhi and immediately headed to Old Delhi, adding to the discussion around how international travellers first experience the country.- Ends