Airport Lounge Access Credit Cards
Credit cards offer several travel benefits that make your spending more rewarding. Among various travel benefits, complimentary domestic and international airport lounge visits are the most sought-after feature. The airport lounge access credit cards help card users avail free access to partner domestic and/or international airport lounges. However, the number of free lounge visits per year may depend on achieving a spending milestone and varies from one card to another. The lounge access benefit is not limited to travel credit cards. Several debit cards and all-rounder cards also offer this feature as an additional benefit. Read below to know about the best complimentary airport lounge access credit cards in India.
Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access in India
Here are the details of the 10 best credit card for lounge access that are currently available in India, including:
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Airport Lounge Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Bank Atlas Platinum Credit Card | ₹5,000 + applicable taxes | ₹5,000 + applicable taxes | 18 domestic & 12 international airport lounge visits in a year for primary cardholders & accompanying guests |
| SBI Elite Credit Card | ₹4,999 + taxes | ₹4,999 + taxes; Reversed on annual spends of ₹10 Lakhs | 2 domestic airport lounge visits per quarter & 6 international airport lounge visits per calendar year |
| Axis Bank Select Credit Card | ₹3,000 (Nil for Burgundy) | ₹3,000; Waived on annual spends of ₹8 Lakhs in a card anniversary year (Nil for Burgundy) | 2 domestic airport lounge access per quarter on spending ₹50,000 in the last 3 months & up to 12 international airport lounge access per year with Priority Pass |
| Axis Bank Miles & More World Select Credit Card | ₹10,000 + GST | ₹4,500 + GST | 8 visits per calendar quarter to select domestic lounges on spending ₹50,000 in the last 3 months & 4 visits to Priority Pass airport lounges per year |
| HDFC Infinia Metal Edition Credit Card | ₹12,500 + applicable taxes | ₹12,500 + applicable taxes; Waived off on spending ₹10 Lakhs or more before the renewal date | This is a credit card with unlimited lounge access, offering unlimited airport lounge access in India for primary & add-on card members, and unlimited airport lounge access outside India using Priority Pass |
| SBI Card PRIME | ₹2,999 + taxes | ₹2,999 + taxes; Waived on annual spends of ₹3 Lakhs | 4 visits per calendar year to International Priority Pass Lounges, outside India & 8 visits per calendar year to domestic lounges in India |
| ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card | ₹12,000 + GST | ₹12,000 + GST; Waived on annual spends of ₹10 Lakhs | Unlimited access to partner international & domestic airport lounges for the primary cardholder |
| AU Bank Zenith+ Metal Credit Card | ₹4,999 + applicable taxes | ₹4,999 + applicable taxes; Waived on net retail spends of ₹8 Lakhs in the previous year | 16 international airport lounge visits per year using Priority Pass & 16 domestic airport lounge visits a year on spending a minimum of ₹20,000 in a calendar quarter |
| HSBC Premier Credit Card | ₹12,000 | ₹20,000; Waived on an average quarterly Total Relationship Balance (TRB) of ₹40 Lakhs or maintaining a salary account with a net monthly salary credit of ₹3 Lakhs or availing a mortgage relationship of ₹1.15 Crores with a TRB of ₹40 Lakhs within 12 months from the date of first mortgage loan disbursement | Unlimited access to airport lounges in & outside India for primary cardholders & 8 international guest visits |
| AU Bank Vetta Credit Card | ₹2,999 + applicable taxes; Waived on retail spends of ₹40,000 within 90 days of card set-up | ₹2,999 + applicable taxes; Waived on retail spends of ₹1,50,000 in the previous year | 1 visit per quarter to all participating airport lounges in India on a minimum spend of ₹20,000 in a calendar quarter & 1 access per quarter in India using Priority Pass |
Top 5 Credit Cards for International Lounge Access
Below is the list of the top 5 international lounge access credit cards, including the unlimited airport lounge access credit cards:
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | International Airport Lounge Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Infinia Metal Edition Credit Card | ₹12,500 + applicable taxes | ₹12,500 + applicable taxes; Waived off on spending ₹10 Lakhs or more before the renewal date | This credit card with international lounge access offers unlimited airport lounge access outside India using Priority Pass |
| ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card | ₹12,000 + GST | ₹12,000 + GST; Waived on annual spends of ₹10 Lakhs | Unlimited access to partner international airport lounges for the primary cardholder |
| HSBC Premier Credit Card | ₹12,000 | ₹20,000; Waived on an average quarterly Total Relationship Balance (TRB) of ₹40 Lakhs or maintaining a salary account with a net monthly salary credit of ₹3 Lakhs or availing a mortgage relationship of ₹1.15 Crores with a TRB of ₹40 Lakhs within 12 months from the date of first mortgage loan disbursement | Unlimited access to airport lounges outside India for primary cardholders & 8 international guest visits |
| AU Bank Zenith+ Metal Credit Card | ₹4,999 + applicable taxes | ₹4,999 + applicable taxes; Waived on net retail spends of ₹8 Lakhs in the previous year | 16 visits per year to partner international airport lounges using Priority Pass |
| Axis Bank Atlas Platinum Credit Card | ₹5,000 + applicable taxes | ₹5,000 + applicable taxes | 12 international airport lounge visits in a year for primary cardholders & accompanying guests |
Best Lifetime Free Credit Cards with Lounge Access
Below is the list of the 5 best credit card for airport lounge access that are free for life:
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Airport Lounge Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IndusInd Legend Credit Card | Nil | Nil | Access to 600+ lounges across the world using complimentary Priority Pass |
| Kiwi Credit Card | Nil | Nil | Enjoy 1 each lounge access on achieving spending milestones of ₹50,000, ₹1 Lakh, and ₹1.50 Lakhs annually |
| Federal Scapia Co-branded Credit Card | Nil | Nil | This free credit card with lounge access offers unlimited domestic lounge access on a minimum spend of ₹15,000 per month |
| IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card | Nil | Nil | Complimentary 2 visits to Indian airport lounges & 2 visits to global airport lounges every quarter on spending ₹20,000 in a calendar month |
| IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card | Nil | Nil | 2 complimentary visits to partner domestic airport lounges every quarter on spending ₹20,000 in a calendar month |
Top RuPay Credit Cards with Lounge Access
Below are the top 5 RuPay credit cards that offer complimentary domestic and/ or international lounge access. The list also includes some RuPay credit cards with lounge access and no annual fee India:
| Credit Card | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Airport Lounge Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Scapia Co-branded Credit Card | Nil | Nil | Unlimited domestic lounge access on a minimum spend of ₹15,000 per month |
| Kiwi Credit Card | Nil | Nil | Enjoy 1 each lounge access on achieving spending milestones of ₹50,000, ₹1 Lakh, and ₹1.50 Lakhs annually |
| Tata NeuCard Plus HDFC Credit Card | Nil | ₹499; Waived on spending ₹1 Lakh or more in the preceding year | 4 domestic airport lounge access per annum on spending ₹50,000+ in a calendar quarter |
| Tata NeuCard Infinity HDFC Credit Card | Nil | ₹1,499; Waived on spending ₹3 Lakhs or more in the preceding year | 8 domestic airport lounge access per annum on spending ₹50,000+ in a calendar quarter & 4 international airport lounge access per annum |
| HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card | ₹499 | ₹499; Waived on annual spends of more than ₹2 Lakhs | Up to 2 complimentary local visits per quarter & 2 international visits per year to participating airport lounges |
Types of Airport Lounge Access Credit Cards
- Unlimited airport lounge access: These credit cards offer unlimited complimentary visits to domestic and/or international lounges.
- Domestic lounge access: These cards offer complimentary visits only to select domestic airport lounges.
- International lounge access: These cards offer complimentary visits only to select international airport lounges.
- Limited lounge access: These cards offer limited access to select domestic and/or international airport lounges. Such as 2 complimentary visits per quarter, 8 complimentary visits per year, etc.
- Lounge access on achieving spending threshold: These credit cards offer complimentary lounge visits only on achieving the milestone spending threshold in a quarter/year.
Benefits of Lounge Access Credit Cards
- Convenience: Enjoy comfortable seating, quiet zones, and private spaces.
- Connectivity: Enjoy high-speed Wi-Fi and power outlets to charge devices for free.
- Refreshment: You can access shower facilities to freshen up during long layovers or even before flights.
- Food & Beverages: These cards offer complimentary meals, snacks, and beverages.
- Travel Insurance: Some of these cards offer coverage for flight delays, accidental death, or lost luggage.
- Priority Pass: This membership offers a global network of airport lounges beyond standard airline/ network lounges.
- Concierge Services: Get assistance with booking hotels, flights, or making restaurant/ event reservations.
- Zero Fee Cards: There are many lifetime free credit card with lounge access that come with zero joining and annual fees.
- Value Back: Most lounge access credit cards offer reward points/ cashback on various spending categories.
- Low Forex Charges: You may also get the benefit of lower fees on international transactions with some of these cards.
- Annual Fee Waivers: Various lounge access cards offer achievable spend-based annual fee waivers, making them free lounge access credit cards.
Key Factors to Consider Before Choosing Lounge Access Credit Cards
Below are some key factors you must consider when choosing a credit card with lounge access:
- Number of complimentary visits: Some premier credit card offers unlimited lounge access, while others have a limit on the number of free visits per year/ quarter.
- Lounge network: How many partner lounges are there that you can access for free in India or abroad?
- Fees: You must check whether the benefits on your card justify its annual fee, especially if you are not a frequent flyer.
- Additional benefits: If the card offers any extra benefit,s such as free visits for guests, priority check-in, complimentary meals, etc.
- Spending limit: Nowadays, most credit cards offer complimentary lounge visits on achieving milestone quarterly/ annual spending limits.
- Guest access: If the card offers any guest access for free or not.
- Insurance benefits: If the card offers any travel-related insurance benefits, like air accident cover, insurance against damaged goods, etc.
FAQs
Airport lounge access is a feature offered by some credit cards. With this benefit, you can get limited or unlimited free access to exclusive airport lounges across India or abroad.
Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card, SBI Elite Credit Card, Axis Bank Select Credit Card, Axis Bank Miles & More World Select Credit Card, HDFC Infinia Credit Card Metal Edition, SBI Card PRIME, ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card, AU Bank Zenith+ Credit Card, HSBC Premier Credit Card, and AU Bank Vetta Credit Card are some of the cards that offer complimentary airport lounge access.
HDFC Infinia Credit Card Metal Edition, ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card, and HSBC Premier Credit Card offer unlimited airport lounge access.
To check if your card offers lounge access, you can check the features of your card on the card provider’s website or the feature document received with your card.
There are many airport lounge access credit cards that have zero joining and annual fees, including the IndusInd Legend Credit Card, Kiwi Credit Card, Federal Scapia Co-branded Credit Card, IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card, and IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card.
Most credit cards offer free lounge visits to only primary cardholders. Some cards also offer access to add-on card members. If you are an add-on card member on your wife’s card, you must carry your own add-on card to get free access. However, some cards offer complimentary lounge visits to guests, too. One such example is the HSBC Premier Credit Card, which offers 8 international lounge passes for guests. In that case, you can get access using the primary cardholder’s card
You can check if your card offers free airport lounge visits on the card issuer’s website. If you are regularly availing of the lounge access benefit on your card, it is advised to keep track of it to know the available remaining free visits.
Reshma Rawat is a passionate writer, with a decade of experience in writing for a variety of domains (finance, technology, lifestyle, e-commerce, real estate, etc.). Currently, she is working as Assistant Manager - Content @MyMoneyMantra, and writes blogs & webpages on financial products (loans, credit cards, insurance, financial policies by government, mutual funds, etc.
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