10 Best Credit Card with Airport  Lounge Access 2021— All you need to know

10 Best Credit Card with Airport  Lounge Access 2021— All you need to know

Airport lounge access is very much needed when you take a transit flight and the waiting time is long.  These lounges provide you with respite from the noisy crowds. You can relax while you wait and enjoy the snacks available. Access to the airport lounge is a luxury that is chargeable. Most of us would hesitate to take advantage of the facility considering the cost. This aspect has become a marketing tool and many banks have included complimentary airport access as an additional benefit apart from the welcome benefits and reward for select credit cards.

Now the credit card market can boast of several free lounge access credit cards from various banks. Some of the top banks offering this complimentary facility are HSBC, HDFC Bank, RBL, SBI, ICICI bank, etc.

List of Best Credit Cards with Lounge Access in India

With lounge access as the attractive feature, there are an array of credit cards with lounge access. Some of the free lounge access credit cards issued by top banks are listed below.

HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card

Besides being among the credit cards with lounge access India provides access to over 1000 airport lounges across the world, HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card offers various other rewards.

• Five reward points for every spend of Rs. 150/-
• 10 times reward points for partner brands and two times reward points for dining on weekends.
• Free golf games at the finest golf courses across the world and limited to 6  per quarter.
• Complimentary membership at  Forbes, Times Prime, Zomato, Amazon Prime, Club Marriott.

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card, a free lounge access credit card,  offers four complimentary lounge visits per year and is limited to 1 complimentary visit per quarter.  Lounge visits beyond 1 per quarter will be chargeable.  Other benefits of the credit card are:

• 10000 reward points as a welcome gift that can be redeemed with Flipkart vouchers
• 20% discount on dining at select restaurants.
• Easy EMI facility for heavy purchases.
• Spend over Rs. 4.00 lakhs in a membership year and get a Flipkart voucher or pay with points worth Rs. 7500/-

SBI Advantage Platinum Credit Card

SBI Advantage Platinum Credit Card is one of the best credit cards with lounge access with an array of benefits and rewards. Also, a complimentary priority pass membership worth US$99 will be provided. The membership fee is waived, but the lounge access fee is applicable. Apart from these, there are other impressive offers as given below:

• Milestone rewards in the form of bonus reward points
• Five times the regular reward points for spends for dining, grocery and purchases made at Departmental Stores.
• E-voucher of popular brands worth Rs. 5000/- as a welcome gift.

Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card

Free lounge access twice in a calendar quarter is an attractive feature of Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card. The other benefits include

• On crossing a spend of Rs. 2.50 lakhs in a membership year, the Edge Reward Points can be converted into shopping or travel vouchers of  2 times the value.
• Renew the credit card and earn 3000 Edge Reward Points
• 20% discount on dining at partner restaurants.
• Waiver of surcharge on fuel for spends at fuel stations across the country

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

Two complimentary access each to International as well as domestic airports in a quarter is a part of the exceptional benefits of ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card. Additional benefits beyond this are  listed below:

• Milestone rewards up to 20000 reward points for a spend beyond Rs. 4.00 lakhs in a membership year.
• One reward point for every Rs. 100/- spent on the card/
• Conversion of reward points to cash and pay back credit card dues.

HDFC Regalia  Credit  Card

A luxury credit card with exciting offers is worth having. 4 retail transactions with the card will earn you the privilege of a priority pass. This facility is applicable to add-on members as well. With the priority pass, six complimentary lounge access are permitted per year and visit in excess of 6 visits will be chargeable. Other exciting benefits other than the lounge access are:

• Every spend of Rs. 150/- will be rewarded with 4 points.
• 10000 bonus reward points on a spend beyond five lakhs in a membership year and on reaching a spend of Rs.8.00 lakhs in a year, an additional 5000 points.
• Free Dineout Passport Membership
• Zero liability on fraudulent transactions if loss of the card is reported within 24 hours.
• Revolving credit facility with nominal interest

Citi Premiermiles Credit Card

Citi Premiermiles Credit Card is a must-have for frequent travellers. The travel-related card extends air miles for every travel spend, which can be redeemed across over 100 airlines and partnered hotels. The various benefits derived out of the travel miles are as under:

• 10 miles for every Rs. 100/- spent on airline transactions and 4 miles for every Rs. 100/- spent on other transactions.
• The miles earned will never expire and can be used at any time. Can accumulate travel miles for a longer period and avail worthwhile benefits.
• Get the benefit of lost card liability up to Rs. 10.00 lakhs and air accident insurance up to  Rs. 1.00 lakh

Yes First  Preferred Card

Yes First  Preferred Card bestows you with the experience of pampering yourself with unassuming benefits besides providing free access to airport lounges within India and abroad. You can redeem the points accumulated for the choicest products. Details of the Yes First Preferred Card benefits are listed below.

• The first transaction with the credit card will fetch you 1000 reward points in the form of a Welcome Gift.
• Book movie tickets through BookMyShow to get a 25% discount.
• Spend up to 7.5 lakhs in a year to earn 20000 bonus points.
• Eight reward points for every spend of Rs. 200

SBI Card Elite

SBI Card Elite, one of the finest credit cards with lounge access. The key attraction of the SBI Card Elite is the Avail Cash facility up to or even beyond the credit limit that will be available for you within 48 hours. This apart, there are other attractive features that make this card an irresistible one.

• Transfer of other credit card outstandings to SBI Card Elite at a lower interest rate. You even have the option of converting the outstandings into easy EMI.
• Have access to instant cash through cash withdrawal services through ATM and Easy  Money.
• Make payments with a mere tap of the card. The card is enabled for contactless payment.
• The Auto  Pay, Fast Pay and Register and Pay facilities makes the payment of utility bills that much easy and seamless.

HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

HSBC Visa  Platinum Credit Card-the credit card with lounge access without an annual fee will lead you into a world of unbelievable experience with unmatchable rewards and offers. The  exclusive offers provided by the card are given below:

• Facility for conversion of travel transactions with Singapore Airlines, British Airways and Intermiles into air miles
• Accelerated reward points for spends over and above Rs. 4.00 lakhs a year with a maximum of  15000 points.
• Waiver of the fuel surcharge to the extent of Rs. 3000 per year
• Payments vide google pay will provide a 50% discount and up to a maximum of Rs. 100
• Cash back up to a maximum of Rs. 2000/-

How to choose the best credit cards with lounge access?

While choosing a credit card, you should consider your lifestyle. If you are a frequent flyer, it is better to choose a credit card launched in collaboration with airlines to get the most of it in terms of air miles, travel benefits, airport lounge access, priority boarding, etc. That will make your travel comfortable and worthwhile. 

The kind of activities you indulge in and the rewards and benefits of your lifestyle should be the factors of concern while choosing the best credit card with lounge access.

How to apply for credit cards with lounge access 2021?

Before applying for credit cards with lounge access India, you should consider various other aspects besides complimentary lounge access. You should keep in mind your spending pattern, offers, cashback, welcome gifts, rewards, and payment options. After comparing different credit cards, choose the one that is appropriate for your requirements and follow the steps given for applying for the card. You can apply for the card either online or offline.

• Access the website of the bank.
• Check the various categories of the credit  card provided by the bank
• Compare the features and benefits of each card with a comparison tool if available
• Choose the appropriate card and click on the apply button.
• Fill an online application form with the required details.
• Upload the documents prescribed.
• Submit the form.
• Approval will be communicated on the review of the documents and the application.

You can also visit the nearest branch of the bank and submit the credit card application along with the documents required.

Frequently Asked Questions

✅ What are the different types of airport lounge networks?

The various types of airport lounge networks are Airline-specific lounges, Priority Pass lounges and Exclusive membership.

Airline-specific lounges: Some airlines give access to their specific airport lounges on the purchase for business/first-class passengers.  If you are not eligible for complimentary access, then you should get a membership by paying a fee that varies with the airlines. How frequent a flyer you are is the deciding factor for the membership fee. If you have a credit card co-branded with an airline, then you will be eligible for free access to airport lounges.

Priority Pass lounges: With Priority Pass membership, you can gain access to over 1300 airport lounges across the world. You can either pay a fee and get a membership or can apply for a card that provides complimentary priority pass membership. 

Exclusive membership: Some airport lounges are even more special. The access is available only to cardholders of select cards. 

✅  Why is free access to airport lounges a most sought after offer?

Relax in an airport lounge while you wait for a connecting flight.  Usually, travellers who choose transit flights opt for this offer. More so if you are a frequent flyer. To keep away from the noisy crowd, relax, and enjoy the refreshments, free access to airport lounges is the most sought-after perk a credit card could offer.

Though the facility is available for all passengers, most of us would refrain from using the facility considering the cost. If a credit card offered free access to airport lounges, that would be the most sought after offer while choosing an appropriate card before applying for one.

✅ What are the factors to be considered while applying for a credit card?

Comparing various cards before you make a choice is essential. But what are the factors for comparison? What are the factors that have to be considered for you to decide that the card is appropriate for you? Spending patterns, lifestyle, rewards and offers, credit cards with lounge access without an annual fee, and payment options are the various factors that will help you make a choice. 

✅ What are the general benefits and features of credit cards?

The various benefits and features of  credit cards are:

Earn while you spend offer: For every few rupees, say, Rs. 100/- or Rs. 150/- depending on the credit card, there are reward points. Some specific transactions earn accelerated rewards that will be a multiple of the regular reward points. There will be milestone rewards in the form of bonus points. All these points can be accumulated and redeemed for various catalogue gifts, e-vouchers or opt for a cashback that can be adjusted towards the credit card dues.

Welcome Gifts: On the first transaction after the credit card activation, you will be given bonus points or vouchers of popular brands as welcome gifts.

Free lounge access: Most of the credit cards give a certain number of complimentary lounge access per quarter for both domestic as well as international airport lounges. Any visit to the lounges beyond the complimentary offer will be chargeable as per the policy of respective airports.

Fuel surcharge  waiver: Fuel surcharge  waiver ranging from 1% to  2% for fuel purchase  with the card 

✅ How to apply for a credit card with lounge access?

You can either apply for the credit card offline or online. To apply for a credit card online, you should follow  some simple steps:

• Visit the official website of the bank.
• Check for the various categories of credit cards offered by the bank
• Compare the features and benefits of each card.
• Choose the one that suits your requirement and click on the ‘Apply button.’
• A credit card application will be displayed.
• Fill in the application with the details required.
• Upload the documents required.
• Submit the form.
• The decision will be communicated after a review of the application and the documents.

To apply for the credit card offline, you can visit the nearest branch of the bank and submit the application with the required KYC and income documents.

You can also apply for a credit card by calling the customer care number of the bank. The representative of the bank will help you with the credit card application process.