The New Rules of Entry
The era of near-universal free lounge access with almost any credit card is over. Banks across India are tightening the rules, introducing a significant new hurdle: minimum spend requirements. Many issuers now require you to spend a certain amount in a preceding
quarter to unlock complimentary lounge visits. For instance, some ICICI Bank cards now ask for spends of ₹35,000 or more in the previous quarter. Similarly, some Axis Bank cards require a minimum eligible spend of ₹50,000 in the prior three months. This marks a major shift from simply holding a card to actively using it for retail purchases to earn your lounge access. Beyond spending, some card networks are pulling back entirely. As of April 2026, complimentary lounge access was removed from RuPay Platinum Debit Cards, while RuPay Select cards moved to a spend-based model.
Why the Sudden Shift?
The primary reasons for this change are cost and overcrowding. As air travel surged in recent years, so did the use of lounge facilities. For every cardholder who entered a lounge, the issuing bank paid the lounge operator a fee, which could be anywhere from ₹200 to over ₹1,000 per visit. With more and more people using the perk, especially from entry-level and lifetime-free cards, the costs for banks ballooned. The popularity also led to severe overcrowding, diminishing the premium experience lounges were meant to offer. By linking access to spending, banks can ensure the benefit is reserved for customers who are more actively engaged and profitable, making the model more sustainable.
Which Cards Are Most Affected?
Entry-level and lifetime-free credit cards are feeling the biggest impact. These cards were once an easy gateway to lounge access but are now the first to see benefits trimmed or tied to spending conditions. For example, the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card discontinued its complimentary domestic lounge access perk in April 2026. Cards that previously offered a few visits per quarter with no strings attached are now increasingly rare. The changes have created a clearer hierarchy: super-premium cards like the HDFC Infinia or ICICI Emeralde still offer unlimited or generous access, mid-tier cards offer a limited number of visits often tied to spending, and many entry-level cards have either lost the perk or require consistent spending to qualify.
How Entry-Level Users Can Still Qualify
If you hold an entry-level card, all is not lost, but it requires more planning. First, understand your card's specific policy. Check your bank’s website or app for the exact spending threshold and the period over which it's calculated. You may need to consolidate your spending onto one card to meet the quarterly target. Second, look for cards that still offer the benefit with minimal strings attached. As of August 2026, a few cards like the Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip card offered a couple of domestic visits per year without a spending mandate, though this is becoming less common. Some banks also require you to generate a voucher through their app after meeting the spend criteria, so you can't just swipe your card at the lounge anymore.
Exploring Alternatives to Card Access
If meeting spending criteria isn't feasible, consider other options. Many lounges allow you to purchase a day pass for a one-time entry fee, which can be worthwhile during a long layover. Another route is a standalone lounge membership program like Priority Pass. While these come with an annual fee, they offer access to a global network of lounges, though they too can face capacity restrictions. Finally, many credit cards that have cut lounge access often boost other benefits, such as discounts on dining at airport restaurants. It is worth checking your card's full list of perks to see what other travel benefits you can leverage.
