The New Reality: Spend to Relax
The days of flashing almost any credit card for free entry into a plush airport lounge are drawing to a close. Overcrowding and rising costs have led banks across India to fundamentally change their lounge access policies. The new system is simple in principle:
complimentary access is no longer a default perk but a reward for spending. Most major banks have now linked free lounge visits to a minimum spending threshold in the previous calendar quarter. This means holding a premium card is not enough; you now need to be an active user to unlock its travel benefits. This shift prioritises high-spending customers and aims to manage the high costs associated with each lounge visit, which can range from ₹700 to over ₹2,000 per person for the bank.
Bank-Wise Breakdown of New Rules
The specifics of the new rules vary significantly from one bank to another. For instance, many ICICI Bank credit cardholders now need to spend ₹75,000 in a calendar quarter to qualify for complimentary lounge access in the next quarter. Some cards, like the ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card, have a similar high spending requirement for just a single complimentary visit per quarter. HDFC Bank has also adopted a spend-based model. For the popular Regalia Gold card, users must spend ₹60,000 in a quarter to unlock three domestic lounge visits in the following quarter. Similarly, many RuPay Select and Platinum debit cards have moved to a spending requirement, often around ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 per quarter or half-year, to qualify. Meanwhile, Axis Bank has notably revised its policy by discontinuing the use of Priority Pass for domestic lounge access on many of its premium cards as of August 2026, requiring customers to use their actual credit card instead.
Your Strategy to Qualify for Free Visits
Keeping your complimentary lounge access is still very much possible, but it requires a more strategic approach to your spending. The first step is to identify your primary credit card—the one with the best lounge benefits—and consolidate your monthly spending on it. This ensures you meet the quarterly spending targets more easily. Always check the fine print for your specific card; some transactions like rent, wallet loads, and fuel may not count towards the minimum spend requirement. Secondly, track your spending against the quarterly goal. Many banking apps now show your progress towards unlocking benefits. If you hold multiple cards, check if any of them still offer access without a spend requirement, though these are becoming rare. Finally, don't forget to check your eligibility before you fly. Nothing is more frustrating than being denied entry at the lounge door because you missed the spending target by a few thousand rupees.
Are Premium Cards Still Worth It?
With these devaluations, many cardholders are questioning the high annual fees of premium and super-premium cards. The answer depends on your travel frequency and spending habits. For frequent flyers, the value proposition may still hold. Cards like HDFC Infinia or American Express Platinum often offer unlimited or a higher number of visits and may have more lenient conditions. These cards also bundle other valuable perks like international lounge access through programs like Priority Pass (for use outside India), better reward point earn rates, and comprehensive insurance. However, for the occasional traveller, a mid-tier card might no longer be sufficient for lounge access. It becomes a calculation: is the annual fee of a premium card worth paying for guaranteed lounge access, or are you better off paying for lounge entry on a per-visit basis, which typically costs between ₹1,500 and ₹3,500?
Alternatives to Credit Card Access
If managing spend-based criteria seems too cumbersome, other avenues for lounge access exist. Passengers flying in Business or First Class automatically receive lounge access as part of their ticket. Frequent flyer programs with elite status also grant entry. For those without a qualifying card or ticket, buying lounge access directly is always an option. Many lounges allow walk-in access for a fee. Additionally, memberships like Priority Pass can be purchased independently, offering access to a global network of lounges, though recent changes by banks like Axis show a trend towards limiting their use for domestic travel. It's crucial to check the specific rules of your departure airport and terminal before relying on any single method.
