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Top 10 credit cards for airport lounge access in India

Are you tired of the hustle and bustle of airports and want a respite? These credit cards for airport lounge access can give you innumerable benefits

Last Updated: Sep 10, 2024, 09:45 IST6 min
Nadeem Ahmed, Senior consultant, McKinsey &amp Co
Image: Mexy Xavier Directed By: Kapil Kashyap
Outfit: Nm Design Studio  Jewellery: Ishaara
Styled By: Zainab Shakir Assistant Stylists: Mannat Bhalla, Samridh Gupta
Nadeem Ahmed, Senior consultant, McKinsey &amp Co Image: Mexy Xavier Directed By: Kapil Kashyap Outfit: Nm Design Studio Jewellery: Ishaara Styled By: Zainab Shakir Assistant Stylists: Mannat Bhalla, Samridh Gupta
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For those embarking on frequent air travel, airport lounges emerge as havens of comfort and convenience. In India, the experience of accessing these lounges can be seamlessly enhanced by the right credit card.

As the demand for travel luxuries grows, credit card providers have introduced enticing features that grant cardholders access to airport lounges, offering a sanctuary to unwind before a flight. This article explores ten credit cards for airport lounge access in India, exploring the perks that make these cards valuable companions for frequent flyers.

Credit cards for airport lounge access

Below, we have compiled a list of the leading credit cards with access to the airport lounge, sorted by lowest to highest annual fees:

S NoCredit CardAnnual Fee
1SBI Platinum Corporate CardNone
2ICICI Bank Coral Rupay Credit CardNone
3HDFC Visa Signature Credit CardPurchases worth Rs15,000 within the initial 90 days are needed for complimentary first-year membership. A spending of Rs75,000 within a year is required for a complimentary membership renewal.
4Tata Neu Plus HDFC Bank Credit CardRs499 (Lifetime free for select customers)
5ICICI Bank Manchester United Platinum Credit CardRs499
6Flipkart Axis CardRs500 (The fee can be waived if annual spending exceeds Rs3,50,000. However, rent transactions -MCC 6513- and wallet load transactions -MCC 6540- will not be counted for availing the annual fee waiver.)
7Cashback SBI CardRs999 (This renewal fee can be reversed if your annual spending for the previous year equals or exceeds Rs2,00,000.)
8Axis Bank Privilege Credit CardRs1,500
9SBI Advantage Platinum Credit CardRs2,999
10Axis Bank Signature Credit CardRs3,000

A deeper insight into the top credit cards for airport lounge access

Now, let’s gain a deeper understanding of the world of credit cards with access to the airport lounge:

1. SBI Platinum Corporate Credit Card

SBI Platinum Corporate Card’s Visa Lounge Access program grants complimentary entry to premium lounges at major airports across India.

Lounge benefits:
  • Experience access to over 600 international airport lounges worldwide.
Other benefits:
  • Individual cards are covered against fraudulent transactions with insurance up to Rs2,00,000, while the corporate level enjoys coverage up to Rs20,00,000, ensuring comprehensive protection for your business.
  • This card provides travel insurance coverage, including air accidental death, lost card, lost/stolen baggage, and emergency card replacement worldwide at no extra cost.

2. ICICI Bank Coral Rupay Credit Card

The ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card is a premium offering within the Gemstone Collection.

Lounge benefits:

  • Complimentary access to both airport and railway lounges on minimum spend of Rs35,000 in previous three months. More information can be found here.
Other benefits:
  • In the ICICI Bank Milestone Rewards program, transactions totalling Rs2,00,000 every year earn you 2,000 PAYBACK points. Beyond this milestone, enjoy 1,000 points for every transaction above Rs1,00,000 during an anniversary year. The upper limit for PAYBACK Points is Rs10,000 per annum.
  • Special movie ticket offers.

3. HDFC Visa Signature Credit Card

HDFC Bank Visa Signature Credit Card with airport lounge access has further features, including:

Lounge benefits:
  • A free Priority Pass Membership, granting exclusive entry to over 1200 airport lounges worldwide with amenities like refreshments, internet, and conference rooms.
  • Cardholders enjoy six free lounge accesses globally each calendar year additional visits incur charges at prevailing rates.
Other benefits:
  • Complimentary insurance coverage, including accidental death insurance with coverage up to Rs50,00,000.
  • Additionally, it lets you protect your purchases with purchase protection for fire and burglary, offering coverage up to Rs25,000 for personal portable equipment and up to Rs2,00,000 for other assets.

4. Tata Neu Plus HDFC Bank Credit Card

The Tata Neu Plus HDFC Bank Credit Card has an impressive rewards program.

Lounge benefits:

  • 4 ( one per quarter) free domestic airport lounge access per calendar year
Other benefits:
  • 2% cashback as Neu coins on Non-EMI spends on Tata Neu and partner brands.
  • 1% cashback as Neu coins on UPI spends via Tata Neu UPI

5. ICICI Bank Manchester United Platinum Credit Card

The ICICI Bank Manchester United Platinum Credit Card provides perks, including:

Lounge benefits:

  • 4 complimentary domestic lounge access per quarter. More information can be found here.
Other benefits:
  • Exclusive Manchester United benefits
  • 25% discount, up to Rs100 on movie tickets booked on BookMyShow ticketing app

6. Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

The Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card offers an array of features, including:

Lounge benefits:

  • Complimentary lounge access at four domestic airports per calendar year on a minimum eligible spend of Rs50,000 in last 3 months. A 20% discount on dining experiences at select restaurants.
Other benefits:
  • A joining benefit worth Rs500 upon activating the card.
  • Five percent cashback on shopping at Flipkart and Myntra.

7. Cashback SBI Card

The Cashback SBI Card provides benefits such as:

Lounge benefits:

  • Four complimentary domestic airport lounge visits each year, capped at one visit per quarter.
Other benefits:
  • Five percent cashback on all online purchases without any merchant restrictions. There"s a one per cent cashback for offline purchases and utility bill payments.
  • A one percent fuel surcharge waiver at all petrol pumps across India for transactions ranging from Rs500 to Rs3,000, with a maximum surcharge waiver of Rs100 per billing cycle.

8. Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card

Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card provides exclusive benefits and rewarding experiences, including:

Lounge benefits:

  • Complimentary lounge access at some of the finest airport lounges across India on minimum spend of Rs50,000 in previous three calendar months. The complete lounge access list can be found here.
Other benefits:
  • Benefit from a range of insurance covers, including purchase protection of Rs1,00,000 and credit shield worth Rs1,00,000.
  • Coverage for loss of travel documents, delay in check-in baggage, and loss of check-in baggage, with coverage up to $300 and $500, respectively.

9. SBI Advantage Platinum Credit Card

SBI Advantage Platinum Credit Card provides an array of joining benefits that promise to enhance your travel experiences, including:

Lounge benefits:

  • With the Priority Pass membership, you can gain entry to executive lounges in over 300 cities globally, irrespective of your travel class or airline. Amenities such as refreshments, newspapers, TV, and Internet will be available in these lounges.
Other benefits:
  • A grace period of up to 50 days with interest-free credit and an extended credit facility at a low 2.25 percent monthly interest rate.
  • Cash withdrawals at Visa/Mastercard ATMs globally without any withdrawal limit.
  • Utilise the Net Banking facility and receive a 2.5 percent fuel surcharge waiver for cash transactions between Rs500 and Rs4,000 at fuel stations across India.

10. Axis Bank Signature Credit Card

The Axis Bank Signature Credit Card brings the following benefits:

Lounge benefits:

  • The Axis Bank Signature Credit Card grants you access to a range of exclusive lounges worldwide. More information can be found here.
Other benefits:
  • Flexible spending limits.
  • Exclusive vouchers from Indigo Airlines.

Full list of credit cards with no minimum spend criteria to obtain free lounge access at airports

BankCredit Card
Axis BankBurgundy Private Credit CardReserve Credit CardAtlas Credit Card
SBI CardElitePrimeVistaraPulseBPCL OctaneAir IndiaEtihad GuestReliance SBI Card PrimeAurumDoctor’s Credit Card
ICICI BankDiamant Credit CardEmeralde Credit CardEmeralde Private Credit Card
HDFC BankTata Neu Plus and Infinity6E Rewards XL Indigo HDFC CardRegalia GoldMarriott Bonvoy HDFC CardDiners Club Black Metal Edition Credit CardInfinia
Punjab National BankVisa SignatureRuPay Platinum/ Millenial/ SelectPatanjali Rupay Platinum/ Select
IDFC FIRST BankPrivateLIC SelectLIC Classic
Bank of BarodaEternaPremierICAI ExclusiveICSI Diamond CardCMA One Card

First Published: Sep 10, 2024, 09:45

ICICI Bank Coral Rupay Credit CardSBI Platinum Corporate Card
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