Complimentary access to airport lounges has become a common benefit with many credit cards. It is one of the most coveted perks that travelers want. Some credit cards offer unlimited complimentary visits, while others offer a fixed number of complimentary visits or visits only after a certain amount of spending has been reached. Below are some of the popular credit cards, and the complimentary airport lounge access from some of the commonly used banks.
Here is a table summarising the joining fee and annual fee for credit cards with airport lounge access feature:
Credit Card Name | Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Airport Lounge Access |
Rs.10,000 + taxes | By spending Rs.5 Lakhs within 12 months, you can qualify for a waiver of the renewal fee for the subsequent renewal year. | Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access | |
Rs.1,499 + taxes | Rs.1,499 plus taxesOn spending Rs.3 lakh or more in a year before renewal date to waive off the renewal fee. | Milestone based benefit | |
Rs.4,999 | Rs. 4,999 (Renewal fee of Rs.4,999 from the second year onwards.) | Two complimentary domestic airport lounges access every quarter | |
Rs.2,999 | Rs. 2,999 (Renewal fee of Rs.2,999 from the second year onwards.) | Two complimentary domestic airport lounges access annually, up to a maximum of two every quarter and eight complimentary international airport lounges access annually, up to a maximum of two in a quarter. | |
Rs.2,999 | Nil. | Four complimentary domestic airport lounges access annually, up to a maximum of one every quarter | |
Rs.12,500 + taxes | Spend Rs. 25 lakh or more in a year to waive off the renewal fee. | Unlimited lounge access across India | |
Rs.3,000 | Visit the bank’s official website. | Two complimentary lounge access | |
Rs.7,999 | Rs. 7,999 plus applicable taxesWaived off on spending Rs.1.25 lakh within 90 days of issuance for first year.For second year, annual fee can be waived on retail spending Rs.5 lakh in previous card anniversary year | Two complimentary lounge access every quarter | |
Rs.999 | Rs.999Spend Rs.2 lakh or more in a year to waive off the renewal fee. | Four complimentary lounge access annually | |
Rs.350 plus GST | Rs.350 plus GST Spend Rs.50,000 or more in a year to waive off the renewal fee in the preceding year. | Two complimentary domestic lounge access annually | |
Nil | Nil | Two complimentary lounge access every quarter |
Note: The lounge access benefits, fees and charges mentioned above are as on 28 August 2025 and are subject to change at the discretion of the bank.
We found 5 Credit Cards
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Free movie tickets worth ₹ 6,000 every year
Lowest forex mark-up of 1.99% on international spends
Complimentary domestic airport lounge visits via Visa/Mastercard/American Express
Earn up to 50,000 bonus points, worth ₹ 12,500, based on yearly spends
Complimentary Priority Pass membership, valid for 2 years
Annual-fee waiver based on yearly spends
1% fuel-surcharge waiver at petrol bunks on transactions between ₹500 & ₹4,000, up to ₹250 per statement cycle
6 complimentary international airport lounge visits yearly
2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every quarter*
Exclusive Concierge Service
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*Limited-period offer
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Up to 20 reward points for every ₹ 100 spent. Total points earned is based on spend category
4 free visits to international Priority Pass airport lounges & 8 free visits to airport lounges in India
Annual fee waiver on yearly spends of ₹ 3 lakhs
Milestone benefits: E-gift vouchers on achieving quarterly and yearly spends of ₹ 50,000 & ₹ 5 lakhs respectively.
1% fuel-surcharge waiver across petrol bunks on transactions between ₹ 500 & ₹ 4,000, up to ₹ 250 per statement cycle
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*Reward point accrual for utility bill payments applies only to autopay registrations made on or before 31st Mar 2021
*Reward points on birthday spends valid for one day before, on and one day after the birthday (capped at 2,000 points per year)
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Customisable card with choice of features and pricing
Switch features on/off as required
No joining or annual fee
1% fuel-surcharge waiver at petrol bunks on transactions between ₹400 - ₹5,000
Milestone cashback: Up to 5% cashback on retail spends in addition to reward points*
5% cashback 3 times over 90-day period on min. retail spend of ₹10,000 (max. cashback of ₹500 over a 30-day period)*
2% cashback 3 times over 90-day period on min. retail spend of ₹15,000 (max. cashback of ₹1,000 over a 30-day period)*
Category cashback: 5% cashback on grocery & apparel spends (max. ₹500 in each 30 days' period)
Up to 2 domestic airport lounge visits per 90 days
Select features starting from ₹49 to earn rewards, cashback & other varied benefits
Features valid for 90 days from date of activation; check feature FAQs and T&C for short-duration features run by bank
Fuel-surcharge waiver capped at ₹1,500 in a 90-day period on opting for the fuel-surcharge waiver feature
Earn up to 10,000 reward points in a statement cycle
Earn up to 100 reward points per transaction on insurance & utilities
3-month ZEE5, Amazon Prime subscription**
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Fuel, rent, cash withdrawal, education & government services transactions will not accrue reward points
Insurance and utilities transactions not eligible for accelerated rewards
*Milestone cashback earned by spending min ₹10,000 in 30 days (Max cashback of ₹500 for 30 days)
*Fuel, rent, cash withdrawal, EMI & BBPS transactions not considered
**Spend min ₹5,000 in 90 days after activating ZEE5 membership to avoid ₹50 penalty
**Spend min ₹10,000 in 90 days after activating Amazon Prime membership to avoid ₹299 penalty
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Complimentary annual memberships - Club Marriott, MakeMyTrip, Double Black, Zomato Gold, Amazon Prime, Forbes & Times Prime
Unlimited free access to lounges across the globe for primary and add-on cardholders
Get 5 Reward Points for every ₹ 150 spent
6 free golf games per quarter across the world's finest golf courses
Air accident insurance, medical emergency insurance, travel insurance, 24/7 concierge & more
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Not Applicable
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Lifetime FREE on completing 4 transactions of ₹ 500+ in a month for first 3 consecutive months
Up to ₹ 2,250 worth of cash points every month
8 free domestic airport lounge access in a year
₹ 1,000 worth gift vouchers on spends of ₹ 1 lakh+ in each calendar quarter. Applicable only in the first year
1% fuel-surcharge waiver on minimum fuel transactions of ₹ 400. Capped at ₹ 250 per statement cycle
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Not Applicable
The following are the steps to get the access of airport lounge facilities with your credit card:
Make your way to the airport lounge at the terminal that you are departing from and find out if the lounge accepts the card network (RuPay, Visa, Mastercard) for free entry.
Communicate to the lounge staff at reception that you would like to use your credit card for lounge access, and they will verify whether your card can be used for complimentary access or if it will require a fee.
You will then hand the Airport Lounge Executive your credit card for verification, where the card will either be swiped or tapped on the access platform/machine connected to that card network's lounge access verification portal.
You may be required to provide your boarding pass and an identification card for verification. There may also be a nominal convenience charge/processing charge that would require payment beforehand.
Upon verifying your card and credentials, lounge staff will stamp or electronically note your boarding pass as authorization for entrance.
After getting your boarding pass validated, you can enter the lounge and enjoy complimentary amenities, which may include refreshments, Wi-Fi, newspaper, comfortable seating, and more.
Note: You should be aware that complimentary visits are capped per quarter or year depending on your card's terms and conditions, and additional visits could incur charges.

HDFC Bank is a prominent bank in the country and offers an array of products and services. One of the most popular products offered by HDFC bank is credit cards and one of its attractive features is lounge access. Below listed are some of the popular credit cards offered by HDFC bank and the lounge access benefits offered by them.
With effect from 10 June 2025, the domestic lounge access benefits will be a milestone-based program. The details are as listed below:
SBI Card, the credit card division of State Bank of India (SBI), offers more than a few credit cards with the airport lounge access facility. While a few cards provide membership to the International Priority Pass programme, others provide Visa Lounge Access membership that allows cardholders to get both complimentary and paid access to airport lounges. Below is a list of SBI credit cards that offer airport lounge access.
Axis Bank Credit Cards with airport lounge access will provide both complimentary and paid access to airport lounges in and outside India. Any guests accompanying the primary cardholder should pay for their visit to the lounge. There are also other cards that offer complimentary lounge visits to the family and friends of the primary cardholder.
Applying for a credit card with free lounge access is a straightforward process that can be done online. To complete the process, follow these steps:
When you do visit the card issuer's official website, make sure you are in the correct domain and it's verified for a safe application process.
Click ‘Credit Cards’ or You may find it at the ‘Cards’ section and go through the various cards available. Many issuers categorize cards under a few specific categories like travel, lifestyle, or rewards. It will be easier to find cards that include lounge access
Once you have reviewed the credit cards, confirm that at least one of them includes airport lounge access as a travel benefit. Once you've confirmed that your selected card includes lounge access, continue your application process by selecting 'Apply Now'.
Most issuers will ask some preliminary questions like your age, income, or employment type. The banks will immediately inform you if you are eligible for the card that you've selected.
You will be asked to fill out an application highlighting your personal, professional, and financial history. Please review the agreements and afterwards.
Upload or submit any requested documents to verify your identity, address, and income. Some banks will even offer instant verification processes to avoid any delays using digital KYC (Know Your Customer).
Once the application is approved, the bank will send your new credit card to your registered address within 2-3 business days, and you will receive an SMS or email confirming dispatch and providing tracking details.

Airport lounge access is a complimentary privilege offered with many mid-range and premium credit cards, allowing cardholders to relax at exclusive lounges in airports before boarding. These lounges typically provide amenities such as complimentary food and beverages, Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, and sometimes even shower or nap facilities.
If your credit card is eligible, you can present or swipe it at the lounge counter to gain entry. The card network (Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, or Diners Club) validates eligibility in real time, and the number of free visits depends on your card tier. After using the free quota, additional entries are charged as per lounge rates.
There are two main types - domestic lounge access and international lounge access. Domestic access is usually offered directly through Visa, Mastercard, or RuPay tie-ups, while international access is provided via global networks like Priority Pass or Diners Club. Premium cards often combine both types of comprehensive travel comfort.
No, complimentary lounge access is typically reserved for travel, lifestyle, or premium credit cards. Entry-level or basic cards may only allow for paid access or free visits after a minimum quarterly expenditure is met. Always check the lounge access benefits before applying for a card.
The number of visits varies depending on the type of card and issuer. Most cards typically offer 2 to 4 complimentary visits domestically in a quarter, while premium options such as the HDFC Diners Club Black or Axis Bank Magnus will have unlimited domestic and international visits. Unused visits usually do not roll over to the next quarter.
Typically, the add-on of the cardholder can use all the lounge benefits from the cardholder if the card permits it. Guests accompanying the cardholder, including children, will typically be charged unless the card states guest access privilege for the lounge.
Yes, for certain cards, there are eligibility milestones. For example, the HDFC Tata Neu Infinity Credit Card and IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card requires an eligible quarterly spend for both to receive complimentary lounge access. These types of policies help to increase the regular usage of cards and reward cardholders who are also frequent travellers.
Most cards reset the complimentary lounge access usage every three months, and therefore after three months, you will have an additional three visits available to you. However, there are some premium cards that will track your access annually.
You can view the updated list of lounges on your cards network's website (Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, etc) or on the issuing banks lounge benefits page. Lounge transfer and membership partners can change, so it is a good idea to check before your trip to avoid hassle at the lounge.
Yes, most banks have partnered with premium lounge access memberships such as Priority Pass or Diners Club International (Diners Club). While the membership is free, be informed that most banks offer a limited amount of lounge access with the membership and any access after that allotted amount could incur a fee. Review the fees before travelling abroad.

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