6 Banks Cut Lounge Access: Is Your Card Still Valid?

Big banks like HDFC and SBI Card are now tying free airport lounge access to how much you spend each quarter. Miss the spending target and your next lounge visit comes with a surprise bill.

Here's what happened: Major card issuers including HDFC Bank and SBI Card have linked complimentary airport lounge access to minimum quarterly spending thresholds, often in the ₹25,000–₹50,000 range.. Annual visit caps on several popular credit cards have been reduced, with some cards moving from 8 complimentary visits per year to just 4, effective 2026.. Cardholders who enter a lounge without meeting the spend criterion are automatically billed ₹2,000–₹2,500 per visit directly to their credit card, with no prior alert at the lounge gate..

What you should do: Check your current quarter's lounge eligibility right now — open your bank's credit card app or net banking portal and look under 'Benefits' or 'Lounge Access' to see your remaining free visits and whether you've hit the spend threshold.. Set a monthly spend alert in your card app to track progress toward the quarterly minimum — if you're 10 days from quarter-end and still short, consider consolidating planned purchases to this card before the deadline.. Call your card's helpline or check the latest Most Important Terms and Conditions (MITC) document on the bank's website to confirm whether your add-on cardholder still qualifies — many banks have silently removed this benefit for supplementary cards..

Pro tip: Airport lounge access via Visa/Mastercard/Diners network portals (like Dreamfolks) is sometimes separate from your bank's own benefit — check both channels before assuming you're locked out.