Airlines usually require passengers to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before flight departure time. Before boarding the flight, passengers need to verify their documents, get their boarding pass, check their luggage, clear the airport security check, etc. Sometimes, you can complete these formalities quickly, or sometimes, your flight may be delayed.
At such times, you can relax in the airport lounge instead of waiting in the common waiting area of ​​the airport. Many credit cards offer complimentary airport lounge access as a benefit. While airport lounge access is free for the credit cardholder, it comes at a cost to the bank. Therefore, most banks have now linked complimentary airport lounge access to monthly/quarterly milestone spends. However, some credit cards still offer complimentary airport lounge access without any spending criteria. In this article we will discuss about 8 such credit cards.
Benefits of airport lounges
Some of the common benefits offered by most airport lounges include comfortable seating areas, free Wi-Fi, widescreen television, newspapers/magazines, complimentary food and beverages (tea, coffee, non-alcoholic beverages), etc. Some airport lounges offer additional benefits such as spa/massage services, shower facilities, sleeping areas, alcohol, etc. However, these may be paid services.
If you have enough free time before boarding the flight or your flight has been delayed, you can relax in the lounge while waiting for your flight.
Credit cards with lounge access without spending criteria
Some credit cards that offer complimentary airport lounge access with no spending criteria include the following.
- IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card
IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card is one of the very few lifetime-free credit cards that offers complimentary airport lounge access and many other benefits. The card offers two complimentary domestic airport lounge access per calendar quarter. It also offers two complimentary international airport lounge access per year through Priority Pass.
Other benefits include 6 instant reward points for every Rs. 100 spend, low forex markup of 1.5%, one complimentary golf lesson or game per quarter, one complimentary movie ticket up to Rs. Rs 500 every 6 months on BookMyShow.
2. HSBC Live+ Credit Card
The HSBC Live+ Credit Card is one of the most popular cashback credit cards. It offers 10% cashback (up to Rs 1,000 per month) on spending across 3 categories: groceries, dining and food delivery. The card offers 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge access per year (one per quarter).
HSBC Bank offers its credit cards in select cities of India. Therefore, the availability of the Live+ Credit Card is limited, and you can only get it if you live in a serviceable city.
3. Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card
Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card is travel-centric. It offers instant reward points on flight and hotel bookings and airline spends on the Travel Edge portal. Airline expenses must be paid on the airline’s website, airline counter or airline helpline. The card allows you to transfer rewards points to many airline and hotel loyalty programs.
The number of complimentary domestic airport lounge access depends on the card type (Visa/MasterCard). MasterCard World Card members receive 6 complimentary visits per calendar quarter (24 per year). Visa Signature card members receive 8 complimentary tours per calendar quarter (32 per year). Thus, this card offers one of the highest number of complimentary visits to domestic airport lounges. The card offers 2 complimentary international airport lounge access per calendar quarter.
4. Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card
As the name suggests, this is a co-branded credit card between HDFC Bank and Marriott Bonvoy, one of the largest hotel loyalty programs in the world. Card benefits include Marriott Bonvoy program benefits in the form of joining and renewal benefits (1 free night award and 10 elite night credits), up to 3 free night awards every year at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties based on milestone spend, instant reward points on spending at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, etc.
This card offers 12 complimentary domestic airport lounge access per year. This card also offers 12 complimentary international airport lounge access per year. Primary and add-on cardholders can avail complimentary airport lounge access.
5. HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is one of the best cards in the travel category. It offers instant reward points (up to 6X) on travel bookings through HSBC Mobile Banking app, 10,000 bonus reward points on spending Rs. 12 lakh a year, facility to transfer reward points to airline and hotel loyalty programs at 1:1 ratio, up to 15% off on travel bookings at specified OTAs, etc.
This card offers 6 domestic and 4 international complimentary airport lounge access a year. Access to international airport lounges is provided through LoungeKey, which has a network of 1,800+ lounges worldwide.
6. HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Metal Credit Card
HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Metal Credit Card is a good lifestyle credit card that offers complimentary airport lounge access along with many other benefits. This card offers unlimited complimentary lounge access at domestic and international airports for the primary cardholder and add-on cardholders.
Other benefits include 10,000 bonus reward points on spending Rs. 4 lakh every calendar quarter, Instant Reward Points on travel bookings through SmartBuy, Redemption of Reward Points on SmartBuy for flight and hotel bookings at the value of 1 Reward Point = Rs. 1, Transfer of rewards points to various airline and hotel partners, low foreign exchange markup of 2%, etc.
7. HDFC Bank Infinia Metal Credit Card
HDFC Bank Infinia Metal Credit Card is one of the best premium credit cards available. This card offers unlimited complimentary lounge access at domestic and international airports for the primary cardholder and add-on cardholders.
Other benefits include instant reward points on travel bookings through SmartBuy, redemption of reward points on SmartBuy for flight and hotel bookings at the value of 1 reward point = Rs. 1, Transfer of rewards points to various airline and hotel partners, unlimited complimentary golf lessons and games, low forex markup of 2%, etc.
8. HSBC Premier Credit Card
The HSBC Premier Credit Card offers one of the best rewards rates for travel bookings (flights and hotels) made through the ‘Travel with Points’ section within the HSBC India mobile app. This card provides unlimited complimentary access to domestic and international airport lounges to the primary cardholder and add-on cardholders.
The card also offers 8 complimentary lounge visits to guests at international airports outside India through LoungeKey. Very few credit cards offer complimentary airport lounge access to guests.
Other benefits include a welcome benefit of 20,000 reward points, instant reward points on travel bookings, redemption of reward points for travel bookings in the HSBC India mobile app at the value of 1 reward point = Rs. 1, Transfer of reward points to various airline and hotel partners, low forex markup of 0.99%, BOGO offers on movie tickets at BookMyShow, etc.
Why are banks linking complimentary airport lounge access to card spend?
India’s aviation sector is expanding with every passing year. With more and more people flying each year, many are taking advantage of the complimentary airport lounge access benefits with their credit cards. While the cardholder gets complimentary access, the credit card issuing bank has to pay each time its cardholder accesses the lounge.
Some people started carrying credit cards just for the benefits like complimentary airport lounge access. As a result, airport lounges became extremely crowded. Having such credit card holders becomes a loss-making deal for the bank. Therefore, to maintain profitability, banks have added complimentary airport lounge access to the spend of most credit cards. Linking lounge access to card spend helps the bank manage profitability and provide service sustainably. However, as discussed in the article, some travel credit cards, premium credit cards, and even some entry-level credit cards still offer complimentary airport lounge access with no spending requirement.
