An airport lounge is a designated space where travelers can relax and unwind while waiting for their flight. These lounges offer comfortable seating, complimentary food and beverages, high-speed Wi-Fi, and sometimes even spa, shower, and gaming facilities.

How to Access Airport Lounges?

Getting access to an airport lounge isn’t always easy, as entry is often restricted. While you can pay for lounge access, many banks offer free entry with certain credit and debit cards, as well as through frequent flyer programs (FFP). When you use a credit card for lounge access, the bank pays the lounge operator on your behalf, allowing you to enjoy all the facilities without additional costs.

Why Are Banks Offering Free Lounge Access?

With the increasing popularity of air travel, banks started offering free lounge access to attract more customers. Many travelers even obtained credit cards solely for this benefit, leading to overcrowding in lounges and long waiting queues.

Since banks have to pay lounge operators for every customer, they introduced spending conditions for free access. Many banks have now linked free lounge visits to spending requirements—customers must meet a minimum spend threshold monthly or quarterly to continue enjoying free lounge access. Some banks have also reduced the number of complimentary visits per year.

However, a few credit cards still provide free airport lounge access without any spending requirements. Let’s take a look at some of the best options available, including their joining and annual fees, along with the conditions for free lounge visits.

Best Credit Cards for Free Airport Lounge Access

1. HDFC Bank Tata Neu Infinity Credit Card

• Joining Fee: ₹1,499 + applicable taxes

• Annual Fee: ₹1,499 + applicable taxes (waived on spending ₹3 lakh annually)

• Benefits:

  • 8 free domestic lounge visits per year (2 per quarter)

  • 4 free international lounge visits per year via Priority Pass

  • Available on both RuPay and Visa networks (RuPay transactions incur a $3.25 charge)

2. HSBC Live+ Credit Card

• Joining Fee: ₹999

• Annual Fee: ₹999 (waived on spending ₹2 lakh annually)

• Benefits:

  • 4 free domestic lounge visits per year (1 per quarter)

3. SBI Elite Credit Card

• Joining Fee: ₹0

• Annual Fee: ₹4,999 (from the second year onwards)

• Benefits:

  • Free Priority Pass membership worth $99

  • 6 free international lounge visits per year

  • 2 free domestic lounge visits per quarter

4. Axis Magnus Credit Card

• Joining Fee: ₹12,500 + applicable taxes

• Annual Fee: Waived on spending ₹25 lakh annually

Benefits:

Unlimited international lounge visits via Priority Pass (including 4 free guest visits per year)

Unlimited domestic lounge visits for both primary and add-on cardholders (requires spending ₹50,000 per quarter)

5. Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

• Lounge access depends on membership tier, which upgrades based on annual spending:

Gold and Platinum tiers require minimum spending, but Silver members get free access without spending conditions.

Final Thoughts

Banks frequently update their credit card benefits, so it’s important to check the latest terms and conditions before choosing a card. Free airport lounge access is a valuable perk for frequent travelers, and selecting the right credit card can enhance your travel experience while saving costs.

(Note: This list of credit cards offering free lounge access is based on data from BankBazaar.com. Readers are advised to verify terms and benefits before making a decision.)