Credit cards can be a big help for everyone but they have really come as a rescue for frequent travellers. Credit cards with lounge access can help them save a lot on their overall travel expenditure. A number of premium and super-premium credit cards are available in the market that not only offers complimentary airport lounge access but also provide several other travel-related benefits. SBI Card, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank are among the top banks that offer credit cards for airport lounge access.
HDFC Regalia Credit Card
Annual Fee- Rs. 2,500
Complimentary Priority Pass Membership
HDFC Regalia Credit Card is counted among the best credit cards for airport lounge access in India. The users get a complimentary Priority Pass Membership which is otherwise available for US $99. Under this, the users can get complimentary access to 1,000+ airport lounges around the world. The number of international lounge access in a calendar year has been capped at 3 which can be jointly availed by the primary cardholder and the add-on member. Post the complimentary visits, each lounge access will cost US $27 exclusive of GST. The facility is available across all Priority Pass lounges.
Visa/Mastercard Lounge Access Program
Cardholders will also be eligible for VISA/MasterCard Lounge access program. This allows them to avail 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits in a year.
Other Benefits
- Get complimentary Zomato Gold Membership
- Get benefits at premium restaurants under HDFC’s Good Food Trail Dining program
- Earn 4 Reward Points for every Rs. 150 spent
- Redeem the points against gifts and merchandise or convert them into air miles
- Enjoy a low foreign currency markup of 2% on foreign transactions
- Get travel concierge services
- Avail air accident death cover of Rs. 1 Crore, emergency overseas hospitalization cover of Rs. 15 Lakh and credit liability cover of up to Rs. 9 Lakh
SBI Card ELITE
Annual Fee- Rs. 4,999
International Airport Lounge Visit under Priority Pass Membership
Under the international lounge program, a complimentary Priority Pass Membership is offered to the users worth US $99. 6 international lounge visits can be availed under this program; the number of maximum visits in a quarter is capped at two.
Domestic Lounge Access under Visa/Mastercard Lounge Access Program
VISA/MasterCard domestic lounge access is also offered to users. 2 complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge visits every quarter in India is provided to the cardholder.
Other Benefits
- Users are also entitled to a complimentary Trident Privilege Red Tier Membership
- Club Vistara Membership is also offered
- Concierge service makes travel, entertainment, etc. easier for the users
- Low forex mark-up of 1.99% makes it a wonderful option for international flyers
- Free movie tickets worth Rs. 6,000 every year
- 5X rewards on dining, departmental stores and grocery spends
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card
Annual Fee- Rs. 5,000
Priority Pass Membership
This premium credit by American Express is also one of the best credit cards for airport lounge access in India. It offers complimentary Priority Pass Membership to its users under which they can visit 1,200+ Priority Pass Lounges across the globe.
Domestic Lounge Access Program by American Express
This American Express Credit Card also offers 4 complimentary visits per year to 31 airport lounges in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and 9 other cities. Users can avail only one visit per quarter.
Other Benefits
- Milestone benefits are offered in the form of travel vouchers
- Welcome gift is also given in the form of 5,000 bonus membership reward points which are redeemable for vouchers worth ₹ 4,000
- 1 Membership Reward Point is given for every Rs. 50 spent
- Customers don’t have to pay the convenience fee on fuel purchased from HPCL
- Reward Points are valid for a period of three years from the day they are accumulated
Axis Bank Vistara Infinite Credit Card
Annual Fee- Rs. 10,000
Complimentary Club Vistara Membership
Axis Bank Vistara Infinite Credit Card gives its users complimentary access to Club Vistara under which they get complimentary Lounge Access at select airports within India including the exclusive Vistara Lounge at Terminal 3 of the IGI Airport, Delhi. The VISA lounge access program covers Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai.
Other Benefits
- Earn Club Vistara Points on purchases and use them for upgrading membership or availing free Vistara tickets
- Bonus CV points or business class airline ticket is offered to the cardholders on reaching spending milestones
- 24×7 concierge desk for table reservation, flight booking, event/concert booking, etc.
- Avail air accident insurance cover of up to ₹ 2.5 Crores
JetPrivilege HDFC Bank Platinum Credit Card
Annual Fee- Rs. 1,000
Domestic Lounge Access
With their Jet Airways Boarding Pass and the JetPrivilege HDFC Bank Platinum Credit Card, users can avail free access to select airport lounges in India.
Visa/Mastercard Lounge Access
Under these, the user can avail 2 complimentary visits per quarter at select airport lounges in India.
Other Benefits
- Get up to 3,000 bonus JP Miles as activation benefit
- Get a complimentary Jet Airways Ticket on payment of renewal fee
- Earn 4 JP Miles for every Rs. 150 spent across all categories and 12 JP Miles on using the card at Jet Airways official website
- Avail 5% discount on all domestic air ticket bookings
- Enjoy convenience fee waiver at all petrol pumps
IndusInd Bank Platinum Aura Credit Card
Annual Fee- Rs. 899
Membership to Priority Pass Program
The cardholders are entitled to access to 600+ international airport lounges. There is no limit on the number of visits in a year. Users can also use the business facilities or conference rooms during their visit.
Membership to the Travel Plus Program
IndusInd Bank also offers a unique travel assist program called ‘Travel Plus’ to allow better services to travelers. Under this, select users will be able to enjoy special waivers on lounge access charges on their international trips.
Other Benefits
- Get welcome gift vouchers from EazyDiner, SatyaPaul, MakeMyTrip, Jet Airways, BATA or Vero Moda
- Avail Platinum Aura concierge service to avail several complimentary services
- Enjoy 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps in India
- Avail the Platinum Aura Auto-Assist services
- Get air accident insurance cover and cover for counterfeit fraud or card loss
YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card
Annual Fee- Rs. 2,500
Priority Pass Membership
Users can enjoy a complimentary Priority Pass Membership which allows the primary cardholder 4 complimentary visits to international airport lounges in a calendar year. Any visit beyond this limit will be chargeable at US $27 plus taxes.
Domestic Lounge Access
Complimentary domestic lounge visits can be availed by the primary cardholder 3 times in a quarter across 25+ airport lounges.
Other Benefits
- Avail 25% discount on movie tickets booked through BookMyShow
- Get complimentary access to select golf courses in India with a free lesson and the green fee waived off
- Earn 4 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent across all categories and 8 points on spending on domestic airlines, tour agencies and operators and on dining
- Convert reward points into JP Miles in 4:1 ratio
- Avail a dedicated concierge service
Apart from the credit cards mentioned above, Yatra SBI Card, Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card, HDFC Regalia First and YES First Exclusive credit card are also some of the best credit cards for airport lounge access at domestic and international airports. Facilities like reward conversion into air miles, low foreign exchange mark-up fee and direct discounts on airline base fares further add to the benefits of putting travel expenses on your credit card.
