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Updated: Feb 1, 2023
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The luxury of getting a lounge during the long waiting hours at an airport is a great bliss. Forbes Advisor India studied the features of nearly 100 credit cards that provide lounge access at airports and got together a list of the best credit cards that cater to that needs of travelers in an efficient way. These cards provide various other luxuries along with lounge access complimenting luxurious traveling.
INR 12,500 + 18% GST
Unlimited
Unlimited
INR 12,500 + 18% GST
Unlimited
Unlimited
The HDFC Infinia Credit Card provides unlimited airport access at international and domestic airports. Their range of airport lounges is wide and the services of a personal global concierge can also be taken over a phone call to know the availability of the lounge.
Other Benefits
INR 10,000 + 18% GST
Unlimited
Unlimited
INR 10,000 + 18% GST
Unlimited
Unlimited
The Magnus Credit Card provides unlimited airport access at international and domestic airports. Apart from lounge access, they also provide VIP assistance service eight times in a year where the cardholder is given assistance to go through airport processes, check-ins, security checks, immigration processes and porter services. There are nine complimentary visits for accompanying guests.
Other Benefits
INR 50,000 + 18% GST
Unlimited
Unlimited
INR 50,000 + 18% GST
Unlimited
Unlimited
The Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card has unlimited international lounge visits for both primary and add-on cardholders along with the Priority Pass membership. 12 complimentary visits in a year for accompanying guests. VIP assistance service eight times in a year where the card holder is given assistance to go through airport processes, check-ins, security checks, immigration processes and porter services.
This card is a little expensive but if the user is a frequent traveler and likes to stay at expensive hotels then this card can bring the bills down considerably.
Other Benefits
INR 1,80,000 + 18% GST(one time)
Unlimited
Unlimited
INR 1,80,000 + 18% GST(one time)
Unlimited
Unlimited
IndusInd Bank has launched the Pioneer Heritage Metal Credit Card as a luxury credit card in two variants: one is Mastercard and the other is Visa credit card. There isn’t much difference in the services of both the cards. Here, we have taken the Mastercard version of the credit card as it has better services.
Not only does it have unlimited lounge visits but a chauffeured car to take the cardholder from the airport lounge to aircraft and vice versa. It has a one time joining fee of INR 1,80,000 and another fee schedule in which there is a joining fee of INR 90,000 and an annual fee of INR 25,000.
Other Benefits
Mastercard variant
INR 60,000 + 18% GST
Unlimited
Unlimited
INR 60,000 + 18% GST
Unlimited
Unlimited
American Express launched American Express® Platinum Card designed for their India customers. Card provides airline tickets to airport pick-ups, from car rentals to hotel reservations at a discounted rate. It has one of the biggest networks and partnerships with lounges in India and internationally.
Other Benefits
We have taken into consideration the following factors while rating the covered cards:
Number of Free International Lounge Visits: This is really important for us as it is the nucleus of the best of.
Number of Free Domestic Lounge Visits: Domestic lounges are equally important as international once hence an integral part of the best of.
Number of Partners the Provider Has: As credit cards partner with different companies to provide this particular service so more the partners more the number of lounges under the disposal of the users.
Other Services: Additional services are like garnishing and can make the service more comfortable and hence, what other services does a card offer.
Geographies: Cards catering universally have been considered.
One has to just show the credit card in an airport lounge to get admitted. In the case of a VIP lounge access the card holder is given assistance to go through airport processes, check-ins, security checks, immigration processes and porter services, and complimentary visits for accompanying guests as well.
There are cards with unlimited lounge access and others with limited lounge access. If it has unlimited lounge access then one can use the services an unlimited number of times, and ones with limited access within the limit, after that you will be charged like a normal visitor.
There are many factors to be taken into consideration, we will discuss all of them:
Some credit cards give just one visit in a quarter or two visits in a year, hence, low number of visits is not the best offer. We need to have an unlimited number of visits for frequent travelers. For people who are not very frequent travelers even 12 lounge visits can be of use.
Some cards have terms and conditions for a lounge visit like one will have to spend some amount of money to get it, or will get just one visit in a quarter, these are the things which are not desirable.
One will have to see if both international and domestic lounges are available, because at times only one kind of lounge is available. Then some cards do not have an equal proportion of domestic and international lounge visits. You will have to check your requirements, if you travel abroad frequently you will need international lounges more and if you are traveling within India then one with dometic airport lounge visits (card will be comparatively cheaper) would be great.
We also check the number of partnerships a card has done as the more the partner the better the availability in various locations, and partnering with a good lounge provider would mean comfortable services.
Credit cards with lounge access are extremely important for people traveling. At times people while traveling have to wait for hours for their delayed flights at the airports. This can be tiring even before the real journey starts, in such cases if the person has access to an airport lounge can be of great use.
You can also purchase a day’s lounge access but it can cost up to $50. So, rather than spending this amount every time on lounge access one can get a credit card providing lounge access for the whole year at this rate.
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This is a premium facility, and usually expensive credit cards have it. But there are certain economical credit cards which provide you this facility at a very nominal fee. For more details please read our article with the name of,’ The Best Credit Cards in India’.
If you are paying your credit card dues on time, it wont, as the bill will come to the primary card holder and not to the authorized user.
If that card provides the facility of a free lounge visit then you can for the number of times that facility is available after which you will be charged the usual charges.
You can get a free lounge access by subscribing to a card providing this facility. The only thing you need to do is to go to an airport lounge and show your credit card at the reception.
Yes, they do as a single lounge visit can cost you as high as $50 internationally and if you are a frequent traveler it becomes difficult to spend long hours waiting for delayed flights at airports. If you have a credit card with this facility you can take a rest, watch TV or take a shower meanwhile.
The Forbes Advisor editorial team is independent and objective. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive payment from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Advisor site. This comes from two main sources.
First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. The payments we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market.
Second, we also include links to our advertisers’ offers in some of our articles. These “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the listings or commentary our editorial team provides in our articles or other impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Advisor.
While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Advisor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.