Complimentary airport lounge access on several debit and credit cards in India is set to shrink from April 2026, as banks tighten reward structures and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) revises rules for certain RuPay debit cards.
The changes will affect both debit and credit card users. Some cards will lose lounge access entirely, while others will retain the perk only if customers meet minimum spending requirements.
The revisions reflect a broader industry shift as lenders and card networks attempt to rein in the rising costs of lounge access while ensuring the benefit is primarily used by active cardholders.
RuPay Platinum debit cards to lose lounge access
The most significant change applies to RuPay Platinum debit cards.
NPCI has directed banks to discontinue complimentary lounge access on these cards from April 1, 2026. After that date, RuPay Platinum debit cards will no longer be eligible for entry to airport lounges — domestic or international — or railway lounges.
Several banks have already informed customers of the change.
Punjab National Bank said complimentary domestic airport lounge access on its RuPay Platinum debit cards will end from April 1. Similar announcements have also been issued by HDFC Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank and ESAF Small Finance Bank.
Spend-based eligibility for RuPay Select cards
While RuPay Platinum cardholders will lose lounge privileges completely, RuPay Select debit card users will continue to receive the benefit — but under a spend-based eligibility model.
The revised system will operate through NPCI’s Benefit Management System, under which banks will set minimum quarterly spending thresholds that customers must meet to qualify for complimentary lounge visits in the following period.
For instance, Punjab National Bank said RuPay Select debit cardholders must spend at least Rs 5,000 through point-of-sale or e-commerce transactions in a quarter to qualify for domestic airport lounge access in the next quarter.
Under this structure, spending Rs 5,000 between January 1 and March 31 would make a customer eligible for lounge access between April 15 and July 14.
The model effectively ties travel perks to card usage rather than simple card ownership.
Credit card lounge perks also being revised
Changes are not limited to debit cards.
Axis Bank has announced that it will discontinue four complimentary domestic airport lounge visits currently offered on the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card from April 12, 2026.
The bank is also revising the reward structure on the card, although its headline cashback rates on Airtel payments will remain unchanged.
Cardholders will continue to receive 25 per cent cashback on Airtel mobile, broadband and DTH payments made through the Airtel Thanks app, and 10 per cent cashback on other utility payments made through the same platform.
However, the maximum cashback available in these categories will now depend on the base cashback earned from other purchases during the same billing cycle.
Under the revised rules, Airtel telecom cashback will be capped at twice the base cashback earned in that month, while utility cashback will be capped at the same amount as the base cashback. At present, both categories have a flat monthly cap of ₹250.
Axis Bank said cashback will continue to be credited with a 60-day lag, meaning rewards under the revised structure will start appearing in statements generated on or after June 12, 2026.
Partner rewards being reshaped
The bank is also restructuring cashback benefits offered through partner platforms.
The existing 10 per cent cashback on transactions at Swiggy, Zomato and BigBasket will be discontinued.
Instead, customers will receive 10 per cent value back on online transactions made with Zomato, Blinkit and District Movies. The value will be credited to partner wallets rather than the credit card statement.
These benefits will be subject to conditions, including a maximum value-back of Rs 200 per partner each month and a minimum order value of Rs 499 for purchases on Zomato and Blinkit. Wallet loads and gift card purchases will not qualify for the rewards.
Why banks are tightening lounge access
Banks and payment networks have been gradually tightening lounge access benefits over the past few years as usage has surged alongside India’s rapidly expanding air travel market.
The growing popularity of complimentary lounge visits — particularly through premium debit cards — has significantly increased costs for lenders, which pay lounge operators a fee for each entry.
As a result, many banks have moved toward spend-based eligibility models that restrict access to customers who actively use their cards.
What cardholders should check
Customers holding RuPay Platinum debit cards should note that complimentary lounge access will end after March 31, 2026.
Those with RuPay Select debit cards should review the minimum spending thresholds set by their respective banks to ensure they remain eligible for lounge visits.
Credit card users may also need to check updated reward structures, as several lenders have begun revising benefit programmes and travel perks alongside lounge access policies.
End of Article
Leave a Reply