Best entry level credit cards in India for Free Airport Lounge Access 2024
Complementary Lounge Access are becoming one of the most important driving factor for people to get a credit card as India is seeing increased air traffic year after year. Complimentary lounge access at Airport allows the cardholder to enjoy comfort and free food/buffet at airports without extra cost.
With this post, we will help you to find a credit card with free access to airport lounges.
Table of Contents
Credit Cards with Free Domestic Lounge Access
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Lounge Access | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card | FYF via referral else ₹5,000 + GST | 2 per quarter (8/year) | 1 MR point per ₹50 spent, Milestone rewards, up to 20% dining discount |
| Axis My Zone Credit Card | ₹500 + GST | 1 per quarter (4/year) | SonyLiv subscription, 40% discount on Swiggy, BOGO movie tickets, 4 EDGE points per ₹200 spent |
| AU Bank LIT Credit Card | Nil | 2 per quarter (8/year) | One of a kind customizable features, benefits in travel, dining, shopping, and fuel |
| IndusInd Legend Credit Card | Nil | 1 per quarter (4/year) | 1 reward point per ₹100 spent, 4,000 bonus points, Priority Pass, complimentary golf sessions |
| IDFC HPCL First Power Plus Credit Card | ₹499 + GST | 1 per quarter (4/year) | 6.5% savings on fuel, 5% on utilities/groceries, 3X rewards on other spends |
| Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card | ₹500 + GST | 1 per quarter (4/year) | 5% cashback on Flipkart, 4% cashback on preferred partners |
| ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card | ₹500 + GST | 1 per quarter (4/year) | 2 reward points per ₹100 spent, complimentary railway lounge access, 25% discount on BookMyShow tickets |
| IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card | Nil | 2 per quarter (8/year) | Up to 10 reward points per ₹100 spent |
| Bank of Baroda Premier Credit Card | ₹1,000 + GST | 1 per quarter (4/year) | 5X reward points on dining, travel, and international spends |
Please note: This table may not be up to date as banks keep on revising benefits and terms frequently. PLease refer bank’s website or do your own research before applying.
Amex Platinum Travel: This credit card comes with unique milestone benefits taking reward rate to around 9%, and also offers two complimentary domestic lounge accesses per quarter. You can read more about this card and its review here.
Axis My Zone Credit Card: This entry-level card has a nominal annual fee of ₹500 + GST. It offers one complimentary lounge access every quarter. Other benefits includes SonyLiv subscription, 40% discount on Swiggy, a Buy 1 Get 1 offer on movie tickets. The reward rate on this card is not good, but that’s not what this card is focused on. This card is ideal for individuals who are new to credit cards or just want credit card for lounge access and instant partner discounts.
AU Bank LIT Credit Card: This card is one of a kind and it offers personalised benefits among various categories like travel, dining, shopping and fuel. These personalised spend category can be revised every 90 days. This credit card comes with no joining or renewal fees and provides two complimentary domestic airport lounge accesses per quarter.
IndusInd Legend Credit Card: This is a free credit card and offers one free domestic airport lounge access every quarter. Cardholders earn one reward point for every Rs 100 spent, which can be redeemed for cashback, Airmiles, or gift vouchers. The card also provides 4,000 bonus reward points upon reaching an annual spending milestone, complimentary golf sessions, and Priority Pass membership for access to over 1,000 premium lounges worldwide.
IDFC HPCL First Power Plus Credit Card: This is a co-branded credit card with HP petroleum. As the name suggests, it’s a fuel focused credit card offering up to 6.5% rewards on fuel spends. This card offers one complimentary domestic lounge access per quarter and is available at a fees of Rs 500.
Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card: This is a co-branded card with annual fee of Rs 500 and offers one free domestic airport lounge access per quarter. Additionally. it provides 5% cashback on Flipkart purchases, 4% cashback on partner sites, making it a good choice for travelers who want cashback benefits on online shopping as well.
ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card: With a joining and renewal fee of Rs 500 + GST, this popular card offers one complimentary lounge access per quarter but has a spend requirement of Rs 5,000 in the previous quarter. Other benefits include 2 reward points per ₹100 spent, complimentary railway lounge access, and a 25% discount on movie tickets via BookMyShow.
IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card: A lifetime free card offering two complimentary domestic airport lounge accesses per quarter. Additionally, cardholders earn up to 10 reward points per ₹100 spent. This card also offers benefits like Roadside Assistance and has good range of lounges which are accessible.
BOB Premier Credit Card: With a joining and renewal fee of Rs 1,000 + GST, this card offers one complimentary domestic lounge access per quarter. It provides 5X reward points on dining, travel, and international transactions, making it an attractive card for frequent travelers.
Choosing the Right Card for You:
If you just want a credit card for lounge access, look for the one that provides lounge access without any spending requirements as banks these days are requiring individuals to spend some minimum amount per month or per quarter to be eligible for complementary lounge access.
However, these are some factors you can look at to trim down your decision:
- Number of Complimentary Lounge Accesses offered per quarter or year
- Fees: Usually, credit card with no fee will have some minimum spend requirements to achieve before giving free lounge access.
- Lounge coverage: Make sure the card you are applying for offers lounge access at the airport you frequent to or have future plans for. Most of the card offers lounge access at metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai but not at smaller cities’ airports.
- Spend requirements: As discussed, some cards will require you to spend a minimum amount withing a month or quarter, so be sure about what you are signing up for and how much you can spend on the credit card.
