Do You Have Any Restrictions On Airport Lounge Access Through Credit Cards?

Complimentary lounge access is the biggest flex of having a credit card. Only these types of benefits make credit cards desirable. These benefits, being complementary, can make you think that there might be some restrictions on having to avail of them. Yes, there are a few things that you will have to complete or follow before you can avail yourself of these benefits.

However, you might not be able to enter all the lounges present in the whole country. Some lounges come under the lounge program and are in contact with certain financial institutes. These lounges can be different from one another, and in some lounges, you might not be able to get everything you want.

There are more important things that you need to do before accessing a lounge. Or we can also say these things are mandatory to have to get complimentary lounge access, which is as follows.

• First things first, you need to have a credit card that has domestic or international airport lounge access as a complimentary benefit present. There are credit cards with which you can only get domestic lounge access, and there are also some cards that have only international credit cards, whereas there are cards as well with both.
• Secondly, the card you are holding should be an eligible card under the complimentary card, which means any valid or unexpired credit card. As you will have to swipe your card before entering the area, your card needs to be eligible for the same. And your issuer should permit you to do the same. This will help you travel in comfort and style. As we all are aware, when boarding a flight, you have a lot of time to spare. For the time you have to be in the airport, these lounges are the most comfortable areas to spend your time in.
• And lastly, you will have to enroll or activate your lounge services with the bank. This will allow you to get approval from the bank to access the lounges in advance, and you don’t have to go through a long process of checking and applying.

These are the basic details that you need to note, follow, and apply for to get the benefit of complimentary lounge access.

You might imagine yourself enjoying yourself a lot in the lounge and getting pampered, but that is not going to be the case all the time. Yes, you will have complimentary things, but there are things that will be off-limits as well, and you will have to pay for them. These things are to be informed or asked at reception only. Here are a few things that can make you feel restricted while using the complimentary lounge access through the credit card –

• You will not get access to every lounge. The lounges are operated by different airlines, airports, and third parties, and credit cards might only give you access to certain lounges. Not every lounge falls under the program.  The lounge choice might also be restrained by the airline you are flying with.
• Need to register – As stated earlier, you might need to register yourself while entering the lounge. You might also need to avail yourself of access from the bank, as the bank provides you with complimentary lounge access. From whom and what you have to do to register yourself, you will have to look into the details provided by the bank.
• Guests might cost extra – Sometimes, your guests might not be able to get the complimentary services. These services might only be for the credit card holder and not their guests. Sometimes, it might cost you extra to get your guests into the lounge.
• Opening hours – Some lounges might not be open 24/7. You need to check for the lounge hours before entering the lounges. Although this can apply to only a few lounges because most of them are open most of the time, it is important to check the details before checking in.
• If you are staying longer than the time slots given or permitted by the bank and the lounge, you might get charged for them. This is to prevent the overcrowding in the lounge.

Conclusion

Complimentary lounge access is one of the reasons why a person uses a credit card. This benefit is very beneficial for those traveling a lot and makes your traveling experience more comfortable. This complimentary lounge access program has its advantages and disadvantages as well. Suppose you get a complimentary visit to the lounge, but you will have to activate your eligible credit card. Even how long you can stay in a lounge will also be determined by the bank and lounge operators as well.

There can be a few restrictions on using the credit card to get into airport lounges, but it is worth it. The experience keeps getting better, and the traveling becomes more comfortable.