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Federal BankMost people nowadays compare credit cards not only on the basis of their credit limits but also with the benefits they provide. To attract more & more customers, credit card issuers offer additional benefits and rewards on their cards. One of the most exclusive benefits provided by credit cards is the complimentary airport lounge access. As most people of this generation love to travel and to explore more and more places, credit cards with international airport lounge access have become a great choice for them. In order to make the international travel experience of their customers even more luxurious, credit cards offer complimentary airport lounge access without any additional charges.
For the uninitiated, International lounges are the extra comfort restrooms at international airports, where only selected individuals (people with some memberships/frequent flyers/traveling in business or first class or cards providing lounge access) are allowed to visit. Even with a membership like Priority Pass, Dream folks, etc, every time you visit the lounges you may need to pay the usage fee. But, if any credit card is providing free airport lounge access, then you can avail yourself of all the benefits at the airport lounges for free.
List of Best Credit Cards with Free International Lounge Access
With a lot of credit cards offering airport lounge access in the market, many individuals find it very challenging to choose the right credit card for them. Moreover, different card issuers partner with different lounge programs to provide their customers with free access to airport lounges in India and outside. To help you understand the difference between these programs and choose the best credit card for yourself, we are here with the list of some of the best credit cards for international lounge access:
- Credit Cards providing International Airport Lounge Access with Priority Pass
- American Express Platinum Card
- HDFC Bank INFINIA Credit Card Metal Edition
- Citibank Prestige Credit Card
- Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card
- Axis Bank SELECT Credit Card
- SBI ELITE Credit Card
- RBL World Safari Credit Card
- AU Bank Zenith Credit Card
- IndusInd Bank Indulge Credit Card
- Kotak Privy League Signature Credit Card
- HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card
- Diners Club Credit Cards with International Airport Lounge Access
- Credit Cards providing International Lounge Access with LoungeKey membership
- Credit Cards providing International Lounge Access with Dreamfolks membership
- RuPay Credit Cards with International Airport Lounge Access
Credit Cards providing International Lounge Access with Priority Pass
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 60,000 (plus applicable taxes)
Renewal Fee
1 MR on every Rs. 40, 3X Rewards on all international spends, and 5X Rewards Points on transactions via the AmEx Reward Multiplier portal.
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
SeleQtions, Taj, and Vivanta Hotels’ vouchers worth Rs. 45,000.
Card Details +
The AMEX Platinum Credit Card is no doubt one of the most premium credit cards issued by American Express. It comes with exclusive benefits over different categories, including travel, dining, lifestyle, etc. Targeting the audience who believe in a rich & luxurious lifestyle, the card has the following key features:
- Up to 5 Reward Points for every Rs. 100 you spend.
- Welcome bonus of 1,00,000 bonus membership RPs.
- Free access to airport lounges in India and outside.
- A discount of up to 50% on dining at over 1,800 premium restaurants.
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 12,500 + applicable taxes
Renewal Fee
5 Reward Points on every retail spend of Rs. 150, reward rate of up to 3.3%
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
Welcome bonus of 12,500 Reward Points and complimentary Club Marriott membership for the first year offering 20% discounts on dining and stay in the Asia-Pacific region.
Card Details +
HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card comes with all the exciting features & benefits that one might be looking for. Targeting high-income individuals, the card provides all the benefits keeping their requirements in mind. Following is a list of a few features of this card:
- 5 RPs on every Rs. 150 you spend.
- Welcome gift of 10,000 bonus Reward Points.
- Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access.
- Access to unlimited golf games.
- Exclusive dining benefits under the Good Food Trail Program.
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 20,000 (plus applicable taxes)
Renewal Fee
1 Reward Points for every Rs. 100 on domestic spends, 2 Reward Points for every Rs. 100 on international spends.
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
2,500 bonus reward points and a benefit worth Rs. 10,000 from ITC hotels or the Taj group.
Card Details +
Citi Prestige Credit Card is a premium credit card that is best suited for people who travel frequently as it comes with exclusive travel benefits, including unlimited complimentary airport lounge access. Other than travel, the following are the exciting benefits provided by this card:
- Welcome bonus of 2,500 Reward Points.
- Up to 2 RPs on every Rs. 100 you spend, where 1 RP = 4 AirMiles.
- Benefits worth Rs. 1000 form ITC hotels/Tai groups every year.
- Exclusive Insurance benefits.
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 10,000 plus taxes
Renewal Fee
12 Axis EDGE REWARDS Points for every Rs. 200 spent with the card, 5X EDGE REWARDS on travel spends via TRAVEL EDGE.
Best Suited For
Movies
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
Choose any one of these- Tata Cliq voucher or a free domestic flight ticket worth Rs. 10,000.
Card Details +
Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card is a unique card offered by Axis Bank to provide its customers with all the luxury & lifestyle benefits. With this card you earn up to 24 RPs every time you spend Rs. 200 on your card. Other than its reward offers, the following are the benefits that the Magnus card offers:
- Gift vouchers worth Rs. 10,000 as welcome gift.
- Up top 25% off on dining across several participating restaurants.
- A discount of up to Rs. 500 on movies on BookMyShow.
- Spend-based annual fee waiver.
- Complimentary airport lounge access.
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 3,000 (plus applicable taxes)
Renewal Fee
10 EDGE Points per Rs. 200 spent and 20 EDGE Points per Rs. 200 spent on retail shopping.
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
Amazon voucher (worth Rs. 2,000) on making the first transaction within 90 days of card issuance.
Card Details +
Axis Bank Select Credit Card comes with great reward offers as it earns you up to 20 Reward Points for every Rs. 100 spent. With this card, you get various other benefits, such as a welcome bonus, complimentary lounge access, exclusive discounts on dining, and many more. A list of its advantages include:
- Welcome gift of complimentary Amazon Prime membership and gift vouchers worth Rs. 2000.
- Complimentary Priority Pass membership and airport lounge access.
- Up to Rs. 300 off on movie tickets on BookMyShow.
- 6 complimentary golf rounds every year.
- Spend-based annual membership fee waiver.
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 4,999 (plus taxes)
Renewal Fee
2 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 you spend on retail purchases, 5X Reward Points on dining spends, departmental stores, and grocery purchases (reward rate of 2.5%)
Best Suited For
Movies
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
E-vouchers worth Rs. 5,000 from any one of the brands, including Yatra, Aditya Birla Fashion, Hush Puppies/Bata, Pantaloons, and Shoppers Stop.
Card Details +
SBI ELITE Credit Card is aimed at providing exclusive reward offers & benefits to its customers in order to allow them to save more and more on their spends. Some of the key features of this card are as mentioned below:
- 2 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 spent with the card.
- Gift vouchers worth Rs. 5,000 as a welcome gift.
- Up to 50,000 bonus RPs every year on the basis of your annual spends.
- Complimentary access to domestic/international airport lounges.
- Exciting discount offers on movies.
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs 3,000 plus applicable taxes
Renewal Fee
5 travel points on every Rs. 100 spent on travel, 2 travel points on every Rs. 100 spent elsewhere.
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
MakeMyTrip voucher worth Rs. 3,000 as a welcome gift
Card Details +
RBL World Safari Credit Card by RBL Bank offers lots of benefits in travel. The card has many features that would help you save more and enjoy more during your travels. The card charges Rs. 3,000 as an annual fee and offers complimentary access to domestic as well as international lounges and also offers complimentary golf games every year. Following are the benefits of the card:
- Get 5 travel points on every Rs. 100 spent.
- 2 complimentary international lounge visits every year.
- 2 domestic lounge access every calendar quarter.
- 10,000 bonus travel points on spending Rs. 2.5 lakhs or more in an anniversary year.
- 4 complimentary golf games every year.
- Zero markup fee on international spending.
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 7,999 (plus applicable taxes)
Renewal Fee
20 Reward Points for every Rs. 100 spent on dining (reward rate = 5%), 10 Reward Points for every Rs. 100 spent on international purchases and grocery & departmental stores (reward rate = 2.5%) and 5 Reward Points for every Rs. 100 spent on all other spends except fuel (reward rate = 1.25%)
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
Get Zomato Pro membership after 5 successful transactions, Rs. 1,000 worth of Vouchers after the first POS transaction, 10,000 Bonus RPs on spending Rs. 1 Lakh. Every welcome benefit would be applicable for retail spends made within sixty of card set-up.
Card Details +
AU Bank Zenith Card is a premium card offered by AU Bank. The card offers great benefits in travel, shopping, and also in dining. With an annual fee of Rs. 7,999, the card also comes with a Zomato Pro membership as a welcome benefit. Moreover, the card has a foreign currency markup fee of 1.99% which is lower than most other travel cards. Following are the benefits of the card:
- 20 Reward Points per Rs. 100 on dining.
- Get Reward Points per Rs. 100 on international transactions and grocery and departmental store spend.
- 4 complimentary access to domestic airport lounges per quarter.
- 2 complimentary international airport lounge access per quarter.
- 2 complimentary IRCTC lounge access per quarter.
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 2,00,000 (no annual fee applicable) or Rs. 1,00,000 (Rs. 10,000 annual fee applicable in this case)
Renewal Fee
1.5 Reward Points for every Rs. 100 spent using the card
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
Card Details +
The IndusInd Bank Indulge Credit Card is a super-premium credit card that comes with great reward offerings across several categories, including travel, dining, lifestyle, etc. Being the first credit card with 22K gold inlay, it solely targets the people who believe in having a luxurious lifestyle. Following are some of the main advantages of this card:
- 1.5 RPs on every Rs. 100 you spend.
- Buy 1 get 1 offer for movie tickets on BookMyShow.
- Complimentary Priority Pass membership with free domestic/international lounge visits.
- Insurance benefits worth up to Rs. 2.5 crores.
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 2,500 + GST (for paid variant), Nil for the free variant
Renewal Fee
5x Reward Points on select retail shopping and travel spends, 2x Reward Points on all other spends and traveler’s plan.
Best Suited For
Shopping
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
Card Details +
The Kotak Privy League Signature Credit Card is exclusively offered to privy customers by the Kotak Mahindra Bank. With this card, you can earn up to 5X Reward Points on every Rs. 100 you spend, where 1 Reward Point = Rs. 0.25. Other than its exclusive reward offers, the card has various other benefits, such as:
- You can choose your own plan between the shopper’s plan and the traveler’s plan with this card.
- 6,400 bonus RPs every quarter on the basis of your spends.
- Complimentary domestic/international airport lounge access.
- Fuel & railway surcharge waiver.
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 2,500 + taxes
Renewal Fee
4 reward points every time one spends Rs. 150.
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
2,500 bonus Reward points
Card Details +
The HDFC Regalia Credit Card is among the most popular credit cards issued by the HDFC Bank. With its great reward offers and exclusive benefits, this card has become a good choice for lots of individuals out there. The card comes with great benefits over categories, such as travel, lifestyle, etc. The key features of the HDFC Regalia Credit Card are as follows:
- Welcome bonus of 2,500 reward points.
- An opportunity to earn 15,000 bonus RPs every year on meeting the milestone spend target.
- Free airport lounge access to airport lounges in India and outside.
- Low foreign currency markup fee.
- Insurance benefits worth up to 1 crore.
Diners Club Credit Cards with International Airport Lounge Access
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 10,000 (plus applicable taxes)
Renewal Fee
5 Reward Points on every spend of Rs. 150. 10x Reward Points on SmartBuy and 2x Reward Points on weekend dining
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
Get complimentary annual membership of Forbes, Club Marriott, Times Prime, MMT Black, Amazon Prime, and Swiggy One (3 Months) on spending Rs. 1,50,000 or more in the first 90 days of card issuance
Card Details +
HDFC bank Diners Club Black Credit Card is another super-premium credit card issued by the HDFC Bank like that of the HDFC bank Infinia Credit Card. It comes with great reward programs and exclusive benefits over almost all the categories that one expects from a credit card. The most significant features of this card are:
- Enjoy up to 10X Reward Points for every Rs. 150 spent.
- Complimentary Amazon Prime, Times Prime, and Zomato gold membership as a welcome benefit.
- Complimentary domestic/international lounge access.
- Complimentary access to 6 golf games every quarter.
- Low foreign currency markup fee.
Credit Cards providing International Lounge Access with LoungeKey membership
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 999 + taxes
Renewal Fee
6 Reward Points for every Rs. 200 spent on Selected category, 12 Reward Points on every Rs. 200 spent on all other transactions and 1000 Reward Points on every YES PayNow registration.
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
N/A
Card Details +
Yes First Exclusive Credit Card is a mid level shopping credit card offered by Yes Bank. The card comes with a joining/annual fee of Rs. 999 per annum. The card is in direct competition with the likes of ICICI Sapphiro and HDFC Regalia . As far as international lounge access is concerned, you get unlimited international airport lounge access with Yes Bank First Exclusive Credit Card with complimentary LoungeKey (for Visa variant) or Priority Pass (for MasterCard variant). Some of the main features of the Yes Bank First Exclusive Credit Card are as follows-
- You earn 12 Reward Points per Rs. 200 on all spends with the card except spends on select categories.
- You earn 6 Reward Points per Rs. 200 spent on select categories which include spends on fares (bus tickets/ taxicab fare, etc), utility bill payments, grocery purchases, insurance premium payments, school/college fees payments, tax and toll payments and a few other miscellaneous transactions.
- The Card entitles you to 12 domestic airport lounge access per annum (max 3 per quarter) and unlimited international airport lounge access across the world with complimentary LoungeKey (for Visa variant) or Priority Pass (for MasterCard variant) membership.
- Yes First Exclusive Credit Card offers a lower interest rate of 1.99% per annum (23.88% annually) and a lower mark-up fee of 1.75% on foreign currency transactions.
- The card also entitles you to 4 complimentary rounds of golf per year and 1 complimentary golf lesson per month at select golf courses across India.
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 50,000 (plus applicable taxes) for Yes Private Credit Card, Rs. 20,000 (plus applicable taxes) for Yes Private Prime Credit Card
Renewal Fee
24 Reward Points for every Rs. 200 spent on international spends, 16 Reward Points for every Rs. 200 spent on domestic spends.
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
Upon successful first transaction made using this credit card, you will get up to 25,000 Reward Points.
Card Details +
The YES Private Credit Card is one of the most unique credit cards issued by the YES Bank. With the Private card, you can earn up to 3 RPs on every Rs. 100 you spend, where 1 RP = Re. 1. Other than that, the comes with various travel, lifestyle, and other benefits, some of which are as mentioned below:
- 25,000 bonus Reward Points as a welcome gift.
- Unlimited free airport lounge access to domestic/international airports.
- Complimentary Lounge Key membership.
- Complimentary access to 12 golf lessons every year.
- Low-interest rates & low foreign currency markup fee.
Credit Cards providing International Lounge Access with Dreamfolks membership
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 1,000 + Taxes for monthly plan, Rs. 12,000 + taxes for annual plan
Renewal Fee
4 RPs on every Rs. 100 spent on all transactions (except fuel, utilities and insurance categories) and 1 RP on every purchase of Rs. 100 on insurance and utilities.
Best Suited For
Movies
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
N/A
Card Details +
The ICICI bank Emeralde Credit Card comes with two variants, which are: Mastercard variant and the American Express variant. Both of the variants have their own advantages. The card earns you up to 4 PAYBACK Points on every Rs. 100 you spend, which means you save 1% on all your spends. It has several other benefits, some of which are:
- A discount of up to Rs. 750 on movie tickets four times a month.
- 15% or more discount on dining.
- Complimentary access to international airport lounges.
- Low foreign currency markup fee.
- Insurance benefits worth up to Rs. 3 Crore.
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 5,000
Renewal Fee
5 Reward Points on every retail purchase of Rs. 150
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
6,000 Rewards redeemable for shopping vouchers or charity spends under the Standard Chartered 360° rewards program.
Card Details +
Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card is the premium card offering from the SC Bank. The card offers lavish benefits and is one of the most beneficial credit cards for travel. The card offers a Complimentary Dreamfolks membership and offers exciting other benefits like:
- 5 Reward Points per Rs. 150 you spend.
- 16 domestic lounge access per year.
- 12 complimentary international lounge access.
- 1 complimentary Golf game every month.
- 24×7 concierge service.
Fee
Joining Fee
Nil
Renewal Fee
3 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 spent offline, 6 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 spent online, 10 Reward Points per Rs. 100 on spends above Rs. 30,000.
Best Suited For
Shopping
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
Gift Vouchers worth Rs. 500 from premium brands on spending over Rs. 30,000 within 90 days and a 5% cashback on the first EMI transaction made within the first 30 days.
Card Details +
The IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card is a credit card with no annual fee and various exclusive benefits, such as reward programs, travel benefits, lifestyle benefits, and many more. Here is a list of the benefits that you can avail of with this card:
- Up to 10 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 spent, where 1 RP = Re. 0.25.
- Gift vouchers worth Rs. 500 as a welcome benefit.
- Up to 2 complimentary golf rounds every month.
- Free airport lounge access to domestic as well as international airports.
- Low foreign currency markup fee.
RuPay Credit Cards with International Airport Lounge Access
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 500
Renewal Fee
2 Reward Points on every spend of Rs. 150.
Best Suited For
Shopping
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
300 bonus Reward Points.
Card Details +
PNB RuPay Select Card is an entry-level RuPay Credit Card offered by Punjab National Bank. The card has a very nominal fee of just Rs. 500 and no annual renewal fee is applicable second year onwards if the card is used at least once every quarter. Some of the features of the PNB RuPay Select Credit Card are-
- 2 Reward Points on Rs. 150 spent with the card.
- 2x Reward Points per Rs. 150 on merchandise/online transactions made within first 90 days of card activation.
- 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge access (per quarter) and 2 complimentary international airport lounge access (per annum).
Fee
Joining Fee
Nil
Renewal Fee
You can earn a maximum of Rs. 50 cashback per month on utility bill payment. You can earn a maximum of Rs. 50 cashback per month on a minimum transaction of Rs. 500 in your mobile wallet. You can also cashback of Rs. 25 on spending a minimum of Rs. 300 spent on IRCTC transactions. You can earn 4 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent on this card.
Best Suited For
Shopping
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
NA
Card Details +
Union Bank Select RuPay Credit Card is a basic entry-level credit card by Union Bank of India. It is a Reward Points based credit card and offers additional benefits on utility bill payments, IRCTC ticket bookings and mobile wallet reload. While Union Bank does not charge any initial joining fee for the card, however, annual fee of Rs. 499 is payable for the card’s membership. Some of the key features of the Union Bank Select RuPay Credit Card are-
- The card earns you 4 Reward Points for every Rs. 100 you spend.
- You earn a cashback of Rs. 50 on utility bill payments and mobile wallet reloads (minimum transaction amount of Rs. 500 is required).
- Get a cashback of Rs. 25 on transactions made on IRCTC website/app (minimum transaction amount of Rs. 300 required).
- Just as all RuPay Select/Platinum Cards, Union RuPay Select Credit Card also entitles you to 4 domestic airport lounge access per quarter and 4 international airport lounge access per year.
- Union RuPay Select Credit Card also provides you an insurance cover worth Rs. 10 lacs against loss of life in an air accident and worth Rs. 8 lacs against loss of life for a reason other than air accident.
Fee
Joining Fee
Rs. 750
Renewal Fee
1 Reward Point on every spend of Rs. 100, 2x Reward Points on entertainment categories, and 3x Reward Points on electronics and apparel.
Best Suited For
Shopping
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
Amazon e-voucher worth Rs. 500 on spending Rs. 3,000 or more within the first 30 days.
Card Details +
Federal bank RuPay Signet Credit Card is a mid level RuPay credit card offered by Federal Bank. Signet Credit Card earns accelerated Reward Points on Electronics & Apparel and entertainment categories and offers complimentary domestic and international access as travel benefits. Some of the key benefits of the Federal Bank RuPay Signet Credit Card are-
- Amazon Pay e-voucher worth Rs. 500 as a welcome benefit on spending Rs. 3,000 in the first 30 days of card activation.
- 3x Reward Points on electronic & apparel categories and 2x Reward Points on entertainment category.
- 4 complimentary access to domestic airport lounges and 2 complimentary access to international airport lounges every year.
- Complimentary Swiggy vouchers as milestone benefit on quarterly spends of Rs. 20,000.
- BOGO offer on INOX movie tickets, once every quarter.
International Lounge Access Programs
Credit Card payment networks such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and RuPay have partnerships with with airport hospitality companies to offer complimentary access to their cardholders to their airport lounges at airports across the globe.
Apart from credit card payment networks, there are many independent airport lounge access programs like Priority Pass and LoungeKey by Collinson group and Dreamfolks that offer lounge access to their members. Many credit card issuers offer complimentary membership of these lounge access programs to their cardholders.
Thus, there are two ways a credit card issuer can offer complimentary airport lounge access to its cardholders- first, via the card’s payment network’s partnership and second through a third party lounge access program. Now before we discuss the best credit cards for international airport lounge access, it is a good idea to first understand the lounge access programs by the various payment networks and independent airport lounge access programs for international airport lounge access.
Priority Pass Airport Lounge Access Program
Priority Pass is the world’s largest independent airport lounge access program. The program is run by the Collinson group and gives you access to over 1,300 airport lounge across the world. In order to access an airport lounge as a Priority Pass member, you have to show your Priority Pass Card that you get with your credit card at the lounge. Priority Pass membership costs USD 99 per annum and you have to pay USD 32 per guest per visit.
Some of the most popular cards that offer complimentary Priority Pass membership are HDFC Infinia Credit Card, HDFC Regalia Credit Card, Citi Prestige Credit Card, and Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card.
Diners Club Airport Lounge Access Program
Diners Club provides complimentary lounge access to Diners Club credit cardholders through its own partnership with airport lounge companies. Diners Club credit cardholders need not carry any additional card to access Diners Club airport lounges. Dineres Club credit cards entitle you the access to over 1,000 internationl airport lounges across the world.
LoungeKey Airport Lounge Access Program
LoungeKey is another airport lounge access program by Collinson group. The main difference between LoungeKey and Priority Pass is, while Priority Pass requires you to carry a separate card to access airport lounges, no additional card is required to access an airport lounge as a LoungeKey member.
There are not many credit cards in India that provide airport lounge access with LoungeKey membership. Some of the cards that offer complimentary international airport lounge access with LoungeKey membership are Yes Private/Private Prime Credit Card, IndusInd Bank Crest Credit Card, HSBC Premier MasterCard Credit Card, and Indusind Bank Pioneer Heritage Credit Card.
Dreamfolks Airport Lounge Access Program Membership
Dreamfolks is an Indian airport hospitality company. With Dreamfolks membership, you get complimentary access to partner airport lounges and spas. ICICI Bank provides complimentary DreamFolks membership with some of its credit cards including ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card and ICICI Emeralde Credit Card. Dreamfolks membership entitles you to over 1,000 airport lounges and spas across the world. Just like Priority Pass, Dreamfolks members are also required to carry a separate card to avail the benefit of complimentary airport lounge access.
RuPay Lounge Access Program
You also get complimentary access to international airport lounges with RuPay credit cards. Since it is RuPay’s own lounge access program, unlike Priority Pass and Dreamfolks, you are not required to carry any separate card to access airport lounges with a RuPay Select credit card. All RuPay Platinum and Select Credit Cards entitle you to 2 complimentary access to domestic airport lounges per quarter and 2 complimentary access to international airport lounges per year.
Annual Fees & Lounge Benefits
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | International Lounge Access | Domestic Lounge Access | International Lounge Access for add-on cardholders |
| American Express Platinum Credit Card | Rs. 60,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited (only for 1 add-on cardholder) |
| HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card | Rs. 10,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Citi Prestige Credit Card | Rs. 20,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| YES First Exclusive Credit Card | Rs. 9,999 | Unlimited | 3 per quarter | Unlimited |
| Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card | Rs. 10,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| Axis Bank Miles & More Credit Card | Rs. 10,000 (for select variant)Rs. 3,000 (for World variant) | 4 per year (with Select Variant)2 per year (with World variant) | 8 per quarter (with Select variant)4 per quarter (with World variant) | NA |
| Axis Bank Select Credit Card | Rs. 3,000 | 6 per year | 8 per year | NA |
| SBI Card ELITE | Rs. 4,999 | 6 per year | 8 per year | NA |
| Club Vistara SBI Card Prime | Rs. 2,999 | 4 per year | 8 per year | NA |
| IndusInd Bank Indulge Credit Card | Nil (with a joining fee of Rs. 2 lakhs)10,000 (with a joining fee of Rs. 1 lakh) | 2 per quarter | 4 per quarter | NA |
| Standard Chartered Emirates World Credit Card | Rs. 3,000 | 2 per month (on spending over Rs. 10,000 in the previous month) | 2 per month (on spending over Rs. 10,000 in the previous month) | NA |
| RBL Bank Insignia Preferred Banking World Card | Nil | 6 per year | 8 per year | |
| Kotak Privy League Signature Credit Card | Rs. 2,500 (for paid variant)Nil (for free variant) | 4 per year | Complimentary domestic lounge access under Visa lounge program | NA |
| HDFC Regalia Credit Card | Rs. 2,500 | 6 per year | 12 per year | 6 per year |
| HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card | Rs. 10,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| HDFC Bank Diners Club Privilege Credit Card | Rs. 2,500 | Up to 12 per year | Up to 12 per year | Up to 12 per year |
| HDFC Bank Diners Club Miles Credit Card | Rs. 1,000 | Up to 6 per year | Up to 6 per year | NA |
| InterMiles HDFC Bank Diners Club Credit Card | Rs. 5,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| Indusind Bank Pioneer Heritage Credit Card | Rs. 90,000 | Unlimited (on Pioneer Heritage Metal card)8 per year (on Pioneer Heritage Credit Card) | Unlimited(on Pioneer Heritage Metal card)8 per year (on Pioneer Heritage Credit Card) | NA |
| YES Private Credit Card | Rs. 50,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Indusind Bank Crest Credit Card | Nil (with a joining fee of Rs. 2 lakhs)Rs. 10,000 (with a joining fee of Rs. 1 lakh) | 2 per quarter | Complimentary domestic lounge access through the Mastercard lounge program. | NA |
| HSBC Premier Mastercard Credit Card | Nil | 2 per year | 6 per year | |
| ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card | Rs. 12,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | NA |
| ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card | Rs. 3,500 | 2 per year | 4 per quarter | |
| Intermiles ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card | Rs. 5,000 | 2 per year | 4 per quarter | |
| IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card | Nil | 4 per quarter | 4 per quarter | |
| PNB RuPay Select Credit Card | Rs. 500 | 2 per annum | 2 per quarter | |
| Union Select RuPay Credit Card | Rs. 499 | 2 per annum | 2 per quarter | |
| Federal Bank RuPay Signet Credit Card | Rs. 750 | 2 per annum | 2 per quarter |
Difference Between Various Lounge Access Programs
There are several lounge access programs that allow you to access airport lounges with a specific annual membership fee. Here are 4 most popular of them:
| Priority Pass | Diners Club | Dreamfolks Program | LoungeKey Program |
|
|
|
|
Other Credit Cards offering International Airport lounge access
| Card | Annual Fee | International Lounge Access |
| InterMiles HDFC Bank Diners Club Credit Card | Rs. 5,000 (plus applicable taxes) | Unlimited complimentary international lounge access. |
| HDFC Diners Club Privilege Credit Card | Rs. 2,500 (plus applicable taxes) | 12 complimentary international lounge access. |
| Club Vistara IndusInd Bank Explorer Credit Card | Rs. 10,000 (plus applicable taxes) | 16 complimentary international lounge access. |
| RBL Bank Insignia Preferred Banking World Card | NIL | 6 complimentary international lounge access. |
| Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card | Rs. 5,000 (plus applicable taxes) | 4 per annum with Silver Tier, 6 per annum with Gold Tier, and 12 per annum with Platinum Tier |
| Kotak White Credit Card | Rs. 3,000 (plus applicable taxes) | 4 complimentary international lounge access. |
| HSBC Premier MasterCard Credit Card | NIL | 2 complimentary international lounge access. |
| InterMiles ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card | Rs. 5,000 (plus applicable taxes) | 2 complimentary international lounge access. |
How To Apply For Credit Cards With Free Airport Lounge Access?
You can apply for an international airport lounge access card online or offline as per your convenience. The application process for these travel credit cards is very similar to that of other credit cards. To apply offline, simply visit your nearest bank’s branch and fill in the application form for credit card application. Take all the required documents, including Identity proof, income proof, address proof, etc, with you. If you want to apply for a credit card with international airport lounge access online, you will have to visit the card issuer’s official website and find & select the credit cards option. Then you can choose a credit card of your choice and fill in the online application form for it. You can also upload all the required documents online and track your application status.
Bottom Line
If you travel internationally very often, you must have one of the above credit cards so that you can avoid that noisy environment at the airport for free. Generally, it becomes costly when you access airport lounges through a lounge program’s membership and then you also have to pay for every lounge visit and that’s why airport lounge access provided by credit cards is among the most attractive benefits provided by credit cards. Before choosing one, it is advisable for you to compare all the cards wisely keeping the annual fees & other benefits in mind, and then apply for the one that suits you the best. Also, make sure to go through the terms and conditions of the card carefully as most of the cards offer complimentary airport lounge access to primary cardholders only so you may need to pay for others who are traveling with you. Or, you can get credit cards for airport lounge access that offer free access to supplementary cardholders and guests as well.
So, let us know which of these cards are you planning to apply for? If you already have one of these, do share your experience with us and other readers in the comment section below.
FAQs:
The credit cards offering the International airport lounge access facility are designed for those individuals who travel internationally more often. With this feature, cardholders can enjoy all the privileges of an international lounge.
There are many credit cards that offer the international lounge access feature. These cards not only provide international lounge access but also many other travel benefits and must be considered – Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card, HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card, and ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card.
Yes, the HSBC Premier Mastercard Credit Card, RBL Bank Insignia Preferred Banking World Card, and the IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card are the credit cards that come with no annual fee and provide complimentary access to international airport lounges.
If you exceed the no. of complimentary lounge access, then you will have to pay a usage fee of US $27 to visit an airport lounge.
No, you get the complimentary lounge access with the Standard Chartered Emirates World Credit Card only on spending Rs. 10,000 or more in the previous month.
Yes, currently only the HDFC Bank is issuing Diners Club Credit Cards in India.
Compare India’s most rewarding credit cards under one roof and pick the one that works for you the best.
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Update this new info –
RuPay JCB Select Credit card holders now also offer free International Airport lounge access from LoungeKey – https://www.loungekey.com/en/jcb11/
Already verified, RuPay JCB Select Credit card successfully registered for LoungeKey and after register yearly 4 Free International lounge access mentioned.
Interesting fact, if you have BOB RuPay JCB Premier credit card then access to 4 free international airport lounge visits in a year (for comparison, BOB Visa Premier credit card variant only gives you access to airport lounges in India).
RuPay JCB Platinum (Excellence) Credit Card holders also offer Free International lounge access, register link – https://www.loungekey.com/en/jcb12/
*At the time of registration, US$3.25 is withdrawn from your account, but it is refunded later.
*At the time of Debit or Credit card is swiped for lounge access, US$1.00 is withdrawn from your account, but it is refunded later.