Airport Lounge Access Rules Change in April: What Will Change For Credit Card, Debit Card Users?

Airport Lounge Access Rule Change: Credit card and debit card holders may witness several changes to airport lounge access benefits starting April 2026. With the beginning of the new financial year 2026-27, multiple Indian banks and card networks are set to revise lounge access rules on select debit and credit cards.

Here are the key changes that could come into effect for cardholders from April 1, 2026.

Airport Lounge Access Rules on RuPay Platinum Debit Cards

RuPay Platinum debit cardholders will no longer get airport lounge access from April 1, 2026. Following NPCI instructions to issuing banks, the cards will not offer any complimentary entry to domestic or international airport lounges, or to railway lounges. Punjab National Bank, HDFC Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank and ESAF Small Finance Bank have informed customers that the specific airport lounge access will not be available in the next financial year.

Airport Lounge Access Rules For RuPay Select Debit Cards

RuPay Select debit cards will keep offering airport lounge access, but only for cardholders that meet spending based conditions set by banks. As per the conditions, banks and other lenders will define a minimum spend in one quarter that unlocks complimentary lounge visits during the next period. This will give preference to customer who use their cards more often.

For example, Punjab Nationak Bank credit card users are required to spend at least Rs 5,000 in a quarter through point-of-sale or e-commerce transactions to qualify for domestic airport lounge access in the following quarter. If Rs 5,000 is spent between 1 January and 31 March, lounge visits will be allowed from 15 April to 14 July.

Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card Changes For Airpor Lounge

Axis Bank has updated its airport lounge access rules for the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card. From April 12, 2026, Axis Bank credit card users will no longer provide four complimentary domestic airport longe visits each year. Axis Bank is changing the broader reward structure at the same time.

As per the revised system, the 25 % cashback on Airtel mobile spends, broadband and DTH payments will be reduced at twice the base cashback earned in the same billing cycle. Card users can get up to 10% cashback on utility payments that will be capped at the same amount as the base cashback earned.

Cardholders will keep receiving 25% cashback on Airtel mobile, broadband and DTH payments made via the Airtel Thanks app, and 10% cashback on other utility payments using the same app, but the maximum amounts in these categories will now vary.