How to Get Access to the Best Airport Lounges

Like most other countries globally, India has seen a surge in "revenge travel" over the last year as the Covid-induced pandemic ebbed. With many families joining the traffic surge, besides the usual corporate passengers, airport lounges are seeing long queues at their entry gates. Some estimates suggest as many as 8.5 million passengers visited lounges in India in 2022-23, up from 3.5 million the year before. That is a significant jump in numbers.

But how does one get access to some of the best airport lounges in the country? What are the important things to keep in mind? Are there new rules that one must be aware of before landing at an airport lounge? Here are some key points to remember:
 

Airline Loyalty Programs

• In-House Programmes: Most full-service airlines offer loyalty programmes where the more you fly, the higher the chances of getting into their lounges. Typically, you earn miles for flying with the airline, and as you accumulate these miles, you advance to higher tiers with more perks. Business class (and sometimes premium economy) flyers often get more lounge access too. Many airlines also have dedicated lounges, providing a quieter area for passengers.
   

Credit Cards

• Free Access: The easiest way to get into an airline lounge is by holding a credit card. Many mid-to-high-tier credit cards provide free lounge entry. This surge in lounge visits is partly due to banks heavily promoting their credit card products. However, such entry is often capped at around one or two visits per quarter. Some debit cards also offer this benefit.
   

Membership Passes

• Global Passes: There are global passes that function like membership programs, offering access to lounges worldwide at a certain price. These passes are sometimes offered complementary or with a small additional fee with some high-end credit cards.
   

Pay-Per-Use Lounges

• Fee-Based Access: You can pay and gain entry into a lounge, especially if you are flying low-cost airlines that offer this as an add-on when booking the ticket. The service typically costs around Rs 600-1000 for domestic lounges and Rs 1400-2500 for international lounges.
   

Overcrowding and Restrictions

• Cautious Access: With the rise in lounge traffic, banks and airport lounges have become more cautious about lounge access on credit cards to prevent misuse. Lounges may feel less premium due to overcrowding, and passengers sometimes complain about the behavior of other guests. The cost for banks to grant you lounge access is typically around Rs 800-1500. If passengers use this benefit too frequently without spending much on their credit cards, it can be unprofitable for banks. Banks earn 1%-3% on the transactions made with credit cards, which funds perks like lounge access. Due to this, banks have started placing conditions on lounge access or eliminating it on some cards.
   

Read the Fine Print

• Primary Cardholder: Ensure you are the primary cardholder (not a supplementary one) and carry a government ID matching the cardholder’s name. Lounges have started refusing entry for mismatches and those using a family member’s card.
• Updated Conditions: Read the fine print on your bank’s website for any changes made over the last year. Some banks no longer offer this free facility, while others may require you to spend a certain amount in the previous quarter to enjoy this perk.
  Avoid Embarrassment
• Premium Credit Cards: The best way to enjoy lounge access, if you travel frequently, is to get a premium credit card with fees starting from Rs 15,000 to Rs 1.5 lakhs. These cards typically come without strings attached and may offer lounge access for your near and dear ones. Cards with annual fees of Rs 50,000 or more might also have their own lounges, which are more peaceful with better cuisine and superior service.
   

A final pro-tip: load all your expenses on this premium card to maximize the value of the fees paid. Choose an issuing bank with a long legacy, as the chances of it changing terms and conditions are less than a newer issuer offering temporary incentives.