If you are a Jet Airways loyalist, these are testing times. Over the past few months, we have seen quite a few policy changes. From cuts in meals to unpopular baggage policies, things have been fluid. But the most significant change came last week, which was Jet Airways’ decision to withdraw complementary lounge access for JetPrivilege elite members from December 2018. With complimentary Jet Airways, lounge access stopped, your best bet to catch up on some work or a meal at an airport lounge depends on the plastic (or metal!) in your wallet.
For Jet Airways elites who don’t fly too often, the ICICI Bank Jet Airways Sapphiro credit card should be worth considering. The Visa variant gets you two complimentary lounge visits per quarter while the Amex variant gets you four visits every quarter. If you get both of them (the same price), you get 24 visits every year. Pretty much every major domestic and international lounge in India is covered when you pick up these cards. The card costs INR 5,000 for the first year and includes a free base-fee waived ticket code for Economy Class as well. As a JP Platinum, you get it free. Apply here
If you find yourself on a plane frequently, the Jet Airways American Express Platinum Credit Card will get you all the domestic lounge access you need. The card offers unlimited lounge visits to 11 lounges in 9 cities, including the Amex lounge in Delhi. The Jet Airways Amex Platinum has been my goto credit card when it comes to booking tickets on Jet Airways with 16 JPMiles/INR 150 on offer.
The card costs INR 5,000 for the first year, and gets you a free Economy Class ticket on Jet Airways as well. As a JP Platinum, you’ll also get it free. Apply here to get bonus JPMiles on your application.
What about airport lounges outside India? For one-off trips, LoungeBuddy should help you buy lounge access for a competitive price. Many credit cards out there offer complimentary membership to PriorityPass. Each visit should cost you under USD 40. For the globe-trotters, PriorityPass is running a promotion where you can get 25% off on the unlimited lounge visit membership through November 30, 2018. Of course, if you have a Citi Prestige or Amex Platinum charge card, you get unlimited lounge access around the world.
Bottomline
Jet Airways revoking lounge benefits for elites is not the end of the world. They still have a solid value proposition for flyers which Ajay has highlighted in his post.
How do you plan on accessing the airport lounge from December 1? Do share your tips with us below.
LOL, my basic ICICI Coral Debit Card got me lounge access at GVK Domestic Lounge, Mumbai T2.
Citi Premier Miles gets you GVK domestic access.
Really? I never heard that and was never informed at lounge too previously.
Read it on the Citi Premier Miles website. https://www.online.citibank.co.in/portal/newgen/cards/tab/jul15/PM-lounges-list.pdf
You need to hold the Visa variant for this though
Update : Seems to be a benefit of Visa Signature cards
Any of these gets you in GVK lounge in Mumbai? The Loyalty lounge in international departures is a dump. Even in Domestic, GVK is so much better than Travel Club!
See my comment above, your basic ICICI Coral debit card will give you access to GVK domestic lounge. Also, the Jet-AMEX card will give you free access to GVK.
The domestic GVK is giving access only for JetAirways customers with relevant credit cards. For AirIndia, Vistara without relevant status or flying Premium Cabin have to depend on Travel Club. The domestic Travel Club is actually decent lounge with same F&B menu as GVK. The sitting etc is spacious. Just that the lounge itself is smaller and slightly darker as unlike GVK. GVK faces tarmac so gets lot of direct Sunlight