Premium Credit Card holders might have something to cheer for in the coming days. After witnessing queues across India at various airport lounges and banks paying through their nose for the complimentary lounge access of customers, banks have started taking measures to rein in the costs that went through the roof and, in the process, make lounge access exclusive for their premium customers again.

HDFC Bank notifies withdrawal of lounge access on Regalia First Credit Cards effective December 1, 2023

According to communication being rolled out to customers, Complimentary lounge access at lounges within and outside India can no longer be used on Regalia First Card as of December 1, 2023.

For comparison, the Regalia First offers eight complimentary access per calendar year within India (both domestic and international terminals) using Visa / MasterCard Regalia First Credit Card (till November 30, 2023) and via a Priority Pass, three complimentary access outside India (per calendar year).

HDFC Bank notifies quarterly milestone of INR 1 Lakh to avail two domestic lounge access vouchers on Regalia Credit Cards effective December 1, 2023

As per a communication being rolled out to customers, lounge access for Regalia Credit Card will be as follows:

• Spend INR 1 Lakh or more in a calendar quarter (Jan-Mar | Apr-June | Jul-Sept | Oct-Dec)
• On meeting the spending criteria, visit the Regalia SmartBuy page >> Lounge Benefits >> Lounge access voucher to generate up to two lounge access vouchers quarterly.
• These vouchers will be useful to access lounges in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Cochin and Pune.

For comparison, the Regalia offers 12 complimentary access per calendar year within India (both domestic and international terminals) using Visa / MasterCard Regalia Credit Card (till November 30, 2023).

International Lounge Access with the Priority Pass issued will continue to offer six visits to lounges outside India in a calendar year.

HDFC Bank notifies quarterly milestone of INR 1 Lakh to avail one domestic lounge access voucher on Millenia Credit Cards effective December 1, 2023

HDFC Bank had withdrawn (temporarily) Lounge Access on the Millenia Credit Card effective October 1, 2023. Before that, the card provided two lounge trips per calendar quarter at domestic lounges.

As per a communication being rolled out to customers, lounge access for Millenia Credit Card will be as follows:

• Spend INR 1 Lakh or more in a calendar quarter (Jan-Mar | Apr-June | Jul-Sept | Oct-Dec)
• On meeting the spending criteria, visit the Regalia SmartBuy page >> Lounge Benefits >> Lounge access voucher to generate up to two lounge access vouchers quarterly.
• These vouchers will be useful to access lounges in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Cochin and Pune.

Bottomline

HDFC Bank Credit Cards has withdrawn domestic lounge access on their Regalia First Credit Card. They put an INR 1 Lakh Milestone spend per calendar quarter to offer limited lounge access on the Regalia and Millenia Credit Cards. This is arguably a method to control costs or activate cards, which are usually issued lifetime free and used by customers only for complimentary lounge access, not benefiting the bank (but only the customers)

What do you make of the limitations placed by HDFC Bank Credit Cards for Lounge Access?

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