HDFC Bank has rolled out new rules for complimentary airport lounge access on its debit cards, effective January 10, 2026. The updated system replaces traditional card swipes with digital vouchers, and also increases the minimum spending requirement for most users.
Digital Vouchers Replace Physical Card Swipes
Until now, eligible customers could walk into airport lounges by simply swiping their debit card. With the new policy, lounge entry will only be allowed through digital vouchers.
Here’s how it works:
- HDFC Bank will verify if a cardholder meets the spending criteria.
- Once eligible, users will receive an SMS or email containing a link to claim their voucher.
- After completing OTP verification via their registered mobile number, a voucher code or QR code will be generated.
- This code must be presented at the lounge for entry.
Higher Spend Requirement for Most Debit Cards
HDFC Bank has doubled the minimum spend needed for lounge access:
- New requirement: ₹10,000 per quarter
- Earlier requirement: ₹5,000 per quarter
This spending can be done in one or multiple transactions, across online or offline purchases.
Exemption:
The Infiniti Debit Card continues to offer lounge access without any minimum spend requirement.
Free Lounge Visits (Unchanged)
The number of complimentary visits remains the same for each card type:
- Millennia Debit Card: 1 per quarter
- Platinum Debit Card: 2 per quarter
- Times Points Debit Card: 1 per quarter
- Business Debit Card: 2 per quarter
- GIGA Debit Card: 1 per quarter
- Infiniti Debit Card: 4 per quarter
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Transactions That Don’t Count Toward the Spend Requirement
Only purchase transactions add to the ₹10,000 quarterly total. Exclusions include:
- ATM cash withdrawals
- Payments made towards credit card bills using a debit card.
- Debit card EMI transactions
- UPI (or) wallet payments (GPay,etc.)
New debit cardholders will also have to meet the ₹10,000 spend threshold before becoming eligible.
Voucher Validity and Lounge Conditions
Once generated, a voucher remains valid until the end of the next calendar quarter.
Examples:
- Voucher generated on Nov 15, 2025 → valid till Mar 31, 2026
- Voucher generated on Jan 10, 2026 → valid till Jun 30, 2026
Lounge entry will continue on a first-come, first-served basis. Lounges may also impose time limits (typically 2–3 hours) or deny access due to operational or regulatory reasons.
What This Means for Customers
The updated lounge access system encourages higher spending and shifts fully to digital verification. Cardholders who frequently use complimentary lounge access should:
- Keep track of their quarterly spending
- Remember that physical card swipes won’t be accepted anymore
- Ensure they claim and carry the digital voucher before travel
With these changes, staying eligible for lounge access will require more planning. However, the overall benefits remain intact for regular spenders.
Offical : faq-asked-questions.pdf
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