Best Credit Cards with Airport Lounge Access in India (2026): Comparison of Features and Charges

The Wise Travel card lets you hold 40+ currencies and spend at the interbank exchange rate with no forex markups or hidden fees - now available to order for free (Limited time offer, while stocks last).

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Using a lounge when you fly is a good way to relax and start your trip in style. Some airport lounge access credit cards offer generous benefits for both local and overseas airport lounges, ideal for work travel and for kicking off your leisure trips in comfort. So which credit card has lounge access options with low fees and great additional perks? Let's explore. We'll also introduce you to the Wise Travel card, which allows you to hold 40+ currencies in on card and spend without any forex markups or hidden fees.

Table of Contents

What are credit cards with lounge access? How to get lounge access with credit card Key factors in choosing a credit card for lounge access Compare best lounge access credit cards in India Axis Atlas Credit Card SBI Card Miles Elite Ixigo AU Credit Card HDFC Millennia credit card ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card Federal Bank Scapia Credit Card IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card Summary: Which credit card is best for lounge access? Meet the Wise Travel card: 40+ currencies in one card, with no forex markups or hidden fees

What are credit cards with lounge access?

Credit cards with lounge access allow card holders to visit selected airport lounges with no fee. The number of entries available annually varies a lot depending on the card you pick.

Lounges may be domestic or international and visits may be subject to meeting various requirements including minimum spending. Annual fees often apply to these premium card types - but we do have some good options for a free credit card with lounge access coming up too, if that’s what you’re looking for.

How to get lounge access with credit card

Once you have a lounge access credit card you’ll need to check the details of lounge entry as these can vary by card. In some cases you’ll simply need to show or swipe your card on entry to the lounge. In other cases you’ll be issued a different membership card, such as a digital membership for Priority Pass, and you’ll need to use this to enter the lounge instead.

Key factors in choosing a credit card for lounge access

Getting lounge access is a great perk. But it’s not the only thing to look at when picking a card. Also consider:

• Your card’s annual fees - this is usually unavoidable even if you don’t use your card frequently
• Any foreign transaction fee - which can push up overseas spending by up to 3.5%
• The exchange rate available - if you’ll be using your card overseas you need to know the rate applied for foreign spending as this can also mean your costs are higher than expected, look out for the interbank rate
• Other perks offered - some cards have extra rewards, cash back, insurance and bonus gifts

For overseas spending and to minimise the costs of currency conversion you may be better off using an international debit card from a provider like Wise instead. The Wise Travel card offers interbank currency conversion with no forex markups and low, transparent fees.

Compare best lounge access credit cards in India

Here’s a comparison to help you decide which credit card is best for lounge access. There’s more on each option right after the table.

Card	Eligibility	Annual fee	Lounge access	Forex fee and rate	Other perks
Axis Atlas Credit Card¹	18 to 70 years Annual income of 1,200,000 INR for salaried, or 1,500,000 INR for self employed Resident of India	5,000 INR	4 - 12 entries to international lounges, 8 - 18 for domestic (minimum spend applies²)	3.5%³	5 miles per 100 INR on travel spending, 2 on other spending, tiered card categories with different perks
SBI Card Miles Elite⁴	Check eligibility when you apply online	4,999 INR	6 annual entries to international lounges through Priority Pass, 8 annual entries to domestic lounges	1.99%⁵	6 miles per 200 INR on travel spending, 2 on other spending, milestone and welcome gifts
Ixigo AU Credit Card⁶	21 to 60 years Resident of India Registered user of an Ixigo app	No joining or yearly fee for limited period only	16 railway and domestic airport lounges and 1 international airport lounge entry annually	No forex markup, rate set by card network	Discounts on flights, buses and hotel bookings made via Ixigo, reward earning
HDFC Millennia credit card⁷	21 to 40 years Gross Monthly Income over 35,000 INR for salaries, or 600,000 INR annually for self employed	1,000 INR⁸	8 lounge entries annually - more details on application	Not specified	Cashback on different spending types, additional bonus payments as you spend
ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card⁹	Indian citizen over 21 Monthly income of 75,000 INR for salaried Annual income of 900,000 INR for self employed	3,500 INR	2 annual entries to international lounges, 4 annual entries to domestic lounges	3.5%	Welcome vouchers and rewards on spending, based on spend type
Federal Bank Scapia Credit Card¹⁰	21 to 65 years for salaried, or 25 to 65 for self employed Resident Indian citizen	No joining or yearly fee	Unlimited domestic lounge access with minimum spend of 10,000 INR to 15,000 INR monthly	No forex markup, rate set by card network¹¹	Earn rewards as you spend, 5% or 10% cash back options
IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card¹²	Check eligibility when you apply online	No joining or yearly fee	2 domestic Lounge entries in a quarter and 2 international lounge entries annually via Priority Pass	1.5%¹³	Reward earnings, with golf privileges and complimentary movie tickets

*Details correct at time of research - 5th February 2026

Axis Atlas Credit Card

Best for: Tiered card types including some with very high annual lounge entries

The Axis Atlas Credit Card offers up to a maximum of 12 entries to international lounges, and 18 for domestic, although there are quarterly spending requirements for any domestic lounge access. Cards offer additional reward earning options - but high annual income requirements are in place.

Lounge access: 4 - 12 entries to international lounges, 8 - 18 for domestic, depending on card tier you hold. Domestic lounge access is subject to a minimum spend of 50,000 INR in the previous 3 calendar months.

Main features and fees:

• Annual income of 1,200,000 INR for salaried, or 1,500,000 INR for self employed
• 5,000 INR annual fee
• 3.5% foreign transaction fee
• 5 miles per 100 INR spend on travel spending, 2 on other spending

SBI Card Miles Elite

Best for: Good reward earning with high total annual lounge entries in both domestic and international lounges

The SBI Card Miles Elite is one of the most generous options for lounge entries, with 6 entries to international lounges and 8 to domestic lounges. Annual fees are quite high, and you can expect additional eligibility requirements to apply when you submit your card request.

Lounge access: 6 annual entries to international lounges through Priority Pass, 8 annual entries to domestic lounges

Main features and fees:

• 4,999 INR annual fee
• 1.99% foreign transaction fee when you travel
• 6 miles per 200 INR on travel spending, 2 on other spending
• Additional milestone and welcome gifts

Ixigo AU Credit Card

Best for: Generous annual lounge access in India including railway lounges

The Ixigo AU Credit Card is a reward earning card which also has discounts on flights, buses and hotel bookings made via Ixigo, with no joining or yearly fee at the time of research. Lounge access focuses on domestic use with annual visits to domestic airport and railway lounges featuring heavily.

Lounge access: 16 railway and domestic airport lounges and 1 international airport lounge entry annually

Main features and fees:

• No joining or yearly fee for limited period only - joining fee will be 999 INR, annual fee will be 999 INR once reinstated
• Discounts on flights, buses and hotel bookings made via Ixigo
• Reward earning card based on your spending
• No forex markup, rate set by card network

HDFC Millennia credit card

Best for: Redeeming points for miles, and getting 8x lounge entries when you travel

The HDFC Millennia credit card has various different reward earning mechanisms on top of up to 8 entries to airport lounges annually. There’s a low annual fee which can make this a good option for customers looking for a card for occasional use.

Lounge access: 8 lounge entries annually - more details on application

Main features and fees:

• 1,000 INR annual fee
• Cashback on different spending types
• Additional bonus payments as you spend
• Cash points can be redeemed for airmiles - they expire annually

ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card

Best for: Generous welcome offers with up to 6 annual lounge entries

The ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card has a 6,500 INR joining fee which is then followed by a 3,500 INR annual fee after the first year. The card has rewards as you spend as well as welcome vouchers for spending. Lounge access is moderate, and there’s a fairly high foreign transaction fee which may mean this is better for domestic use.

Lounge access: 2 annual entries to international lounges, 4 annual entries to domestic lounges

Main features and fees:

• 3,500 INR annual fee, additional joining fee applies
• 3.5% foreign transaction fee
• Welcome vouchers from from Tata CLiQ, EazyDiner, Da Milano, EaseMyTrip & Tata Croma
• Rewards on spending, based on spend type, up to 4 points per 100 INR spend

Federal Bank Scapia Credit Card

Best for: High card spenders looking for domestic lounge access options

The Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card has no joining or yearly fee, and offers domestic lounge access on an unlimited basis with a minimum spend set by the network the card is issued on. The card also lets you earn rewards as you spend which you can then switch for flights, hotels and bus journeys.

Lounge access: Unlimited domestic lounge access with minimum spend of 10,000 INR to 15,000 INR monthly

Main features and fees:

• No joining or yearly fee
• No forex markup, rate set by card network
• Earn rewards as you spend, 5% or 10% cash back options
• Redeem rewards for flights, hotels and bus journeys on the Scapia app

IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card

Best for: Golf privileges, with no annual fees to pay and up to 4 annual lounge entries

The IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card movies you one complimentary game or lesson of golf quarterly, and although the lounge entries provided are not frequent, there’s no annual fee. This can still make it an attractive option for people prioritising low ongoing fees.

Lounge access: 2 domestic Lounge entries in a quarter and 2 international lounge entries annually via Priority Pass

Main features and fees:

• No joining or yearly fee
• 1.5% foreign transaction fee
• Reward earnings up to 6 points per 100 INR spent
• Access golf privileges and complimentary movie tickets

Summary: Which credit card is best for lounge access?

To choose the credit card that’s best for lounge access you’ll need to compare a few options looking at lounge options as well as annual fees, eligibility rules and other perks available. There’s not one single best card - so shopping around can be a good way to get the best deal for your unique needs.

When deciding on the right card for your needs, it is also worth considering a companion card to optimise your international costs. While credit cards are great for perks like lounge access, they often charge foreign transaction fees and uses marked up exchange rates. To avoid this, you can bring along a Wise Travel card. It allows you to spend abroad at the interbank rate with no markups, effectively cutting the hidden costs of your international spending while you save your credit card for your lounge access.

Meet the Wise Travel card: 40+ currencies in one card, with no forex markups or hidden fees

With no hidden markups, the Wise Travel card is a smart way to spend abroad. You'll always get the real interbank exchange rate for conversions across 40+ currencies. Wise's transparent, low pricing, plus no foreign transaction fees or forex markups, usually means you are getting the best value for your money.

The fully digital account opening and vKYC process allows you to sign up from the comfort of your home, and there are no annual or monthly fees either. Simply order your card, show proof of your travels, load your funds, and you're all set. Plus - card orders are currently free to Indian addresses (limited time launch offer, while stocks last)! A physical Wise card enables you to make secure chip and PIN payments and get some free ATM withdrawals while you're overseas. You can also instantly freeze or unfreeze your card in the app anytime for peace of mind.

Wherever your travels take you, the Wise Travel card is the only forex card you'll need to make spending internationally simpler and cheaper.

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Sources:

1. Axis Atlas Credit Card
2. Axis domestic lounge terms
3. Axis card terms
4. SBI Card Miles Elite
5. SBI card terms
6. Ixigo AU Credit Card
7. HDFC Millennia credit card
8. HDFC Millennia FAQ
9. ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card
10. Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card
11. Scapia/Fedbank card terms
12. IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card
13. IndusInd card terms