Top 5 debit cards offering complimentary airport lounge access in India: After banks saw a growing demand for credit cards offering complimentary lounge access at airports in India and abroad by Indian users, they started offering the key facility for travelers on their select debit cards also, along with other important benefits like cashback, air accident insurance coverage and fuel surcharge waiver.
So gone are the days when you had to rely on premium credit cards to use the airport lounge access facility, as now almost all major banks have some debit cards, though with some annual charges, offering this service to users.
Remember, the entry charge of the airport lounge can sometimes be more than ₹ 1,000 for just an hour or so. Now imagine if this much expense is added to the travel cost, then how costly your journey will be every time. So considering this, you can opt for a debit card with complimentary airport lounge access if you are a frequent traveller.
But before you get a debit card offering complimentary lounge access, you should check with your bank about the charges associated with it. Some of these cards have a nominal annual fee, while some might offer this facility absolutely free of cost.
So if you travel by flight quite frequently in India or internationally, then get a good debit card for you. This will give you the comfort of lounge access and also help you save a lot of money.
But wait, first check with your bank to understand if the debit card linked to your existing bank account has this facility or not. So the next time you are at the airport, instead of the crowded waiting area, you can relax in the lounge area having a cup of tea or coffee.
Also read: Top 5 credit cards for airport lounge access in India and abroad
Based on data from BankBazaar, we have compiled a list of 5 debit cards that offer the best benefits in May 2025 — in terms of free lounge entry at airports in the country.
Top 5 debit cards that offer free airport lounge access in May 2025
1. HDFC Millennia Debit Card
Lounge access: 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year (1 per quarter); Minimum spend of ₹5,000 in the previous quarter to unlock lounge access
Annual Fee: ₹500 + GST
Cashback benefits: Up to ₹4,800 cashback annually – 5% on SmartBuy/PayZapp, 2.5% on online spends, and 1% on offline spends.
Insurance Cover: Personal accident insurance up to ₹10 lakh + international air accident cover of ₹1 crore
2. InterMiles HDFC Signature Debit Card
Lounge access: Enjoy 5 complimentary international lounge visits annually through Priority Pass membership; Access select domestic lounges through the MasterCard Lounge Program.
Annual fee: ₹2,500; Waived upon spending ₹3 lakh or more in the preceding year.
Welcome benefit: Earn 8,000 InterMiles as a welcome bonus and complimentary InterMiles Silver Membership.
InterMiles benefit: Earn up to 12 InterMiles per ₹150 spent on flight and hotel bookings; Enjoy 2.5X bonus InterMiles for Etihad Airways tickets booked on the InterMiles website.
Additional benefits: Fuel surcharge waiver of up to ₹500 per billing cycle
3. ICICI Bank Sapphiro Debit Card
Lounge access: Enjoy 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per quarter on minimum spend of ₹5,000 in the previous quarter.
Annual/joining fee: ₹1,999 + GST
Rewards: Earn 4x points per ₹200 on domestic and 8 points on international spends.
High limits: Domestic purchase limit of ₹7.5 lakh/day and ATM withdrawal up to ₹1.5 lakh/day. International purchase and ATM limits are ₹3.5 lakh and ₹2 lakh per day respectively.
Lifestyle benefits: Movie discounts (BookMyShow, INOX), dining offers via ICICI Culinary Treats, roadside assistance, and complimentary card protection plan with emergency services.
Also read: Top 5 credit cards for airport lounge access in India and abroad
4. Axis Bank Burgundy Debit Card
Lounge access: 12 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits annually (1 per month) on minimum spend of ₹5,000 in the previous quarter.
Annual fee: Nil for Burgundy account holders.
Perks: Dining discounts up to ₹1,000 via EazyDiner; exclusive lifestyle offers.
High limits: Daily ATM withdrawal limit of ₹3 lakh and purchase limit of ₹6 lakh.
5. SBI Platinum International Debit Card
Lounge access: Complimentary access to select domestic airport lounges
Activation and milestone bonuses: Earn up to 300 bonus points upon activation and 1,000 milestone points for every ₹1 lakh spent in a financial year.
SBI Rewardz Program: Earn 2 Reward Points per ₹200 spent on various categories
Perks: Earn double reward points during your birthday month and on international spends.
(Data source: BankBazaar)
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