Best Lounge Access
Most airport lounge visits with Priority Pass given highest weight. Value for Money adjusted with VFM^1.5 multiplier.
144 cards ranked | Updated December 2025
Key Ranking Factors
Annual lounge visits
Priority Pass vs domestic
Domestic + International
Companion visits
Unlimited
HDFC Diners Club Black
Unlimited
Unlimited
HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition
Unlimited
American Express Centurion
Unlimited
HDFC BizBlack
Unlimited
0 visits/yr
Priority Visa Infinite
4 visits/yr
HDFC Infinia Metal Edition
Unlimited
0 visits/yr
Emirates Skywards ICICI Emeralde
Unlimited
Federal Bank Scapia
Unlimited
BOBCARD Eterna Credit Card
Unlimited
American Express Platinum
Unlimited
Axis Bank Reserve
Unlimited
Premier Mastercard
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
IDFC FIRST Private
Unlimited
Emirates World Credit Card
Unlimited
Unlimited
YES First Exclusive
8 visits/yr
2 visits/yr
AU Ixigo Credit Card
5 visits/yr
American Express Platinum Charge
0 visits/yr
Times Black ICICI Bank
Unlimited
Canara Bank Mastercard World Credit Card
5 visits/yr
16 visits/yr
Axis Bank Vistara Infinite
8 visits/yr
PNB RuPay Select Credit Card
5 visits/yr
Canara Bank RuPay Select Credit Card
5 visits/yr
PNB Rakshak Plus RuPay Select
5 visits/yr
Union Bank RuPay Select Credit Card
5 visits/yr
HDFC Regalia Gold
12 visits/yr
Tiger Credit Card
4 visits/yr
Mastercard Celesta
4 visits/yr
4 visits/yr
PNB Pride RuPay Platinum
3 visits/yr
2 visits/yr
8 visits/yr
Unlimited
Avios Visa Infinite (British Airways)
2 visits/yr
Zomato Edition Black
2 visits/yr
About Lounge Rankings
Airport lounge access is one of the most tangible credit card benefits. A single lounge visit costs ₹2,000-3,000 if purchased separately. Cards with unlimited access can deliver ₹20,000+ in annual value for frequent flyers.
We apply a stronger VFM weight (^1.5) here because lounge access on a free card is exceptionally valuable.
How We Rank Lounge Access
Lounge types are weighted by network value:
- Priority Pass (10x): 1,300+ lounges globally, most valuable
- International networks (7x): Visa/Mastercard lounge programs
- Dreamfolks (4x): 74 domestic lounges across India
- Domestic programs (3x): Bank-specific domestic access
Complimentary visits count 1.5x more than paid visits. Guest access adds extra value.
Annual Visits
More is betterPriority Pass
Highly valuedWhat Makes Great Lounge Access
- Unlimited domestic: Ideal for frequent domestic flyers
- Priority Pass: Essential for international travelers
- Guest access: Bringing family/friends adds value
- No spend requirements: Some cards require minimum spend for access
Who Needs Lounge Access
- Frequent flyers (10+ trips annually)
- International travelers needing global access
- Business travelers with long layovers
- Anyone who values airport comfort
Maximizing Lounge Access
- Check lounge availability: Not all airports have lounges for all programs
- Understand limits: "Unlimited" sometimes has fair usage policies
- Book guest visits: Guest access often has separate limits
- Stack with airline status: Combine card lounges with airline lounges
Lounge Access FAQ
What's Priority Pass and why does it matter?
Priority Pass is the world's largest independent lounge network with 1,300+ lounges in 600+ cities globally. Domestic programs don't work abroad—Priority Pass is essential for international travelers.
How much is lounge access actually worth?
Individual lounge access costs ₹2,000-4,000 per visit. For someone flying 20 times annually, unlimited access saves ₹40,000-80,000—often more than the card's annual fee.
Bottom Line
Lounge access delivers real, quantifiable value for frequent travelers. Calculate your trips and multiply by ₹2,500/visit to determine if premium lounge cards are worth their fees for you.