New Lounge Access Policy for HDFC Credit Card Users Starts June 10

In a move that matters to credit card users in India, HDFC Bank has changed its access policy for lounges, providing benefits mainly to users of Tata Neu co-branded cards. Thousands of cardholders who use their HDFC credit card to access airport lounges for free will be affected by these changes, which go into effect from June 10, 2025.

We’ll analyze the changes, explain why they happen and tell you what you need to understand to continue getting the same benefits.

What Are The Recent Developments In Lounges Access Policies?

HDFC credit card users, mainly those with the Tata Neu HDFC Bank Credit Card and Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card, were able to use airport lounges by simply touching their card at the gate. It was given automatically and you did not have to meet a minimum spend requirement.

Lounge membership will now only be considered when certain spending has been met in the previous three months. People with the credit card will get lounge coupons provided they meet the required spending amount.

The following are the new rules to be eligible:

To get a domestic lounge access voucher, you must spend at least ₹50,000 with your Tata Neu HDFC Bank Credit Card in the previous quarter.

Those with the Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card should spend at least ₹50,000 in a quarter to be given 2 complimentary lounge access vouchers.

The system will always look at the previous period, so for vouchers in July–September, your spend from April–June will influence whether you’ll get vouchers.

What Will Be the Process of the New Voucher System?

When the required spend is made in a quarter, HDFC Bank will let the cardholder know. In the communication, a lounge access voucher will be sent which they need to use to enter the airport lounge. You have 120 days to use the voucher after it is given to you.

Nowadays, even if your card used to let you swipe directly at the counter for the lounge, you cannot use this method anymore. People who do not spend enough may have to make a payment at the lounge or use some other way to access the space.

What Is the Reason for HDFC Bank’s New Guidelines?

For the most part, this happens for two key reasons:

By connecting the lounge service to how much a cardholder spends on their HDFC credit card, banks seek to get cardholders to use it frequently.

This benefit for cardholders is something banks pay for. Selective distribution based on account activity lets the bank manage its expenses and give better benefits to important customers.

Many credit card issuers are now restricting benefits and relating them to things customers do with their cards.

Effects on Owners of HDFC Credit Cards

People who shop a lot will hardly notice this change. People who usually use their HDFC credit card for transactions and spend over ₹50,000 in three months can still use their lounge benefits, although they will get a voucher rather than direct entry.

Lounge access every now and then, without huge spending, was important to some users. People who only used a card occasionally for traveling will now have to start spending more or do without the special lounge.

Also, users now must pay more attention to tracking their expenses, receiving the voucher and using it on time which is slightly trickier than just using the card before.

What Is the Next Logical Step?

These are some ways to keep yourself up to date with changes:

Regularly check how much you have spent with your HDFC credit card for each quarter.

Be sure to check your messages from HDFC Bank which will tell you when you are eligible for a voucher and how to get it. Review your emails or the application on your phone regularly.

Make sure to purchase your item with the voucher within 120 days.

Check out different credit cards: Should you not prefer this policy, you could try those that have lounge access at all times or all over the world instead.

Final Thoughts

HDFC Bank’s new lounge access policy coming into effect was expected. Because more people use the extra perks, banks are considering new approaches to making them last. From the new rules that come into effect on June 10, 2025, you’ll have to use your HDFC credit card with more care to continue using airport lounges.