HDFC Bank Changes Debit Card Lounge Access Rules From Today: What Cardholders Must Know

Last Updated:January 10, 2026, 14:26 IST

HDFC Bank now offers airport lounge access via digital vouchers for debit cards, with a doubled Rs 10,000 quarterly spend. Physical card swipes are discontinued.

HDFC Bank Doubles Spend Requirement for Complimentary Lounge Access

HDFC Bank Airport Lounge Access Rules 2026: HDFC Bank has revised the rules for complimentary airport lounge access on its debit cards, shifting to a voucher-based access system and increasing the minimum spending requirement. The changes have come into effect from today, January 10.

Until now, eligible debit cardholders could enter airport lounges by swiping their physical card. Under the new system, lounge access will be granted only through digital vouchers, issued to customers who meet the spending criteria.

Once eligibility is confirmed, the bank will send an SMS or email with a link to claim the voucher. Customers will need to complete OTP verification using their registered mobile number. After successful verification, a voucher code or QR code will be issued, which must be shown at the lounge for entry.

Minimum Spend Doubled For Most Cards

HDFC Bank has doubled the quarterly spend requirement for complimentary lounge access on most debit cards.

Customers must now spend Rs 10,000 or more per calendar quarter from Rs 5,000 earlier. The spend can be through single or multiple transactions, online or offline. The revised spending condition does not apply to the Infiniti Debit Card, which continues to offer lounge access without any minimum spend.

Complimentary Lounge Visits Remain Unchanged

The number of free lounge visits will continue to depend on the debit card variant:

Millennia Debit Card: 1 visit per quarter

Platinum Debit Card: 2 visits per quarter

Times Points Debit Card: 1 visit per quarter

Business Debit Card: 2 visits per quarter

GIGA Debit Card: 1 visit per quarter

Infiniti Debit Card: 4 visits per quarter

Only purchase transactions made using the debit card will count toward the quarterly spend. The following are excluded, Moneycontrol noted:

ATM Cash Withdrawals

• UPI or wallet payments (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, etc.)
• Credit card bill payments via debit card
• Debit card EMI transactions
• New debit cardholders will also need to meet the Rs 10,000 spend threshold to become eligible.

Voucher Validity And Lounge Rules

Once issued, lounge vouchers will remain valid until the end of the next calendar quarter.

For instance:

Voucher generated on November 15, 2025 → valid till March 31, 2026

Voucher generated on January 10, 2026 → valid till June 30, 2026

Lounge access will continue on a first-come, first-served basis, with lounges retaining the right to impose stay limits—typically two to three hours—or deny entry due to operational, safety or regulatory reasons.

What this means For Customers

HDFC Bank’s updated lounge access programme places greater emphasis on higher card usage and digital verification. Customers who rely on complimentary lounge benefits will need to closely track their quarterly spending and note that physical debit card swipes will no longer work from January 10.

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