Airport lounge access was once a luxury reserved for business class travellers. Today, it is one of the first things people check before picking a credit card. With air travel growing steadily across India, more cardholders want a comfortable place to sit, eat, and wait, and banks have responded accordingly.
Lounge benefits vary widely across cards. Some offer basic domestic access with no annual fee. Others cover international terminals and come with quarterly caps and minimum spend conditions, typically suited to frequent flyers.
How lounge access works on these cards
Lounge benefits are managed through partner networks such as DreamFolks and EliteAssist. Cardholders are required to spend a minimum of ₹20,000 in the preceding calendar month to activate lounge access for the following month. Unused visits lapse at the end of each quarter.
Comparing lounge access by card type
Lifetime-free option: FIRST Select Credit Card
The FIRST Select Credit Card carries no joining or annual fee. It offers 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit per quarter. International lounge access is not included. It is one of the best credit cards for airport lounge access at the no-cost entry point.
Other benefits include:
- 4 complimentary railway lounge visits per quarter.
- 10X reward points on Dining, Travel, and International spends from the first transaction
- Up to ₹10,000 free trip cancellation cover.
- Comprehensive travel insurance covering loss of baggage, baggage delay, passport loss, and flight delay.
- Forex markup of 1.99% on international transactions.
Individuals who wish to apply for credit card at this tier can visit the FIRST Select product page on the IDFC FIRST Bank website and complete the online application with the required documents and details.
Paid option: Ashva Credit Card
The Ashva is a Visa Infinite metal card with an annual fee of ₹2,999, offering a wider range of lounge and travel benefits.
Lounge access includes:
- 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits.
- 2 complimentary international airport lounge visits per quarter.
- 4 complimentary railway lounge visits per quarter.
Other benefits include:
- 50X bonus reward points on hotel bookings and 30X on flight bookings via the ‘Travel and Shop’ section on the IDFC FIRST Bank mobile app.
- Trip cancellation cover of up to ₹25,000 a year.
- Air accident cover of ₹1 crore, personal accident cover of ₹10 lakh, and lost card liability cover of ₹50,000.
- Comprehensive travel insurance covering loss of baggage, baggage delay, passport loss, and flight delay.
- Visa Infinite privileges, including complimentary airport meet and greet once a year, limousine transfer discounts across 83 countries, and access to 900-plus luxury hotels with premium benefits.
- Forex markup of 1% on international transactions.
Those who wish to proceed with credit card apply process at this tier can visit the Ashva product page on the IDFC FIRST Bank website and complete the online application with the required documents and details.
Premium paid option: Mayura Credit Card
The Mayura is a premium metal card available on both Mastercard World and Visa Infinite network variants, with an annual fee of ₹5,999. It carries the highest lounge entitlement among the non-invite-only cards in this range.
Lounge access includes:
- 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per quarter.
- 4 complimentary international airport lounge visits per quarter.
- 4 complimentary railway lounge visits per quarter.
Other benefits include:
- 50X bonus reward points on hotel bookings and 30X on flight bookings via the ‘Travel and Shop’ section on the IDFC FIRST Bank mobile app.
- Up to 2 complimentary golf rounds or lessons per month on spending ₹20,000 in the previous statement cycle.
- Trip cancellation cover of up to ₹50,000.
- Air accident cover of ₹1 crore, personal accident cover of ₹10 lakh, and lost card liability cover of ₹50,000.
- Comprehensive travel insurance covering loss of baggage, baggage delay, passport loss, and flight delay.
- Mastercard World privileges, including access to 350 + fine-dine restaurants via the Mastercard Culinary Club, 50% off on golf across select APAC countries, and a complimentary 1-year Little Emperors Travel Tier membership worth £299.
- Visa Infinite privileges remain the same as the Ashva Credit Card.
- Zero forex markup on all international transactions.
Eligible applicants can apply for a credit card at this tier through the Mayura product page on the IDFC FIRST Bank website and complete the online application with the required documents and details.
Conclusion
The FIRST Select suits occasional domestic travellers at zero cost. The Ashva delivers a step up in lounge entitlements and Visa Infinite travel privileges at a moderate annual fee. For frequent international travellers, the Mayura stands out as the best credit card for airport lounge access, given its dual-network benefit structure and zero forex markup.