Credit cards with airport lounge access even for add-on card members and guests

Getting complimentary access to airport lounges in both India and abroad while we are travelling is perhaps one of the foremost benefits majority of us check while selecting a credit card. Generally, most credit cards offer one or two free visits to airport lounges every quarter. But in most cases, this is applicable only for the primary, or the main, credit card holder.

For instance, credit cards like the Etihad Guest SBI Card offer 8 complimentary visits per year to Visa card lounges in India (maximum 2/quarter). The card also comes with $99 worth of complimentary membership to the Priority Pass program, becoming a member of which gives one access to a global network with over 1,700+ airport lounges and experiences, per the official website of the Priority Pass program.

Other cards, such as the Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card – VISA, while also offering access to the Priority Pass program, allow lounge access to your add-on members as well. With this card, you and your add-on member can avail up to 4 complimentary lounge access per calendar year, i.e. 1/quarter, internationally.

However, starting June 1, 2025, Priority Pass on the Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card-VISA will be issued “only basis request”, per HDFC’s website, and will not automatically come with your credit card if it is newly issued, or has been replaced.

An add-on member is usually a family member of the primary credit card holder who gets a credit card supplementary to the main credit card. All expenses made on the add-on member’s card will have to be paid back by the main cardholder, with the add-on member enjoying the same credit limit as the main credit card. Credit card issuers such as ICICI, YES allow a maximum of 3 add-on cards atop the primary one

Similarly, some credit cards also let guests of the credit card holder complimentary access to lounges. For instance, the Axis Olympus credit card allows 10 guest visits each (both international and domestic each) during the card’s anniversary year.

Read on to know more about credit cards you can opt for if you seek access to domestic and international lounges, along with your guests and add-on members.

High annual fees, many associated T&Cs

Says Rohit Chhibbar, Head of Credit Cards, Paisabazaar, “While most of the travel credit cards offer complimentary airport lounge access to primary cardholders, only select premium cards extend this benefit to add-on members and guests, with certain limitations. However, such cards often come with a high annual fee.”

“Therefore, it is important for consumers to evaluate their travel frequency and lifestyle before opting in. Choosing a credit card solely for lounge access may not be ideal; you should always analyze whether you will be able to maximize other benefits to make the most of it”, he adds.

Here are some cards that offer lounge benefits for add-on and guest members, apart from the primary cardholder.

Credit card	Annual fees	Benefits for add-on members/guests
Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card	Rs. 50,000	Unlimited international and domestic lounge visits for add-on cardholders, along with 12 free visits for guests per anniversary year
Axis Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card	Rs. 30,000	4 complimentary guest visits each to international & domestic lounges every year
HDFC Infinia Credit Card (invite-only)	Rs. 12,500	Unlimited complimentary domestic and international lounge visits for add-on card members
ICICI Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card (invite-only)	Rs. 12,499	Unlimited complimentary domestic and international lounge visits for add-on cardholders
HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card	Rs. 10,000	Unlimited complimentary domestic and international lounge visits for add-on cardholders
YES Bank Marquee Credit Card	Rs. 4,999 Rs. 9,999 (Joining Fee)	24 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year (Max.. 6 per quarter), for primary & add-on cardholders 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits in a quarter for guests Unlimited complimentary international lounge visits for add-on cardholders, 4 complimentary international lounge visits for guests in a year

Source: Paisabazaar

Before subscribing, check the conditions for usage

However, given how expensive they are, one should not only evaluate the frequency of their travel, but also read the fine print associated with these benefits before taking the card.

The Axis Magnus for Burgundy credit card only allows complimentary domestic lounge visits if you have spent Rs 50,000 using this credit card in the past 3 months. Similarly, complimentary domestic lounge visits in the subsequent quarter are applicable on the YES Bank Marquee Credit Card only if you have spent Rs 1 lakh in the previous quarter.

The HDFC Infinia credit card charges guests for lounge access, with guest visits using Priority Pass chargeable at $27 + GST per visit per guest. Also, you can only opt for the Yes Bank Marquee credit card if you have a minimum net salary of Rs 3 Lakhs per month or an Income Tax Return of Rs 36 Lakhs and above.

Apart from this, the Kotak Solitaire credit card also allows 4 complimentary lounge visits for guests per primary cardholder, limited to 2 domestic and 2 international lounge visits. Cards such as SBI Auurum partner with Dreamfolk, another airport lounge access provider, to offer 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per quarter, which is also applicable for add-on cardholders (s) as well.