Accessing airport lounges has been a sought-after perk for frequent travelers. However, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Soon, obtaining complimentary entry to airport lounges with your credit card might not be as straightforward as it is currently. With growing access limitations and amenities that match or exceed the cost of entry, airport lounges are once again transforming into premium offerings.
A 2022 study conducted by airport lounge operator DreamFolks revealed that over 57.23 million debit and credit card users in India enjoyed access to airport lounges, with expectations of a significant surge in this number. However, the remarkable success of the airport lounge access program also introduced a new responsibility: ensuring fair and equitable utilization of lounge facilities.
This is due to the limited capacity of lounges. When the demand for entry surpasses the available space, overcrowding becomes a concern. To prevent this situation, lounge entry requirements are usually strengthened.
To avoid any unexpected disappointments at the airport, travelers should stay informed about the latest measures taken to ensure fair usage of the lounges.
Airport Lounge: Measures Taken by Operators of Pune, Calicut, Trivandrum and Others
- Identity Verification: Dedicated staff oversee all security measures and provide real-time monitoring. This involves matching IDs with names on boarding passes using credit or debit cards for access control.
- Time constraints for access: Setting time limitations for passengers to stay in the lounge, particularly during busy hours. This is to ensure that they do not overstay and allow others to utilise the facilities.
- Digital entry codes for users of airline lounges: Passengers who are members of the airline’s access programme can only enter the lounge with digital access codes. Full digital check-in is possible by simply presenting the lounge personnel the QR codes for the individual airlines on their mobile phones.
Airport Lounge: Measures Taken by Credit Card Companies That Offer Access
- Carrying physical credit or debit cards is required by airport lounge operators who have not yet adopted a QR code-based access method.
- Credit card providers have put in place several procedures to facilitate lounge entry via QR code.
- In general, measures such as capacity restrictions are utilised, which limit the number of people allowed in the lounge at any given moment.
- Furthermore, lounge operators will closely monitor visitor behaviour and may restrict access or apply penalties for the misuse of facilities or violation of lounge policies.