Until recently, complimentary airport lounge access was mostly a perk for premium credit cardholders. But with growing demand from Indian travelers, many banks have now extended this benefit to select debit cards too.
These specially designed debit cards not only offer lounge access at domestic and international airports but also come packed with added perks like cashback offers, fuel surcharge waivers, and even air accident insurance. While some cards may carry annual fees, they’re a great option for frequent flyers who prefer using debit over credit.
Say goodbye to relying only on high-end credit cards—today’s debit cards are stepping up with travel-friendly features that make your journey more comfortable and rewarding.
Airport lounge access can sometimes cost over ₹1,000 for just an hour. Now imagine adding that to your travel expenses every time you fly—it can make your trips quite costly. If you travel often, choosing a debit card that offers complimentary lounge access can be a smart and cost-effective option.
Before getting a debit card with complimentary lounge access, it’s important to check the details with your bank. Some cards come with a small annual fee, while others may offer this benefit completely free. Make sure you understand the charges and terms so you can choose the card that suits your needs best.
Based on data from BankBazaar and other financial sources, here are five top debit cards offering the best lounge access benefits:
Top 5 debit cards that offer free airport lounge access in May 2025
1. HDFC Millennia Debit Card
Lounge access: 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year (1 per quarter); Minimum spend of ₹5,000 in the previous quarter to unlock lounge access
Annual Fee: ₹500 + GST
Cashback benefits: Up to ₹4,800 cashback annually – 5% on SmartBuy/PayZapp, 2.5% on online spends, and 1% on offline spends.
Insurance Cover: Personal accident insurance up to ₹10 lakh + international air accident cover of ₹1 crore
2. InterMiles HDFC Signature Debit Card
Lounge access: Enjoy 5 complimentary international lounge visits annually through Priority Pass membership; Access select domestic lounges through the MasterCard Lounge Program.
Annual fee: ₹2,500; Waived upon spending ₹3 lakh or more in the preceding year.
Welcome benefit: Earn 8,000 InterMiles as a welcome bonus and complimentary InterMiles Silver Membership.
InterMiles benefit: Earn up to 12 InterMiles per ₹150 spent on flight and hotel bookings; Enjoy 2.5X bonus InterMiles for Etihad Airways tickets booked on the InterMiles website.
Additional benefits: Fuel surcharge waiver of up to ₹500 per billing cycle
3. ICICI Bank Sapphiro Debit Card
Lounge access: Enjoy 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per quarter on minimum spend of ₹5,000 in the previous quarter.
Annual/joining fee: ₹1,999 + GST
Rewards: Earn 4x points per ₹200 on domestic and 8 points on international spends.
High limits: Domestic purchase limit of ₹7.5 lakh/day and ATM withdrawal up to ₹1.5 lakh/day. International purchase and ATM limits are ₹3.5 lakh and ₹2 lakh per day respectively.
Lifestyle benefits: Movie discounts (BookMyShow, INOX), dining offers via ICICI Culinary Treats, roadside assistance, and complimentary card protection plan with emergency services.
4. Axis Bank Burgundy Debit Card
Lounge access: 12 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits annually (1 per month) on minimum spend of ₹5,000 in the previous quarter.
Annual fee: Nil for Burgundy account holders.
Perks: Dining discounts up to ₹1,000 via EazyDiner; exclusive lifestyle offers.
High limits: Daily ATM withdrawal limit of ₹3 lakh and purchase limit of ₹6 lakh.
5. SBI Platinum International Debit Card
Lounge access: Complimentary access to select domestic airport lounges
Activation and milestone bonuses: Earn up to 300 bonus points upon activation and 1,000 milestone points for every ₹1 lakh spent in a financial year.
SBI Rewardz Program: Earn 2 Reward Points per ₹200 spent on various categories
Perks: Earn double reward points during your birthday month and on international spends.
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