The way customers use their debit cards to get free entry to airport lounges will shortly undergo a significant shift at HDFC Bank. The bank will entirely transition to a voucher-based lounge access system effective January 10, 2026, and stop accepting physical debit card swipes at lounges.
The previous Rs 5,000 spending requirement has been replaced with a minimum quarterly spend of Rs 10,000 on an HDFC Bank debit card for customers to be eligible for free lounge visits in the following quarter.
Customers who reach a quarterly spend threshold of Rs. 10,000 will get an SMS or email with a link to claim their lounge access voucher on their registered mobile number or email ID within two business days, starting on January 10, 2026.
Once claimed, a 12- to 18-digit voucher code will be issued to the registered email ID and mobile number of the respective customer. This code must be shown upon entering the lounge in order to receive complimentary access.
The number of complimentary lounge visits per quarter will depend on the debit card variant. As per HDFC Bank, Millennia debit card holders are entitled to one visit, Platinum and Business card users get two visits, Times and GIGA cardholders get one visit, while Infiniti debit cardholders enjoy up to four lounge visits per quarter without any spending criteria.
Importantly, only online and in-store transactions made with the HDFC Bank debit card will be considered. The spend threshold cannot be met by ATM cash withdrawals, UPI payments made through Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm, wallet transactions, credit card bill payments, or debit card EMI transactions. The Rs 10,000 requirement can be fulfilled either through a single transaction or multiple transactions combined within the same quarter.
Lounge vouchers are valid from the date of issuance until the end of the next calendar quarter. A voucher generated on January 10, 2026, for example, will be valid until June 30, 2026. Customers can seek a reissue by going to www.gvhelpdesk.com, utilizing the chatbot, and authenticating using OTP if they misplace or do not get the voucher details.
Which lounges can be availed with the HDFC Bank Debit Card?
| State | City | Lounge Name | Terminal Type | Terminal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | Bangalore | BLR Domestic Lounge | Domestic | Terminal 1 |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai | Travel Club Lounge B | Domestic | Terminal 1 |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai | Travel Club Lounge A | Domestic | Terminal 1 |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai | Travel Club Lounge | International | Terminal 2 |
| Telangana | Hyderabad | Encalm Lounge | International | Terminal 1 |
| Telangana | Hyderabad | Encalm Lounge | Domestic | Terminal 1 |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | Travel Club Lounge | Domestic | Terminal 1 |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai | Adani East Lounge | International | Terminal 2 |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai | Adani Lounge | Domestic | Terminal 2 |
| Delhi | New Delhi | Encalm Lounge | International | Terminal 3 |
| Delhi | New Delhi | Encalm Lounge | Domestic | Terminal 3 |
Major domestic and international airport lounges in India, such as those in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, allow HDFC Bank debit card lounge vouchers. Although the list is subject to change depending on availability, notable lounges include the Encalm lounges at the airports in Delhi and Hyderabad, the Adani lounges in Mumbai, and the Travel Club lounges in Chennai and Kolkata.
Note: Customers should be aware that lounges may have a two- to three-hour maximum stay limit and that entry is available on a first-come, first-served basis. As per HDFC Bank, food offerings, child entry policies, and availability of complimentary alcoholic beverages vary by lounge and are governed by individual lounge operators.
