As of January 1, 2025, significant changes have been made to RuPay and BOBCARD credit cardholders’ airport lounge access benefits. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new, and how you can take advantage of these updates:
RuPay Credit Card Lounge Access Update
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced tier-based guidelines for exclusive RuPay lounge access, starting in 2025. The first RuPay lounge is located at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi), offering a premium experience with a wide variety of food and entertainment options.
Eligibility Requirements for Lounge Access:
- Who Qualifies: Only RuPay cardholders with Platinum, Select, or higher-tier variants will be eligible for lounge access.
- Tracking: Lounge access eligibility will depend on quarterly spending, tracked via the RuPay Benefit Management System (RBMS).
Spending and Lounge Access Details:
- Tier I (₹10,000 - ₹50,000): 2 complimentary visits per quarter.
- Tier II (₹50,001 - ₹1 lakh): 4 complimentary visits per quarter.
- Tier III (₹1 lakh - ₹5 lakh): 8 complimentary visits per quarter.
- Tier IV (Above ₹5 lakh): Unlimited visits per quarter.
- Note: Quarterly resets will allow cardholders to earn new visits based on their spending!
Additional Info: NPCI has also updated its data format for authorization response messages, increasing the data length from 19 digits to 30 to accommodate these new benefits.
BOBCARD Domestic Lounge Access Update
Starting January 1, 2025, BOBCARD implemented new spending criteria for domestic lounge access based on quarterly spending.
New Spending Requirements:
- Eterna, Tiara, Varunah Premium: Spend ₹40,000 to qualify for unlimited lounge visits per quarter.
- Varunah Plus, The Sentinel, Rakshamah, Yoddha: Spend ₹20,000 to qualify for 1 to 3 complimentary visits per quarter, depending on the card type.
Special Notes:
- New Cardholders: Are exempt from this spending requirement in their first calendar quarter. However, this exemption doesn’t apply if upgrading your card within the same quarter.
- Tracking: BOBCARD users can monitor their quarterly spending via the transaction summary tab on the BOBCARD portal or mobile app.
Additional Lounge Locations for BOBCARD Holders:
In addition to these changes, BOBCARD cardholders will now enjoy lounge access at major domestic airports, including Agartala, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru. The number of visits will vary depending on your card type and the spending requirements you meet.
By keeping track of your quarterly spending, you can maximize the lounge access benefits offered by RuPay and BOBCARD. Make sure to utilize these new opportunities to enhance your travel experience!