Starting April 1, 2025, YES Bank cardholders will need to meet specific quarterly spending criteria to unlock domestic lounge access benefits. This follows multiple reshuffles this year, as YES Bank seeks to balance benefit offerings with profitability. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
1. Higher Spend Requirements: The new criteria require substantial spends, especially for high-tier cards:
- YES Marquee: ₹100,000/quarter for 6 complimentary visits.
- YES Reserv: ₹100,000/quarter for 3 visits.
- YES First Preferred: ₹75,000/quarter for 2 visits.
- Other cards like YES SELECT, YES ELITE+, YES BYOC, and YES Wellness Plus have quarterly requirements ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹100,000, with fewer lounge visits provided.
2. Steep Shift from Previous Requirements: The recent adjustment raises the stakes from previous quarterly spends, such as the initial ₹10,000 and later ₹35,000 thresholds, reflecting the increasing cost and popularity of lounge access.
3. Quarterly Spend Deadline: To benefit from lounge access in April–June 2025, cardholders need to meet their spend criteria from December 21, 2024, through March 20, 2025.
4. Competitive Alignment: By raising these thresholds, YES Bank joins other issuers like ICICI in requiring high spend levels for lounge access, especially on premium cards. This change aims to encourage higher spending and align YES Bank with its competitors in offering lounge access as an exclusive perk rather than a standard benefit.
Is This a Deal-Breaker?
These new conditions may impact budget-conscious users. However, high spenders and frequent travelers can still make the most of YES Bank’s lounge benefits by meeting these requirements.