SBI Card is set to revamp its airport lounge access program, effective January 10, 2026, introducing key changes for its cardholders. The revisions aim to refine the lounge experience, address overcrowding, and better align benefits with specific card tiers. Here's a breakdown of what cardholders need to know:

Two-Tiered Lounge Access System

The most significant change is the categorization of airport lounges into two distinct sets: Set A and Set B. This division aims to provide a more exclusive experience for premium cardholders while still offering access to a wide network of lounges for other cardholders.

• Set A Lounges: These lounges are exclusively for premium SBI credit cards such as Apollo SBI Card SELECT, Landmark Rewards SBI Card SELECT, Club Vistara SBI Card, PhonePe SBI Card SELECT, BPCL SBI Card OCTANE, and Paytm SBI Card SELECT. Set A lounges are intended to be less crowded and more comfortable. Some locations include Ahmedabad (The Lounge, Domestic T1), Bangalore (080 Domestic Lounge – West PH 2, Domestic T1; 080 International Lounge, International T2), Chennai (Travel Club Lounge -T1 Lounge B, Domestic T1; Travel Club Lounge – T2 Terminal, International T2), Hyderabad (Encalm Lounge, Domestic T1; Encalm Lounge, International T1), Kolkata (Travel Club Lounge Domestic, Elysian Lounge; Travel Club Lounge International, Domestic T1), Mumbai (Adani Lounge, International T1; Travel Club, Domestic T1B; Adani East Lounge, Domestic T2), New Delhi (Domestic T1, International T2; Domestic T3, Encalm Lounge; International T3, Encalm Lounge), and Pune (Domestic Terminal, Encalm Lounge).
• Set B Lounges: This set is accessible to SBI PRIME and Platinum credit cardholders, including Bank of Maharashtra SBI Card PRIME, Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME, Karur Vyasa Bank SBI Platinum Card, PSB SBI Card PRIME, SBI Card PRIME, South Indian Bank SBI Platinum Card, Central Bank of India SBI Card PRIME, Karnataka Bank SBI Card PRIME, Krisflyer SBI Card, Reliance SBI Card PRIME, SBI Card PRIME Pro, Titan SBI Card, City Union Bank SBI Card PRIME, Karur Vyasa Bank SBI Card PRIME, Landmark Rewards SBI Card PRIME, SBI Card MILES PRIME, South Indian Bank SBI Card PRIME, and UCO Bank SBI Card PRIME. Set B includes almost all the lounges from Set A, along with several additional cities such as Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Visakhapatnam.

New Entry Process and Charges

The process for accessing airport lounges will also change. Cardholders will now have their cards swiped at a Point of Sale (POS) machine at the lounge. The system will verify if the cardholder has any free visits remaining. A small authorization fee will be charged during validation.

• For VISA and RuPay cards, a non-refundable fee of ₹2 will be applied.
• For Mastercard users, a temporary charge of ₹25 will be applied, which will be released or refunded later.

SBI Card has clarified that these fees are not service charges but are implemented to confirm eligibility and streamline the entry process.

Cards Affected

These changes apply to SBI Cards with an annual fee of ₹1,499 (PRIME) and ₹2,999 (SELECT) where lounge access is managed through network partners like Visa, RuPay, or Mastercard. Basic SBI Cards that do not offer lounge benefits are not affected by these changes.

Restrictions and Additional Charges

Cardholders should be aware that exceeding the eligible lounge access limit will result in standard lounge access rates being applied, as defined by each lounge. Additional fees may apply for premium services such as premium meals or alcoholic beverages, nap rooms, and massage or spa services.

Benefits for Customers

SBI Card aims to balance demand and prevent overcrowding with these changes. Premium cardholders are expected to benefit most from the revised rules, potentially gaining access to more lounges and experiencing less crowded environments. The clearer structure also makes it easier for cardholders to identify eligible lounges based on their card type.

Cardholders are advised to check the SBI Card website or app for the full list of participating lounges and to understand the specific benefits associated with their credit card.