Airport Lounge Access Takes a Hit as SBI Card Revises Benefits

SBI Card, one of India’s largest credit card issuers, has announced a major revision to its domestic airport lounge access program. From January 2026, several popular SBI credit cards will offer fewer complimentary lounge visits, significantly reducing a benefit that many frequent travellers value.

In addition to cutting down the number of free visits, SBI Card has also introduced a new lounge structure by splitting participating lounges into two separate lists. Cardholders will now need to check which lounge list their specific card falls under before travelling.

SBI Card Devalues Airport Lounge Access Program

All the revised lounge access rules will be effective from 10 January 2026.

The most significant change is the reduction in the number of complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year.

Apply for a Credit Card & Get Instant Approval

Apply Now →

SBI Credit Cards Airport Lounge Access Changes

This effectively cuts lounge access by half for many mid range and co branded SBI credit cards.

SBI Credit Cards Affected by the Devaluation

The following SBI credit cards will see reduced lounge access benefits from January 2026.

• Doctor’s SBI Card
• Air India SBI Platinum Card
• Etihad Guest SBI Card
• SBI Card PULSE
• SBI Card MILES

New Lounge Structure Introduced by SBI Card

Along with reducing lounge visits, SBI Card has introduced two separate lists of participating domestic airport lounges.

Under this new structure, each SBI credit card will be mapped either to Set A or Set B lounges. The lounges accessible to you will now depend on which set your card belongs to, making it important to verify lounge eligibility before travel.

Participating Domestic Lounges – Set A

Apply for a Credit Card & Get Instant Approval

Apply Now →

New Lounge Structure Introduced by SBI Card

Along with reducing lounge visits, SBI Card has introduced two separate lists of participating domestic airport lounges.

Under this new structure, each SBI credit card will be mapped either to Set A or Set B lounges. The lounges accessible to you will now depend on which set your card belongs to, making it important to verify lounge eligibility before travel.

Participating Domestic Lounges – Set A

Cards Eligible for Set A Lounges

• Air India SBI Platinum Card
• Doctor’s SBI Card
• PhonePe SBI Card SELECT
• Apollo SBI Card SELECT
• Etihad Guest SBI Card
• SBI Card MILES
• SBI Card PULSE
• Landmark Rewards SBI Card SELECT
• BPCL SBI Card OCTANE
• Paytm SBI Card SELECT
• Club Vistara SBI Card

Participating Domestic Lounges – Set B

Apply for a Credit Card & Get Instant Approval

Apply Now →

Cards Eligible for Set B Lounges

• Bank of Maharashtra SBI Card PRIME
• Reliance SBI Card PRIME
• PSB SBI Card PRIME
• UCO Bank SBI Card PRIME
• Titan SBI Card
• SBI Card PRIME
• SBI Card MILES PRIME
• SBI Card PRIME Pro
• Landmark Rewards SBI Card PRIME
• KrisFlyer SBI Card
• Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME

Bottom Line

With effect from 10 January 2026, SBI Card has significantly reduced the value proposition of several of its credit cards. The cut in complimentary lounge visits combined with the new two list lounge structure means cardholders must be far more careful about when and where they use their lounge benefits.

If airport lounge access is a key reason you hold an SBI credit card, it is now important to reassess whether the revised benefits still match your travel needs or if alternative cards offer better value.