Updated on April 11, 2026
Author: MybankingTips Team
Airport lounge access has become one of the most dynamic credit card benefits, with banks frequently revising rules. In line with this trend, ICICI Bank has announced a major update for its co-branded travel credit cards.
Starting from 1st July 2026, lounge access on select ICICI Bank credit cards will become spend-based, marking a significant shift from earlier benefits.
What Has Changed
ICICI Bank has introduced a spend-based condition for lounge access on the following cards:
- MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card
- Adani One ICICI Bank Signature Credit Card
- Adani One ICICI Bank Platinum Credit Card
New Rule:
- Spend ₹75,000 in a calendar quarter
- Only then will you be eligible for airport lounge access
Why This is a Big Change
Earlier, these cards were popular because they offered complimentary lounge access without any spending requirement. This made them attractive, especially for users who wanted travel perks without high usage.
With the new rule:
- Lounge access is no longer automatic
- Users must actively spend to unlock benefits
- The overall value for low spenders reduces
Cards That Still Offer Lounge Access Without Spend Condition
After this update, only a few premium ICICI cards will continue to offer lounge access without spending requirements:
- ICICI Bank Diamant Credit Card
- ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card
- ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Credit Card
- ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card
- ICICI Bank Emirates Emeralde Credit Card
- Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card
These cards are typically premium or invite-only, making unrestricted lounge access less accessible to general users.
What This Means for Cardholders
This update shows a clear shift in how banks are structuring benefits:
- Focus on active spenders rather than passive users
- Reduction in “free” benefits without usage
- More controlled and sustainable reward systems
For users who regularly spend ₹75,000 per quarter, the impact may be minimal. However, occasional users may find it harder to access lounge benefits.
Bottom Line
The ICICI Bank lounge access update is a clear devaluation for co-branded travel cards like MakeMyTrip and Adani One. While spend-based benefits are becoming common, this change reduces the appeal of these cards for low or moderate spenders.
Going forward, cardholders will need to focus more on spending patterns to unlock key benefits like lounge access.
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