Airport lounge access is becoming increasingly restricted, with banks either removing the perk or tying it to spending requirements. Even RuPay, which once provided easy, unconditional lounge access on many cards, has now overhauled its benefit structure.

Under the new update, complimentary access to airport (both domestic and international) and railway lounges on RuPay Platinum Debit Cards will be discontinued from April 1, 2026. Until March 31, 2026, users can still avail of this benefit—but only if they meet spend-based criteria set under the Benefit Management System (BMS).

For Select Debit Cards too, lounge access will shift entirely to a spend-based model from April 2026. That said, some banks may continue offering this perk on specific premium card variants, depending on their agreements with RuPay.

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Overall, this signals a clear move toward usage-driven benefits. Instead of automatic access, cardholders will now need to actively spend using their debit cards to qualify for lounge entry.

In short, RuPay debit cardholders should no longer expect complimentary lounge access as a default feature. Eligibility will depend on meeting minimum spending thresholds within a defined period, which may vary by card type and issuing bank—making it essential to stay updated with the latest terms and conditions.

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