The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced updated guidelines for RuPay credit cardholders, introducing tiered spending criteria for exclusive access to airport lounges. This benefit, which includes complimentary visits, will take effect on January 1, 2025.

This move comes as many banks are reducing lounge access perks.Exclusive Lounge at Indira Gandhi International AirportRuPay has launched its first dedicated lounge at Terminal 3 (T3) of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Located at Departure Pier 11, near Boarding Gate 41, this lounge aims to provide a premium experience for RuPay cardholders, featuring a wide selection of food and beverages, as well as entertainment options.

Tiered Access Guidelines

Under the new rules, lounge access is available only to select cardholders holding Platinum, Select, or higher variants. Eligibility will be determined by spending patterns tracked through the RuPay Benefit Management System (RBMS). Member banks and issuers will provide quarterly updates on eligible cardholders to ensure that only those who meet the spending thresholds can access the lounges.

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The spending tiers are structured as follows:

Tier I: Cardholders spending between ₹10,000 and ₹50,000 quarterly will receive two complimentary lounge visits.

Tier II: Those spending between ₹50,001 and ₹1 lakh will be eligible for four complimentary visits.

Tier III: Cardholders spending between ₹1 lakh and ₹5 lakh will enjoy eight complimentary visits.

Tier IV: Those with quarterly spending exceeding ₹5 lakh will receive unlimited lounge access.Complimentary visits will reset each quarter, allowing cardholders to maximize their access based on their spending.

Enhanced Data RequirementsTo support this benefit, NPCI has also introduced a new data element requirement (DE 102) in authorization response messages for all RuPay transactions.

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