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Best Travel Credit Cards with Lounge Access in India (2026)
Updated 23 September 2026 · Compares 6 cards
Travel cards earn airline miles or points worth more when redeemed for flights and hotels, and many include airport lounge access. Lounge rules changed a lot in 2025–26. Most banks now require a minimum spend in the previous quarter, and HDFC moved to digital lounge vouchers. So the 'free lounge' card you remember may no longer be free.
Quick comparison
| Card | Fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| IndusInd Bank Tiger | Lifetime free | Lifetime free |
| Scapia Federal Bank | Lifetime free | Lifetime free |
| HDFC Bank Regalia Gold | ₹2,500 / year | 5 RP per Rs 200 (since May 2026) |
| Axis Bank Atlas | ₹5,000 / year | 5 EDGE Miles per Rs 100 on travel (up to Rs 2L/month) |
| HSBC TravelOne | ₹4,999 / year | 4 RP per Rs 100 on flights, travel & forex spends |
| HDFC Bank Infinia Metal | ₹12,500 / year | 5 RP per Rs 150 (~3.3% when redeemed 1:1 for flights/hotels) |
Our picks in detail
IndusInd Bank Tiger
Lifetime free with 8 domestic and 2 international lounge visits a year and no spending requirement, which is unusual in 2026. Points convert 1:1 to Air India miles.
Highlights
- Lifetime free
- Lounges without spend requirement
- Reward rate scales 1 -> 6 points/Rs 100 with annual spend
- 1 point = 1 Air India mile (from Jun 2026)
Keep in mind
- Low rate at low spends
Fee waiver: not available · Forex markup: 1.5% · Lounge: 8 domestic + 2 international per year, no spend criteria
See details on the IndusInd Bank website →Scapia Federal Bank
Lifetime free, zero forex, and about 2% back in travel coins (more when booking through Scapia). Unlimited domestic lounges once you spend ₹20,000 a month.
Highlights
- Lifetime free
- Zero forex markup
- 10% Scapia coins (~2%) on all spends, 20% on travel booked via Scapia
- Coins redeemable for flights & hotels
Keep in mind
- Coins usable only for travel on Scapia app
- No rewards on utilities & insurance (Feb 2026)
Fee waiver: not available · Forex markup: 0% · Lounge: Unlimited domestic lounges on Rs 20K monthly spend
See details on the Federal Bank x Scapia website →HDFC Bank Regalia Gold
A popular mid-premium card with Priority Pass for international lounges. Domestic lounges now need ₹60,000 of quarterly spend (3 visits a quarter). The reward rate was cut to 5 points per ₹200 in May 2026.
Highlights
- 5 RP per Rs 200 (since May 2026)
- 5X on Nykaa, Myntra, Marks & Spencer, Reliance Digital
- Boarding Edge travel perks (2/quarter)
- Milestone flight vouchers on Rs 5L & Rs 7.5L spend
Keep in mind
- Domestic lounges now spend-gated
- 1.75% DCC fee on INR transactions abroad
Fee waiver: spend ₹4,00,000 a year · Forex markup: 2% · Lounge: 3 domestic visits/quarter on Rs 60K quarterly spend + Priority Pass international
See details on the HDFC Bank website →Axis Bank Atlas
Earns 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on travel and 2 elsewhere, with tiered lounge access. Airline transfer caps were tightened in September 2026, which reduces its value for heavy users.
Highlights
- 5 EDGE Miles per Rs 100 on travel (up to Rs 2L/month)
- 2 EDGE Miles per Rs 100 elsewhere
- Milestone bonus miles at Rs 3L/7.5L/15L
- Transfer to airline/hotel partners
Keep in mind
- Transfer partner caps tightened (Sep 2026: 30,000 mile cap for Group A)
- No rewards on utilities, gift cards, tolls
Fee waiver: not available · Forex markup: 3.5% · Lounge: 8-18 domestic + 4-12 international per year by tier (physical card needed domestically)
See details on the Axis Bank website →HSBC TravelOne
4 points per ₹100 on travel with 1:1 transfers to many airline and hotel partners, including Accor. Often recommended as the Axis Atlas replacement after Axis dropped partners.
Highlights
- 4 RP per Rs 100 on flights, travel & forex spends
- 2 RP per Rs 100 elsewhere
- 1:1 transfer to many airline/hotel partners incl. Accor
Keep in mind
- Airport transfers discontinued (Jul 2026)
- Select cities only
Fee waiver: spend ₹8,00,000 a year · Forex markup: 3.5% · Lounge: 6 domestic + 4 international per year
See details on the HSBC India website →HDFC Bank Infinia Metal
The top Indian travel card for high spenders: about 3.3% base, up to 10X via SmartBuy, and unlimited lounges. It's largely invite-only and needs ₹18 lakh a year of spend to keep from 2027.
Highlights
- 5 RP per Rs 150 (~3.3% when redeemed 1:1 for flights/hotels)
- Up to 10X via HDFC SmartBuy (brand vouchers capped at 3,000 bonus RP/month since Jul 2026)
- Unlimited golf and lounge access
- Club Marriott membership
Keep in mind
- Largely invite-only
- Retention needs Rs 18L/yr spend or Rs 50L relationship (from 2027)
- Max 5 redemptions/month
Fee waiver: spend ₹10,00,000 a year · Forex markup: 2% · Lounge: Unlimited domestic + international (Priority Pass), incl. add-ons
See details on the HDFC Bank website →Lounge access in 2026: what changed
- HDFC: digital lounge vouchers, with higher quarterly spend thresholds on most cards.
- Axis: Priority Pass no longer works at domestic lounges; use the physical card instead (August 2026).
- IDFC FIRST: Select and Wealth lounge visits halved and spend-gated (April 2026).
- IndusInd: premium cards need ₹5 lakh of quarterly spend for lounge access, but Tiger has no spend requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Which card gives free lounge access without spending conditions?
In our database, IndusInd Tiger offers 8 domestic and 2 international visits a year with no spend requirement, and it's lifetime free.
Are air miles better than cashback?
Miles can be worth ₹1–2 each when transferred to airlines for premium flights, beating 2% cashback. But transfer partners and caps change often (Axis cut several in 2026), so only choose miles if you actually fly regularly.
How we pick: we compare fees, fee waivers, reward rates, monthly caps and exclusions from each bank's published terms, including 2025–26 changes. Estimates assume typical redemption values. CardWise is independent, and card rankings are not influenced by any bank.