SBI Credit Card Update: If you travel by air, this news could be very important for you. The air travel experience for passengers is about to change slightly. SBI Card has announced significant changes to its domestic airport lounge access program, which will come into effect from January 10, 2026. This change will particularly affect those who frequently travel by flight and use airport lounge facilities.
What are the new changes?
SBI Card has now divided lounge access into two different categories, called Set A and Set B. Set A includes premium category cards. Set B includes cards that are more commonly used and fall under the co-branded or Prime categories.
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Set-A includes:
Apollo SBI Card SELECT,
BPCL SBI Card OCTANE,
Club Vistara SBI Card,
Landmark Rewards SBI Card SELECT,
Paytm SBI Card SELECT, and
PhonePe SBI Card SELECT.
Set-B includes:
SBI Card PRIME,
PRIME Pro,
Titan SBI Card,
KrisFlyer SBI Card,
and other PRIME and Platinum cards.
Expanded List of Lounges
With this change, the list of airport lounges has also been updated. Now, in addition to major cities like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune, airports in Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Kochi, Goa, Indore, Jaipur, Vadodara, Srinagar, and Visakhapatnam have also been included in the lounge network.
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New Fees and Conditions
Under the new rules, a ₹2 authorization fee will be charged to VISA and RuPay card users. For Mastercard cards, a temporary charge of ₹25 will appear, which will be refunded later. Additionally, a separate payment will be required for food, beverages, and other extra facilities during each lounge visit.
How beneficial are these changes for travelers?
Airport lounges are no longer just a luxury; they have become a place to relax, work, and unwind away from the crowds. These facilities are particularly important for business travelers and frequent flyers.
SBI Card says that these changes will expand the lounge network and facilities, giving customers more options. While some travelers may incur additional costs, the increased lounge access in more cities is expected to improve the overall travel experience.