The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced free airport lounge access for select RuPay card holders. In a circular dated October 18, 2024, NPCI said that access to RuPay exclusive lounge at Terminal 3, Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi will be offered to select credit cardholders. The notice reads, “RuPay has set up an Exclusive Lounge at T3 departure terminal of Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. This is the first exclusive lounge of RuPay at Departure Pier 11, T3D, near Boarding Gate number 41 domestic departures, IGI Airport. RuPay exclusive lounge offers a wide spread of food, drinks and entertainment that differentiates it from other lounges in T3 Departure at IGI Airport. RuPay exclusive lounge promises pleasant stay, excellent spread of menu and first of its kind entertainment experience for their patrons”.
The NPCI circular said that the policy will come into effect from January 1, 2025.
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Airport lounge access to be spend based
In the circular, NPCI said that select RuPay Credit cardholders – Platinum & Higher Variants only will get free access to the RuPay Exclusive Lounge. However, the access “will be spend based and driven through RuPay Benefit Management System (RBMS). Member banks and issuers shall share eligible cardholders details every quarter,”.
Below tiers are proposed for CC on UPI/Card @ POS transactions in the previous quarter, Quarter will be defined as calendar quarter:
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| Tier | Spend Limit | Access Policy |
| Tier 1 | Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 | 2 complimentary visits in a quarter |
| Tier 2 | Rs 50,001 to Rs 1,00,000 | 4 complimentary visits in a quarter |
| Tier 3 | Rs 1,00,001 to Rs 5,00,000 | 8 complimentary visits in a quarter |
| Tier 4 | Rs 5,00,001 and above | Unlimited complimentary visits in a quarter |
NPCI also shared an example to explain how the new Tier spend based guideline will work for complimentary access to RuPay airport lounge(s).
| Scenario | Total spends in the previous quarter (April, May, June) | Complimentary visits available in Quarter (July, August, September) |
| Scenario 1 | Rs 5,000 | 0 |
| Scenario 2 | Rs 11,000 | 2 |
| Scenario 3 | Rs 60,000 | 4 |
| Scenario 4 | Rs 1,20,000 | 8 |
| Scenario 5 | Rs 2,00,500 | 8 |
| Scenario 6 | Rs 5,10,000 | No limit |
