✈️ ICICI Lounge Access Changes – At a Glance

🛑 What Changed?

  • Old Rule: ₹35,000 spend per quarter = complimentary domestic lounge access

  • New Rule (from Jan 1, 2025): ₹75,000 spend per quarter now required

📅 Spend Period vs Lounge Access Period

You must spend ₹75,000 in the prior quarter to get access in the next quarter:

Spend Period Lounge Access Period
26 Sep 2024 – 26 Dec 2024 1 Jan 2025 – 31 Mar 2025
26 Dec 2024 – 25 Mar 2025 1 Apr 2025 – 30 Jun 2025
26 Mar 2025 – 25 Jun 2025 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Sep 2025
26 Jun 2025 – 25 Sep 2025 1 Oct 2025 – 31 Dec 2025

💳 Affected Cards

This new rule affects 21 mid-tier ICICI cards, including:

  • ICICI Coral Credit Card

  • Expressions & MINE (Visa/Mastercard)

  • HPCL Super Saver

  • Manchester United Platinum

  • MakeMyTrip Platinum

  • SPEEDZ, Parakram, CSK

  • Business Blue Advantage & MMT Business Platinum


👑 Who Still Gets Unlimited Lounge Access?

No spend-based restriction for:

  • ICICI Emeralde Credit Card

  • Emeralde Private Metal Card

  • Diamant Credit Card

These cards cater to high-spending users and retain unlimited lounge access.

                                                                     

💸 Hidden Fees to Watch Out For

🧾 Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) Fee

  • New DCC fee: 1% from Feb 5, 2024

  • Tip: Always pay in local currency abroad to avoid poor exchange rates + DCC fees

🧳 Other Quiet Rollbacks

  • Spa access discontinued (even for premium cards)

  • No reward points for:

    • Wallet loading (e.g., Paytm, PhonePe)

    • Rent payments (e.g., RedGiraffe, CRED)

  • 💸 Supplementary card fee introduced: ₹199 annually

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