✈️ 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