Infinia HDFC Infinia Priority Pass Charged for Access in Domestic Indian Airports

[IKFLRT]

Anybody got any confirmation from hdfc on if pp will be charged or not during domestic lounge visit?

According to them, there have been no changes. If you get charged, Infinia Services will waive the fees.

I’m flying to Delhi tomorrow and will be using Priority Pass to access the Arrival lounge at T3.

They’re not stupid enough to make changes to PP access without sending an official communication. They do it all the time for debit cards and other services.

 

[Bharath Ram]

I just called them and they confirmed that Priority Pass is only for international use. Sigh.

My parents have an upcoming trip from Lucknow airport and the Adani lounge there does not support Infinia!! I was looking forward for them to use PP

 

[theXfactor]

According to them, there have been no changes. If you get charged, Infinia Services will waive the fees.

I’m flying to Delhi tomorrow and will be using Priority Pass to access the Arrival lounge at T3.

They’re not stupid enough to make changes to PP access without sending an official communication. They do it all the time for debit cards and other services.

Did you use PP at domestic lounges?

 

[conscious_matter]

I just called them and they confirmed that Priority Pass is only for international use. Sigh.

My parents have an upcoming trip from Lucknow airport and the Adani lounge there does not support Infinia!! I was looking forward for them to use PP

Whom did you call? Customer service or RM? Or someone else? And what exactly did they say?

 

[IKFLRT]

Did you use PP at domestic lounges?

flying tomorrow morning. will be using PP for all accesses. I'll send pics 🙃

 

[infinia_finally]

FYI everyone - Escalation Team responded after 10 days.
Tldr;
They say there is no update to T&C.
They recommend use of only card in domestic lounges.
They did not confirm if there are charges on using Infinia PP domestically.
FWIW my guess (similar to someone confirmed above) - They silently updated website, but have not officially started charging yet. They may officially change T&C later and probably send out email while doing so.


Details below -

Here's the email trail

My first email ----
I saw that recently (around March 7th), you have updated the Lounge T&C - I have attached from your website

I have also attached past Lounge T&C pdf from your website (from before March 7, 2025)
In the past, it said that Infinia Priority Pass (PP) provides unlimited free lounge access both domestic and international.

The new T&C just says that lounge access outside India is complimentary using PP.

I need few clarifications on what it means
1) The website was changed on March 7th. And there was no official email to any cardholder on this. So I am assuming the new T&C comes into effect on March 7th. Is that correct?
2) What happens if Infinia PP is used in domestic lounge now? There is no mention of any charges for usage in domestic lounge. So this looks like a grey area which you need to clarify
(FYI - in Regalia T&C where they explicitly mention that domestic lounge will charge PP for $27+GST)
3) I had used my PP in domestic airports in February, before these T&C were updated. So I am assuming that you won't charge any fees to my card. And if by mistake you charge fees, I would expect them to be reversed. Please confirm that.

I want to notify that we expect HDFC to email important changes to T&C to all cardholders, especially for your super-premium card holders. You cannot silently change T&C in areas where we may incur expenses.
-----

Their response - --
Thank you for writing to us.

This is with reference to your e-mail dated March 10, 2025 regarding lounge access.
We would like to inform you that airport lounges terms and conditions were updated on September 05, 2023 and there is no changes in recent times.
Priority Pass membership:
• Primary card and add-on Card holders may utilize the refreshment and business centre
facilities at Priority Pass lounge. Visit www.prioritypass.com for list of lounges. Priority passes should be used in International lounges only.
• The access and usage at all Priority Passlounges outside India is complimentary only for
Primary and Add on Priority Pass holders.
• Presentation of the Priority Pass card at the participating airport lounge is mandatory to avail
Access.
• Guest visits using Priority Pass will be charged at USD 27 + GST per visit per guest.
We request you to click the below link for airport lounge terms and conditions.
-----

I escalated -----
Hi Escalation Team,

Hoping from a better response from you on Infinia Card lounge access

<<< We would like to inform you that airport lounges terms and conditions were updated on September 05, 2023 and there is no changes in recent times.
This is a blatant lie from Customer Care representative below.
I have the old Terms & Conditions of lounge access downloaded from January 2025 (attached again here) where it mentions that
"The access and usage at all Priority Pass lounges in India/outside is complimentary only for Primary and Add on Priority Pass holders "

In this context, my questions below have been unanswered

I need few clarifications on what it means
1) The website was changed on March 7th. And there was no official email to any cardholder on this. So I am assuming the new T&C comes into effect on March 7th. Is that correct?
2) What happens if Infinia PP is used in domestic lounge now? There is no mention of any charges for usage in domestic lounge. So this looks like a grey area which you need to clarify
(FYI - in Regalia T&C where they explicitly mention that domestic lounge will charge PP for $27+GST)

I want to notify that we expect HDFC to email important changes to T&C to all cardholders, especially for your super-premium card holders. You cannot silently change T&C in areas where we may incur expenses.
-------

Escalation response ----
This is with reference to your e-mail dated March 10, 2025 regarding lounge access.

On receipt of your mail we have liased with the concerned department for review and wish to clarify you that no change has been made to the existing program. We recommend the use of only live card in domestic lounge for better customer experience.

We request you to click the below link to know more about airport lounge terms and conditions.

https://www.hdfcbank.com/content/bbp/repositories/723fb80a-2dde-42a3-9793-7ae1be57c87f/?path=/Personal/Pay/Cards/Credit%20Card/Credit%20Card%20Landing%20Page/Credit%20Cards/PDFs/Lounge-TnC.pdf

 

[Vbhoj74]

https://www.hdfcbank.com/content/bbp/repositories/723fb80a-2dde-42a3-9793-7ae1be57c87f/?path=/Personal/Pay/Cards/Credit%20Card/Credit%20Card%20Landing%20Page/Credit%20Cards/PDFs/Lounge-TnC.pdf

I've been also given the same link and it says clearly that outside India PP is complimentary. And they also said that till now if I've used PP it wont be charged, but they have changed the TnC and PP shud not be used in Domestic. I rest my case with this and decide not to use the same. Basically this is now a devaluation, for lounge Infinia = Regalia Gold.

 

[Kushagra_]

I've been also given the same link and it says clearly that outside India PP is complimentary. And they also said that till now if I've used PP it wont be charged, but they have changed the TnC and PP shud not be used in Domestic. I rest my case with this and decide not to use the same. Basically this is now a devaluation, for lounge Infinia = Regalia Gold.

View attachment 87336

Good, don't use it 👍🏻
The less the better they'll not have incentive to devalue while we continue to use anyways

 

[theXfactor]

List of domestic lounges was last updated in Dec '22 (https://www.hdfcbank.com/content/bb...per Premium/Infinia/Infinia-DomLoungeList.pdf) while the world has changed since then 🙂

 

[Vbhoj74]

Good, don't use it 👍🏻
The less the better they'll not have incentive to devalue while we continue to use anyways

On 2nd thought I'm thinking of opening an RBI Ombudsman ticket so that all of us are under same TnC 😛

Spoiler

** Kidding, do not really care that much ! 🙂**

 

[anujdit]

If someone wants to use the infinia card and PP together at Domestic louge, then it will be a devaluation. Generally I use both, when they ask card for kid too.

 

[GG21]

AFAIK Priority Pass is free (depending on how many visits your card allows) Internationally. International Departure Lounges in India are charged.
For Domestic travel why are people using Priority Pass when you can just use your credit card? They charge Rs.2/- so it's technically free . So unless you want to save that (or try to save that), there's no reason to not access the domestic lounges by swiping your card.

Some arrival lounge are not in the card lounge access list.

 

[shashankrt]

Some arrival lounge are not in the card lounge access list.

Frankly I am still failing to understand why this PP getting charged is a big deal? Yes few arrival lounges and some lounges in tier 2 cities are not in list of infinia, however only those who visit frequently to these lounges are impacted. Also the policy is in line with other ccs.. Even Amex plat does not allow PP use in India and their lounge list is same as infinia for card access.

Those using PP And card in same lounge are basically misusing the card and hence it's not a devaluation in that case.

 

[shashankrt]

If someone wants to use the infinia card and PP together at Domestic louge, then it will be a devaluation. Generally I use both, when they ask card for kid too.

That's nor devaluation. It's misuse which if blocked will be a right move. It's similar to axis having loopholes and those being closed

 

[theXfactor]

Frankly I am still failing to understand why this PP getting charged is a big deal? Yes few arrival lounges and some lounges in tier 2 cities are not in list of infinia, however only those who visit frequently to these lounges are impacted. Also the policy is in line with other ccs.. Even Amex plat does not allow PP use in India and their lounge list is same as infinia for card access.

Those using PP And card in same lounge are basically misusing the card and hence it's not a devaluation in that case.

It may or may not be a major change depending on which lounges you frequently access, but it's a devaluation for sure. More so, if there's a change in the way PP is to be used from what it was, that needs to be communicated clearly to the card holders and, I think, that's what people are equally concerned about. Not a good idea from the bank standpoint to charge the PP visit and reverse the charges retrospectively. It all depends upon how you look at this change but you are certainly going to miss out on certain privileges that come with PP.

- Usually, PP gives access to wider lounge network within and outside India incl. the arrival lounges.
- Infinia, as per the domestic lounges pdf (which needs to be updated, I feel), gives you access to 39 domestic lounges which is much lesser compared to the likes such as ICICI EPM which has 68 domestic lounges listed
- A good no. of lounges at certain airports like Hyderabad, Mumbai etc. have a separate lane for PP, Amex Plat. that gives you faster entry saving lot of time.

So, I wouldn't call it a deval if it had given access to similar no. lounges as its likes (EPM, Amex Plat.) or PP. Even if the policy is in line with other CCs, that must be communicated very clearly as earlier HDFC only had emphasized on using PP domestically.

 

[Bharath Ram]

Whom did you call? Customer service or RM? Or someone else? And what exactly did they say?

I called customer care. They said I have to use card for domestic and PP for international.

 

[_ayush]

Idk what to make of this mail.

 

[theXfactor]

Idk what to make of this mail.

Ask them the same Q. Looks like he is trying to say that PP should be used at international lounges but if used domestically, no charges would be incurred or if you have already used it no charges. Btw emails says that someone has contacted you personally to assist with this. 🙂

 

[conscious_matter]

I called customer care. They said I have to use card for domestic and PP for international.

Thank you for the clarification. Did they say Infinia in particular or priority pass in general? Sorry, I'm just trying to get details. Depends on how good a customer care agent you got through to.

Frankly I am still failing to understand why this PP getting charged is a big deal? Yes few arrival lounges and some lounges in tier 2 cities are not in list of infinia, however only those who visit frequently to these lounges are impacted. Also the policy is in line with other ccs.. Even Amex plat does not allow PP use in India and their lounge list is same as infinia for card access.

Those using PP And card in same lounge are basically misusing the card and hence it's not a devaluation in that case.

Yes, some of us live or visit outside Tier 1 cities.

The point is not how this is 'in line' with other cards or your definition of a misuse. It's simply that they said something when people signed up, and then they are penalising people for doing exactly that now without informing (or even being clear themselves) about a change. If they had said upfront, like with other HDFC cards, that PP uses in India will attract charges, this issue wouldn't be happening. Their terms very clearly said access through PP in India and outside, and if they have made a change, they should communicate that to people.

And it's so interesting how the HDFC agents who are now saying "PP should be used only internationally" still aren't saying if usage through PP in India will be charged. They are very clear about that for other cards. Now before someone says "that's obvious", it isn't, it is a change in their policy and they are not being clear about it.

 

[_ayush]

Ask them the same Q. Looks like he is trying to say that PP should be used at international lounges but if used domestically, no charges would be incurred or if you have already used it no charges. Btw emails says that someone has contacted you personally to assist with this. 🙂

Yes they called me. In the call they mentioned using PP in domestic lounge will attract 27usd.