Axis Magnus Axis Bank Magnus Card Experience: From Lounge Access to Frustration

[DeepSaha]

I recently visited Kolkata Airport and accessed the Kolkata Airport Lounge using my Axis Bank Magnus Card, which boasts "unlimited" lounge access. However, what should have been a smooth, stress-free pre-flight experience turned into an exasperating ordeal that I feel compelled to share with you all.

Upon reviewing my bank statement post-visit, I was astonished to find a perplexing charge of Rs 500, labeled as "TFS, Kolkata." Now, considering that Kolkata Airport's lounge is simply known as "TFS" (Travel and Food Services), logic dictated that this charge should be for lounge access. Axis Bank, however, had a different narrative in mind.

My journey through customer support was no less frustrating. Initially, Axis Bank's Burgundy Support insisted that TFS was not a lounge but a retail store, causing considerable confusion. It took repeated explanations and even the help of a Google search to convince them that TFS was indeed the lounge at Kolkata Airport. A maddening process in its own. With that issue cleared up, I reached out to Axis Bank's support team, who assured me that they would investigate and respond within two days. Unfortunately, those two days stretched into a seemingly endless wait with no response in sight.

In my growing frustration, I took to Twitter, sharing my airport entry time, Uber receipts, flight boarding passes, and timestamps – all clearly indicating that the Rs 500 charge occurred a mere 20 minutes before my flight's departure. Axis Bank's response to my detailed evidence left me perplexed. They insinuated that I must have opted for something beyond my card's benefits, a conclusion that simply didn't align with my lounge access intentions.

My request for a callback to clarify the situation fell on deaf ears, as Axis Bank's response continued to be unhelpful and frustrating. It was as if they were more interested in closing the case as swiftly as possible than addressing my genuine concerns.

Desperate for a resolution, I contacted Axis Bank's MD Desk (Amitabh.Chaudhry@axisbank.com) and PNO (PNO@axisbank.com), but my optimism for a satisfactory outcome was waning.

In conclusion, this experience with the Axis Bank Magnus Card was far from the pleasant, hassle-free journey I had hoped for. It's not just about the Rs 500 charge; it's about the lack of transparency and support from Axis Bank that left me feeling both disappointed and frustrated.


I'm seriously considering parting ways with this card and looking for alternatives that offer unlimited lounge access or fall into the super-premium segment. If you have any recommendations or have encountered similar issues, please share your thoughts. It's essential to stay vigilant and informed when dealing with financial institutions and their services. 🛫💳😡

 

[Thomas244]

so if dreamfolks doesnt have TFS listed then you would be charged at discounted rates or normal rates accordingly

Yes at 080 bangalore T1 last week also they mentioned they will charge discounted rates not full charge on some cards we have to try and see. So its not full lounge charge but an extra 500 600 bucks. I just avoided magnus and used priority pass infinia

 

[skiscova]

Apart from lousy customer service, Axis does not appear to be at fault here. The OP did not care to check the amount before entering PIN. Yet the OP may file the cardholder dispute form so that the case moves with a direction. Resolution cannot be assured but the merchant TFS has to explain what goods or services were provided against payment of Rs.500

 

[SwipeSavvy]

@DeepSaha did you use the new burgundy magnus?

 

[DeepSaha]

Hello everyone,

I appreciate all the varied feedback on my situation.

Just to clear up some confusion:

First, in many cases at airport lounge, they simply ask you to enter a PIN without displaying the transaction amount before doing so.

Second, I admit that I should have been more cautious. As a frequent traveler, I often visit airport lounges, and I've never encountered this issue with HDFC or IDFC. I never imagined something like this could happen. I do acknowledge that I should have looked at the charge slip, but at that moment, my flight was about to start boarding in the next 30 minutes, and I was hungry, as it was a midnight flight therefore I overlooked.

Third, it's not about the Rs 500 charge for me; it's about seeking clarity from the bank. I wanted to understand why I was charged and I posted it here just to warn others so that others don't face a similar situation or at least be cautious while travelling.
I'm not sure if it was a mistake by the lounge staff or a bug in the Axis/DreamFolks system, but I wanted an explanation. My statement shows "TFS Kolkata, Kolkata," and I hadn't made any other purchases at the airport except for lounge access. So, I wanted to know why I was charged and for what reason.

Regarding the lounge I mentioned, it's not a discounted lounge; it's a free access crowded lounge, as indicated in the AXIS card PDF for free lounges.
I also recently received a call from DreamFolks. Interestingly, when I spoke to their team, they claimed they couldn't find any record of my card access for that day, whether for free or paid access. This raises the question of why and who charged me under the name "TFS Kolkata, Kolkata" on that day, and how I accessed the lounge when it wasn't registered in their system. I remain curious to find out whether this is a system bug or the result of a lounge executive's actions. My primary goal is to get this issue rectified rather than getting the Rs 500 refunded. I've consistently communicated to the AXIS and DreamFolks teams that I seek clarification on this matter.

 

[DeepSaha]

@DeepSaha did you use the new burgundy magnus?

I have used Axis Magnus but not Burgundy Account + Magnus. I do not have any other relationship with AXIS other than CC.

 

[CARDBITRAGE]

Usually, they will inform you of the charges at the reception, don't know how they neglected this. But it beats me how you validated a transaction of Rs.500 blindly. This is obviously a mix-up between Dreamfolk and the lounge operator and has nothing to do with Axis. But it's highly unlikely you will be compensated for the charge as YOU yourself approved the transaction, making it seem like you willingly paid to avail of their service. Nonetheless, do keep us updated on what transpires.
The takeaway here is to always check the amount before validating the transaction. I almost made a costly mistake when I was abroad. In my case, I would've lost a couple hundred dollars worth.

 

[Sharjeelshaikh]

Many lower tier cards from SBI have discounted access to certain lounges. Even Amex Plat Travel to some lounges.
When the companies cannot offer complimentary, they offer discounted access.

I have seen this multiple times in BLR where the lounge agent says your card has discounted access after they put the card into the machine and enter something.

In case of axis magnus there is no such thing. Axis recently removed their lounge access from international terminals for all the cards, maybe during this something got messed up with dreamfolks end for some lounges.

U mean if I fly Mumbai -dubai I can't swipe my magnus at international departure lounge in mumbai?

 

[CARDBITRAGE]

U mean if I fly Mumbai -dubai I can't swipe my magnus at international departure lounge in mumbai?

You can use your Magnus PP for complimentary access, but your Magnus CC will not work and you will be charged the regular or discounted access fee as per the lounge policy.

 

[Sharjeelshaikh]

You can use your Magnus PP for complimentary access, but your Magnus CC will not work and you will be charged the regular or discounted access fee as per the lounge policy.

Thanks buddy.much appreciate

 

[MilesMax]

U mean if I fly Mumbai -dubai I can't swipe my magnus at international departure lounge in mumbai?

Nope. Use PP

 

[swipesmart]

I recently visited Kolkata Airport and accessed the Kolkata Airport Lounge using my Axis Bank Magnus Card, which boasts "unlimited" lounge access. However, what should have been a smooth, stress-free pre-flight experience turned into an exasperating ordeal that I feel compelled to share with you all.

Upon reviewing my bank statement post-visit, I was astonished to find a perplexing charge of Rs 500, labeled as "TFS, Kolkata." Now, considering that Kolkata Airport's lounge is simply known as "TFS" (Travel and Food Services), logic dictated that this charge should be for lounge access. Axis Bank, however, had a different narrative in mind.

My journey through customer support was no less frustrating. Initially, Axis Bank's Burgundy Support insisted that TFS was not a lounge but a retail store, causing considerable confusion. It took repeated explanations and even the help of a Google search to convince them that TFS was indeed the lounge at Kolkata Airport. A maddening process in its own. With that issue cleared up, I reached out to Axis Bank's support team, who assured me that they would investigate and respond within two days. Unfortunately, those two days stretched into a seemingly endless wait with no response in sight.

In my growing frustration, I took to Twitter, sharing my airport entry time, Uber receipts, flight boarding passes, and timestamps – all clearly indicating that the Rs 500 charge occurred a mere 20 minutes before my flight's departure. Axis Bank's response to my detailed evidence left me perplexed. They insinuated that I must have opted for something beyond my card's benefits, a conclusion that simply didn't align with my lounge access intentions.

My request for a callback to clarify the situation fell on deaf ears, as Axis Bank's response continued to be unhelpful and frustrating. It was as if they were more interested in closing the case as swiftly as possible than addressing my genuine concerns.

Desperate for a resolution, I contacted Axis Bank's MD Desk (Amitabh.Chaudhry@axisbank.com) and PNO (PNO@axisbank.com), but my optimism for a satisfactory outcome was waning.

In conclusion, this experience with the Axis Bank Magnus Card was far from the pleasant, hassle-free journey I had hoped for. It's not just about the Rs 500 charge; it's about the lack of transparency and support from Axis Bank that left me feeling both disappointed and frustrated.


I'm seriously considering parting ways with this card and looking for alternatives that offer unlimited lounge access or fall into the super-premium segment. If you have any recommendations or have encountered similar issues, please share your thoughts. It's essential to stay vigilant and informed when dealing with financial institutions and their services. 🛫💳😡

I recently visited, but was charged rs 2 only.

 

[DeepSaha]

I would like to share an update on the situation.

After engaging in discussions with both Axis Bank and DreamFolks, they took the time to thoroughly review my complaint and meticulously examined all the evidence I provided. As a positive resolution to the issue, DreamFolks have directly refunded Rs500 to the bank account I had previously shared with them. I wanted to clarify that DreamFolks transferred the refunded amount directly to my bank account.

 

[nikhilesh71]

No amount displayed on screen means red signal, Never enter pin without verifying amount.

 

[Thomas244]

No amount displayed on screen means red signal, Never enter pin without verifying amount.

At petrol pump shops everyplace please do look at amount on screen or on printout and verify. It’s a good practice saves headaches. Over 2 years ago at a hospital with a new receptionist instead of thousand a lakh was charged instantly pointing it out means staff has to sort it out. They have to refund and sort it immediately. (Plus u can pocket the points of course)

 

[balpreet.singh]

I recently visited Kolkata Airport and accessed the Kolkata Airport Lounge using my Axis Bank Magnus Card, which boasts "unlimited" lounge access. However, what should have been a smooth, stress-free pre-flight experience turned into an exasperating ordeal that I feel compelled to share with you all.

Upon reviewing my bank statement post-visit, I was astonished to find a perplexing charge of Rs 500, labeled as "TFS, Kolkata." Now, considering that Kolkata Airport's lounge is simply known as "TFS" (Travel and Food Services), logic dictated that this charge should be for lounge access. Axis Bank, however, had a different narrative in mind.

My journey through customer support was no less frustrating. Initially, Axis Bank's Burgundy Support insisted that TFS was not a lounge but a retail store, causing considerable confusion. It took repeated explanations and even the help of a Google search to convince them that TFS was indeed the lounge at Kolkata Airport. A maddening process in its own. With that issue cleared up, I reached out to Axis Bank's support team, who assured me that they would investigate and respond within two days. Unfortunately, those two days stretched into a seemingly endless wait with no response in sight.

In my growing frustration, I took to Twitter, sharing my airport entry time, Uber receipts, flight boarding passes, and timestamps – all clearly indicating that the Rs 500 charge occurred a mere 20 minutes before my flight's departure. Axis Bank's response to my detailed evidence left me perplexed. They insinuated that I must have opted for something beyond my card's benefits, a conclusion that simply didn't align with my lounge access intentions.

My request for a callback to clarify the situation fell on deaf ears, as Axis Bank's response continued to be unhelpful and frustrating. It was as if they were more interested in closing the case as swiftly as possible than addressing my genuine concerns.

Desperate for a resolution, I contacted Axis Bank's MD Desk (Amitabh.Chaudhry@axisbank.com) and PNO (PNO@axisbank.com), but my optimism for a satisfactory outcome was waning.

In conclusion, this experience with the Axis Bank Magnus Card was far from the pleasant, hassle-free journey I had hoped for. It's not just about the Rs 500 charge; it's about the lack of transparency and support from Axis Bank that left me feeling both disappointed and frustrated.


I'm seriously considering parting ways with this card and looking for alternatives that offer unlimited lounge access or fall into the super-premium segment. If you have any recommendations or have encountered similar issues, please share your thoughts. It's essential to stay vigilant and informed when dealing with financial institutions and their services. 🛫💳😡

This sounds strange. If there is a charge of 500/- then there should be a slip also isn't it? The Lounge slip is Rs 2/- ( Visa ) or Rs 25/- Masterdard.

How can there be a charge without any slip. This sounds so bad and I am sure for you it would be a even higher level of frustration

 

[DeepSaha]

This sounds strange. If there is a charge of 500/- then there should be a slip also isn't it? The Lounge slip is Rs 2/- ( Visa ) or Rs 25/- Masterdard.

How can there be a charge without any slip. This sounds so bad and I am sure for you it would be a even higher level of frustration

Yep it was frustrating but at the end all went well and Dreamfolks refunded me.