Devaluation BOB Card Introduces Spend Requirement for Free Domestic Airport Lounge Access

[TechnoFinoTechnoFino is verified member.]

It’s BOB Card’s time now!
Effective from January 1, 2025, you’ll need to spend a specific amount using your BOB card to qualify for free lounge access at domestic airports in India.



I’d say BOB has kept the spending requirement very reasonable. Unlike other card issuers, like ICICI Bank, which require you to spend 1 lakh to get free lounge access, BOB’s requirement is well within reach.

 

[cardio_guy]

Yes offers wise, I see more on BOB, Federal when compared to IDFC, IndusInd, RBL. (on known e-commerce and travel)

Even DBS and HSBC has good offers in some places.

Top cards for instant offers:
Tier 1: (15-20% discounts often) BOB, Federal, HSBC, DBS
Tier 2: (with cappings, minimum cart value etc): Indusind, RBL, Yes, IDFC First

 

[zoro]

Similar changes coming on DCB & Infinia as well in some time.

because of the good reward rate my spending is around 20-50k per month on this card, I hardly use any other card

 

[SSV]

Now it is given that :
Very soon almost all cards ( at least 90%) from all Banks will have spend Criteria to avail free lounge access.. We have come to that point now..

SO, from now on. people will get / hold the cards only that are relevant to their spend / life style pattern.. which is good in a way for both customers and the banks.....
All good things must end at some point of time.. Now selective shopping of Credit cards has well and truly arrived...

all the best guys !!

 

[maynigam]

Now it is given that :
Very soon almost all cards ( at least 90%) from all Banks will have spend Criteria to avail free lounge access.. We have come to that point..

SO, from now on. People will get / hold the cards only that are relevant to their spend / life style pattern.. which is good in a way for both customers and banks.....
All good things must end at some point of time.. Now selective shopping of Credit cards has well and truly arrived...

all the best guys !!

Totally agree. Seeing the state of lounges and long queues outside busy lounges like Delhi & Mumbai, it is a much needed step to reduce the crowd and make space for people who will actually be spending on the credit card to gain lounge access.
This is the area where cards like BOB Eterna and Atlas will shine.... People will spend happily and get good rate of return as well as benefits!

 

[DeadFella]

Crowd control at airport lounges. no more free lunch.

 

[maynigam]

Many instagram influencers have sensationalised credit card returns and popularised benefits like "maine 2 rupees me khaana khaaya"

 

[maynigam]

Looking at the lounge list, I feel lounges have reduced. Can anybody confirm?

 

[anisharya16]

Despite being a basic level card , bob premier, it has a wide range of lounge list ,

I live near Siliguri , WB. I have not found any card which allows Siliguri's airport except Bob premier.

That is very good to know.
List is mentioned in the OP link

Bro, I live in purnea, always take flight from Siliguri. This Diwali when I came home, saw this lounge and wanted to know which cards would be accepted. Now I know bcoz of devaluation.

 

[Swastik]

And suddenly I'm not so sad about getting rejected for Eterna 😅

 

[mgforce]

I guess BOB was one of the last one. They have also got this spends condition!

40K seems too high though.

 

[TakeNoFineOh]

Until ? Wait for your turn

 

[Harry1]

More spends for premium cards. Yes bank setting a new example 😭.

 

[card_007]

Eterna being eternally put to rest slowly!
The good thing is that the lounges will become exclusive and worthy again as opposed to being like free government canteens!

 

[SSV]

More spends for premium cards. Yes bank setting a new example 😭.

Because the premium cards have more number of lounge visits / unlimited numer of visits , access to add-on card holders / guest access etc.. when compared to basic or lower end cards..

 

[cardio_guy]

Now it is given that :
Very soon almost all cards ( at least 90%) from all Banks will have spend Criteria to avail free lounge access.. We have come to that point now..

SO, from now on. People will get / hold the cards only that are relevant to their spend / life style pattern.. which is good in a way for both customers and banks.....
All good things must end at some point of time.. Now selective shopping of Credit cards has well and truly arrived...

all the best guys !!

True.
Also to note that when banks grab customers through LTF festival, like Tata Neu Infinity is being given now, the next logical step after getting customers is to devalue the card.

And the easiest options are
1. Capping on cashbacks
2. Spend criteria for lounge access
3. Reward points conversion value reduction.
4. B1G1 movie offer capping

 

[nemesis23]

I guess BOB was one of the last one. They have also got this spends condition!

40K seems too high though.

SBI , AU , HDFC still no spent condition yet i guess.

 

[SSV]

SBI , AU , HDFC still no spent condition yet i guess.

All will come in line in the due course !!

 

[hedgehog2122]

SBI , AU , HDFC still no spent condition yet i guess.

In HDFC except RG, DCB, Biz black and Infinia all other cards have spent based criteria.

 

[helloworld]

SBI , AU , HDFC still no spent condition yet i guess.

SBI is too advanced that they didn't offered lounge to any basic or semi-premium cards. Only Prime and above or equivalent cards have access, and I believe they're not easy to get as LTF and able to get enough money with annual fee.

Anycase, anything can happen.

Same for HDFC, only Regalia Gold or equivalent, DCB or Infinia have lounge access for now. No basic or semi-premium cards. But this bank has high chances to put the limit.

AU definitely will follow along with Indus, Federal.

 

[Harry1]

Poor Tiara. Got devalued before launch 🤣. @Abhishek012