HDFC Credit Card Lounge Access Changes: New charges apply to rent, gaming, and reward limits

HDFC Bank has announced significant changes to its credit cards, effective July 1, 2025. One notable change is the revised lounge access policy, which is drawing attention and topping searches. The bank has announced that the complimentary lounge access on direct swipe-off is discontinued effective midnight of 09 June 2025. With effect from June 10, 2025, you can avail of the free domestic lounge access benefit on the spend of Rs 50,000 or more in a calendar quarter. Here is the following list of changes announced by the bank.

HDFC credit card lounge access changes

• To use the participating airport lounge, customers must be validated at the point of entry by sharing the voucher details with the lounge operator.
• The voucher can only be used by the person whose name is stated at the top of their voucher. Proof of identification will be required to gain entry.
• The offer is not transferable, non-negotiable, and cannot be encashed
• Bank has sole and absolute discretion- may alter, cancel, or amend eligibility of any credit card, or card feature/benefits, at any time without prior notice.
• Please note that an additional charge may occur for meal/food/drink items (especially alcoholic drinks) as well as for services like nap, massage service, and spa, as per the discretion of the participating airport lounge.
• Participating airport lounges may reserve the right to enforce a maximum stay policy (usually 2 – 3 hours) to prevent overcrowding. This is at the discretion of the individual lounge operator, who may impose a charge for extended stays. 
• HDFC Bank shall not be liable under any circumstances for the services provided at and by the participating lounges.

Further, the new charges, effective July 1, 2025, on rent payments, online gaming, and wallet loading are as follows. 

Online skill-based gaming transactions

• If you spend more than Rs 10,000 per month on platforms like (but not limited to) Dream11, Rummy Culture, Junglee Games, or MPL, a 1 per cent charge will apply.
• The charge will be applicable on the entire online skill-based gaming spend for the month and will be capped at Rs 4,999 per month.
• No Reward Points will be earned on Online Skill-Based Gaming transactions.

Wallet loading transactions

• If you load third-party wallets with more than Rs 10,000 per month on platforms like (but not limited to) PayTM, Mobikwik, Freecharge, or Ola Money using your credit card, a 1 per cent charge will apply.
• The charge will be applicable on the entire wallet loading spends for the month and will be capped at Rs 4,999 per month.

Utility transactions

• Consumer Cards: If you spend more than Rs 50,000 per month on Utility, a 1 per cent charge will apply.
• Business Cards: If you spend more than Rs 75,000 per month on Utility, a 1 per cent charge will apply.
• The charge will be applicable on the entire Utility spend for the month and will be capped at Rs 4,999 per month.
• Insurance transactions won’t be considered as utility transactions, hence no charge will be applicable.

New charge limits for rent, fuel, and education

• The maximum charge per transaction for the rent, fuel, and education categories is now Rs 4,999. Kindly note that the existing charge of 1 per cent will continue to be applicable
• On all rent transactions. 
• Only on fuel transactions more than Rs 15,000 / Rs 30,000 per transaction
• Only on Education Transactions done via third-party apps. If you make payments through college/school websites or their POS machines, there will be no charges.

Reward points for insurance transactions: Limits apply

Insurance transactions will earn Reward Points, but are limited at per month as per the table below.

Please note: For Millennia, UPI, BIZ UPI, Swiggy, BIZ First, Paytm, Paytm Business, Easy EMI Millennia, Best Price Save Smart, and Bharat credit cards, the capping as per product feature will continue to be applicable.

All fees are subject to GST as per government regulations.