Axis Bank's Priority Pass no longer works in Indian domestic lounges. Here is what still gets you in

News and analysis · Sources checked October 5, 2026.

If you hold an Axis Bank premium credit card and flew within India last month, you may already have found out the hard way. The Priority Pass card that came with your credit card no longer opens domestic lounges in India.

What changed

The bank's notice, quoted by Live From A Lounge on July 28, was blunt: "Effective 28-08-2026, the Priority Pass card will not be valid for accessing domestic airport lounges in India."

Priority Pass still works abroad and at international lounges in India. The same notice says that "eligible airport lounges at Indian international terminals after immigration are considered international lounges and can be accessed using your Priority Pass."

The change covers Axis's premium cards. Reporting by Live From A Lounge and by Trade Brains (September 4) agrees that Select, Magnus, Magnus for Burgundy, Olympus and Reserve are affected. The two outlets list a few other variants differently, so check the notice sent to you or Axis's card page for your specific card.

Trade Brains sums up the new arrangement this way: "Priority Pass is still applicable for access to international lounges and the domestic access method is different." In practice, domestic visits now depend on the card's own lounge benefit. That typically means presenting the credit card itself and meeting any spend conditions attached to it, not showing the Priority Pass card.

The quieter change: renewal now needs your consent

Live From A Lounge also reports that complimentary memberships tied to Axis cards, Priority Pass included, will now be "renewed only with your explicit consent." If you ignore the bank's prompt, your Priority Pass could simply lapse at renewal. That would hit you on your next international trip, not just at home.

What to do before your next flight

1. Find your card's domestic lounge benefit. Look up how many domestic visits your specific Axis card includes and whether any spend threshold applies, then check whether you have met it this period.
2. Use the credit card at the desk for domestic lounges. At Delhi and Mumbai domestic terminals, the Priority Pass card should no longer be your first move.
3. Keep Priority Pass for international departures. It still works at lounges after immigration in India and overseas.
4. Opt in to renewal. If you want to keep Priority Pass, respond to the bank's consent request before your membership expires.
5. Have a backup. At busy domestic terminals, a walk-in fee or a cafe may beat arguing at the desk if your card's visits are used up.

Part of a wider trend

Axis is not alone. Indian banks have been tightening free lounge access for some time, often by adding spend thresholds and visit caps. Removing Priority Pass from domestic lounges takes that further. The bank now controls domestic entry directly and can attach whatever conditions it chooses.

For frequent domestic flyers, the practical result is that a premium Axis card is no longer a pass you can simply flash at the lounge desk. Read your card's current terms before you travel, and do not assume an older benefit still applies.

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