Mastercard airport lounges currently have the largest network in India compared with Visa. That said, if you hold a Visa Signature or Visa Infinite card, it still makes sense to use them when convenient. In my experience, the value of lounge access ranks like this:
- Priority Pass > Mastercard > Visa
Priority Pass is my top pick because it provides access to more than 850 lounges worldwide. Mastercard typically offers access to the most domestic lounges in India, while Visa covers fewer lounges overall. For that reason I reach for Visa only when it is the most practical option for a given visit.
View from Plaza Premium lounge – Bangalore Domestic Terminal
Complimentary Lounge Access Limits on Visa Cards:
- Visa Infinite cards: 4 complimentary visits per quarter
- Visa Signature cards: 2 complimentary visits per quarter (similar to many MasterCard cards)
Domestic Terminal – Visa Airport Lounges
- Bangalore – Plaza Premium Lounge
- Chennai – Travel Club (TFS) Lounge
- Hyderabad – Plaza Premium Lounge
- Mumbai – Carnations
- Delhi – Plaza Premium Lounge (T3) & Plaza Premium Lounge (T1D)
International Terminal – Visa Airport Lounges
- Bangalore – Plaza Premium Lounge
- Chennai – Travel Club (TFS) Lounge
- Hyderabad – Plaza Premium Lounge
- Mumbai – Clipper
- Delhi – Plaza Premium Lounge (T3)
On a personal note, I’ve used the Plaza Premium Lounge in Bangalore. My HDFC Regalia Credit Card (Visa Signature) granted access after a small swipe of Rs.2 for card authentication.
Have you used Visa Signature or Visa Infinite for lounge access? Share your experience in the comments below.