Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- SBI Card's domestic lounge access programme, revised from 10 January 2026, splits eligible cards into Set A and Set B - the two tiers access different lounge networks.
- Only SBI cards with an annual fee of ₹1,499 or ₹2,999 qualify for the network-partner lounge programme - lower-fee entry cards are excluded by design.
- Set A cards (Octane, Pulse, Etihad Guest SBI Card, SBI Card MILES, and others) access 16 domestic lounges; Set B cards (Prime, Prime Pro, Titan SBI Card, and co-branded Prime variants) access a wider 30-lounge network.
- Lounge entry requires validating the SBI card itself at the lounge's POS machine - it isn't automatic on presentation alone.
- Visit limits, not just eligibility, vary by card - check your specific card's complimentary quota before assuming unlimited access.
How SBI's Lounge Access Programme Works
SBI Card runs its lounge access programme through network partners - Visa, Mastercard and RuPay - rather than operating lounges directly. From 10 January 2026, the programme was revised to split participating lounges into two groups, Set A and Set B, with eligibility tied to which SBI card a person holds.
The revised structure applies specifically to SBI credit cards carrying an annual fee of ₹1,499 or ₹2,999. Cards below that fee threshold are not part of this network-partner lounge programme, regardless of other benefits they may offer.
To actually use the benefit, the cardholder must present and validate their SBI credit card at the lounge's POS terminal on entry. RuPay credit cards specifically require validation through Pine Labs POS machines at the lounge - entry isn't granted on ID or boarding pass alone.
Set A Cards: The Higher-Tier Lounge Network
Set A is built for SBI's higher-tier, typically travel-focused cards. As of the January 2026 revision, the following cards fall under Set A:
- Air India SBI Platinum Card
- BPCL SBI Card OCTANE
- Doctor's SBI Card
- Landmark Rewards SBI Card SELECT
- PhonePe SBI Card SELECT
- SBI Card PULSE
- Apollo SBI Card SELECT
- Club Vistara SBI Card
- Etihad Guest SBI Card
- Paytm SBI Card SELECT
- SBI Card MILES
Set A cardholders can access 16 domestic lounges across Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune, including both domestic and international terminal lounges in several of those cities.
Set B Cards: The Wider Lounge Network
Set B applies to SBI Card PRIME, Platinum-tier cards, and their co-branded bank-partnership variants. As of the January 2026 revision, the following cards fall under Set B:
- SBI Card PRIME, SBI Card PRIME Pro, Titan SBI Card, Krisflyer SBI Card
- Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME, Tata Card SELECT, Tata Croma Card SELECT, TATA STAR Card SELECT
- Bank-partnership PRIME variants: Bank of Maharashtra, PSB, Central Bank of India, Reliance, City Union Bank, Karnataka Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, South Indian Bank, Landmark Rewards, UCO Bank
- Bank-partnership Platinum variants: Karur Vysya Bank SBI Platinum Card, South Indian Bank SBI Platinum Card
Set B cardholders access a larger network of 30 domestic lounges, spanning the same major metros as Set A plus additional cities including Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Cochin, Coimbatore, Goa, Indore, Jaipur, Srinagar, Vadodara and Vishakhapatnam.
Lounge Access at a Glance
| Card tier | SET A Premium travel & co-brand cards (Octane, Pulse, Etihad Guest, MILES, and others) | SET B PRIME, PRIME Pro, Platinum and bank-partnership variants |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic lounges | 16 lounges across 8 cities | 30 lounges across 15+ cities |
| Minimum annual fee to qualify | ₹1,499 or ₹2,999 | ₹1,499 or ₹2,999 |
| Effective from | 10 January 2026 | 10 January 2026 |
What Happens If You Exceed Your Free Visit Quota
Each card carries its own complimentary visit quota, separate from Set A/Set B eligibility itself - eligibility tells you which lounges you can enter, while your card's own terms set how many free visits you get before charges apply. Once a cardholder's quota is exhausted, the lounge POS transaction is simply declined and lounge staff inform the cardholder on the spot. Beyond the free quota, the cardholder is charged the lounge's standard walk-in rate - the benefit is not extended free of charge indefinitely, and it cannot be transferred, negotiated, or encashed.
Because visit limits differ by card - and can change - always check current terms.
Cards Not Covered by the Set A/B Programme
Cards outside the ₹1,499–₹2,999 fee band, or with lounge access managed separately from this network-partner programme, are not included in the Set A/B lists above. For a full breakdown of lounges available on cards not mentioned here, SBI directs cardholders to check directly with the relevant network - Visa, Mastercard or RuPay - since access on those cards is governed by the network's own lounge programme rather than SBI Card's Set A/B structure.
