ICICI Bank's New Quarterly Spend Requirement for Lounge Access
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ICICI adds a ₹75,000 quarterly spend hurdle for lounge access on Adani One & MMT cards from July 1, 2026.
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From July 1, 2026, ICICI Bank will require a ₹75,000 quarterly spend for complimentary lounge access on MakeMyTrip (MMT) and Adani One credit cards, as part of the new rules for lounge access.
Only premium cards will retain unconditional access. This change reflects a broader industry trend towards usage-based benefits.
TL;DR
- From 1 July 2026, complimentary access to airport lounges on Adani One & MMT ICICI credit cards will require ₹75,000 in total spends per preceding quarter.
- Premium cards like Emeralde, Diamant, and Times Black continue to offer complimentary access without such spend requirements, but expect higher fees and stricter eligibility criteria.
- Track your eligible spends carefully and exclude non-counted transactions to avoid losing complimentary lounge access.
- Assess whether your usage of benefits justifies keeping or switching cards.
Lounge Access Requirements at a Glance
Benefit | Until June 30, 2026 | From July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
Lounge access requirement for Adani One & MMT cards (co-branded credit cards) | No minimum spend required | ₹75,000 spend in preceding quarter (spending condition applies to co-branded credit cards like Adani One and MakeMyTrip) |
Unconditional lounge access cards | NA | ICICI Diamant, Emeralde (Private, Metal, Emirates), and Times Black cards retain lounge access without spend requirement (not subject to spending condition) |
Note: From July 1, 2026, complimentary airport lounge access on co-branded credit cards such as Adani One and MakeMyTrip is subject to a ₹75,000 quarterly spending condition. Premium cards listed above are exempt from this spending condition.
The affected cards until now had offered complimentary airport lounge access without any minimum spend condition. This marks a significant shift in benefit structure for eligible cardholders.
Which ICICI Credit Cards Are Affected, and Which Aren’t?
Cards Now Subject to ₹75,000 Quarterly Spend (Co-branded Credit Cards) | Cards Exempt (No Spend Requirement) |
|---|---|
MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card Adani One ICICI Bank Signature Credit Card Adani One ICICI Bank Platinum Credit Card | ICICI Bank Diamant Credit Card Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card Emeralde Private Credit Card Emeralde Credit Card Emirates Emeralde Credit Card Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card (These cards continue to offer complimentary access without any spending condition) |
Other Details
- The spending requirement refers to total eligible spends, which are calculated based on eligible card usage and exclude certain transactions such as rent, education fees, government payments, interest charges, annual fees, joining fees, rewards redemptions, EMIs, and transaction reversals. Only eligible transactions count towards the total spends required for lounge access.
- The change applies only to lounge access benefits only and not necessarily to other perks like vouchers, discounts or non-lounge travel benefits.
- Also, ICICI has updated the minimum amount due (MAD) formula and other fee-related rules in parallel with this lounge access change, but those are separate policy revisions. The minimum amount payable is now calculated as a percentage of the outstanding balance, including finance charges and cash withdrawals, rather than a small percentage of the total spends. This new formula applies to statements generated from the effective date. Cardholders who make minimum payments or pay only the minimum may face higher short term costs and long term interest accumulation, especially if they use revolving credit.
Why ICICI Bank is Changing the Lounge Access Rules Now?
ICICI Bank’s decision adds a spending hurdle for customers who previously enjoyed “travel-friendly” cards with fee-free or minimal-fee lounge access.
Customers who rely on minimum payments or only pay the minimum due may find it harder to justify spending ₹75,000 in three months (≈ ₹25,000/month) just to unlock this perk, especially if they are infrequent travellers. This reduces the benefit value for those not able to pay their balances in full each month.
- For disciplined users who pay their balances in full, the new rules may be less impactful, as their payment habits already align with responsible credit usage.
- For the bank, the change helps control costs. Lounge access is a costly per-visit or per-seat liability. ICICI appears to be aligning with industry peers who have imposed similar limits to curb overuse. These changes will impact cardholders starting from the next financial year, so customers should review their spending and payment strategies accordingly.
This change is part of a broader industry trend across India’s credit card sector, where banks are shifting towards usage-based benefits to manage costs and encourage higher engagement. The ₹75,000 quarterly spend requirement signals that ICICI expects cardholders to demonstrate consistent spending to access premium perks like airport lounge access.
For many users, this policy may reduce the appeal of the Adani One / MMT cards, unless they can commit to substantial quarterly spends. Additionally, under the new rules, relying on minimum payments can lead to long term interest accumulation, increasing the total cost for those who do not pay their full outstanding amount each month.
Cards with no spend requirement will likely become more desirable, especially for infrequent travellers. Consumers should begin comparing total cost (annual fees, spend requirements, other exclusions) before falling for amenity-heavy promotions.
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About the Author
Sakshi Dubey
Sakshi loves to shop and uses credit cards to understand how she can minimize her spending and maximize rewards. She writes posts about credit card rewards, best cards for everyday spends, and guides on optimizing credit card usage.