My wife has a credit card with lounge access, but I do not. If I am travelling alone, can I borrow her card and use it to get into the airport lounge?
No, you cannot use anyone else’s credit card to access an airport lounge, even if they are your spouse or a close family member. The lounge access benefit is strictly non-transferable and is available only to the person whose name is printed on the credit card.
The Strict Name-Matching Policy at the Lounge
I was at the 080 Lounge in Bangalore last week and saw this happen. The person in front of me presented a credit card, but the name on the card did not match the name on his boarding pass. The lounge staff politely but firmly explained that for security and auditing purposes, the name on the credit card must exactly match the name on the boarding pass. They had to deny him entry.
The Rule Applies Even to Family Members
My friend thought he could use his father’s premium credit card when travelling for a college trip. He learned the hard way that this is not allowed. The lounge access benefit is tied to the individual cardholder, not their family. You cannot use your wife’s, husband’s, father’s, or any other person’s card to gain access if they are not present with you.
The Correct Way for a Non-Cardholder to Get Access: As a Guest
The only way for someone other than the cardholder to enter the lounge is as a guest of the cardholder. When my wife and I were travelling together, I used my credit card for my own complimentary access. I then asked the staff if I could bring my wife in as a guest. They said yes, and the guest visit was charged to my card as per my card’s specific guest policy. The cardholder must be present to authorize a guest’s entry.
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