My friend has a premium HDFC Infinia card but was recently denied entry to the 080 International Lounge at Bangalore Airport. How is this possible when the card is supposed to have unlimited access?
Even with a super-premium card like an Axis Atlas or HDFC Infinia, lounge access can sometimes be denied. This is usually not because the card is ineligible, but due to external factors like the lounge being at full capacity, the card’s network being temporarily down, or specific card-related conditions not being met.
The Most Common Reason: The Lounge is at Full Capacity
I was talking to a frequent international flyer, and he said this is the most common issue he faces, especially at the 080 International Lounge. The lounge gets extremely crowded during the peak departure hours (late evening and post-midnight). He explained that for safety and service quality reasons, the lounge staff will temporarily stop admitting new guests when they reach their maximum capacity. In this situation, even a valid Infinia cardholder will be asked to wait or may be denied entry.
Forgetting to Activate the Card for International Use
My colleague faced a different issue when he tried to use his Priority Pass (from his Axis Atlas card) for the first time. The transaction was declined. He called his bank from the airport and discovered that he had forgotten to enable ‘International Transactions’ on his credit card. Since the lounge access transaction is processed as an international one, this is a crucial step that is often overlooked.
When the Card Network’s Machine is Down
A less common but frustrating reason for denial is a technical glitch. My uncle was at the 080 Domestic Lounge and tried to use his eligible Visa card, but the transaction failed. The lounge staff informed him that their Visa network machine was temporarily down, but their Mastercard and Amex machines were working. Because he did not have another eligible card, he was denied access due to this specific technical failure at the lounge’s end.
Exhausting Your Visit Quota Unknowingly
While cards like Infinia have unlimited access, my friend with a different premium card was denied entry. He was sure he had visits left for the quarter. However, when he checked his card’s app, he realized he had already used his two complimentary visits for that quarter on previous trips. It’s very easy to lose track of your visit quota, which is a common reason for a valid card to be declined at the lounge.
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