Recent changes to airport lounge access policies across Asia, especially in China 🇨🇳, have sparked widespread discussion and confusion among travelers. Many people have heard rumors about a new rule requiring travelers to prove they are worth $2.8 million to enter airport lounges in China. As of July 26, 2025, there is no official policy in China 🇨🇳 that asks travelers to show a net worth of $2.8 million for lounge access. Instead, airports and banks are using new spend-based and tiered systems to decide who can use these lounges. This update explains what has changed, who is affected, what travelers need to do, and what these changes mean for anyone with pending applications or upcoming travel plans.
Summary of What Changed
The main change is that airport lounges in China 🇨🇳 and other Asian countries are moving away from open access for all credit card holders. Instead, they are now using spend-based and tiered models. This means that only people who spend a certain amount on their credit cards or have special banking relationships can get free or discounted lounge access. There is no requirement to prove a specific net worth like $2.8 million. The focus is on recent spending or account status, not on showing your total wealth.
Who Is Affected by These Changes
These new rules affect several groups:
- Credit Card Holders: People who used to get lounge access just by having a certain credit card may now need to spend more to keep this benefit.
- Private Banking Customers: Some banks in China 🇨🇳, like China CITIC Bank International, offer lounge access to their private banking clients. These clients usually have high account balances, but there is no public rule about needing $2.8 million.
- Frequent Flyers: Airline loyalty program members, especially those with elite status, still get lounge access, but some restrictions now apply, especially for domestic flights.
- Travelers in India and Other Asian Countries: Similar spend-based systems are now in place in India, with banks like Bank of Baroda and card networks like RuPay introducing new requirements.
Effective Dates
Most of these changes started in early 2025. For example:
- RuPay’s new tiered lounge access system in India began on January 1, 2025.
- Bank of Baroda’s new spend requirements for lounge access also started in 2025.
- China CITIC Bank International’s private banking lounge access is ongoing, with no major changes announced in 2025.
- SkyTeam airline alliance updated lounge access rules for elite members, effective April 1, 2025.
Required Actions for Travelers
If you want to keep your airport lounge access in China 🇨🇳 or other Asian countries, here’s what you need to do:
- Check your credit card’s latest lounge access rules. Many banks now require you to spend a certain amount each quarter to qualify.
- If you have a premium or private banking account, ask your bank about current lounge benefits. Some banks offer a set number of free visits each year.
- If you are a frequent flyer with elite status, review your airline’s latest lounge access policies. Some airlines have new restrictions for domestic flights.
- Do not worry about proving a $2.8 million net worth. No airport or bank in China 🇨🇳 is asking for this.
- For pending applications for new credit cards or banking products, ask your bank if the new rules will affect your lounge access. Some banks give new cardholders a grace period before spend requirements start.
Implications for Pending Applications
If you have recently applied for a new credit card or private banking account, here’s what you should know:
- New cardholders may be exempt from spend requirements during the first quarter after getting the card. For example, Bank of Baroda in India gives this grace period.
- If you are waiting for approval, check if your card or account will offer lounge access under the new rules. Some cards that used to offer unlimited access now have limits or require higher spending.
- If you are applying for private banking in China 🇨🇳, ask about the exact requirements for lounge access. While private banking clients often get this benefit, there is no public $2.8 million threshold.
Details of the New Lounge Access Models
Here’s how the new systems work in practice:
| Country/Type | Visa Category | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| India | RuPay Lounge Access | effective January 1, 2025 |
| India | Bank of Baroda Lounge Access | effective 2025 |
| Global | SkyTeam Lounge Access | effective April 1, 2025 |
| Global | New Cardholders Grace Period | first quarter after getting the card |
- Spend-Based Access: Banks and card issuers look at how much you spend on your card in the last three months. The more you spend, the more lounge visits you get. For example, RuPay in India has four tiers, with unlimited visits only for those spending over Rs 500,001 per quarter.
- Tiered Card Access: Some cards, like premium or VIP cards, come with more lounge visits. For example, Bank of China (Hong Kong) UnionPay VIP cardholders get five free visits per year.
- Private Banking Access: Banks like China CITIC Bank International offer lounge access to private banking clients, but the number of visits is limited (for example, two free visits per year).
- Airline Elite Status: SkyTeam Elite Plus members, including those flying with China Airlines, still get lounge access, but there are new limits for domestic flights.
Why These Changes Happened
Airport lounges in China 🇨🇳 and across Asia have become very crowded. More people are traveling, and many credit cards started offering lounge access as a perk. This led to long lines and crowded lounges, which made the experience less enjoyable. To fix this, banks and airports are making it harder to get in unless you are a high spender or have a special account. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these changes help control crowds and make lounges more comfortable for those who qualify.
What Experts Say
Experts believe that spend-based and tiered systems are a fair way to manage lounge access. They allow banks and card issuers to reward their best customers while keeping lounges from getting too crowded. Some people worry that these changes make lounges too exclusive, but most agree that direct wealth checks, like asking for proof of $2.8 million, would be unfair and hard to manage. There is no sign that China 🇨🇳 or any other country plans to introduce such a rule.
What to Expect in the Future
For now, there is no sign that China 🇨🇳 will require travelers to prove a $2.8 million net worth for airport lounge access. The trend is moving toward higher spend requirements and more exclusive card tiers. If lounges remain crowded, banks and airports may make the rules even stricter, but direct wealth checks are unlikely. Travelers should expect more changes in the future and should keep checking with their banks and airlines for the latest updates.
Official Resources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, travelers should visit official websites. For example, you can find details about RuPay’s lounge access policy on the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) website. Always check with your bank or airline before you travel to avoid surprises at the airport.
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
- There is no $2.8 million wealth check for airport lounge access in China 🇨🇳 as of July 26, 2025.
- Access is now based on how much you spend or your banking or airline status.
- Travelers should review their card and account terms, keep up with spending requirements, and check for updates before traveling.
- If you have questions about your eligibility, contact your bank or airline directly.
By staying informed and keeping track of your spending or account status, you can continue to enjoy airport lounge access in China 🇨🇳 and across Asia, even as the rules become stricter.
Learn Today
Spend-Based Access → Lounge entry determined by recent credit card spending amounts rather than fixed net worth requirements.
Tiered System → Structure where lounge access varies by membership or spending levels, granting differing privileges.
Private Banking → Banking services for high-net-worth individuals offering exclusive benefits like lounge access.
Elite Status → Premium airline loyalty level granting perks including airport lounge access and priority services.
RuPay → Indian national payment network employing tiered lounge access based on quarterly card expenditures.
This Article in a Nutshell
Recent Asian airport lounge rules focus on spend-based access, not wealth proof. China denies $2.8M net worth rumors. Travelers must meet tiered spending or status requirements to keep privileges through evolving 2025 policies adapting to congestion and rewarding high-spending clients and elite flyers.
— By VisaVerge.com
