The OCBC VOYAGE card currently offers unlimited Plaza Premium Lounge visits for the cardholder and one guest. Supplementary cardholders enjoy the same benefit, including one guest.
From 15 August 2019, OCBC is cutting the complimentary guest privilege from the VOYAGE card.
Until 14 August 2019 | From 15 August 2019 | |
Main cardholder | Unlimited lounge visits + 1 guest | Unlimited lounge visits |
Supplementary cardholders |
Guests can still be brought into lounges, but at a fee of up to US$36 per visit per person.
OCBC’s lounge network was already smaller than other premium cards (it uses Plaza Premium with only ~80 locations, while most competitors use Priority Pass with more than 1,200), so this isn’t a good development as far as competitiveness of lounge offering is concerned.
You can find the T&Cs of the OCBC VOYAGE’s lounge access benefit here. Do note that the T&Cs do not specifically mention guest benefits.
How does the OCBC VOYAGE’s lounge benefits compare to other cards?
Here’s how the VOYAGE now measures up compared to other cards in terms of lounge benefits.
Card | Income Req | Lounge Network | Free Visits |
---|---|---|---|
Maybank Horizon Platinum | $30K | Selected lounges in SIN, KUL and HKG | 1 visit with min $1K spend in a single transaction within 3 months of travel |
Diners Club Cards | $30K | Participating lounges | 1 free visit between 1 Apr and 31 Mar of each year |
Citibank PremierMiles Visa | $30K | Priority Pass | 2 per calendar yr |
UOB JCB Card | $30K | Selected lounges | 2 per calendar yr (unlimited in Japan/Hawaii) |
DBS Altitude Visa | $30K | Priority Pass | 2 per membership yr |
BOC Visa Infinite | $120K | Plaza Premium | 2 per membership yr |
SCB X Card | $80K | Priority Pass | 2 per membership year |
CIMB Visa Infinite | $120K | Dragon Pass | 3 per membership yr* |
SCB Priority Banking VI | $30K (min AUM $200K) | Priority Pass | 4 (AUM<$200K), 24 (AUM>$200K) per membership yr Unlimited for Priority Private + Private Banking with 1 guest |
AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend | $50K | Selected lounges | 4 per membership yr |
UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card | $150K | Dragon Pass | 4 per membership yr |
SCB Visa Infinite | $150K | Priority Pass | 6 per membership yr |
UOB Lady's Solitaire Metal Card | $120K | Lounge Key | 6 per calendar yr* |
ICBC Global Travel Mastercard/Horoscope/Chinese Zodiac/Unionpay Dual Currency | $30K | Dragon Pass | 6 until 31 Dec 2020 |
Citi Prestige | $120K | Priority Pass | Unlimited (+1 guest) |
OCBC VOYAGE | $120K | Plaza Premium | Unlimited (supp cardholder gets same benefit) |
HSBC Visa Infinite | $120K | Lounge Key | Unlimited (supp cardholder gets same benefit) |
Maybank Visa Infinite | $150K | Priority Pass | Unlimited |
AMEX Platinum Charge | $200K | Priority Pass, AMEX & Centurion lounges, Delta SkyClubs (when flying Delta) | Unlimited (+1-2 guests, supp cardholders get same benefit, only first supp cardholder gets Priority Pass) |
Conclusion
If you want a card that offers lounge guesting benefits, your only choices now are the Citi Prestige and the AMEX Platinum Charge card.
Otherwise, if you want to bring a guest into the lounge, be sure to check if you’re able to access cheaper cash rates through Grab’s airport benefits than what your bank is charging.
Just an update – HSBC Visa Infinite no longer gives Priority Pass – as of 5 August it is changing to LoungeKey. Also the Amex Platinum PP no longer allows you to access the restaurants for the credit (eg Sydney) – seems all cards are devaluing!
Aaron, this seems material. Would you revisit your $120K card showdown results in the light of this change?
don’t plan to, especially since VOYAGE wasn’t the winner of the showdown. i’ll probably review again in 12 months, as I did last time. rumour has it that Citi Prestige has changes coming (good/bad I don’t know), so i’d rather do a one time refresh
I consider the SCVI to be a keeper as the 6 visits per year can be used in one go (as cardholder +5 guest).
Useful for when traveling with friends/family
Pls update your https://milelion.com/credit-cards/credit-card-lounge-benefits/ to show supp cardholder benefits