OCBC VOYAGE Cardholders currently enjoy unlimited lounge visits, regardless of whether they hold a principal or supplementary card.Â
The problem is that access is limited to Plaza Premium Lounges. Although these are generally a cut above your average contract lounge, their footprint (~150 lounges) is nowhere near as big as a Priority Pass or LoungeKey (1,400+ lounges). You won’t find a Plaza Premium Lounge in airports like Auckland, New York JFK, Paris, Perth or San Francisco, just to name a few.
So in that respect, there’s some good news and bad news.
The good news is that OCBC is switching its lounge provider to DragonPass, which will greatly expand the range of lounges that cardholders can access.Â
The bad news is that supplementary cardholders will no longer enjoy lounge privileges.
OCBC VOYAGE switches lounge provider to DragonPass
Per an update on the OCBC website, all OCBC VOYAGE Cardholders (including the Premier, PPC and BOS variants)Â will now be able to enjoy lounge access through DragonPass:
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Gain access to an expanded network of over 1,200 airport lounges with a complimentary DragonPass membership – exclusive to VOYAGE Cardmembers. -OCBC |
With more than 1,300 lounges across 869 airports, you’re sure to find a DragonPass lounge more readily than a Plaza Premium one (and since all Plaza Premium Lounges are part of DragonPass anyway, you don’t lose out on anything).
Moreover, DragonPass is more than just lounges. Members can also enjoy set meals at airport restaurants, nap pods, spa treatments, video games and other experiences.
Heck, you can even visit a onsen at Nagoya Airport. Yes, an actual onsen, complete with tarmac views.Â
Compared to before, this is a significant upgrade of the lounge benefit- at least if you’re a principal cardholder.
Supplementary cardholders lose lounge access
Unfortunately, supplementary cardholders will be losing lounge access. I’ve confirmed with OCBC that the DragonPass membership will only be issued to principal cardholders.
Needless to say, this is a significant devaluation of supplementary cardholder perks, especially since OCBC only waives the S$191 supplementary card fee for the first year.
Going forward, I’d be seriously reconsidering paying that fee if I were you.
Access Plaza Premium Lounges till 28 February 2024
OCBC VOYAGE Cardholders, whether principal or supplementary, can continue to visit Plaza Premium Lounges until 28 February 2024, by presenting their physical card.
After this date, the physical card will no longer be valid for lounge admittance; all access will be via DragonPass.
OCBC Premier Visa Infinite makes the switch too
This probably doesn’t warrant a separate article, but OCBC Premier Visa Infinite Cardholders will also see their lounge access switched from Plaza Premium to DragonPass.
Cardholders will enjoy two complimentary visits per membership year. However, just like the OCBC VOYAGE, the allowance for supplementary cardholders is being nerfed too.
How to register
While Visa cardholders with DragonPass memberships usually download and register via the Airport Companion app, OCBC is doing things slightly differently.
Cardholders will need to download the official DragonPass app (Android | iOS) and register with a membership code that will be sent to their registered email address. The first batch of codes will be sent from 15-31 January 2024, so sit tight.Â
| ✅ Registration Steps |
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To activate your membership:
*New cardmembers who have their VOYAGE Card approved between the 1st and 15th of the month will receive their membership no. and activation code via email from the 22nd to the 25th of the same month. New Cardmembers who sign up between the 16th and the last day of the month will receive their details between the 7th and 10th of the following month. |
Conclusion
OCBC VOYAGE Cardholders will now be able to access DragonPass lounges and experiences worldwide, a significant upgrade from the current Plaza Premium arrangement.
However, supplementary cardholders will no longer enjoy lounge access after the current agreement with Plaza Premium expires on 28 February 2024. That’s a big nerf, so keep that in mind when deciding whether or not to renew your supplementary card.
OCBC VOYAGE Cardholders: Win or loss?
I pretty sure 90N card holders are getting dragon passes too
Today is the 31 Jan 2024. I have not received the email to activate the Dragon pass. Anyone in the same situation?
Same here, have not received till today
just checking if it’s only me that hasn’t received any email regarding to the dragon pass?
It came as a ‘shock’ for Voyage Card member… that OCBC has nerfed the lounge access for supplementary cardholder. What a big let down and disappoinment, considering the switch by OCBC to dragon pass. I felt very much ‘short-changed’ and a big let down that OCBC just made this decision ! I