If you’re holding the SBI Card Elite, this update is going to sting a bit. Starting June 2026, Priority Pass lounge visits are being cut from 6 to 2 per quarter, and the Trident Privilege membership benefit is also being discontinued. For a card that sits in the premium segment, that’s a meaningful trim in travel value.
The annual fee remains unchanged at ₹4,999, which is the part that makes this feel especially tough. When a premium card keeps its fee but reduces one of its most visible travel perks, cardholders naturally start asking whether the value proposition still holds up. SBI Card is at least keeping the milestone benefit intact: the ₹5,000 reward on spending ₹10 lakh remains in place.
That milestone benefit is important, but it doesn’t fully offset the lounge cut for frequent flyers. Lounge access is one of those perks that people notice immediately because it’s easy to use and easy to value. Going from 6 visits per quarter to 2 per quarter is not a small tweak — it changes how you’d plan your travel around the card. If you were using Elite as a regular airport companion, you’ll need to rethink that strategy.
The discontinuation of Trident Privilege membership adds another layer to the downgrade. It’s not just about airport comfort anymore; it’s also about the broader premium ecosystem that used to make the card feel more rounded. SBI Elite still has a premium identity, but this update makes it harder to defend purely on lounge and travel perks.
From a rewards enthusiast’s point of view, this is the classic devaluation problem: the fee stays put while the benefits shrink. That’s never a fun combination. If you’re someone who values lounge access heavily, this card just became less attractive unless the rest of your spending pattern makes the milestone reward genuinely achievable every year.
The only silver lining is that existing cardholders still have time before the change kicks in, so if you were planning a trip or wanted to squeeze out a few more lounge visits, you should use the current benefit while it lasts. After June 2026, the card will simply be a weaker travel proposition than before.
Bottom line: if lounge access is one of the main reasons you keep SBI Elite, this is a clear warning sign. Keep an eye on your renewal timing, and if the card no longer fits your travel habits, it may be worth comparing alternatives before the reduced Priority Pass benefit starts.