The SBI Elite Credit Card is seeing a mixed change set: the milestone benefit of ₹5,000 on annual spending of ₹10 lakh remains intact, but Priority Pass lounge visits are being cut from 6 to 2 per quarter starting June 2026, and the Trident Privilege membership benefit is being discontinued. The annual fee stays at ₹4,999, so the cost remains the same while the travel and hotel utility declines.
This is a negative change for most premium users because the card is losing two headline perks without any offsetting improvement in rewards or fee structure. The retained ₹5,000 milestone benefit still gives value to high spenders, but the reduction in lounge visits is a significant downgrade for frequent travelers. The discontinuation of Trident Privilege also removes a hotel-related benefit that helped SBI Elite stand out in the premium segment. Existing cardholders are the ones most directly affected from the June 2026 effective date.
Against rivals such as Axis Magnus, HDFC Infinia, and HDFC Diners Club Black, the SBI Elite becomes less attractive for lounge-heavy users. The milestone benefit still helps justify the card for people who can easily cross ₹10 lakh in annual spending, but the lower lounge entitlement makes the card weaker as a travel companion. For users who mainly want milestone rewards and do not care much about lounge access or hotel tie-ups, the change is less damaging, though still negative overall.
There is no opt-in or enrollment step because this is a devaluation and not a campaign. Cardholders should note the June 2026 effective date and re-evaluate whether the annual fee of ₹4,999 still makes sense for their usage. If lounge access is the primary reason for holding the card, it may be wise to compare alternatives before the new limit applies. Also, cardholders should understand how the quarterly lounge cap is counted and whether guest visits are included, because such details can materially affect the real-world value of the reduced entitlement.