Starting June 2026, the SBI Elite Credit Card will reduce Priority Pass lounge visits from 6 per quarter to 2 per quarter and discontinue the Trident Privilege membership benefit. The annual fee remains ₹4,999, and the ₹5,000 milestone benefit on ₹10 lakh annual spend is unchanged. This is a clear devaluation because two travel-linked benefits are being reduced or removed while the fee stays the same.
The practical effect is severe for frequent flyers. A quarterly lounge allowance of 2 visits means cardholders will have only one-third of the lounge access they previously enjoyed. The removal of Trident Privilege further weakens the premium proposition, especially for users who booked stays around that benefit. The one offsetting factor is the milestone payout of ₹5,000 on ₹10 lakh spend, which remains intact and still gives high spenders some value back. But for many users, the card’s travel appeal will now be significantly lower than before.
Compared with Axis Atlas, which launches with 8 international and 4 domestic lounge visits per year, SBI Elite now looks far less generous on lounge access. Compared with HDFC Regalia, which is improving dining rewards, SBI Elite is moving in the opposite direction on premium utility. The card may still make sense for users who can easily hit ₹10 lakh annual spend and value the milestone benefit more than lounge access, but for most travel-oriented cardholders the downgrade is a net negative. This is especially true for those who used the card primarily for airport comfort and hotel-related perks.
Cardholders do not need to sign up for the change; the reduced benefit will apply automatically from June 2026. However, they should review their lounge usage pattern before that date and consider alternatives if they travel frequently. There is no opt-in, no promo code, and no compensation benefit mentioned in the data. The key action is to reassess whether the ₹4,999 annual fee still delivers enough value after the lounge and Trident cuts. If not, a switch to a card with more stable travel benefits may be prudent.