Even-though i heard bad stories about the Chennai airport in the past, the lounge was beyond my expectations and the first impressions were all great. This review is about the old TFS lounge (Near Gate 5).
Overview
| Type | Regular Airport Lounge |
| Card accepted | Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club & many more |
| Location | Take left after security (Near Gate 5, 3rd floor) |
| Plug points | Yes, in plenty |
| Ambiance | Decent interiors & spacious |
| Food options | Good, usually South Indian |
Its a decent airport lounge at Chennai Airport (domestic terminal), however, I usually visit this lounge if & only if the other TFS lounge is crowded.
Check-in
- Location: Pass security and take left – Near Gate 5, 3rd floor
I was with 2 of my friends and went straight into the lounge after security check. Lounge is on 3rd Floor and you need to take a lift to access it. Most cards are accepted here.
Ambience
Interiors are pretty good but the only drawback of this Lounge is that it was very much crowded and hard to get a seat with dining table. So we had breakfast from the couch.
Food
Food spread is decent and they share almost same food menu with the other TFS lounge located on the opposite side.
They have Coke(tin) and other soft drinks like Tropicana in multiple flavors. You can possibly have unlimited soft drinks, simply you go pick up and have, no one asks.
Bottomline
- Cardexpert Rating: 4/5
Overall, this old Travel Club Lounge is a decent place to have some food at Chennai Airport before you board your airplane. But if the other newly opened lounge with better interiors is accessible, you shouldn’t ideally be visiting this lounge.
Have you visited this lounge? Share your experiences in comments below.
The TFS lounge at Chennai was my first lounge ever. And it set just the right expectations for the upcoming visits to the other ones. I usually go to airport early to enjoy some peace, food and recharge myself.
P. S. I’ve always found those standees at entrance look so cool.
my brother have hdfc allmiles card but I always use that card ,will be able to use the lounge
Siddharth,
I have HDFC regalia card, i have an domestic trip this week.
When I visit the lounge, Do i have to mention explicitly that i have Visa Signature Card and i’m visiting as part of Visa Signature Complimentary Lounge Access?
Thanks,
Gokul
Just show your Regalia and they’ll take care of the rest 🙂
Thanks Siddharth, It worked. (SBI Corporate Visa Platinum card is also having lounge access)
Have you heard about IDFC bank?…
In my office, IDFC bank is promoting Salary accounts. Benefits as follows,
1) Visa Signature card with no joining or issuance fee
2) Unlimited Free ATM transactions – Any bank, Any location etc
3) No Charges for any fund transactions
4) Unlimited free DD
5) Interest Bearing savings reimbursement account @ 4% interest, paid out quarterly
Visa signature Card benefits
1) Cash back offer on activation(10% cashback – max of 250)
2) 250 off every month on Book My Show
3) Personal accident insurance – free cover of 25L
4) Lost card liability – 2.5L
5) Purchase Protection- Burglary/theft/damage upto 90 days from date of purchase upto 1L
6) Fuel surcharge waiver(any petrol pump)
7) Airport lounge access(twice every quarter)
Though the above offers looks good, this bank has only 3-4 branches in chennai. This is the main reason, I’m hesitate to move my salary account.
Glad it worked.
Yes, i’m a shareholder of IDFC and i’m aware of its products 🙂
Its truly a very good Debit card.
Shall I access this Lounge on arrival also ?
How to find whether a Lounge is accessible only for Departure or both Departure and on Arrival also ?
No, its Departure lounge. Almost all lounges in india are Departure type only, except in Delhi T3 terminal.
But arrival lounge does not provide complimentary access through visa master card.
I have forgot my scarf and pkt at the lounge I have ch in at 1.19pm
And check out ard 3.40pm
On 20august
Services excellent
I have HDFC Priority Pass. Wondering how many people i can take along with me using my PP Card
Hi Siddharth !
Im travelling from Chennai airport 1st time. Could you provide me the contact number of the lounge ?
HDFC bank visa platinum card is accepted at lounge or not. Please clarify
Will we have to pay for the food we eat in Lounge?
Everything is usually complimentary – as long as you’ve a card with access.
Hello Siddharth !!
I have a Visa signature card. I guess am allowed 2 free accesses per quarter. Will I be able to swipe twice, for a guest and myself ,during the same visit ?
Nope!
Can I use my SBI platinum visa debit card…and is the membership compulsory. .
Hi Sid
I visited this lounge(S) in December 2017. In fact there are two separate lounge with same name in Domestic Departure area.
First is opposite to gate no-7 ( this is mentioned everywhere, be it ola select, visa, amex or master card lounge list). It is also accessed by Jet Airways and Air India business class passengers. This lounge is almost always crowed and is less spacious.
Second Lounge is opposite to gate no-3. It can be accessed by all the cards which allows access to first one but business class passengers of Jet Airways and Air India are not allowed. This lounge is new and more spacious.
Overall experience was good. Variety of soft drinks and juices were available in miniature packs. Veg and Non Veg Snack was of good taste. Strangely no dinner was served. According to staff only breakfast and launch is served as per schedule and all other times snacks is available.
I spent more than 4 Hours in lounge without any issue.
Sounds great. Will check out soon 🙂
Thanks much for sharing!
Rex,
Yes I visit this lounge every time I pass thru Chennai. Ask for Filter coffee at counter, and you will cherish it
Siddharth,
What about HDFC Visa Signature in International Departure area in Chennai?
I used it before and they stopped my international debit card access from Jan 2017.
K V Rajah
Should be accessible. There are 2 lounges now.
Hi Sid,
TFS lounge was my first lounge visit, accessed thro amex plat reserve card. Food was really good. crowd was manageable as it was a morning flight. unlimited cool drinks . true. we had it.
this was possible due to Card Expert.. more power to you.. cheers
Thanks for the kind words.
I checked the new TFS lounge last week and it was a classy one indeed.
Sid,
I usually visit the domestic lounge in 3rd floor near gate 5.
Where is the new TFS lounge ?
Domestic or International ?
Domestic:
New Lounge: Pass security and take right – Near Gate 1, 3rd floor
Old Lounge: Pass security and take left – Near Gate 5, 3rd floor
International:
There are 3 lounges. Mentioned more abut it here
Sid,
Thanks for the detailed info, is the new Domestic Lounge better than Old Lounge ?
Yes, its better.
Can i access free lounge with my sbi classic master debit card in Bangalore Airport?? Also available sbi global Mastercard ..
Can i use priority pass in my fathers name?
For domestic you can use as they won’t check and compare names
For International , you can’t use
I had Rbl signature world card complentay lounge…
How many persons can enter i.e how many members can get benefit on a card…
Are any charges for entry…or food
Hi Siddharth,
First thanks for helping all of us. My query here is, I have Citibank Indian oil platinum credit card, SBI visa global debit card, Yes bank platinum, CBI Rupay debit card and I have a domestic trip this week.
So, can I access the domestic lounge through these cards? We are 4 people so can I
Thanks,
Mayur
This lounge is open again now. Checked it out on 01st May 2022.
But IMO swiping in, ambience & sitting area is better in the new lounge in front of gate no. 1