The Earth lounge at Kochi Airport, domestic departures at Terminal 1 has been replaced few years ago with a bigger and much better one, which was previously used by International passengers as international departures moved to Terminal 3 with another “Earth lounge” for international passengers.
Here we’ll explore the domestic lounge which stands good even in 2024 as per my recent visits during multiple times of the day.
Table of Contents
Overview
| Type | Premium Airport Lounge |
| Cards accepted | Visa, Mastercard & many other cards |
| Location | Follow lounge signboard (2nd Floor) |
| Plug points | Yes |
| Ambiance | Beautiful interiors & ultra spacious |
| Food options | Delicious food spread |
This Earth lounge is one of the best airport lounge in the entire country because it gives amazing views of the tarmac and also has tasty food and luxurious interiors.
Location
The Earth lounge is located at 2nd Floor, Airside – Domestic Departures, accessible by domestic travellers only. Its actually a long walk and the sign boards will help you!
Check in
I visited the lounge in the early morning and it was silent with relatively lower occupancy.
I got access to the lounge as a business class passenger of Air India, however you can also access the lounge with any card like Visa/Mastercard/Diners/Priority Pass and also through American Express cards like American Express Platinum Travel Card.
Interiors
The lounge has variety of seating options from lots of dining tables to comfortable couches.
The chairs in the dining area are really comfortable and they had some premium sofas too. As this lounge was primarily made for international travellers, you can expect a overall premium setup.
The lounge feels pleasant even at 70% occupancy as it was when I left – well designed!
Food
I still remember the fish curry & rice that I had for lunch during my last visit to the earth lounge. This time though, as I’m here for the breakfast, I didn’t get the opportunity to taste that delicious fish curry again.
Breakfast spread was decent and the fruits/juices/idli/dosa’s were all tasty & delicious as expected.
View from the Lounge
The lounge not just has great interiors and delicious food, they also offer amazing views of the flights. I got spectacular views on the early morning flight. Here are some pictures,
Business Class Section
I recently figured out that the lounge also has a business class section which is even more airy and a peaceful place to be in.
It’s probably one of the biggest in the country as most other lounges have very few seats for the business class section while here you not only get those cozy lounge chairs but also a separate dining area.
I’ve been visiting Kochi a lot lately and I’ve always noticed that the business class section is hardly occupied.
It’s usually occupied with 3-5 passengers at the most and so you can stay away from the constant noise that you would otherwise experience in the regular section.
Bottomline
- Cardexpert Rating: 4.8/5
It’s undoubtedly an amazing lounge and you should never miss if you’re flying out of Kochi Airport (COK), domestic departures.
This is one of the very few lounges in the country that gives amazing views of the tarmac from the lounge/dining area.
Also, this is one of the very few lounges in India that can handle the mad lounge traffic post pandemic as it’s quite big to handle the kind of crowd that the airport may have at peak times.
Have you been to this Earth lounge at Kochi domestic departures? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Hi Siddharth,
One General Query. While visiting any lounge in India which are complimentary with Visa/Master Card, Can I Take my 3.5 Year Old Daughter with me in the Lounge
Usually they don’t charge for kids below 5 years.
Usually below 5 years, they will not insist.
Anyway the cheaper way for lounge access is through Rupay Platinum debit card, which now a days will be issued by almost any Bank.
Yes. Almost all Domestic Lounges allow children below 5 years as free visit. Few International Lounges too. There are few International Lounges which do not allow children even if you are willing to pay guest charges.
Obviously they won’t allowed as kids are big troublemakers. Many pax are really tired due to hectic flights. They really needs a good peaceful place to seat n relax. Suddenly someone appears with small kids and destroy all peace. Nobody like other’s kids (It’s a gospel truth). You may like it or not.
Please don’t take personally.
Me and my wife on complimentary cards, took my daughter (2.5 years) to one of the lounge recently and there was no issue.
Thank You all for your Answers 🙂
Any day….. usually they don’t insist fee for kids upto 5-6 years.
I have used the earth lounge many a times. Both the international one and the domestic. Its too good and quite spacious. The staff is very pleasing. The quality of their training and grooming is very much evident. Good views of the tarmac. Yes, they serve very good food and does have a great spread. Serves alcholic beverages too. A quality airport and quality lounge! Proud that its in my city.
Hello
I will be taking domestic flight..I’ve visa debit card and kochi metro card…also I’ve three children..eldest is 8 years and youngest is 2 years..can I get access with that
No, at Kochi they would ask for very specific cards.
Are they only accepting rupay cards at the moment?
No access with regalia to this lounge.
yes. denied entry with regalia first card..
anyone have idea which all cards are accepted ?
HDFC platinum Debit card
I had visa platinum credit card ( Barclaycard , Visa debit from HSBC and Barclays can I use any of these
Same here. I had a Regalia and priority pass, they denied entry claiming some weird rules
I used the infinia and they did a rs 2.00 transaction ..
for the HDFC debit cards ,cochin is not on the list.
Yes, it’s a great improvement over the “old” earth lounge. And the best part, it’s free for Vistara Gold/Plat.
nice work on the AI biz class.
Addicted to this site now, can’t thank you enough Sid.
Hi Sid
Nice review there! This is where you are getting the “Home”ly feel!
Any idea what has happened of RuPay Lounge access?
Is it still valid anywhere?
Regards,
Ameya
Well, this is heaven 🙂
Home’ly part was related to overall airport experience, especially on landing. People are cool, no rush, good climate and great cab driver!
Rupay lounge acceptance is as good as Visa/MC. Didn’t verify it here though.
Comparing it to Above Ground Level lounge at Bangalore – Domestic is high praise indeed.
Need to plan a Kochi visit now !!
Definitely! Maybe also explore the newly opening “Port Muziris, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Kochi” in April 🙂
How will the weather be in May?
Some Keralates answer this please.
I’m from Kerala, Gods owns county, but now hell is reining here. Tooo hot
Compared to April. May will be cooler and occasional rains, 2nd part of May will be better, towards may end Monsoon starts,
Not available for booking on the Marriott website
Should be up for booking within a month.
Agree with this, the best domestic lounges compared to Blore, Chennia, Delhi & Mumbai. Earth has fantastic view to the Airside and more lighty and open feeling, sitting area has nice comfy seating also gets relaxed. AGL/PP in Blore is closed and the dark interiors add a moody feeling. Mumbai/Delhi is inside the terminal without any open view. Chennai both lounges has limited airside view.
I’ve been to T3 Earth lounge too, that is also very good and comfy, the sitting area is towards inside the lounge so not a good feeling, but dining area is good. In Domestic
@Siddharth – Which LTF card gives maximum no. of Domestic Lounge access? I’ve Regalia and Diners premium, with both total is maxed out to 18, with my previous travel pattern, this was more than enough, but now 3/4 travel a month is happening with 2 lounge visits per travel this will exhaust soon. I’m looking for another option, any suggestion?
Thanks Nishant for sharing your views.
You may need to explore some of the Super Premium Credit Cards.
Will SBI prime VISA work in this lounge?
Hi,
Would like to know which supplementary card allows free lounge visit. I have HDFC Regalia, Yes First and SBI Elite. HDFC Regalia supplementary card was denied free access to lounge.
HDFC RUPAY PLATINUM DEBIT CARD IS ACCEPTED THERE.THEY WILL DEDUCT 2 RUPEES
Is IOB’s Rupay Platinaum debit card accepted?
Yes
I have ICICI coral credit card, will they accept this card.
Not a 24 hour lounge which kinda defeats the purpose. Was closed at 4 in the morning today
Hi, I hold a ICICI paywave DC. And I have 2 complimentary access to lounges. This month I’m going to Mumbai. But I’m holding an economy ticket. Is the entry accessible or we need a business class ticket.
Hi Kiran ,No need of business class,you can get entry with economy class ticket with your coral pay wave debit card.
Hey,
I just contacted earth customer care they told this card is no longer participating. But when I called ICICI customer care they told it’s doing. I don’t know what to believe. Shall I go ahead with this or will my time be wasted. Anyone holding coral paywave dc.
i used the icici coral paywave dc and i was allowed free access to the earth lounge in cochin, but pls note that it closes at 11:30 PM in the night.
Kiran
Even if you hold Economy ticket also still you can use the lounge in Kochi
is there free access for ADCB titanium mastercard issued in UAE? can international terminal passergers can access this? should we register prior ?
Hey I’d wanna know if I could use the lounge facility using my brother’s rupay platinum card.
I have a Andhra Bank International Platinum Visa Card
Can i Use the air port Lounge facility at Cochin Airport ?
Please Respond
Whether visa platinum debit card is accepted in cochin international airport lounge
Hey I’d wanna know if I could use the lounge facility using HDFC VISA platinum debit card
Yes you can,
Refer below
hdfcbank dot com/personal/products/cards/debit-cards/easyshop-platinum-debit-card
and
hdfcbank dot com/assets/pdf/VisaVariant.pdf
replace dot with {.} and remove spaces.
Please advise the best credit cards (SBI PRIME , Regalia first etc )for airport lounge access in kochi and Bangalore.
Neither has access as they are of visa variant. You might need to try Yes Credit cards. I used the same.
This is one of the best lounge in India. Got the chance to visit it today. Seating capacity is good and the view of the runway is amazing. Food was quite delicious. This is a must visit lounge if you are traveling from Cochin.
I got a chance yesterday to visit the Earth Lounge at CIAL. The lounge is very well designed. Unfortunately the food quality was very poor. There was very little option for dinner and the food was cold. Apart from food, I would rate this lounge as good. The best lounge I have visited till date is the Plaza Premium Lounge at Ahmedabad airport – way better than Plaza Premium / AGL at BLR airport.
Planning to fly abroad next week. Can I access the Earth lounge using IndusInd Visa signature card?
Yes visa signature card does provide a complimentry access at airport lounges. Two visits in a quarter.
What are the complimentary we get with with the MasterCard?
If you are going to visit Earth Lounge at Cochin, you must have a Platinum card with Rupay. This must be informed earlier
I visited the lounge at Kochi Domestic terminal on 24 Apr 22…By 2100 hrs,food ran short…Specially payasam…As I had to wait till 2100 hrs,I noticed that food was getting colder and no effort made to heat them. I found some passengers who came after 2230 hrs,arguing with the waiters on shortage of food….This needs to be looked into ….
is Diners privilge not accepted here?
Found in google maps review some one with a diners privilege hdfc was rejected entry because of payment issues from diners network
is the lounge accessible for arrival passengers?
Visa card is acceptable for complementary access to lounge?
I have a HDFC Visa Platinum Debit Card. Do I get access to lounge at Kochi Airport for domestic travel?
Among HDFC cards, I think only Infinia and Diners card have access to Kochi airport lounge.
diners privilege as of Aug 21 as well
Actually hdfc cards are now almost redundant with respect to lounge access, which is limited only to handful few domestic terminals, even regalia having a few of 2499 pa has same.
Only diners n infinia has access to most lounges. Also recently launched tata neu infinity probably has better access. Hope to get a review of that soon. Any idea if existing hdfc card holders eligible for applying to that? I haven’t tried yet. Holding Ltf regalia first and have existing upgrade offer to regalia paid which I think not worth it. So any suggestions about tata neu infinity will be helpful.
Is Axis bank ace credit card accepted here?
Whenever I visit Cochin airport I use to visit Earth Longue. The food is tasty, good ambience nice staff. We prefer food from here and avoid cabin food. Keep it up.
Hi,
Can we get complimentary lounge access (EARTH LOUNGE @ CIAL T3) with VISA/MASTER CARD/AMEX that are issued international (outside India)? Or do we have to pay the full lounge access price?
Very good lounge indeed. The food choices had decreased after Covid, but picked up in the 2nd half of last year. Wide range of cards accepted as well.
I have been visiting this lounge for the past couple of years as my workplace is close to Kochi. But I don’t rate more than 3.5 due to their cleanliness and food choices. The service was poor and food options are limited.
I would rate equivalent to one in Pune or Indore though space is huge compared to the latter ones.
Visited a couple of times in the last 6 months and it’s certainly not as bad as 3.5 any day.
But food options can be improved if we’ve to compare it with 080 lounges in Bangalore.
I visited last week. It’s a very good lounge. The food selection was limited, but everything I tried was very good. The ambience in the evening/night felt a bit dull. However, the best part is definitely the location. Plane spotters and AV-Geeks will love this place.
Is Visa platinum credit card issued by Commercial Bank of Kuwait acceptable as complimentary pass..in earth lounge??
Fully agree. From kochi. One of the best lounges in the country.
Is HDFC regalia gold credit card accepted in EARTH LOUNGE kochi for my domestic travel? Is it free or we need to pay a price?
In kochi, they are accepting only high privileged cards.