7 Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access
Behind the closed doors of airport lounges, frequent flyers — and luxury credit card holders — can stretch their legs, sip premium wine and spirits, and feast on refreshments, all while watching TV and enjoying free WiFi. Some clubs even boast shower facilities for weary travelers to freshen up after long-haul flights. It’s an airport secret all insiders know to take advantage of.
Read: This Credit Score Mistake Could Be Costing Millions Of Americans
Carrying a luxury credit card in your wallet can literally open these doors for you. Amid the bustle of getting to the airport, TSA checks, and navigating to the gate, a complimentary cocktail served away from the masses can go a long way in restoring your mood. Keep reading to find the best airport lounge access credit cards.
7 Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access
Here is a guide to help you learn more about the features of the best credit cards for airport lounge access.
Card | Annual Fee | Features |
|---|---|---|
-Access to over 1,400 lounges in 140 countries, across seven lounge programs | ||
$550 | -Access to over 250 Sky Clubs and the Centurion® Lounge | |
United Club MileagePlusSM Infinite Card | $525 | -Access to all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance-affiliated lounges worldwide |
Capital One Venture X Rewards Card | $395 | -Access to Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network |
-Access to over 1,300 lounges through Priority Pass Select | ||
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® | $450 | -Access to Admirals Club lounges |
$695 | -Access to over 1,400 lounges in 140 countries, across seven lounge programs |
Long considered an elite status symbol, the Platinum Card® from American Express, Member FDIC, comes with a steep annual fee of . But if you travel even just a few times a year, the card ends up being worth it. Among the laundry list of benefits is access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, including the Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Club and Priority Pass Select Lounges — so layovers and delayed flights won’t seem so bad. The card clearly wants you to spend less time in security to maximize your time in airport lounges: American Express offers a fee credit for CLEAR, valued at $189.
Airport lounge access: Access to over 1,400 lounges in 140 countries, across seven lounge programs: the Centurion Lounge Network, Delta Sky Club, Priority Pass Select lounges, Escape Lounges and Luftansa Lounge.
Bonus: Earn 125,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $6,000 on purchases within 6 months of opening the card.
Other benefits: Earn 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels; $200 airline fee credit; $15 Uber credit every month; $200 hotel credit; $240 digital entertainment credit; $155 Walmart+ credit.
Annual fee:
If Delta is your preferred carrier or you want to start building loyalty to one airline, consider the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Credit Card from American Express. With its annual fee of $550, cardholders — and up to two guests at a rate of $50 per person — can enjoy access to any of the over 250 Sky Clubs® and partner lounges located around the world when traveling on a flight booked with your card.
Airport lounge access: Access to over 250 Sky Clubs and the Centurion® Lounge.
Bonus: Earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles and 125,000 bonus miles after you reach $5,000 in purchases on your card within three months of opening it.
Other benefits: First checked bag is free on Delta flights; one round-trip companion ticket per year on domestic flights; 20% savings on eligible in-flight purchases; earn 3x miles on Delta purchases; earn 1x miles on all other purchases; fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck; baggage insurance plan of up to $1,250 in coverage for carry-ons and $500 for checked bags.
Annual fee: $550
United ClubSM MileagePlus Infinite Card
Ideal for people who don’t travel light, the United Club MileagePlus Infinite Card — with its annual fee of $525 — offers up to two free checked bags each for the primary cardholder and a guest on a round-trip flight. Beyond the baggage perk, the card grants access to more than 45 United Club locations, Copa Club locations and participating Star Alliance lounges, conveniently located in United’s busiest airports.
Airport lounge access: Access to all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance-affiliated lounges worldwide.
Bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on your card within three months of account opening.
Other benefits: Earn 4x miles on United purchases; earn 2x miles on all other travel purchases and dining; earn 1x mile on all other purchases; United Club membership; first and second checked bag free for you and a companion on United flights; fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck; 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases; free year of DashPass.
Annual fee: $525
Capital One Venture X Rewards Card
If you are looking for flexible travel options, the Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card is a worthwhile option. With its annual fee of $395, you’ll get access to the Capital One Lounge. Plus, the card gets you access to the Partner Lounge Network, which includes the Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Lounges. Not only will you have access to over 1,400 lounges, but you can also bring two guests for free on each visit. If you have more than two guests, you can bring them in at $45 per extra guest.
Airport lounge access: Access to Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network, which includes Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Lounges. You can bring in two guests for free, other guests are welcome for a $45 fee.
Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months of opening the card.
Other benefits: Receive 10,000 miles each year as an anniversary bonus; get a $300 annual travel credit; up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck; earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, earn 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, earn 2x miles on all other purchases; Hertz President’s Circle status; Earn 10x miles when you book a car on Turo.
Annual fee: $395
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card gives holders access to over 1,300 VIP lounges in over 500 cities around the world through their partnership with Priority Pass Select. When you sign up for the complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, you’ll have the ability to bring up to two guests into the lounge for free. After the two-guest limit, you will be charged $27 per guest.
Airport lounge access: Access to over 1,300 lounges through Priority Pass Select.
Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the three months of account opening.
Other benefits: $300 annual travel credit; up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck; earn 10x points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, earn 3x points on other travel, earn 10x points on Chase Dining purchases, earn 3x points on all other dining, earn 1x point on all other purchases; $10 monthly statement credit for GoPuff; one year of free DashPass subscription; earn 10x points on Lyft rides.
Annual fee:
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
If American Airlines is your airline of choice, then the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard is a good option to consider. The card is your gateway to the Admirals Club.
Airport lounge access: Access to Admirals Club lounges.
Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first three months.
Other benefits: Priority boarding for American Airlines flights; priority check-in; first checked bag flies free, for up to 8 travel companions; 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases; up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck every five years; earn 2x miles on eligible American Airlines flight purchases, earn 1x miles on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $450
Not everyone is a business owner. But if you are a business owner looking to cash in on travel perks with your business spending, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a great option. In fact, it might be the best credit card for airport lounge access for business owners.
Airport lounge access: Access to over 1,400 lounges in 140 countries, across seven lounge programs: the Centurion Lounge Network, Delta Sky Club, Priority Pass Select lounges, Escape Lounges and Lufthansa Lounge.
Bonus: Earn 120,000 Membership points when you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within three months of account opening.
Other benefits: Earn 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels, earn 1.5x points on eligible purchases in select business categories, earn 1.5x points on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, earn 1x points on all other purchases; $200 airline fee credit; get 35% of your points back when you book an eligible flight through Amex Travel.
Annual fee: $695
Which Card Is Right For You?
To decide which card to apply for, weigh the annual fee against your lifestyle and upcoming air travel plans. Before your research gets too in-depth and you’ve started to visualize yourself enjoying airport lounges for the foreseeable future, it’s worth mentioning that luxury creditors look favorably on applicants with stellar credit.
Stephanie Asymkos contributed to the reporting for this article.
Information is accurate as of Sept. 20, 2022.
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