Do you know that you can enjoy airport lounges without upgrading your travel ticket?
If you have a credit card that has lounge access, you can enjoy the luxury of it on your next trip.
With travel season just around the bend, here are some super card options that include free airport lounge access.
What is Priority Pass
Priority Pass is the most common lounge network that credit cards use. Priority Pass is a program that allows travelers, even ones flying economy class, to access airport lounges.
Priority Pass has three membership plans, including Standard, Standard Plus, and Prestige. There is a fourth membership that some credit cards offer, which is Priority Pass Select, which varies in benefits..
Priority Pass allows you to access over 1,200 lounges, spanning 600 cities and 148 countries around the globe.
You can always search for Priority Pass airport lounges here.
The cheapest cards with lounge access
The cheapest cards that have Priority Pass lounge access would be the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card and the Amex Hilton Surpass Card, each with a $95 annual fee.
The cards both come along with 10 free annual Priority Pass lounge passes.
With the Hilton Surpass card, you will earn 130,000 points after spending $2,000 within the first 3 months, plus a $130 statement credit after a purchase is made at any hotel that is part of the Hilton family within the first 12 months (terms apply).
With the Hilton Business card, you will earn 180,000 points. Earn 130,000 points after spending $2,000 within the first 3 months, plus earn an additional 50,000 after spending a total of $10,000 within the first 6 months (terms apply).
Some will argue that the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the cheapest card with lounge access, even with its $395 annual fee, being that you can wipe out the annual fee with the travel credits the card offers.
With the card you can get a $300 travel credit when booking any travel, including flight, hotel, and car, using the new and improved Capital One Travel portal each card membership year, plus you can get 10,000 anniversary bonus points each year ($100 value), which comes to a grand total of $400. That completely cancels out the $395 annual fee.
The Venture X card offers the following lounge access:
- A complimentary membership to Priority Pass Select
- Access to Plaza Premium lounges
- Complimentary access to the new Capital One lounges (coming shorty to Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, and Washington Dulles airports)
Authorized users receive their own Priority Pass and Capital One lounge access.
The cards with the most comprehensive lounge access options
The Platinum Card from American Express (all flavors) and The Business Platinum Card from American Express have the largest variety of lounge access. You get access to six different lounge networks, totaling over 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries.
Personal Platinum cards (all flavors) ($695)
With The Amex Platinum cards (personal and business) you get complimentary access to the following lounge networks
- Priority Pass Select
- Centurion Lounges
- AirSpace Lounges
- Escape Lounges
- Delta Skyclub lounges (when flying Delta)
- Select Lufthansa lounges (when flying Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, or Swiss)
Other great options
Here are some other great options of card with airport lounge access.
Lounge Access | |
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card ($450) | Access to 1,200+ airport lounges, with a complimentary membership to Priority Pass Select. |
Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550) | Access to 1,200+ airport lounges, with a complimentary membership to Priority Pass Select. |
Hilton Honors Amex Aspire Card ($450) | Access to 1,200+ airport lounges, with a complimentary membership to Priority Pass Select. |
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card ($400) | Access to 1,200+ airport lounges, with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. |
Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard ($499) | Access to 1,200+ airport lounges worldwide, with a complimentary membership to Priority Pass Select for you and companions. Plus, complimentary access to Emirates business class lounges worldwide for you and one companion. |
Bank Of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card ($550) | Get Priority Pass Select airport lounge access. |
You can check out many more great options here.
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