Andrew W: One of the things I enjoy the most about airport lounges is how they make the entire experience waiting at the airport so much better! They’re a great spot to relax in between flights, and enjoy snacks and drinks in a comfortable place.
And there are many great credit cards that offer complimentary airport lounge access as a perk!
Million Mile Secrets reader Kevin asks:
I have The Platinum Card® from American Express and want to have access to Priority Pass lounges. Can I just show my AMEX card to get in?
Hi Kevin, and thanks for writing in! Although there are some lounges, like AMEX’s own Centurion lounges, that only require you to show the card, others require a separate registration.
The business version of the card, The Business Platinum® Card from American Express, also has the same lounge perks. The card currently has a welcome bonus of up to 75,000 Membership Rewards points after meeting tiered minimum spending requirements.
You’ll earn 50,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your account, and then another 25,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points after spending an additional $10,000 on purchases in the same timeframe.
You’ll have to register separately to gain access to Priority Pass lounges. You’ll get a Priority Pass Select membership number and card in the mail, which you can upload to the Priority Pass mobile app. But because some lounges still require the physical card for access, it’s a good idea to carry the membership card with you just in case!
I’ll walk you through the steps needed to register your AMEX Platinum or AMEX Business Platinum card for Priority Pass lounge access!
What Lounges Can I Access?
With the AMEX Platinum and AMEX Business Platinum, you’ll be able to access a variety of lounges worldwide:
- The Centurion Lounge
- International American Express Lounges
- Delta SkyClub
- Priority Pass Select
- Airspace
- Escape Lounges
Each offers different amenities, but you can generally expect things like snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi, and sometimes showers. If you ever have a long layover or travel frequently, having airport lounge access can be well worth it!
Small business owners should check out the AMEX Business Platinum.
Benefits of Priority Pass Select
You’ll have access to Priority Pass lounges as long as you are flying on an airline that day. With over 1,200 locations worldwide, the specific amenities will vary based on the location, but you can generally expect the following:
- Complimentary beverages, including beer, wine, and liquor
- Snacks and meals
- Wi-Fi
- Showers to refresh before or after a flight in some lounges
How to Register for Priority Pass Select Membership
To activate your Priority Pass Select membership, you can either call the number on the back of your card or do it online through your account. Here’s how to do it online in just a few easy steps:
Step 1. Sign Into Your AMEX Account
Log into your American Express account then find the “Membership Benefits” link.
Step 2. Find the Enrollment Button
You’ll want to find the box for “The American Express Global Lounge Collection“, then click the “Enroll” button as pictured below.
Step 3. Complete Your Registration
The last step is to double-check you are enrolling the correct card, click the box to indicate you agree to the terms, and then hit “Enroll“.
Priority Pass Select Rules
The Priority Pass Select membership with the AMEX Platinum and AMEX Business Platinum cards let you bring in 2 guests for no additional charge.
Each card issuer has different rules on how many guests are allowed though, so if you have a Priority Pass Select membership through other cards, it’s important to keep your cards organized so that you don’t end up using the wrong card.
Here are other cards that offer Priority Pass Select access:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve – Free for the cardholder and up to 2 guests
- Citi Prestige – Free for the cardholder and 2 additional guests or immediate family (spouse / domestic partner and children under age 18)
- US Bank Altitude Reserve – First 4 visits per year free for the cardholder and 1 guest
- Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card (no longer open to new applicants) – Free for the cardholder with no limit on the number of guests, subject to capacity
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card – 10 free visits per year (guests count as a free visit)
- Hilton Honors Ascend Card from American Express – 10 free visits per year (guests count as a free visit)
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express – Free for the cardholder and 2 additional guests
Many credit cards will also offer authorized users their own Priority Pass Select membership as well! Each card has its own policy on this though, so you’ll want to check to see if there are any restrictions or fees before you start adding authorized users.
Bottom Line
Frequent travelers will love the amenities offered by many airport lounges, because you’ll usually get Wi-Fi, snacks and beverages, showers, and more!
AMEX Platinum and AMEX Business Platinum cardmembers receive complimentary Priority Pass Select membership as a perk. You’ll need a membership card to enter the lounges, which you can get by registering through your AMEX online account or by calling AMEX. You can NOT access Priority Pass lounges just by showing your AMEX Platinum card!
Priority Pass membership through AMEX Platinum cards gives you and 2 guests free access to the lounge. However, other card issuers that offer lounge access have different rules on how many guests are allowed, so it’s important to keep your membership cards organized so that you don’t use the wrong one.
What’s your favorite credit card that gives you airport lounge access? Let us know in the comments below!
Only Amex from certain countries work for certain countries. Amex from South Africa doesn’t work everywhere. In Abu Dhabi, I was told that only if I had Amex from the US or China, it would be acceptable.
Which SA AMEX card do you have ? I was thinking of applying for one.
Interesting, I never thought of that before. Thanks for the heads up.
You can enter the lounges by downloading the app and showing that as your ID, in case you forget to get the Priority Pass card. Just FYI!
Yes, and I find the app is helpful in locating lounges too.
It’s been my experience that while the AMEX Platinum can get you into Delta lounges, that’s only if you have a boarding pass that says you’re flying Delta that day.
That’s interesting, the terms state:
The Platinum Member must present his or her valid American Express Card, government-issued I.D., and same-day corresponding airline ticket to club ambassador.
It doesn’t specifically say it has to be Delta in the terms. I wonder if you could argue that point?