What Is An Airport Lounge & Which Cards Get You Access?
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Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.Million Mile Secrets reader kurt commented:
I am a very infrequent traveler. Can someone enlighten me to what the advantages of the airport lounges are?
Kurt wants to know the benefits of airport lounges. I’ll also show you which credit cards can get you inside lounges.
More Comfort With Airport Lounges aka Quiet Members-Only Spots in the Airport
When you have airport lounge access, flying can be a little more comfortable. That’s because you’ll have a relatively quiet spot where you can:
- Work (or play on Facebook)
- Enjoy free drinks and snacks (in some lounges)
- Charge your electronics
Lounge access is expensive (up to $500 a year for a membership), but you may be able to get into a lounge with your credit card.
Some cards have an high annual fee, but get you unlimited access to lounges. And some cards (with low or waived annual fees) give you a few lounge passes each year.
That said, I wouldn’t worry about lounge access if you travel only a few times a year, unless you can get it for free!
Credit Cards That Give You Unlimited Lounge Access
1. American Express Platinum
Link: The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Mercedes-Benz
Link: The Platinum Card from American Express (personal)
Your American Express Platinum cards (Mercedes-Benz, Platinum card (personal), and get you free lounge access to:
You can still get access to the Delta and Priority Pass lounges.
To enter Delta lounges, you have to have a valid boarding pass for same day travel on Delta Airlines. You also have to show your American Express Platinum card.
You get unlimited free access to Priority Pass lounges with a valid ticket for same day travel AND your Priority Pass card. Your partner and children under the age of 21, or 2 traveling companions can be your guests in the lounge. However, you have to request your separate free Priority Pass to enter the Priority Pass lounges. You get free access to the American Express Centurion Lounges in Dallas and Las Vegas. And new Centurion lounges are being built in La Guardia (New York City) and San Francisco airports. But 3 lounges isn’t very many!
You can bring 2 traveling companions or your partner and children (under 18 years old) for free into the lounge.
You can’t buy a membership to the Centurion Lounge, you have to have an American Express card. But you can buy a One-Day pass for $50. The $450 to $475 annual fee (which is not waived) for an American Express Platinum card might be worth it if you:- Fly a lot on Delta
- Fly through Dallas or Las Vegas
- Fly internationally on cheap coach tickets that don’t give you lounge access
You also get an annual $200 airline credit and a $100 credit towards Global Entry fee with all versions of the American Express Platinum cards.
2. Citi Executive American Airlines Card
Link: Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
From March 22, 2014, the Citi Executive American Airlines card will be the only credit card that gives free American Airlines lounge membership.
Your annual fee of $450 gets you American Airlines lounge membership which normally costs up to $500.
You can bring 2 guests into the lounge (they don’t have to be traveling with you) for free and you don’t have to be flying on American Airlines. But authorized users on your Citi American Airlines Executive card do NOT get lounge access by themselves.
If you’re a frequent flyer and travel through airports that have American Airlines and US Airways lounges, the Citi Executive American Airlines card might be worth the $450 annual fee (not waived).
3. Delta Reserve
Link: Delta Reserve (personal)
Link: Delta Reserve (business)
You get free lounge access to Delta Sky Club lounges when flying on Delta, if you have the Delta Reserve (personal) or (business) card. A Delta Sky Club lounge membership costs up to $695.
You can bring 2 guests or your partner and children (under 21) for free through April 30, 2014. On May 1, 2014, only the primary cardholder will get free lounge access. You have to pay $29 per guest (for the first 2 guests) and $50 for each additional guest.
If you’re a frequent Delta flyer who rarely travels with family or other guests and needs lounges access, the $450 annual fee (not waived) for the Delta Reserve would cost you less than paying for a membership.
And you’d get 40,000 redeemable miles plus 40,000 elite qualifying miles after spending $60,000 in a calendar year. You can also transfer up to 30,000 elite qualifying miles to anyone’s SkyMiles account.
4. United Club Card
Link: United Club (personal)
Link: United Club (business)
You get free membership to the United Club lounge with your United Club (personal) or (business) card as part of your $450 annual fee. An annual membership can cost up to $500.
You can bring 2 guests or your partner and children (under 21) for free into the lounge.
The $450 annual fee (not waived) for the United Club card could be worth it, if you’re a frequent United traveler.
You also get:
- 1st and 2nd checked bag free for 2 people (you save $120 round-trip per person)
- 1.5 United miles per $1 spent (so use this card to earn United miles)
- Free Hyatt Platinum status (free internet!) and Avis President’s Club status (2 class car rental upgrade)
- Premier Access travel benefits (priority check-in, security, boarding, etc.)
Link: Citi Prestige
You get free membership in Priority Pass as a benefit of the Citi Prestige card.
Credit Cards That Give You 2 Free Lounge Visits
Link: Ink Plus
Link: Ink Bold
Have to pay a fee each time you use the loungeHave to be flying that day (you can’t use the lounge if you’ve landed)Can buy additional visits to Lounge Club locations for $27 each
2. United Explorer Card
Link: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
You get 2 United lounges passes each year you have the United Explorer card. Each pass is good for one-time use and for 1 person. So, if you’re flying with someone, each person needs to have a lounge pass.Credit Cards That Give You Limited Lounge Access
1. Ink Classic
Link: Ink Classic
Have to pay a fee each time you use the loungeHave to be flying that day (you can’t use the lounge if you’ve landed)Can buy additional visits to Lounge Club locations for $27 each
2. American Express Hilton Surpass
Link: Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express
You get a free membership to Priority Pass (a $99 value) with the American Express Hilton Surpass card. A Priority Pass membership is similar to a Lounge Club membership. You can use any Priority Pass lounge location worldwide regardless of what airline or if you’re flying on a cheap ticket.
You pay $27 per visit per person.
The $75 annual fee (not waived) covers the $99 membership cost and could be worth it if you fly a lot on different airlines. But you’ll pay $27 each time you use the lounge so it gets expensive.
3. Chase Ritz-Carlton
Link: Chase Ritz-Carlton Visa
You get an annual membership in the Lounge Club program with the Chase Ritz-Carlton Visa card.
But a Lounge Club membership only gets you access to a participating Lounge Club location.You:
- Have to pay $27 (per person) to use the lounge
- Have to be on a departing flight (you can’t use the lounge if you’ve arrived)
- Can buy additional visits to Lounge Club locations for $27 each
4. Fairmont Visa Signature
Link: Fairmont Visa Signature
You get an annual membership in the Lounge Club program and 2 free passes per card year with the Fairmont Visa Signature card.
Each lounge pass is valid for 1 person. So if 2 people want lounge access you have to use 2 passes.
You:
- Have to pay $27 (per person) to use the lounge
- Have to be on a departing flight (you can’t use the lounge if you’ve arrived)
- Can buy additional visits to Lounge Club locations for $27 each
Bottom Line
Having airport lounge access when you fly, even if you’re an infrequent flyer like Kurt, can make traveling less stressful. If you don’t fly a lot, it might not be worth buying a lounge membership. But many credit cards include airport lounge access or give you a few free passes to enter a lounge.Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)
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