We are an independent publisher. Our reporters create honest, accurate, and objective content to help you make decisions. To support our work, we are paid for providing advertising services. Many, but not all, of the offers and clickable hyperlinks (such as a “Next” button) that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. The compensation we receive and other factors, such as your location, may impact what ads and links appear on our site, and how, where, and in what order ads and links appear. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, our site does not include information about every product or service that may be available to you. We strive to keep our information accurate and up-to-date, but some information may not be current. So, your actual offer terms from an advertiser may be different than the offer terms on this site. And the advertised offers may be subject to additional terms and conditions of the advertiser. All information is presented without any warranty or guarantee to you.

This page may include: credit card ads that we may be paid for (“advertiser listing”); and general information about credit card products (“editorial content”). Many, but not all, of the offers and clickable hyperlinks (such as a “Apply Now” button or “Learn More” button) that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. When you click on that hyperlink or button, you may be directed to the credit card issuer’s website where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer. Each advertiser is responsible for the accuracy and availability of its ad offer details, but we attempt to verify those offer details. We have partnerships with advertisers such as Brex, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo and Discover. We also include editorial content to educate consumers about financial products and services. Some of that content may also contain ads, including links to advertisers’ sites, and we may be paid on those ads or links.

For more information, please see How we make money.

What Is An Airport Lounge & Which Cards Get You Access?

  • Million Mile Secrets

    • Signing up for credit cards through partner links earns us a commission. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Here’s our full advertising policy: How we make money.

    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?
    Relatively Quiet Atmosphere, Free Food, and Massages…at the Airport!

    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:

    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!
    American Express Platinum Cardholders Have Free Access to Centurion Lounges

    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:

    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.

    You Can Enjoy American Airlines Lounge Membership Courtesy Of Your Citi Executive Credit Card

    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.
    Ouch! You’ll Pay For Every Guest You Bring Into a Delta Lounge

    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.

    Enjoy Drinks With Friends (New and Old)

    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:

    And you might be able to get the 1st year annual fee waived. 5.  Citi Prestige

    Link:   Citi Prestige

    You get free membership in Priority Pass as a benefit of the Citi Prestige card. 
    The Citi Prestige Gives You Free International Lounge Access
    You get unlimited free lounge access for yourself, and you can bring a guest or family.  So if you travel with friends or family, the $450 annual fee (not waived) might be worth it.

    Credit Cards That Give You 2 Free Lounge Visits

    1.   Ink Plus and Ink Bold

    Link:   Ink Plus  

    Link:   Ink Bold

    You get an annual membership in the Lounge Club program with the Ink Plus and the Ink Bold.  The Lounge Club is an airline lounge program with over 600 locations worldwide, mostly international.  There are only 19 US airports that have a Lounge Club.  You can use any participating lounge regardless of what airline or type of ticket you’re flying. You also get 2 free entries per card year.  If your annual fee is due in April, you’d get 2 free entries to use within 12 months.  You have to register for your free Lounge Club card before you can use the Lounge Club lounges. Additional Ink Plus and Ink Bold card holders get 2 free passes a year too!
    You Get More Than Just 5X From Your Ink Plus and Ink Bold Cards – You Get a Relaxing Spot When You Fly
    Unlike an airline lounge membership which gives you unlimited free access, a Lounge Club membership does not give you unlimited access.  A Lounge Club membership only gets you access to a participating Lounge Club lounge. To use a Lounge Club lounge, you: Paying the $95 annual fee (waived the first year) on the Ink Plus, Ink Bold, or Ink Classic for Lounge Club membership might be worth it if you fly a lot and on different airlines.  The 2 free passes are worth $54 which is about half your annual fee ($95 annual fee – $54 cost of 2 lounge passes).   But if you fly mostly on 1 airline, it might be worth getting a lounge membership for that airline.

    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

    If you have the Ink Classic, you get a free membership in Lounge Club for the 1st year you have the card.  You have to register for your free Lounge Club card before you can use the Lounge Club lounges. Lounge Club is an international airline lounge program with over 600 locations worldwide.  Although, there are 19 US airports with a Lounge Club.  You don’t have to be flying in First or Business Class nor on a particular airline.  If the airport has a participating lounge you can use it. A Lounge Club membership only gets you access to a participating Lounge Club lounge, but not free use. To use a Lounge Club lounge, you:

    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.
    Your American Express Hilton Surpass Card Gets You Lounge Access Anytime

    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:

    A Chase Ritz-Carlton Card Opens More Than Just Hotel Doors

    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:

    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! :)