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.

My Airport Lounge Access Failed Me When I Needed It Most

  • Joseph Hostetler

    • 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.

    Airport lounge access is perhaps the best way to ease the anxiety of a visit to the airport.  Plenty of cards give you either unlimited airport lounge access or a whole ream of day passes each year, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve, The Business Platinum® Card from American Express, The Platinum Card® from American Express, and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. The information for the Hilton Surpass card has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

    Not only are airport lounges a quiet hideaway from the noisy terminal, but they can save you money.  Because many have free hot meals, free drinks (including alcohol), free Wi-Fi, and sometimes even beds and showers!

    I use the Priority Pass lounge membership I receive from my credit card all the time when I’m traveling.  It makes me look forward to being at the airport.

    But I now know that Priority Pass lounge access is almost useless during ultra-peak holiday travel.

    The Club DFW Airport Lounge Had a Line Out the Door

    Beware Airport Lounges During Peak Travel

    A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on how to minimize your chances of being turned away from an airport lounge.  Ironic that soon after I found myself on the outside of the fancy sliding glass doors peering in at all the free alcohol and comfy seats.

    My flight home from Thanksgiving was delayed in Dallas (part of the landing gear needed replaced), so I decided to visit the airport lounges, 3 of which I could access with my Priority Pass membership.  Just a few steps away from my gate in Terminal D was a Minute Suites, which are private rooms with beds and workstations, and also come with access to showers.  The wait was 45 minutes.

    Minute Suites give you the option to book a room in advance to avoid a wait.  If I had known I’d be delayed, I would have reserved a room.

    Reserve Your Minute Suites in Advance or You Probably Won’t Experience Them

    Elsewhere in Terminal D was The Club at DFW, which had a line out the door.  Only once or twice have I actually been impressed by “The Club” lounges, so this wasn’t devastating.

    Also on a wait, the Minute Suites in Terminal A.

    This Thanksgiving did have a reportedly record-shattering amount of travelers.  So I should have expected the airport foot traffic to be a macrocosm of the airport lounges.

    On any normal day, airport lounges should have plenty of room for you and your guests.  But if you’re traveling during peak season, at a time when the terminals are at their rowdiest and noisiest and you’d most appreciate lounge access, don’t be shocked if you’re queuing half an hour for the privilege.

    Ready to learn the secrets to uber cheap travel using miles & points?  Then subscribe to our newsletter and receive them daily.

    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! :)