The Priority Pass Airport Lounge Sale Is a Sham: Don’t Be Fooled by “40% Off” – There’s a Cheaper Way to Get Access!

December 23, 2018 By Million Mile Secrets

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Priority Pass has a sale for airport lounge membership with discounts up to 40% off. But you’ll still pay a $32 copay at the lowest tier, and there are NO plans with free guest access.

On the surface, it looks enticing. But if you want regular, unlimited airline lounge access, do yourself a favor and open the right credit card. The annual fees include Priority Pass lounge visits – and there are many to choose from including:

Any version of the AMEX Platinum card (including The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum® Card from American Express)
Hilton Honors Ascend Card from American Express or The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (10 free entries per year)
Chase Sapphire Reserve
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card (4 free entries per year for you and 1 guest)

Once you run the numbers, you’ll agree these cards are a better deal than the Priority Pass “sale.”

Here I Am Enjoying a Free Meal and Old Fashioned at Landry’s in the Houston Airport. I Get Priority Pass Airport Lounge Membership Included With My Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

Let’s take a look!

Priority Pass Airport Lounge Membership Sale

Priority Pass has 3 membership tiers. Right now, they’re all discounted so you can take advantage of 1,200+ airport lounge locations all over the globe.

$59 a Year Sounds Like a Deal for a Year of Lounge Access at the Lowest Tier, Until You Realize You’ll STILL Pay $64 for Yourself and a Guest for Each Visit

I’ve been to Priority Pass lounges in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Dallas, Lima, Mexico City, Nadi, New York, and many other places. I’ve even brought guests and never paid a thin dime for any of it, other than the annual fee on the credit card that got me access.

Membership has grown to include certain airport restaurants, and I’ve already dined for free in Houston and Portland. So it’s certainly useful, especially if you fly coach or don’t have airline elite status (I haven’t had status in years).

But this latest sale isn’t worth it.

Compare Priority Pass Membership to Credit Card Fees

Link: The Best Credit Cards With Lounge Access

At the low end, you’ll pay $59 (a 40% discount) and then $32 for each visit. The $223 middle tier gets you 10 free visits, then you’ll pay $32 for each. And the $321 highest level gets you free unlimited visits, but you’ll still pay $32 for each guest!

Compare those prices to these cards that all come with Priority Pass visits as part of the annual fees:

Any version of the AMEX Platinum card (The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum® Card from American Express) – $550 for personal versions (See Rates & Fees), $595 for small business version (See Rates & Fees) gets you unlimited visits for you and 2 guests
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express – $450 (See Rates & Fees) gets you unlimited visits for you and 2 guests
Hilton Honors Ascend Card from American Express (See Rates & Fees) or The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (See Rates & Fees) – $95 annual fee gets you 10 free entries per year (compare that to $223 for the middle tier of Priority Pass membership!)
Chase Sapphire Reserve – $550 gets you unlimited visits for you and 2 guests
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card – $400 gets you 4 free entries per year for you and 1 guest
Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card – $450 gets you unlimited visits for you and 2 guests

So if you want at least 10 visits a year, pick up the Hilton Honors Ascend Card from American Express or The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card for a $95 annual fee. You’ll also get Hilton Gold elite status that gets you free breakfast, late checkout, and upgrades when available at Hilton hotels. Either card is a better deal than the first two Priority Pass membership levels, especially if you travel alone.

Team Member Jasmin Travels With Kids, so Having a Premium Credit Card for Priority Pass Lounges Is a MUCH Better Deal

And if you bring guests or want more visits, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve which comes with unlimited visits for yourself and 2 guests. You’ll also get:

$300 annual credit every cardmember anniversary for travel purchases including airfare and hotels
Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck
Great rewards earning rates
Amazing travel insurance

Once you run the numbers and consider you’ll pay $32 per guest no matter which Priority Pass membership level you pay for, it’s clear that getting 1 credit card for regular access is much more cost-effective. Not to mention all the other card benefits you’ll get!

Here’s more information about the best credit cards for airport lounge access.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Business Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Ascend Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire Card, please click here.

Million Mile Secrets

Contributor

Million Mile Secrets features a team of points and miles experts who have traveled to over 80 countries and have used 60+ credit cards responsibly to accumulate loyalty points and travel the world on the cheap! The Million Mile Secrets team has been featured on The Points Guy, TIME, Yahoo Finance and many other leading points & miles media outlets.