The Best Strategy for Folks Who Want to Inexpensively Try Out Airport Lounges

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I used to be like you.  Standing in the busy terminal with my face pressed up against the glass airport lounge doors, wondering whose palm I have to grease to get inside.

Airport lounge access actually isn’t just for the rich and famous.  It’s for the rich, the famous, and Million Mile Secrets readers with the right credit card.

Credit cards that come with an airport lounge membership usually have a hefty annual fee ($450 and above!).  Most come with other super valuable perks, too.  But the fact is, that’s a daunting price tag for lots of folks.  Fortunately, there are cards you can open with WAY cheaper annual fees that also give you the chance to test-drive airport lounges, such as:

• Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card – 10 complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge visits per year
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card – 10 complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge visits per year (enrollment required)
• United℠ Explorer Card – 2 free one-time United Airlines airport lounge visits per year

My #1 pick for folks who want to test-drive airport lounge access before opening a card with a proper airport lounge membership is the AMEX Hilton Ascend.

How to Try Out Airport Lounges Before Making a Commitment

First let me get this out of the way.

If you want the CHEAPEST entry into an airport lounge, you should open the United Explorer Card.  This card gives you 2 one-time United Airlines lounge visits each year.  And because the card’s annual fee is waived the first year, you’re essentially getting 2 entries into a lounge for absolutely free.

The second cheapest option would be to BUY a day pass from a lounge (they generally vary between $20 and $60 each).  But this option is rarely available, and you still might need a specific credit card just to have the ability to pay for entry.

But the best option is to open the the AMEX Hilton Ascend.  There are 2 reasons for this:

1.    It Gives You the Best Value

The AMEX Hilton Ascend comes with a $95 annual fee (See Rates & Fees).  But you’ll receive 10 free airport lounge visits each year.  Casting aside all the other great benefits of the card, that breaks down to $9.50 per visit.

Airport lounge quality varies drastically.  Some have showers, hot food, and even private rooms with beds.  Others have a few chairs and a table with chips and salsa.  10 visits should be more than enough to get a good feel for what to expect during your travels.

2.   It Grants You Access to Priority Pass Lounges

Priority Pass is a collection of 1,200+ airport lounges all over the world.  If a credit card comes with airport lounge access, it usually comes with a Priority Pass membership (the exceptions are airline credit cards like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® or the Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card, which come with access to their respective airline lounges).

The AMEX Hilton Ascend comes with access to Priority Pass lounges.  So you’ll have ample time to try out the experience and see if it’s a membership you’d be interested in by opening a card with a higher annual fee.

The AMEX Hilton Ascend is the cheapest way to actually sample the lounge access that most cards offer.

I can’t recommend airport lounge access enough.  Sometimes they leave much to be desired, but often it’s an amazing place to relax, not to mention save money on food and drink.  Team member Jesse lives in Portland, and loves using his Priority Pass at Capers Market in the Portland airport for $28 of free food per person for him and his wife.

Let me know if you’re thinking of trying out airport lounge access!

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