Nothing makes a trip better than having airport lounge access: more comfortable seating, a place to charge your devices, high-speed Wi-Fi, and free food and drinks. Some lounges take it to the next level with over-the-top amenities and great designs.
These private spaces have a reputation as being only for first-class travelers or flyers with elite status. But that's no longer the case – the easiest way into these lounges boils down to what's in your wallet: Many top-tier travel credit cards can get you into lounges.
Of course, these cards aren't free. But between skipping overpriced airport restaurants and other money-saving perks, even hefty annual fees can be well worth it. You just have to do the math before ruling them out.
While several top-dollar airline credit cards can get you into their own lounges, three options stand out for getting into airport lounges – both domestically and around the world. What are they?
The Platinum Card® from American Express
When it comes to getting into airport lounges, one card stands above the rest.
*amex platinum* is, without question, the top dog of premium travel cards. While it comes with a sizable $695 annual fee (see rates & fees), no other card will get you into more airport lounges. The bank calls it the Amex Global Lounge Collection.
It starts with Amex Centurion Lounges, the bank's signature collection of airport lounges scattered across the U.S. (and increasingly abroad). There are over a dozen locations worldwide and counting. If you frequently travel through an airport with one of them, the Platinum Card can be a slam dunk for that reason alone.
Every Centurion Lounge offers food curated by local celebrity chefs; free beer, high-end wine, and cocktails. There’s comfortable seating, power outlets, space to work, and more. But these lounges have grown popular to a fault: Long lines out the door and packed seats inside have become the norm.
An *amex platinum* or *biz platinum* will get you in the door. But now, guests cost $50 apiece (or $30 for minors) … unless you charged a whopping $75,000 on your card that year. Guests two years and younger are complimentary.
The Platinum Card also gets you a Priority Pass Select membership, opening the door to a network of 1,300-plus Priority Pass Lounges across the globe. Just what you’ll get in each lounge can vary. Some lounges are outstanding, while many are fairly simple … but even the worst Priority Pass lounge is generally better than sitting at the gate.
With your Priority Pass membership from the Platinum Card, you can bring in up to two guests with each visit.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Priority Pass Lounges
If you often fly Delta, the *amex platinum* might just be the best card for you. That's right, not a Delta credit card.
You get complimentary access to any Delta Sky Club so long as you are flying Delta that day – and not on a Delta basic economy ticket. You will have to pay for guests (up to two) for $50 each. And soon, even harsher restrictions will kick in.
As of Feb. 1, 2025, Platinum cardholders will only get Sky Club visits for 10 days each year. Visiting several Sky Clubs within the same 24-hour period would just count as one of those passes. Once you've used up all 10 of those days, you can buy additional access for $50 per day.
Read more: How to Access the Delta Sky Club in 2024 and Beyond
The Platinum Card also opens the door to several other lounge networks:
- Escape Lounge – Centurion Studio Partner lounges, a collection of lounges in many smaller U.S. airports as well as a handful in the U.K. Platinum cardholders still get two free guests at Escape Lounges
- Plaza Premium Lounges are some of the best that you'll find in Europe and Asia – and two U.S. locations and counting at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Orlando (MCO). Platinum cardholders also get two free guests
Full Benefits of the Platinum Card® from American Express
While *amex platinum* has an annual fee of $695, you could make up for that with its bonus points, money-saving credits, and travel benefits.
- Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full But check to see if you can get 175,000 points via the CardMatch tool!
- 5x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent directly with airlines or at amextravel.com, on up to $500,000 spent each calendar year
- Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck and NEXUS
- Up to a $199 annual CLEAR® Plus credit
- Up to $200 Annual Airline Credit
- Up to a $200 Annual Hotel Credit for Fine Hotels and Resorts and Hotel Collection Bookings (with a minimum two-night stay for Hotel Collection bookings)
- Up to a $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases at Peacock, Audible, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.
- $200 in Annual Uber Cash: Up to $15 each month (and up to $35 in December)
- Up to $100 each year to be used at Saks Fifth Avenue (enrollment required).
- Automatic Hilton & Marriott Gold Elite Status (enrollment required).
- Annual Fee: $695
Learn more about *amex platinum*.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The *venture x* is easily the most exciting new credit card to hit the market in years – if ever – and part of that comes down to getting into Capital One Lounges.
After years of planning and months of building, Capital One finally opened its first branded airport lounge back in 2021 – an incredible new space in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW). They followed it up with two more at Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD) and Denver (DEN) this year.
A fourth location is in the works in New York City (JFK). The bank also plans to open dedicated dining spaces for cardholders called Capital One Landings in Washington, D.C.-Reagan (DCA) and New York City-LaGuardia (LGA) soon.
A *venture x* gets you and two guests into Capital One Lounges for free. Better yet, you can add up to four Venture X authorized users, giving each of them their own lounge access (with two free guests as well).
Read More: How to Get Airport Lounge Access for the Whole Family with 1 Credit Card
Just like the Amex Platinum Card, the Venture X will also get you (and your authorized users) complimentary Priority Pass lounge access. But the Venture X's guest policy is even better: You can bring an unlimited number of guests – space permitting, of course.
Finally, the Venture X Card also gets you into Plaza Premium Lounges, opening the doors to dozens more lounges abroad and at home. The Plaza Premium name also includes several lounges at the Cancún (CUN) airport and Avianca lounges throughout Colombia.
Check out the full list of Plaza Premium lounges Venture X cardholders can get into.
Full Benefits of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
- $300 Annual Travel Credit: Each year, cardholders will get a $300 travel credit to use through the Capital One Travel booking portal.
- Capital One Lounge & Priority Pass Select Lounge Access: Cardmembers will also be able to bring guests with them for free.
- Up to a $120 Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Membership in either program is good for five years.
- 10,000 Mile Anniversary Bonus: Every year on your account anniversary, you’ll receive 10,000 bonus miles after paying your card’s annual fee. These miles are worth a minimum of $120 towards travel.
- Earn 2x Miles on every purchase & More: Cardholders will earn 2x miles on every dollar spent. Cardholders will also earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One travel portal and 5x miles on flights booked via the portal.
- Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle Status
- $395 Annual Fee: Add up to four authorized users at no additional cost
Learn more about the *venture x*.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The *chase sapphire reserve* has been a mainstay in travelers' wallets since its launch a decade ago. Among other premium benefits, the card offers access to the Chase Sapphire Lounges and Priority Pass lounges.
Chase has followed in the footsteps of both American Express and Capital One to launch their own airport lounges. There are currently five open: in Boston (BOS), Hong Kong (HKG), New York City-LaGuardia (LGA), New York City (JFK), and Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD). At least six more locations on the way. These lounges are a big step above your typical Priority Pass space.
Sapphire Reserve cardholders get unlimited complimentary access to the Sapphire Lounges. They can also bring up to two guests with them on each visit free of charge. Authorized users on the Reserve (which costs an extra $75 a year per card) get their own access and guests, too.
One small hitch: It's not the Reserve that gets you in but the Priority Pass membership that the card comes with. Just be sure to activate that account before your visit.
Reserve cardholders also get complimentary access (with two guests) to Priority Pass lounges worldwide. Sadly, Chase recently axed the airport restaurant dining credits from that perk.
Full Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Welcome Offer: bonus_miles_full
- Points are worth 50% more when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.
- 3x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel & dining worldwide after using the full $300 travel credit
- 10x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent at Lyft through March of 2025
- Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- $300 annual travel credit
- Annual Fee: $550
Learn more about the *chase sapphire reserve*
Other Cards with Lounge Access
These are the ones to beat, but there are plenty of other credit cards on the market that will get you into airport lounges at home and around the world – including some far cheaper alternatives that can get you into lounges a few times a year.
Here's the full list:
| Card Name | Lounge Access | Guest Policy | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| *amex platinum* | Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Priority Pass, Plaza Premium & more | $50 each for Centurion Lounges & Sky Clubs, two free guests at others | $695 |
| *venture x* | Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass & Plaza Premium | Two free, unlimited at Priority Pass | $395 |
| *chase sapphire reserve* | Chase Sapphire Lounges, Priority Pass | Two free | $550 |
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® | American Admirals Clubs | Immediate family members or two guests traveling with primary cardholder | $595 |
| *delta reserve card* | Delta Sky Clubs, Amex Centurion Lounges (when flying Delta & booked with your Reserve Card) | Two for $50 apiece | $650 (see rates & fees) |
| *united club infinite* | United Clubs | Two free | $525 |
| *bonvoy brilliant* | Priority Pass Select (enrollment required) | Two free | $650 (see rates & fees) |
| *united explorer* | Two free United Club passes annually | N/A | $0 introductory fee for the first year, then $95 |
| *capital one venture card* | Two free Capital One lounge passes annually (through Dec. 31, 2024), then discounted entry for $45 | N/A | $95 |
Bottom Line
If you spend a lot of time in airports, one of these three credit cards will drastically improve your experience. Nothing beats spending time in an airport lounge rather than sitting at the gate … or spending $50-plus on a mediocre meal at an airport restaurant.
Thanks, Nick. Any thoughts on which of these lounges are least crowded? I’ve been frustrated with access to Capital One lounges at DFW and DEN, Amex at SFO, Premier Pass at SEA, and more. Hard to justify the fees for the cards if lounge access is a priority.
Not in your list is the US Bank Altitude Connect card. It provides 4 Priority Lounge passes per year for no annual fee. Looks like a good option for occasional travelers.
PenFed’s Pathfinder Rewards Visa Signature can be easily had with no annual fee, and has complimentary Priority Pass membership (you pay a fee for each visit). It also comes with a $100 annual airline fee reimbursement, and a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every 4 years. It earns 4x on all travel; points are worth from 85/100’s of a cent to 1 cent each, depending on how you redeem them.
Does the Hilton Amex business card include PP for $95? Ten visits? Food?
Hi Julie. Yes, the Hilton business card does include 10 Priority Passes each year.
Had an interesting experience flying Air France recently. We were allowed access to the Air France longe @ JFK but denied access to the Air France lounge in Paris . They said they don’t honor the PriorityPass.
Of note to everyone should be that the Priority Pass is quite underwhelming. I have frequently been turned away from lounges, even when I have this card on me. The answer is generally that the Priority Pass is the “last” on their priority list of cards, so if they are busy, expect to be turned away!
That can certainly happen. With over 1,300 Priority Pass affiliated lounges, experiences can be very different from one to the next.
I have Delta platinum and will be doing a positioning flight to Chicago. My next flight is on Qatar and I have a long layover. Will I still get complimentary access to Delta sky club?
Hi Debbie! You could get into the Delta Sky Club at Chicago using your Delta Platinum Card by paying $39 – but you have to be flying Delta into Chicago. If that’s the case, it could be well worth the $39 entry fee depending on how long your layover is.