The cards we recommend charge at least $395 in annual fees. But, if you’re accustomed to luxury, these cards are more economical for you. With airline fee statement credits, sizeable signup bonuses, complimentary lounge access, and more, there are plenty of credit cards that are worth it for frequent flyers. Different credit cards offer different types of lounge access. You’ll want to choose a card that matches your flying preferences, including the airlines you like to fly and the airports you frequent. With that in mind, here are our top picks for credit cards with lounge access: In general, cardholders can access the lounges with up to two additional guests for no charge, unless the lounge network has different rules (additional fees apply for guests at Delta Sky Clubs). American Express allows additional cardholders to access the same lounge benefits as the primary cardmember, however, there is a charge of $175 to add up to three additional users to your American Express Platinum account. The business version of this card – The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – also offers comparable access to these same lounge networks. Pros
Access to six lounge networks24 Centurion Lounges (13 US and 11 abroad)High value travel benefits and annual credits
Cons
High annual fee of $695Fee for additional card usersAmerican Express Priority Pass excludes participating airport restaurantsSome of the benefits aren’t practical for the average user (like private jet credits)
You can read our full review here. While Chase’s list of lounges you can access as a cardholder isn’t as extensive as the Amex Platinum’s list, the card does give you full access to Priority Pass for you and two guests, including the participating airport restaurants excluded by American Express’s Priority Pass access. This can be a game-changer if your home airport is in a smaller city and has Priority Pass restaurant options but not lounge options. Chase has also announced it is planning to open six Sapphire lounges in 2022 and 2023, with the first three slated for New York LaGuardia (LGA), Boston (BOS), and Hong Kong (HKG). Additional users on your Chase Sapphire Reserve account do get full access to the same benefits of the primary cardholder, but there is a $75 annual fee per additional card. Pros
Priority Pass Select with access to airport restaurants$300 annual travel purchase creditBest travel insurance options
Cons
High annual fee of $550$75 fee per authorized userSapphire lounge network not yet open
The Capital One Lounge is currently open in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) with locations in Denver (DEN) and Washington Dulles (IAD) opening soon. Venture X cardholders receive unlimited access to the lounges with up to two additional guests at no charge. These lounges offer a full bar, hot food, grab-and-go meals, showers, and even a yoga room with Peloton bikes. In addition to the growing network of Capital One lounges, the Venture X also gives you Priority Pass Select membership for you and two guests, with access to participating airport restaurants included. Capital One allows you to add four additional cardholders to your Venture X Rewards Card account at no cost, and additional users are able to access the full lounge benefits – including registration for Priority Pass. Pros
Growing network of Capital One LoungesTravel credits on Capital One travelNo additional user fee for four additional cards
Cons
High annual fee of $395Only open lounge is currently in DFWPriority Pass membership may be discontinued as the Capital One Lounge network grows
Unlike many of the other cards that allow two of your companions to access the lounge at no charge, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve only covers lounge access for you. Cardholders get two guest passes each year; outside of the guest passes, you may bring two guests at a cost of $39 per person when accessing the Sky Club. When accessing the American Express Centurion Lounge with a Delta SkyMiles Reserve card, you may bring up to two guests. However, the cost per person is $50. While both the American Express Platinum card and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card offer access to both the Sky Club and the Centurion Lounges, this card may be more appealing to avid Delta flyers. This is especially great for those hoping to maintain levels of elite status, as this card offers Medallion Qualifying Miles earning bonuses. Pros
Access to American Express Centurion LoungesMedallion Qualifying Miles earning benefitsDelta SkyMiles bonus earnings
Cons
High annual fee of $550Additional charge for lounge guestsAnnual fee costs more than a Sky Club membership
You can read our full review here. You do not have to be flying American on the same day to use your Citi AAdvantage World Elite Mastercard, but those who frequent American Airlines will get the most use out of this card’s lounge benefits, as nearly every AA hub has one or more lounges to visit. A major perk to this card is that Citi will allow either immediate family members (such as a spouse or domestic partner and children under 18) or up to two guests traveling with you to the Admirals Club lounge for free. (Some partner lounges require you to be the primary card member to gain access). Pros
Annual fee costs less than an Admirals Club Annual MembershipAdditional authorized users can access Admirals Club lounges for no chargeAA airline benefits and Loyalty Points bonus earnings
Cons
Not a great option if you often fly with other airlinesHigh annual fee of $450
Type of lounge benefit: Which airline you fly and the airport hubs that you visit the most will help you determine which airport lounge rewards card will best meet your needs.Annual fee value: Does the lounge access – alongside the other rewards and benefits of the card – add up to meet or exceed the value of the annual fee?Other travel benefits: In addition to lounge access, most of these cards offer other specific travel benefit including free baggage, priority boarding, or travel credits. These benefits help offset the high annual fees common to luxury travel cards.
The best credit cards for airport lounge access justify their annual fees through extensive perks and a network of lounges. So, if you travel often and prefer to kick your feet up, these cards are a great option for you. However, keep in mind that our selection of cards requires at least $395 in annual fees. If you’re looking to save money and fly infrequently, don’t waste your time. Some popular lounge networks are Priority Pass Select, Escape lounges, Airspace lounges, and Plaza Premium lounges. Each of the large and most popular credit card-issuing banks have also begun to launch their own networks of airline lounges: the American Express Centurion Lounges, the Capital One Lounges, and the recently announced Chase Sapphire Lounges. These networks allow you to visit any of the lounges within their network if your credit card gives you access to their membership. In the US, each of the large airlines has their own branded airline club, which you can join and access whenever you visit the airport. In lieu of a paid membership, most of the airlines offer a co-branded card that gives you access to their club when you travel. Choosing a card with this type of lounge access is typically best for travelers who frequently fly on a specific airline. These lounges are most often located within that airline’s hub cities and in the terminal from which that airline’s flights depart, making it convenient if you match your lounge credit card access choice to the airline you’ll most likely be flying. If you live in a smaller city that has few airport lounges but does have participating Priority Pass restaurants, you’ll want to make sure your credit card provides a Priority Pass membership with access to the restaurant benefit. Do credit card authorized users get lounge access? If you have a partner or dependent who is an authorized user on your credit card, most cards will grant this user the same lounge privileges as the cardholder. You will want to check the exact card terms to confirm. Some credit cards with lounge access charge a high fee to add an additional person, such as the American Express Platinum card. While other cards like the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard will allow you to gift your Admirals Club lounge access benefits to up to 10 additional users (by making them additional cardholders on your card).
American Express Business Platinum Card: Comparable lounge benefits as American Express Platinum personal cardHilton Honors American Express Card: 10 Priority Pass Select passes a yearUnited Club Infinite Card: Access for cardholder and two guests into United Clubs (excluding Polaris locations)United℠ Explorer Card: Two one-time United Club passes per year (no guests)United Club Business Card: United Club membership with two guests.American Express Green Card: $100 LoungeBuddy creditU.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Card: Priority Pass select membership with four lounge visits and four guest passes annuallyCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Two free Capital One lounge visits per year, and special pricing of $45 per additional visit or guestCapital One Spark Miles Card: Two free Capital One lounge visits per year, and special pricing of $45 per additional visit or guest
