Best cards for airport lounge access: Get into an airport lounge for free with these cards

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Whether you travel constantly or occasionally, having airport lounge access can be a valuable perk. Having access to a quieter space and complimentary food and beverages can pay off—especially if you are traveling with a family. Holding a credit card offering lounge access is usually the best way to get into your airport lounge.

Here are the credit cards that can get you into the lounge at the airport.

Credit cards with airport lounge access

For the most frequent traveler, a card offering unlimited lounge visits will likely provide the most value. However, if you only travel a few times a year, you might save some money by choosing a card that includes a limited number of lounge visits—these cards usually carry lower annual fees.

Cards with unlimited visits to airport lounges

These credit cards offer unlimited visits to airport lounges. Unless otherwise noted, lounge access is only for the cardmember and may be used an unlimited number of times.

Card	Network lounges	Airline lounges	Branded lounges
	Examples: Priority Pass, Plaza Premium	Examples: Delta Sky Club®, United Club, Admirals Club	Examples: The Centurion® Lounge, Capital One Lounge
The Platinum Card® from American Express Annual fee: $695 (See Rates and Fees) The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Annual fee: $695 (See Rates and Fees)	Priority Pass Bring 2 guests for free. Plaza Premium Bring 2 guests for free.	Delta Sky Club® Must be on same-day Delta-operated flight. Effective February 1, 2024, receive 10 visits per year. Lufthansa Lounges Must be on same-day Lufthansa Group flight.	The Centurion® Lounge Escape Lounges – The Centurion® Studio Partner Bring 2 guests for free.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Annual fee: $550	Priority Pass Bring 2 guests for free.	–	Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club Bring 2 guests for free.
Capital One Venture X Annual fee: $395 Capital One Venture X Business Annual fee: $395	Priority Pass Bring 2 guests for free Plaza Premium Bring 2 guests for free	–	Capital One Lounges Bring 2 guests for free
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card Annual fee: $650 (See Rates and Fees)	Priority Pass Bring 2 guests for free	–	–
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® Annual fee: $595	–	American Admirals Club Membership 2 guests or family (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18).	–
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Annual fee: $650 (See Rates and Fees) Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Annual fee: $650 (See Rates and Fees)	–	Delta Sky Club® Must be on same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. Effective February 1, 2025, cardmembers receive 15 visits per year, but can earn unlimited access with $75,000 of card spend in a calendar year.	The Centurion® Lounge Must be on same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. Escape Lounges – The Centurion® Studio Partner Must be on same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.
United Club℠ Infinite Card Annual fee: $525 United Club℠ Business Card Annual fee: $450	–	United Club Membership Must be on same-day United, Star Alliance, or partner flight. Bring 2 guests or one adult and dependent children under 21 for free.	–

Cards with limited airport lounge visits

These credit cards offer a limited number of visits to airport lounges or a finite amount of statement credits you can use for lounge access. These cards might be better for you if you fly or have occasion to visit an airport lounge only occasionally.

Card	Network lounges	Airline lounges	Branded lounges
	Examples: Priority Pass, Plaza Premium	Examples: Delta Sky Club®, United Club, Admirals Club	Examples: Amex Centurion Lounge, Capital One Lounge
American Express® Green Card Annual fee: $150 (See Rates and Fees; terms apply)	LoungeBuddy Credit Receive up to $100 in statement credits per year when you purchase lounge access through LoungeBuddy.	–	–
United℠ Explorer Card Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 United℠ Business Card Annual fee: $99	–	United Club 2 one-time passes per year.	–
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95/year thereafter.	Priority Pass 4 visits per year.	–	–
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card Annual fee: $400	Priority Pass 8 visits per year.	–	–

What is an airport lounge?

An airport lounge is a space in an airport reserved exclusively for select travelers with access. Airport lounges usually provide a selection of complimentary food and beverages, offer free wifi, and give you an exclusive space to wait for your connecting flight. Many lounges offer additional services like massages, showers, or plated meals. Some lounges offer premium food and beverages or additional services for a fee.

Many airlines operate networks of airport lounges for their international premium cabin customers and holders of their co-branded credit cards. Examples of airline-operated lounges include the Delta Sky Club®, United Club, American Airlines Admirals Club, Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses, and Alaska Lounge.

Other airport lounges are operated by private companies that offer pay-per-use lounge access or lounge access through lounge networks like Priority Pass.

How do you access an airport lounge?

There are several ways you can get access to an airport lounge. Here are the most common:

• Premium credit cards. Many premium credit cards offer some form of airport lounge access. Priority Pass is a common lounge network included with many cards, but Chase, Capital One, and American Express all operate a limited number of branded lounges available exclusively to their own cardmembers. High-tier premium airline credit cards often include lounge access.
• Elite status. If you hold elite status with an airline, you can sometimes qualify for lounge access based on your status and the type of flight you are on. This access is usually restricted to international flights.
• Paid long-haul international business and first class flights. Most airlines offer some sort of lounge access to those who purchase long-haul business and first class flights.
• Pay-per-use. Some airport lounges allow you to pay a fee to use the lounge. Lounges may take payment at the door or use a service like LoungeBuddy to manage pay-per-use access.
• Lounge membership. Most airline-operated lounges offer some sort of paid lounge membership. The membership fee is usually charged annually and is often discounted for an airline’s elite members.

More on the cards that offer lounge access

Here’s a bit more on each of the cards that offers airport lounge access.

The Platinum Card® from American Express: The most comprehensive lounge access

The Platinum Card® from American Express has perhaps the most comprehensive airport lounge access program of any premium credit card. As a Platinum Card® cardmember, you’ll get access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection® which includes Amex’s own Centurion® Lounge and Escape Lounges. You’ll have access to Delta Sky Club® locations and Lufthansa lounges when flying on those airlines respectively, plus Priority Pass (enrollment required) and Plaza Premium Lounge access.

If you want to share your lounge access with others, you can add up to three authorized users for $195/year each. Amex Platinum® authorized users receive the same lounge access benefits, which can be a good option if you have a partner you want to share lounge access with.

More on The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express is Amex’s flagship travel card offering increased rewards on travel, plus a suite of premium travel benefits, perks, and statement credits. The card currently carries a $695 annual fee. (See Rates and Fees)

You get 5x Membership Rewards® points on up to $500,000 of flights booked directly with airlines or Amex travel each year using The Platinum Card®. Outside of flights, the card’s rewards are lackluster. Other purchases earn only 1 point per dollar.

Historically, the card has been a tool for business travelers wanting lounge access and premium travel benefits. The Platinum Card® still offers airport lounge access and premium travel insurance, but today it also features over $1,500 of merchant and statement credits. Some of these offers, like the $240 digital entertainment credit and the $155 Walmart+ credit are useful to many. Others, like the Equinox membership credit are really only useful to a select group of cardmembers. Enrollment is required for most statement credits.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Amex global lounges for small business owners

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express also offers American Express Global Lounge Collection® to small business owners. Business Platinum cardholders can access the Centurion® Lounge and Amex Escape Lounges as well as Delta Sky Clubs and Lufthansa lounges when flying on those airlines. As a Business Platinum cardholder, you can also enroll for a Priority Pass Select membership and enjoy Plaza Premium Lounge access.

Usually right here, we’d show you a link to apply for the card. But we’re committed to showing you the best deal you can get on every card welcome bonus, so we’re holding off on adding that link until we can find the best deal on this card.

More on The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers premium travel perks and a litany of statement credits for small business owners. The card carries a hefty annual fee of $695. (See Rates and Fees)

You’ll get the most points for using your Business Platinum Card® to book flights and prepaid hotels through AmexTravel.com—on those bookings, you’ll earn 5x Membership Rewards® points. You’ll also get 1.5x points on purchases of $5,000 or more, plus 1.5x points in eligible business categories. Other purchases earn 1x Membership Rewards®.

The card features one of the most comprehensive airpot lounge access programs available on a credit card, plus premium travel benefits. Like the personal Platinum card, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers as bunch of statement credits, but the featured merchants are more geared toward small business owners.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Priority Pass with the Chase Sapphire Lounge

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is the only card available to new cardmembers that can get you unlimited access to Chase’s own Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club. If you frequently travel through Boston, Hong Kong, LaGuardia, or JFK (locations where the Chase Sapphire Lounge is currently open) then the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is probably your best bet for lounge access.

Unfortunately, Chase announced in March of 2024 that the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card would be losing Priority Pass Restaurant access, so that is no longer a unique perk of this card.

If you want to share the lounge access you get with your Chase Sapphire Reserve®, it will cost you only $75 per authorized user per year. Authorized users get their own Priority Pass membership and can also access the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club.

More on the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card is Chase’s flagship travel card offering increased rewards, transferable points, airport lounge access, an annual travel credit and a robust suite of travel insurance protections. The card has an annual fee of $550.

The card earns increased points on a variety of travel and other categories of spending. When you book hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠, you’ll earn 10 points per dollar using the Sapphire Reserve. Flights booked through Chase Travel℠ earn five points per dollar. You’ll also earn three points per dollar on restaurants and on all other travel after the first $300 (which is automatically reimbursed thanks to the card’s annual travel credit.) Finally, the card earns one point per dollar on all other purchases.

The Sapphire Reserve is loaded with additional benefits. First, you’ll get an annual travel credit toward the first $300 of travel expenses you charge to the card. The card includes airport lounge access to Chase’s network of lounges. You’ll also get Priority Pass lounge access, including access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club. When traveling, you’ll get one of the most comprehensive suites of travel insurance protections available on a credit card, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary auto rental collision damage waiver insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip delay reimbursement. Finally, holding the Sapphire Reserve card makes all of your Ultimate Rewards points even more valuable. You’ll be able to redeem them for 1.5 cents each toward travel through Chase Travel℠ or transfer your points to airline and hotel partners.

Capital One Venture X: Low-cost Priority Pass, Capital One lounges, and free authorized users

The Capital One Venture X card is the value play when it comes to getting unlimited access to Priority Pass. With an annual fee of $395, the card’s annual cost is lower than competing cards. Even better, you can add authorized users to the card for free and those authorized users get their own Priority Pass Select memberships.

The Capital One Venture X is one of the few cards that can get you into the Capital One lounges. If you travel from or through Dallas, Denver, or Dulles, the Capital One Venture X is probably your best best for lounge access in these locations.

More on the Capital One Venture X

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card card is Capital One’s entrant into the high-end premium travel credit card game, and is one of the least costly high-end travel cards available. The card offers lounge access, an annual travel credit, a variety of travel insurance protections and a cardmember anniversary point bonus. The Venture X carries an annual fee of $395.

When you book with Capital One travel, using your Venture X you’ll earn 10 miles per dollar on hotel and rental car purchases and 5 miles per dollar on flights. You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. With Capital One you can use miles toward statement credits to offset travel purchases at 1 cent each. Cash back redemptions get you half a cent each. Capital One miles can also be transferred to the bank’s travel transfer partners. Learn more in our guide to Capital One Miles.

The card comes with airport lounge access: You can enjoy unlimited complimentary visits for you and up to two guests to Capital One Lounges and lounges through Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group. As a cardmember, you’ll enjoy a $300 annual travel credit toward purchases with Capital One Travel and a 10,000 mile anniversary bonus each year, starting on your first account anniversary. The card also comes with a slate of travel and insurance benefits that keep you protected at home and on the road.

You can learn more about the benefits and features of the Capital One Venture X in our overview of the card.

Capital One Venture X Business: Low-cost Priority Pass, Capital One lounges, and free authorized users

The Capital One Venture X Business card is a version of the Capital One Venture X for small business owners. Many of the benefits, including its lounge access benefit, are similar. You’ll get access to Priority Pass and the Capital One lounges for an annual fee of $395. However, authorized users you add to the Venture X Business card won’t get a Priority Pass membership.

The card is also issued as a World Elite Mastercard, which comes with fewer benefits than the personal version, which is issued as a Visa Infinite card. Most people will want to go with the Capital One Venture X, the personal version of this card.

More on the Capital One Venture X Business

The Capital One Venture X Business card offers small business owners 2x miles on every purchase and access to Priority Pass airport lounges at an affordable price. The Venture X business card is a pay-in-full card, meaning you must pay off your balance in full every month. The card’s its $395 annual fee makes it is one of the most affordable small business cards offering lounge access.

Similar to the personal variant of the card, the Venture X Rewards Credit Card, the Venture X business card’s rewards structure is simple. Cardmembers get 10x miles on hotels and car rentals and 5x miles on flights when booking through Capital One Travel. All other purchases earn 2x miles, with no limits or categories to track. On each cardmember anniversary you’ll also get 10,000 bonus miles.

The Venture X Business card comes with plenty of perks useful to the frequent traveler: A $300 annual travel credit good toward bookings with Capital One Travel, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, and airport lounge access. Plus, the card offers essential travel protections like trip delay reimbursement, primary auto rental collision damage waiver insurance, and lost luggage reimbursement.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: A brilliant choice for Marriott Loyalists who want Priority Pass access.

If you just want access to airport lounges, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is far from the best deal. But if you are a Marriott loyalist and you want Priority Pass lounge access, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card will get you access for you and two guests. Notable other perks of the card include an annual 85,000 point free night certificate and instant Platinum status with Marriott Bonvoy.

More on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the card for small business owners who want high-tier elite status and who stay at luxury hotels like The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis®. The card offers instant Platinum status with Marriott, an annual 85k free night certificate, property credits at luxury brands, and a airport lounge access. The card has a $650 annual fee. (See Rates and Fees)

When you stay at a Marriott Bonvoy^® property and charge your stay to your card, you’ll earn 6 points for every dollar of hotel charges. You’ll also earn 3 points per dollar spent restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. For other eligible purchases, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar.

The card comes with an free night award usable at hotels costing up to 85,000 point per night. You’ll also get instant Platinum Elite status, a $100 property credit toward qualifying charges when you stay at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis®, and 25 elite night credits for having the card. The Bonvoy Brilliant also features the opportunity to get up to $300 in dining credits ($25 credits monthly) and a choice award after $60,000 of spending. Options for the Choice Award include an additional 85k certificate. Terms apply to all benefits.

Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and compare it to the other Marriott credit cards in our overview of the Marriott credit cards.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: The least expensive Admirals Club membership you can get

If you are loyal to American Airlines and you want a membership to the Admirals Club, holding the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is by far the cheapest way to get an Admirals Club membership. Even if you hold American’s top-tier status, Executive Platinum®, you’ll need to pay $700 a year for an Admirals Club.

Somewhat unique to the Admirals Club is that there is no requirement to be flying on American or its partners to use the club. If your home airport has an Admirals Club that is convenient, the membership that comes with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® might be the best lounge access option for you.

More on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® offers perhaps the best value in airline club membership of any card. For the card’s $450 annual fee, you get an Admirals Club membership which includes access for your immediate family or two guests traveling with you. The card grants free checked bags for you and up to 8 travel companions, a 25% savings on in-flight food and beverage purchases on American, and two miles for every dollar you spend on American Airlines purchases.

If you’re chasing American status the card also offers an extra boost in addition to the 1 Loyalty Point you get from every mile you earn from purchases. You earn up to 10,000 additional loyalty points when you spend $40,000 in purchases during your qualifying status year.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Unlimited visits to the Delta Sky Club… for now.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card currently includes unlimited visits to the Delta Sky Club® for the primary cardmember when flying on a same-day Delta flight. The Platinum Card® from American Express may be a better option depending on how and whether you use the statement credits included with each card. If you’re chasing Delta status, the Reserve card does make it easier to earn status through its MQD Boost and MQD Headstart benefits.

Starting on 2/1/25, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card will only receive 15 visits per year as a perk of holding the card unless you spend $75,000 or more on the card in a calendar year. Once those 15 visits have been used, you will be charged a per-visit rate of $50 if you haven’t spent enough to qualify for unlimited visits.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Delta Sky Club Access and better for large spenders

If you’re a small business owner and you want access to the Delta Sky Club®, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card can offer you unlimited visits to the Delta Sky Club® when flying on a same-day Delta flight. With the card, you’ll get a boost toward earning your Medallion status with the card’s MQD Headstart benefit and your ongoing spending will earn the MQDs you need for status.

Starting on 2/1/25, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card will only offer 15 visits per year as a perk of holding the card unless you spend $75,000 or more on the card in a calendar year. Once those 15 visits have been used, you will be charged a per-visit rate of $50 if you haven’t spent enough to qualify for unlimited visits.

United Club℠ Infinite Card: United Club℠ Membership for less than United charges directly

You could purchase a United Club℠ membership from United for $550 to $650 a year depending on your frequent flyer status or you could get the United Club℠ Infinite Card for $525 a year. The United Club℠ membership you receive with your United Club℠ Infinite Card will get you and either two guests or your family (one additional adult, plus dependent children under 12) into the club when flying on a same-day United, Star Alliance, or partner flight.

More about the United Club℠ Infinite Card

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is the card that will get you into the United Club when traveling on United. It is also the card that offers the most miles for your United charges, paired with the most generous slate of additional travel benefits. The card has an annual fee of $525.

With the United Club℠ Infinite Card, you’ll earn more for your United flights than you will with any other United card—4 points per dollar for United purchases. You’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases, plus dining and eligible delivery services. Other purchases earn 1 point per dollar.

The headline benefit of the United Club℠ Infinite Card is its included United Club℠ membership, which can get you and your eligible companions into the United Club℠ and participating Star Alliance lounges. You’ll also get a free first and second checked bag for you and a companion, plus a suite of premium travel insurance benefits.

Learn more about the United Club℠ Infinite Card and compare it against the other United credit cards in our overview of the United credit cards.

United Club℠ Business Card: United Club℠ membership for the lowest cost

The United Club℠ Business Card is the cheapest way to get a United Club℠ membership, but it may not be the best for you. The card earns only half the points on United flights as the personal version of the card, does not include the personal card’s 10% discount on United saver awards, allows you to earn only 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points per year, and only provides primary rental car insurance when renting for business purposes. If those benefits are worth less than the $75 in annual fees you’ll save, go for the business card.

Like the personal card, you’ll get a United Club℠ membership with your card. You’l be able to enter the United Club with either two guests or your family (one additional adult, plus dependent children under 12) when flying on a same-day United, Star Alliance, or partner flight

About the United Club℠ Business Card

For small business owners, the United Club℠ Business Card offers the most affordable entry point for United Club℠ lounge access. The card doesn’t earn terribly impressive rewards on United travel, but it is the only United card that earns 1.5x miles on general purchases. The United Club℠ Business Card’s annual fee is $450.

When you use the United Club℠ Business Card for United purchases, you’ll get 2 miles per dollar. Other purchases earn 1.5 miles per dollar—the most miles earned on any United card on general purchases.

In addition to a United Club℠ membership, you’ll get a first and second checked bag free for you and a companion, Premier Access travel services, and an opportunity to earn up to 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points each year toward your status. The card also comes with premium travel insurance protections.

Learn more about the United Club℠ Business Card and compare it against the other United credit cards in our overview of the United credit cards.

American Express® Green Card: A $100 LoungeBuddy credit each year

The American Express® Green Card offers one of the more unique lounge access offerings on a credit card. Instead of unlimited access to a lounge network or a certain amount of Priority Pass visits, you get up to $100 in LoungeBuddy statement credits each year. You can use your card to purchase one-time lounge access passes through LoungeBuddy and you’ll be reimbursed up the limit of your statement credits.

If you only travel a few times a year, or if you want a lounge access program that can augment your other lounge access programs, an American Express® Green Card might make sense. The lounge access credits alone don’t won’t be enough to justify the card’s annual fee, but it does offer a good amount of points at restaurants worldwide, on transit, and on travel.

American Express card disclosures

• For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees
• For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees
• For rates and fees of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees
• For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees
• For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees
• For rates and fees of the American Express® Green Card, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees; terms apply
• For rates and fees The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees

Amex Basic Trip Delay Insurance benefit disclosure: Up to $300 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.   Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Amex Extended Warranty benefit disclosure: When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty§ can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.   Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Advertiser disclosure: Cards and Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Cards and Points and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers. Compensation may affect how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies or all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to all credit card benefits.