3 Credit Card Perks That Make Flying Economy Feel More Like Flying Business Class
KEY POINTS
- First class passengers enjoy perks like free checked bags and airline lounge access.
- You can get lounge access and priority boarding with several travel cards.
- You can also save money on checking luggage; bag fees can run $30-$40 per bag, so this is a significant savings.
Flying business or first class undoubtedly offers you a premium travel experience, but it can come at a hefty price. Business class tickets can cost as much as five to 10 times the price of an economy ticket. That may be much more than you want -- or can afford -- to spend.
But there are some credit card perks that can get you a lot closer to that business-class experience -- if you have the right card.
Here are a few benefits that can significantly upgrade your travels, along with some cards that offer you these special advantages usually reserved only for those flying in an expensive seat.
Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards
1. Airline lounge access
Airline lounge access is a perk of flying international first or business class. But you don't have to shell out thousands of dollars for a first class ticket to gain access to a comfy lounge with nice seating, free drinks, and complimentary food. You just need the right credit card.
There are more than a half-dozen credit cards offering airline lounge access on The Ascent's list. While the cards on this list do have annual fees, they also offer ample benefits beyond just entry to the lounge. And if you fly often, the lounge access alone may justify signing up. Free drinks and food at airline lounges can save you money on airport food every time you travel.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is an especially great choice for lounge access. While this card has a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), it opens the door to over 1,400 airline lounges -- far more than any other card. There are also statement credits for goods and services that are valued at over $1,500 including credits for Uber, streaming services, hotel stays, and airline fees (enrollment requirement; terms apply).
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
-
This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy, and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply.
-
- Big welcome offer
- Substantial spending credits
- Airport lounge access
- Hotel benefits
- Flexible travel points
- Annual fee
- Limited bonus categories
- Spending credits can be complicated to manage
-
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
2. Early or priority boarding
When you're flying first or business class, you get to board the plane earlier than your peers. There's no fighting for overhead space or standing in a long line waiting for the passengers in front of you to figure out how to actually put their bags up or sit down in a timely manner (why this is so hard, I'll never know).
Flying economy, on the other hand, means you wait to get on with the crowds -- unless you have a credit card providing priority boarding. The rules vary by card for exactly how early you're allowed to get on, but often you'll be in the very first group to enter the main cabin with these cards.
Typically, cards offering this are cobranded with airlines, so you'd want to sign up for one offered by an airline you travel on often. You can check out our list of the best airline credit cards to see your options.
Some cards that provide early access to the plane include:
- The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, which provides priority check-in, screening, and boarding.
- The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, which gets you Main Cabin 1 boarding (terms apply).
- The JetBlue Business Card, which comes with Group A boarding.
3. Free checked bags
Typically, when you fly first class, at least one checked bag is included. Most economy customers have to pay a fee to check a suitcase. But with airline cobranded credit cards, free checked bags are a common cardholder perk.
In fact, some cards allow you and up to nine guests to bring a bag at no extra cost. You'll usually need to make sure your bag meets the airline's weight requirements, as oversized luggage isn't covered.
Here are a couple cards offering this feature:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: You and up to four travel opinions can check your first bag for free with this card.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: This card comes with the first checked bag for free for up to nine guests traveling on the same reservation (terms apply).
With free checked bags, a lounge to relax in, and the ability to get on the plane first, you'll have a premium travel experience -- even flying on an economy ticket.
As a bonus, some of the best travel credit cards may even offer you an opportunity to get upgraded to first class seats. If you travel often, check them out to find a card that gives you the perks you need to make travel a whole lot more fun, and sign up before your next trip.
Alert: our top-rated cash back card now has 0% intro APR until 2025
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a lengthy 0% intro APR period, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
Our Research Expert
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here
For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here
Related Articles
View All Articles