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Visiting an airport lounge is always a nice way to start and end your trips. Lounges give you a place to relax, enjoy free food and drinks, and maybe even shower or get a massage. Although entry fees often cost $50 or more, the best credit cards with airport lounge access can get you in free of charge.
If you're looking to upgrade your airport experience and want to find the best credit card for lounge access, read on. We've compared credit card offers to bring you the top options.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Great for: Access to the most lounges
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Lounge network
Complimentary access to lounges in the American Express Global Lounge Collection.
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. Read Full Review
Great for: Priority Pass lounges and restaurants
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Lounge network
Access to more than 1,300 lounges globally with enrollment in the Priority Pass Select network of lounges.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
22.49%-29.49% Variable
Rewards Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.
Annual Fee N/A
$550
Welcome Offer Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
75,000 bonus points
This Chase card is your ticket to big rewards on travel spending and dining out, like up to 10x points on spending through Chase Travel, where your points are worth 50% more if you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You'll also score excellent perks, like a $300 travel credit, airport lounge access, and a Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit. The annual fee is hefty, but if you can use all its features, this card could be well worth the cost. Read Full Review
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Great for: Priority Pass Select network lounge access
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Lounge network
Complimentary access to Priority Pass Select network of lounges with enrollment.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Rewards Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
2X-6X points
Annual Fee
$650
Welcome Offer Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points
It's one of the most expensive hotel cards we've seen, but the benefits could be worth thousands for the right type of cardholder. Read Full Review
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Great for: Delta lounges
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Lounge network
Complimentary Delta Sky Club access and American Express Centurion® Lounges. Terms apply.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Rewards Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
1X-3X miles
Annual Fee
$650
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
60,000 Bonus Miles
This card comes with huge perks if you are a loyal Delta customer. The annual fee pays for itself in a hurry if you are able to take advantage of all this card has to offer. Read Full Review
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Great for: Low annual fee
On American Express' Secure Website.
On American Express' Secure Website.
Lounge network
10 free annual Priority Pass lounge visits.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Rewards 12x points on Hilton purchases, 6x points on U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. dining, 3x points on other eligible purchases
3X - 12x points
Annual Fee
$150
Welcome Offer Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
130,000 bonus points
Automatic Hilton Gold status is one of the many lucrative perks, including sky-high points for Hilton stays and for restaurants, groceries, and gas. Read Full Review
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Great for: United lounges
Lounge network
Complimentary United Club membership, which provides access to all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance affiliated lounges.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.99% - 28.99% Variable
Rewards Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
N/A
Annual Fee
$525
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 80,000 bonus miles
Even with the hefty annual fee, this card packs considerable value for people who can take advantage of the United Club membership and other perks.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Great for: American Airlines lounges
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, Earn 1x miles for each $1 spent on other purchases.
1x - 2x miles
Annual Fee
$595
Welcome Offer For a limited time, earn 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
100,000 bonus miles
A feature-packed airline credit card with an annual fee to match. Airport lounge access and a massive welcome offer are standout perks that could save frequent travelers lots of money.
Consider getting a credit card with lounge access if:
Airport lounge access includes free, or in some cases discounted, entry to lounges in a specific airport lounge program. There are several airport lounge programs available, some through airlines and others through private companies.
Travel credit cards with this feature usually offer a membership with one airport lounge program, but there are select cards with memberships to multiple programs. Entry rules depend on the travel credit card you have and the membership it offers. Many credit cards with airport lounge access entitle the cardholder to free unlimited access to a lounge program. They may also include complimentary lounge access for a limited number of guests.
The amenities you find inside vary quite a bit from lounge to lounge. There's everything from basic lounges with a small selection of free food and drinks to massive luxury lounges offering fine dining, showers, and even spas.
As you compare credit cards with airport lounge access, it helps to know what the most common types of lounge membership programs are:
Many of the larger airlines offer airport lounges. Here are the major U.S. carriers that have their own airport lounges and the names of each one's lounge membership program:
If you want to find out whether a domestic or international airline has airport lounges, you can find this information on the airline's website.
Airport lounge access restrictions vary and depend on the lounge program, the credit card with airport lounge access, and the lounge itself.
Here are the restrictions that may apply to your airport lounge access:
You can learn about restrictions to your lounge access in that section of your credit card benefits page and on the website for the lounge program itself. It's a good idea to do this so you know all the rules ahead of time.
Before you visit the airport, see which lounges you can access and check their restrictions. Not only will this help you find a lounge at the airport, but you also won't be surprised by any of its rules.
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Access to the most lounges |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Priority Pass lounges and restaurants |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Priority Pass Select network lounge access |
|
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Delta lounges |
|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Low annual fee |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: United lounges |
|
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: American Airlines lounges |
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate travel credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria Includes rewards systems and bonus categories, rewards redemption flexibility, and sign-up bonuses.
Our highest-rated travel credit cards have:
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best travel card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring travel credit cards from reputable brands.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
Most airport lounges have membership programs, and anyone who is a member can access these lounges. Lounges offered by specific airlines are also normally available to travelers flying in premium cabins. There are also pay-per-use airport lounges that are open to anyone who pays the lounge visit fee.
Yes, you can sleep in an airport lounge. Lounges typically don't have any rules against sleeping, and many of them have quiet areas where travelers can sleep. However, many lounges aren't open overnight. If you need a place at the airport to sleep overnight, review the lounge's hours to see if it will be open.
Airport lounge credit cards aren't free, as cards that offer this feature have annual fees. Some credit cards with airport lounge access have $95 annual fees, but most are luxury travel cards that cost $400 or more.
Our Credit Cards Experts
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.
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