Is Airline Lounge Access Worth Paying For?

Airline lounge access is available through different airline providers. For example, American Airlines offers the Admirals Club lounge. And there are networks of independently branded lounges, such as Centurion Lounges, that aren't affiliated with a particular airline.

Unless you are flying international first class, you typically won't get into one of these lounges without ponying up some cash somewhere along the line. But is it worth taking money out of your bank account to gain access to a cushy lounge while you wait for your flight?

Ways to get airline lounge access

Airline lounge access can be obtained in more than one way.

You could get access through a credit card. One example is is the The Platinum Card® from American Express, which provides free access to more than 1,400 airline lounges. Another is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which offers exclusive access to lounges for you and two guests.

Cards offering lounge access usually come with fees, though. You can expect to pay an annual fee of around $400 or more per year for a credit card that offers lounge access.

READ MORE: Best Credit Cards With Airport Lounge Access

You could also pay for a service that provides access, such as Priority Pass, which has an annual fee starting at $99.

• The $99 package allows you to visit lounges for $35 per visit per guest.
• The $329 package comes with 10 free visits for the member, and visits are $35 per visit per guest.
• The $469 plan allows unlimited member visits, and guest visits for $35 each.

You can also pay for day passes at many lounges for around $30 to $50 depending on the lounge and airport.

Lounge access could be worthwhile, depending on your situation

To decide if lounge access is worth paying for, you need to consider what you're hoping to get out of it.

If you need a quiet place to work with good wifi and you can make enough money while sitting in the lounge to cover the cost of the fee, then it would obviously be worth it for you to buy.

Alternatively, if you save money on food at the airport by buying lounge access, then it could make sense as well. This is why our family has a credit card with lounge access. Our card has a $595 annual fee, but we fly a lot. Our family of four can visit the lounge 12 times a year in exchange for that fee. Since we don't have to pay for airport food, which usually costs us around $50 or more per trip, we end up better off because we save $600 on food by eating in the lounge.

If you don't fly often enough to justify a travel credit card, though, and you don't need to work, you'll need to carefully consider whether paying the day fee is really worth it. If you have some extra money and you just want to splurge, then you may decide it's a good investment to make. But you do pay a lot for a basic buffet and a few drinks, and you may be better off spending your extra money on a splurge while you're actually on your trip instead.