How to choose a credit card for airport lounge access

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. When people find out my job is to write about travel credit cards, they usually ask for expert advice. They want to know which of our favorite credit cards I recommend, which cards will complement their existing portfolio and whether their …

Mar 7, 2025 - 16:38

How to choose a credit card for airport lounge access

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

When people find out my job is to write about travel credit cards, they usually ask for expert advice. They want to know which of our favorite credit cards I recommend, which cards will complement their existing portfolio and whether their current everyday card is a good one.

They also often want to know which credit card they should get if they want airport lounge access.

Until recently, this question was fairly easy to answer since many cards offered similar lounge benefits. But lately, it’s gotten more complicated. The issuer lounge space has more options than ever, while some cards have lost perks like guest privileges and restaurant access.

It can feel overwhelming, but we’ve got you. Here’s a breakdown of what to consider when choosing a credit card for airport lounge access.

Access with top cards

Credit card	Annual fee	Lounge access	Guest allowance
The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express	$695 (see Amex Platinum rates and fees and Amex Business Platinum rates and fees)	Global Lounge Collection (including the Centurion Network, Priority Pass Select and Delta Sky Clubs) Access is limited to eligible cardmembers. Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight Enrollment is required; terms apply.	Centurion Lounge: $50 per guest (or two complimentary guests when you spend $75,000 on your card in a calendar year) Priority Pass Select: Two complimentary guests Delta Sky Club: Two guests or immediate family members, $50 per person
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card	$650 (see Reserve rates and fees and Reserve Business rates and fees)	Delta Sky Club (except for those flying basic economy; Reserve cardmembers will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of visits each year, the total eligible purchases on the card must equal $75,000 in a calendar year Centurion Lounge (when you book your Delta flight with your card) Terms apply.	Up to two guests at $50 per person, per visit
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card	$650 (see rates and fees)	Priority Pass Select (enrollment required; terms apply)	Two complimentary guests
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees)	$595	American Airlines Admirals Club	Complimentary access for immediate family (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18) or two guests with a same-day boarding pass for an eligible flight
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	$550	Chase Sapphire Lounges Priority Pass Select	Two complimentary guests
United Club℠ Infinite Card	$525	United Club	Two complimentary guests
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business	$395	Capital One Lounges A network of 1,300-plus lounges worldwide, including Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group lounges	Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300-plus lounges, including Capital One Lounges and participating Priority Pass or Plaza Premium Lounges in the Partner Lounge Network

If you have a lounge in your home airport

Presumably, your home airport is where you spend the most time. If you live in an airline hub or have a perfectly placed lounge that you want access to, let that drive your decision.

For instance, if Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is your home airport, you probably pass an airline lounge regardless of your preferred airline since it is a hub for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

airport lounge — CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Similarly, if you have an issuer lounge in your home airport, you may want to choose the premium card from that issuer that includes lounge access. Someone whose home base is Dulles International Airport (IAD), for example, will likely want access to the Capital One Lounge that’s conveniently located just past the airport’s security lines.

On the flip side, not all of us have a wide range of lounge options at home. Until recently, I was based in Nashville, and as much as I love Nashville International Airport (BNA), it has limited lounge options. As such, I based my lounge access decision on the airports I frequently traveled through rather than my home base.

If you’re loyal to a specific airline

If you’re loyal to American, Delta or United, you’ll likely benefit from airline-specific lounge access since you’ll most frequently fly through hubs with a lounge.

American Airlines

Frequent American flyers will want to go with the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard since it’s the only credit card with an Admirals Club membership.

Delta Air Lines

If you’re a regular Delta passenger, note that the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card includes 15 complimentary Sky Club visits per year. You can receive unlimited visits by spending $75,000 on the card each calendar year.

United Airlines

United fans will benefit most from the United Club Infinite Card or the United℠ Business Card, which are the only cards with a United Club membership as one of its perks.

Of course, if you’re loyal to an airline that doesn’t have its own airport lounges, you can cross these off the list. As a Southwest Airlines loyalist, I knew I didn’t want to limit my lounge access to a specific airline, so I was able to turn my attention elsewhere.

If you want issuer-specific lounge access

For quite a while, American Express had the issuer lounge market cornered. But as Capital One and Chase continue to grow their own lounge networks, you may decide you want to choose your credit card based on the issuer’s lounge access it gets you.

American Express

American Express currently operates 25 Centurion Lounges, making them the most prominent issuer lounge. If you want access, you’ll most likely want either the Amex Platinum or the Amex Business Platinum.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business cardmembers can also access Centurion Lounges when flying Delta, as long as the flight was booked on their card (excluding basic economy tickets).

Capital One

While not as well established as Centurion Lounges, Capital One Lounges have grown rapidly. Currently, they are located in four airports: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Denver International Airport (DEN), Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). Another concept called Capital One Landing is also open at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

A lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and a Landing at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) have been announced but are not yet open.

To access these lounges, you’ll want either the Venture X or the Venture X Business.

Chase

Like Capital One, Chase has been asserting its presence in the lounge space with Chase Sapphire Lounges. With their impressive designs and amenities like complimentary facials, they may be gunning for the No. 1 spot.

Currently, you can find eight Sapphire Lounges and one terrace open: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Dulles International Airport (IAD), Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and San Diego International Airport (SAN).

There is also a Chase Sapphire “Terrace” open at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) but that’s closing in March 2025.

To get unlimited access to these lounge concepts, you’ll need the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card. You can also get one complimentary visit to a Sapphire Lounge per calendar year if you have a Priority Pass Select membership from another credit card.

The information for the Ritz-Carlton Rewards card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you want more diverse lounge options

If you want a wider range of airport lounge access options, opt for a card with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. Priority Pass is a network of more than 1,600 lounges, Minute Suites, Be Relax spas and various restaurants located in 600-plus airports in more than 150 countries.

The best way to get Priority Pass access is with one of the following cards: Amex Platinum (enrollment required; terms apply), Amex Business Platinum (enrollment required; terms apply), Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X and Capital One Venture X Business.

Additionally, you can get Priority Pass access with some other cards:

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card: Unlimited complimentary access for the primary cardmember and up to two guests (enrollment required; terms apply)
U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card: Four complimentary visits annually

The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you want access to Priority Pass restaurants

If you frequently pass through airports with a Priority Pass-affiliated restaurant, getting a card with access can save you big bucks. This perk will comp a certain amount of the restaurant bill for you and up to one registered guest.

The amount varies by restaurant and is typically $28 to $30 per person; you can look up the exact values for each restaurant on the Priority Pass website.

a restaurant entrance and bar — BENJI STAWSKI/THE POINTS GUY

Many cards with Priority Pass Select access have eliminated restaurant access in recent years, but you can still get it as a part of the Priority Pass Select membership on select cards. For example, this perk is offered on the UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card.

The information for the UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you want to bring guests for no additional cost

If you frequently travel with a partner or family, you’ll want to choose a card that includes guest access. While some cards like the Amex Platinum and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve allow you to bring guests for an additional fee, the following cards include complimentary access for the primary cardholder and up to two guests:

Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard (can be either immediate family — spouse, domestic partner and children up to 18 years old — or up to two guests)
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Chase Sapphire Reserve
United Club Infinite Card
Capital One Venture X (also includes access for authorized users and up to two guests with them)
Capital One Venture X Business

If you’re unsure

If you’re new to the airport lounge world, committing to a credit card with a hefty annual fee can feel daunting. If you aren’t ready to make the jump, consider one of these options to dip your toes in first.

Go as someone’s guest

As outlined above, several credit cards come with lounge access, allowing cardholders to bring guests into a lounge. If you have a friend with this access, try to find a time to visit a lounge as their guest to see how you like it.

Become a Venture X authorized user

One of the most valuable perks of the Capital One Venture X is the ability to add up to four authorized users, each with their own airport lounge access benefit, for no additional cost. If you have a friend who has the Venture X, ask them to add you as an authorized user.

Capital One lounge DEN bar — CAPITAL ONE

Doing so will give you access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass Select lounges for no additional cost.

Get a card with a set number of visits

You can get a limited number of lounge visits without paying a premium annual fee. Consider one of these options if you’re aiming to keep your annual fee costs down:

U.S. Bank Altitude Connect: With this card, you’ll get four complimentary visits to Priority Pass Select lounges annually for no annual fee, making it a great way to try out some lounges without committing to a high annual fee.
United℠ Explorer Card: With this card, you’ll get two one-time United Club passes per year. There is a $95 annual fee (after the first year) with the United Explorer.

Pay for a one-time pass

You don’t necessarily have to have a membership or access through a credit card to get into a lounge. Most lounges give you the option to pay out of pocket per visit. If there’s a lounge you pass often and are considering getting a credit card to access, paying for a visit to see if it’s worth it to you can be a great option.

Bottom line

You have some great options when choosing a credit card for airport lounge access. The different types of access can feel overwhelming, but deciding which type of access matters most to you is key to landing on a card that’s the perfect fit.

No matter which you choose, you’ll be well on your way to lounging in style on your next layover.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business, click here.
For rates and fees of the Bonvoy Brilliant, click here.