Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
Do you know anyone who purposely gets to the airport earlier than they have to? Airports are noisy and hectic; the seats are uncomfortable and the food is expensive. Why be there any longer than absolutely necessary?
Find the right card with free airport lounge access for you
80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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.
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Actually, a lot of us arrive early at the airport — and sometimes even loiter for a while after we’ve landed. We’ve got the golden ticket to free alcohol and food, high-speed internet, comfortable loungers, and occasionally free massages. All it takes is holding the right credit card.
If you consider yourself a frequent flyer, a credit card with airport lounge access is worth every penny. Let’s look at the best credit cards for airport lounge access.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
What are airport lounges?
When you go into any old airport bar or restaurant, you’ll likely pay prices reserved for captive audiences in major sports stadiums and theaters. $12 beers and $16 cocktails are far from a bargain. But you can get them for free in an airport lounge.
Most lounge networks provide a number of premium locations at airports around the world. There are really three main lounge types you should know about:
Airline lounges
Most airlines oversee their own proprietary lounge network. Depending on the size of the carrier, it may have just a few lounges or dozens at its most frequented airports.
For the most part, these lounges are reserved for international premium travelers, elite travelers with a ton of annual flights, those who pay a sizable fee, or cardholders of the airline’s premium travel credit card. Expect to pay $450+ per year for this type of credit card.
Priority Pass Select
Many lounges operate independently of the airlines. Priority Pass Select is a network that gives you access to 1,300+ lounges around the world.
Each lounge has its own rules on admission, guests, and complimentary beverages. Most give you and two guests admission at no charge. Once inside, you can drink and eat to your heart’s content without paying a dime.
American Express Centurion Lounges
American Express Centurion Lounges are next-level lounges that offer proper hot meals (gourmet, even), with free mixed drinks, shower suites, and sometimes recreational activities like pool and shuffleboard tables.
These lounges are mostly found in the US. Centurion Lounges have comparatively few locations when compared to Priority Pass — 24 worldwide at the moment, with another 12 Centurion “Studios” serving as a “lite” version of the premium lounge network.
Unless you frequent major airports, you may not encounter a Centurion Lounge as often as you might think.
Best credit cards that offer airport lounge access
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Annual Fee
$695
See Rates and Fees
Show more
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
See Pay Over Time APR
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
Show more
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
No travel credit card on the market offers more comprehensive airport lounge access than The Platinum Card® from American Express. (It’s on par with what you’d get through the invite-only Amex Black card.) You’ll receive entry to the following lounge networks:
- Amex Centurion Lounges (widely considered to be the best airport lounges in the US)
- Priority Pass** (access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide)
- Delta Sky Club lounges (only when you have a same-day Delta boarding pass)
- Escape Lounge – The Centurion Studio Partner
- Plaza Premium lounges
- Lufthansa lounges (when flying Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, or SWISS)
I had never tried an Amex Centurion Lounge until last year. I’ve since been to six of them throughout the US, and they are consistently higher quality than other lounges offered by Priority Pass.
The Amex Platinum charges a $695 annual fee — but it comes with excellent ongoing benefits, such as:
The card also offers 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Insider estimates Amex points value to be 1.8 cents each, making this initial bonus worth $1,440 in travel, on average. Read our post on the best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards to see how much more valuable these points can be.
Review: American Express Platinum Card review
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Intro offer
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
17.99% – 25.99% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers the exact same airport lounge access and guest policies as the personal Amex Platinum. However, this card is marketed to an entirely different audience.
This is a small-business card, meaning you must have a business venture (even a part-time gig) to qualify for the Amex Business Platinum. Its key benefits are more closely aligned with business expenses:
- Up to $200 in airline fee credits** for checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline each calendar year
- Up to $400 in U.S. Dell credits** each calendar year
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Up to $120 in credits for U.S. wireless providers each calendar year
- Up to $360 in Indeed credits** each calendar year
- Up to $150 in Adobe credits** each calendar year
- Up to $189 back per year in for CLEAR® membership**
- 35% points rebate when you redeem points for first- or business-class tickets, or for any fare with your selected airline, through Amex Travel (up to 500,000 points back per calendar year)
- Cell phone protection
This card comes with 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership. Again, Insider values Amex points at 1.8 cents each, making this bonus worth $2,160 in travel, on average.
Review: Amex Business Platinum Card review
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Intro offer
80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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.
Intro offer
80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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.
Details
Rewards
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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.
Intro offer
80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Show more
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.99% – 26.99% Variable
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
Show more
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of Insider’s picks for all-around top travel credit cards. It’s got excellent benefits that upgrade your travel experience — and its top-tier travel insurance is reason enough to keep it in your wallet.
This card offers membership in two lounge networks:
- Priority Pass Select — You can access all Priority Pass lounges as often as you want — with two free guests. You can even add authorized users for $75 each and they’ll receive their own full-blown Priority Pass Select membership.
- Chase Sapphire Lounges — Chase recently opened its first Sapphire Lounge in Hong Kong (HKG), with more to follow in 2023 at San Diego (SAN), New York-LaGuardia (LGA), Boston (BOS), Las Vegas (LAS), Phoenix (PHX), and Washington Dulles (IAD).
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a $550 annual fee. But for that price, you’ll also receive:
- Up to $300 in statement credits each cardmember year toward travel purchases
- Complimentary year of DoorDash DashPass membership (activation required by December 31, 2024)
- Access to Reserved by Sapphire restaurant reservations
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit
- Primary car rental insurance
- Trip delay insurance
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is currently offering an elevated welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening until December 1, 2022, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. We estimate Chase points to be worth 1.8 cents each, making this bonus worth $1,440 in travel, on average. Read our post on the best ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards to see how you can redeem them for significantly more.
Review: Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card review
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Intro offer
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Intro offer
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Details
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Intro offer
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the most powerful travel credit cards on the market. It incurs the lowest annual fee of any premium credit card at $395 — making it one of the cheapest ways to hold onto airport lounge membership.
With this card, you’ll get:
- Priority Pass Select — Unlimited access to 1,300 Priority Pass lounges for you and two free guests. You can add up to four authorized users at no cost, and they’ll receive the same lounge privileges as the primary cardholder.
- Capital One airport lounges — Unlimited access for you and two free guests, though there is currently only one location in Dallas (DFW) with another coming soon to Denver (DEN).
- Plaza Premium airport lounges — Unlimited access worldwide for you and two free guests
Similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, this card’s Priority Pass membership can be used at participating airport restaurants for a $28 to $30 discount (or $56 to $60 if you bring a guest). I recently used this perk for a complimentary whiskey tasting at Westward Whiskey at the Portland airport.
This card also offers solid benefits such as:
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card comes with 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Capital One miles are worth at least 1 cent each toward travel, making this bonus worth $1,275. However, if you know how to use Capital One miles to their full potential, you may get double that value!
Review: Capital One Venture X Credit Card review
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Intro offer
150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 14x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 7x Points on select travel including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies. Earn 7x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Intro offer
150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 14x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 7x Points on select travel including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies. Earn 7x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 14x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 7x Points on select travel including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies. Earn 7x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases.
Intro offer
150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
15.74% to 24.74% variable APR on purchases
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
You won’t see many five-star credit card ratings on Insider, but the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is one of the few that deserves it. The card is so packed with valuable benefits for its $450 annual fee that it’s a no-brainer for those who travel with any regularity.
The card provides Priority Pass Select lounge access. That’s unlimited entries for you and up to two guests traveling with you. You’ll also get:
The Amex Hilton Aspire comes with 150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. Insider estimates Hilton points value to be 0.5 cents each, on average. That makes this bonus worth $750 in Hilton stays. But if you know the best ways to use Hilton points, you can get many times that value by choosing the right hotel to redeem your points.
Review: Amex Hilton Aspire review
American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro offer
150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro offer
150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.49% – 28.49% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is another easy-to-justify premium travel credit card. With an annual fee of $650, you’ll get benefits such as:
To boot, you’ll receive Priority Pass Select airport lounge access. You and two guests traveling with you can enter for free as often as you like. Even if there’s more than one lounge at your airport, you can hopscotch around to try them all.
The Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant comes with a substantial bonus: 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months from account opening.
Insider estimates Marriott points value to be 0.7 cents each, on average. That means the points portion of this bonus is worth $1,050 in Marriott stays. But read our guide to the best ways to use Marriott points to learn how to squeeze much more value from your rewards.
Review: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express review
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.49% – 28.49% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is unique among all airline co-branded cards in that it provides access to more than just the lounge network of the airline that graces its front. Here’s what you’ll get:
- Delta Sky Club access — Free entry when flying on a same-day Delta-operated/marketed flight. You’ll also get two single-use guest passes each year.
- Amex Centurion Lounge access — Free entry when flying on a same-day Delta-operated/marketed flight. You won’t get any free guests, but can purchase a maximum of two guest passes per visit at a rate of $50 each.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card comes with a $550 annual fee. That’s only slightly more than purchasing a Delta Sky Club membership outright (it normally costs $545 per year).
The card also offers:
- Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
- Annual Delta companion certificate
- 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to four times*
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club airport lounge access when you fly Delta
- Access to complimentary upgrades and upgrade priority
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit after you apply through any authorized enrollment provider
- 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit
If you’re a first-time cardholder, you’ll receive 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months. Insider estimates Delta points value to be 1.1 cents each, making this bonus worth $550 miles in Delta flights. But it’s possible to receive much more value from your miles — I once received a value of 26 cents per Delta mile when booking a business class flight.
Read our post on the best ways to use Delta miles.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Reserve review
United Club℠ Infinite Card
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Intro offer
100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Intro offer
100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Details
Rewards
Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Intro offer
100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.49% – 26.49% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The United Club℠ Infinite Card charges a $525 annual fee. A United Club airport lounge membership costs $650 (unless you have top-tier United elite status). Therefore, if United Club membership is important to you, opening the United Club Infinite is a no-brainer way to save $125.
You’ll receive a full United Club membership with this card, meaning you can also bring two guests (or one adult and as many children under 21 as you like). You’ll even gain access to several other Star Alliance airline lounges.
The United Club Infinite also comes with:
- Free first and second checked bags on United flights (you must pay with the card)
- Priority boarding on United flights
- Premier Access travel services
- NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Complimentary Premier upgrades
- Expanded access to United award flights
Plus, it offers a limited-time elevated welcome bonus of 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Insider estimates United points value to be 1.3 cents each, making this bonus worth $1,300 in United flights. Read about how to maximize United miles for secrets of how to redeem that same amount of miles for thousands more dollars.
Review: United Club Infinite card review
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Intro offer
80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,500 within the first 3 months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Intro offer
80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,500 within the first 3 months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
This is a terrific card for frequent American Airlines flyers who can take advantage of its included Admirals Club membership and other day-of-travel perks to offset the high annual fee. Authorized users also get Admirals Club access, so there’s extra value to be had there, too. However, it’s not the best card for earning AA miles on everyday spending, and the lack of travel protections isn’t ideal for an airline credit card.
Details
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
Intro offer
80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,500 within the first 3 months of account opening
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.74% – 28.74% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® comes with a $450 annual fee. The main payoff — and the only reason you should consider paying that fee — is because the card offers American Airlines Admirals Club airport lounge access.
Unless you’ve got American Airlines elite status, you’ll pay $650 per year for Admirals Club membership. Opening this card is a much cheaper route. To enter American Airlines lounges, you must have a same-day boarding pass on American or one of its partners in order to access the lounge.
This card also comes with:
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Free first checked bag for you and up to eight companions on your reservation
- Priority screening, check-in, and boarding with American Airlines
To boot, you’ll receive 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,500 within the first 3 months of account opening. Insider estimates American Airlines miles are worth 1.4 cents each. That makes this bonus worth $1,120 in airfare. However, if you know the best ways to use American Airlines miles, you can receive many times that value.
Review: Citi AAdvantage Executive card review
One of the best credit cards for airport lounges is no longer available (but you can get it anyway)
The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card is perhaps the best travel credit card that isn’t on the market. It’s’ not available to new applicants — but there’s a way you can still get it.
If you ask them, Chase can convert your existing Marriott credit card, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, into the Ritz-Carlton Card. The only catch is that you must have held your current Marriott card for at least one year, and your credit limit must be $10,000 or more. If your credit limit is lower, you can request that credit from your other Chase cards be reallocated to the Ritz-Carlton Card.
The Chase Ritz-Carlton Card comes with Priority Pass lounge access. Here are a few reasons why it’s better than the majority of travel credit cards for airport lounges:
- There’s no (written) cap on the number of free guests you can bring with you. If you travel with a large family, this could save you $100+ every time you visit a lounge.
- You can add authorized users for free, and they get their own Priority Pass membership (with unlimited guests).
- The Priority Pass membership issued from the Ritz-Carlton card qualifies for Priority Pass restaurant discounts ($28 to $30 off your meal, plus another $28 to $30 if you bring a guest).
You won’t get a sign-up bonus since there’s no way to apply for the card. But it also comes with valuable benefits such as:
- Up to $300 in annual credits to offset airline incidentals
- Annual free night certificate with Marriott for hotels costing up to 50,000 points per night
- Top-tier travel coverage
This card comes with a $450 annual fee.
New to airport lounges? Give them a test drive for cheap (or even free)
It’s understandable if you’re apprehensive about paying $395+ for a credit card that comes with access to airport lounges — especially if you’re not even sure you’ll like them.
If you want to give them a try to see if they fit your travel style, open one of the following cards first.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Intro offer
130,000 points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 12x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 6x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 6x Points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 6x Points on gas at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Intro offer
130,000 points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 12x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 6x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 6x Points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 6x Points on gas at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases
On American Express’s website
This card is a terrific choice if you stay with Hilton, even occasionally. It balances excellent benefits, including Gold elite status and 10 airport lounge visits per year, with a modest annual fee. And while it doesn’t come with an automatic free night certificate on your account anniversary, you can earn one by spending $15,000 on the card in a year.
Details
Rewards
Earn 12x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 6x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 6x Points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 6x Points on gas at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases
Intro offer
130,000 points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.49% – 28.49% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card does not come with a full-fledged Priority Pass airport lounge membership. Instead, you’ll get 10 free visits per year. You can choose to use your 10 entries for yourself and for guests. For example, if you and a guest enter a lounge five times, you’ll have exhausted your 10 Priority Pass visits for the year.
This is an excellent way to become familiar with the Priority Pass network. The Amex Hilton Surpass charges a $95 annual fee — far more digestible than other cards on this list.
You’ll also receive:
- Hilton Gold elite status
- Upgrade to Diamond status after you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year
- Free weekend night certificate after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year
As a first-time cardmember, you’ll even earn 130,000 points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership.
Review: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass review
United℠ Explorer Card
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Annual Fee
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Annual Fee
On Chase’s website
The United Explorer card is the best all-around credit card for United flyers, offering a generous range of benefits for a modest annual fee. Cardholders receive a free checked bag, priority boarding, and inflight discounts on United flights, plus two one-time United Club airport lounge passes each year.
Details
Rewards
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.49% – 26.49% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The United℠ Explorer Card allows you to get a feel for airline lounges instead of Priority Pass. Each cardmember year, you’ll receive two single-use passes to United Club lounges. These day passes often cost $59 each.
The best part? The United℠ Explorer Card comes with an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95. In other words, you can try these lounges without having to pay a dime the first year. If you don’t like the card, you can cancel when your first annual fee comes due.
This card also offers:
- Free first checked bag on United flights (when you pay for your fare with the card)
- Priority boarding on United flights
- NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Complimentary Premier upgrades
- Expanded access to United award flights
Its welcome bonus offer is also increased for a limited time: 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Read more: United Explorer card review
Credit cards with airport lounge access frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Amex Centurion Lounges are at the following airports:
- Charlotte (CLT), between Concourse D and E
- Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Terminal D
- Denver (DEN), Concourse C
- Houston (IAH), Terminal D
- Las Vegas (LAS), Concourse D
- Los Angeles (LAX), Tom Bradley International Terminal
- Miami (MIA), Concourse D
- New York (JFK), Terminal 4
- New York (LGA), Terminal B, post-security
- Philadelphia (PHL), Terminal A
- Phoenix (PHX), Terminal 4
- San Francisco (SFO), Terminal 3
- Seattle (SEA), Concourse B
- Hong Kong (HKG), Terminal 1
- London (LHR), Terminal 3
There are also high-quality American Express Lounges internationally which you can browse here.
Priority Pass lounges aren’t always crowded, but they all tend to have a busy period which varies depending on the airport. The danger in visiting during peak hours is that you may actually be turned away. Lounges have limited capacity, after all.
If you want to see when a lounge is busy, you can simply google the name of the lounge along with the airport. You should see a graphic on the right side indicating the historical foot traffic of the lounge.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is the all-around best credit card for airport lounge access. Amex Platinum cards offer the most privileges of any travel credit card — from Centurion Lounge access to Delta Sky Club access (when flying Delta) to Priority Pass membership.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a no-annual-fee card that also offers airport lounge access. However, the United℠ Explorer Card offers two United Club lounge day passes each anniversary year. Its annual fee is $0 intro for the first year, then $95, so you can experience a lounge or two without committing to a big annual fee.
Top Offers From Our Partners
Wealthfront Cash Account
A high-yield savings account that earns 3.30% annual percentage yield. No account fees. APY as of 11/14/2022.
Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
Do you know anyone who purposely gets to the airport earlier than they have to? Airports are noisy and hectic; the seats are uncomfortable and the food is expensive. Why be there any longer than absolutely necessary?
Find the right card with free airport lounge access for you
80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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.
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Actually, a lot of us arrive early at the airport — and sometimes even loiter for a while after we’ve landed. We’ve got the golden ticket to free alcohol and food, high-speed internet, comfortable loungers, and occasionally free massages. All it takes is holding the right credit card.
If you consider yourself a frequent flyer, a credit card with airport lounge access is worth every penny. Let’s look at the best credit cards for airport lounge access.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
What are airport lounges?
When you go into any old airport bar or restaurant, you’ll likely pay prices reserved for captive audiences in major sports stadiums and theaters. $12 beers and $16 cocktails are far from a bargain. But you can get them for free in an airport lounge.
Most lounge networks provide a number of premium locations at airports around the world. There are really three main lounge types you should know about:
Airline lounges
Most airlines oversee their own proprietary lounge network. Depending on the size of the carrier, it may have just a few lounges or dozens at its most frequented airports.
For the most part, these lounges are reserved for international premium travelers, elite travelers with a ton of annual flights, those who pay a sizable fee, or cardholders of the airline’s premium travel credit card. Expect to pay $450+ per year for this type of credit card.
Priority Pass Select
Many lounges operate independently of the airlines. Priority Pass Select is a network that gives you access to 1,300+ lounges around the world.
Each lounge has its own rules on admission, guests, and complimentary beverages. Most give you and two guests admission at no charge. Once inside, you can drink and eat to your heart’s content without paying a dime.
American Express Centurion Lounges
American Express Centurion Lounges are next-level lounges that offer proper hot meals (gourmet, even), with free mixed drinks, shower suites, and sometimes recreational activities like pool and shuffleboard tables.
These lounges are mostly found in the US. Centurion Lounges have comparatively few locations when compared to Priority Pass — 24 worldwide at the moment, with another 12 Centurion “Studios” serving as a “lite” version of the premium lounge network.
Unless you frequent major airports, you may not encounter a Centurion Lounge as often as you might think.
Best credit cards that offer airport lounge access
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Annual Fee
$695
See Rates and Fees
Show more
Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
See Pay Over Time APR
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
Show more
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
No travel credit card on the market offers more comprehensive airport lounge access than The Platinum Card® from American Express. (It’s on par with what you’d get through the invite-only Amex Black card.) You’ll receive entry to the following lounge networks:
- Amex Centurion Lounges (widely considered to be the best airport lounges in the US)
- Priority Pass** (access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide)
- Delta Sky Club lounges (only when you have a same-day Delta boarding pass)
- Escape Lounge – The Centurion Studio Partner
- Plaza Premium lounges
- Lufthansa lounges (when flying Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, or SWISS)
I had never tried an Amex Centurion Lounge until last year. I’ve since been to six of them throughout the US, and they are consistently higher quality than other lounges offered by Priority Pass.
The Amex Platinum charges a $695 annual fee — but it comes with excellent ongoing benefits, such as:
The card also offers 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Insider estimates Amex points value to be 1.8 cents each, making this initial bonus worth $1,440 in travel, on average. Read our post on the best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards to see how much more valuable these points can be.
Review: American Express Platinum Card review
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Intro offer
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
17.99% – 25.99% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers the exact same airport lounge access and guest policies as the personal Amex Platinum. However, this card is marketed to an entirely different audience.
This is a small-business card, meaning you must have a business venture (even a part-time gig) to qualify for the Amex Business Platinum. Its key benefits are more closely aligned with business expenses:
- Up to $200 in airline fee credits** for checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline each calendar year
- Up to $400 in U.S. Dell credits** each calendar year
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Up to $120 in credits for U.S. wireless providers each calendar year
- Up to $360 in Indeed credits** each calendar year
- Up to $150 in Adobe credits** each calendar year
- Up to $189 back per year in for CLEAR® membership**
- 35% points rebate when you redeem points for first- or business-class tickets, or for any fare with your selected airline, through Amex Travel (up to 500,000 points back per calendar year)
- Cell phone protection
This card comes with 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership. Again, Insider values Amex points at 1.8 cents each, making this bonus worth $2,160 in travel, on average.
Review: Amex Business Platinum Card review
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Intro offer
80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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.
Intro offer
80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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.
Details
Rewards
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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.
Intro offer
80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Show more
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.99% – 26.99% Variable
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
Show more
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of Insider’s picks for all-around top travel credit cards. It’s got excellent benefits that upgrade your travel experience — and its top-tier travel insurance is reason enough to keep it in your wallet.
This card offers membership in two lounge networks:
- Priority Pass Select — You can access all Priority Pass lounges as often as you want — with two free guests. You can even add authorized users for $75 each and they’ll receive their own full-blown Priority Pass Select membership.
- Chase Sapphire Lounges — Chase recently opened its first Sapphire Lounge in Hong Kong (HKG), with more to follow in 2023 at San Diego (SAN), New York-LaGuardia (LGA), Boston (BOS), Las Vegas (LAS), Phoenix (PHX), and Washington Dulles (IAD).
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a $550 annual fee. But for that price, you’ll also receive:
- Up to $300 in statement credits each cardmember year toward travel purchases
- Complimentary year of DoorDash DashPass membership (activation required by December 31, 2024)
- Access to Reserved by Sapphire restaurant reservations
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit
- Primary car rental insurance
- Trip delay insurance
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is currently offering an elevated welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening until December 1, 2022, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. We estimate Chase points to be worth 1.8 cents each, making this bonus worth $1,440 in travel, on average. Read our post on the best ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards to see how you can redeem them for significantly more.
Review: Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card review
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Intro offer
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Intro offer
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Details
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Intro offer
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the most powerful travel credit cards on the market. It incurs the lowest annual fee of any premium credit card at $395 — making it one of the cheapest ways to hold onto airport lounge membership.
With this card, you’ll get:
- Priority Pass Select — Unlimited access to 1,300 Priority Pass lounges for you and two free guests. You can add up to four authorized users at no cost, and they’ll receive the same lounge privileges as the primary cardholder.
- Capital One airport lounges — Unlimited access for you and two free guests, though there is currently only one location in Dallas (DFW) with another coming soon to Denver (DEN).
- Plaza Premium airport lounges — Unlimited access worldwide for you and two free guests
Similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, this card’s Priority Pass membership can be used at participating airport restaurants for a $28 to $30 discount (or $56 to $60 if you bring a guest). I recently used this perk for a complimentary whiskey tasting at Westward Whiskey at the Portland airport.
This card also offers solid benefits such as:
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card comes with 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Capital One miles are worth at least 1 cent each toward travel, making this bonus worth $1,275. However, if you know how to use Capital One miles to their full potential, you may get double that value!
Review: Capital One Venture X Credit Card review
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Intro offer
150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 14x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 7x Points on select travel including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies. Earn 7x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Intro offer
150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 14x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 7x Points on select travel including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies. Earn 7x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 14x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 7x Points on select travel including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies. Earn 7x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases.
Intro offer
150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
15.74% to 24.74% variable APR on purchases
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
You won’t see many five-star credit card ratings on Insider, but the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is one of the few that deserves it. The card is so packed with valuable benefits for its $450 annual fee that it’s a no-brainer for those who travel with any regularity.
The card provides Priority Pass Select lounge access. That’s unlimited entries for you and up to two guests traveling with you. You’ll also get:
The Amex Hilton Aspire comes with 150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. Insider estimates Hilton points value to be 0.5 cents each, on average. That makes this bonus worth $750 in Hilton stays. But if you know the best ways to use Hilton points, you can get many times that value by choosing the right hotel to redeem your points.
Review: Amex Hilton Aspire review
American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro offer
150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro offer
150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Earn 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.49% – 28.49% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is another easy-to-justify premium travel credit card. With an annual fee of $650, you’ll get benefits such as:
To boot, you’ll receive Priority Pass Select airport lounge access. You and two guests traveling with you can enter for free as often as you like. Even if there’s more than one lounge at your airport, you can hopscotch around to try them all.
The Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant comes with a substantial bonus: 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months from account opening.
Insider estimates Marriott points value to be 0.7 cents each, on average. That means the points portion of this bonus is worth $1,050 in Marriott stays. But read our guide to the best ways to use Marriott points to learn how to squeeze much more value from your rewards.
Review: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express review
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.49% – 28.49% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is unique among all airline co-branded cards in that it provides access to more than just the lounge network of the airline that graces its front. Here’s what you’ll get:
- Delta Sky Club access — Free entry when flying on a same-day Delta-operated/marketed flight. You’ll also get two single-use guest passes each year.
- Amex Centurion Lounge access — Free entry when flying on a same-day Delta-operated/marketed flight. You won’t get any free guests, but can purchase a maximum of two guest passes per visit at a rate of $50 each.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card comes with a $550 annual fee. That’s only slightly more than purchasing a Delta Sky Club membership outright (it normally costs $545 per year).
The card also offers:
- Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
- Annual Delta companion certificate
- 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to four times*
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club airport lounge access when you fly Delta
- Access to complimentary upgrades and upgrade priority
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit after you apply through any authorized enrollment provider
- 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit
If you’re a first-time cardholder, you’ll receive 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months. Insider estimates Delta points value to be 1.1 cents each, making this bonus worth $550 miles in Delta flights. But it’s possible to receive much more value from your miles — I once received a value of 26 cents per Delta mile when booking a business class flight.
Read our post on the best ways to use Delta miles.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Reserve review
United Club℠ Infinite Card
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Intro offer
100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Intro offer
100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Details
Rewards
Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Intro offer
100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.49% – 26.49% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The United Club℠ Infinite Card charges a $525 annual fee. A United Club airport lounge membership costs $650 (unless you have top-tier United elite status). Therefore, if United Club membership is important to you, opening the United Club Infinite is a no-brainer way to save $125.
You’ll receive a full United Club membership with this card, meaning you can also bring two guests (or one adult and as many children under 21 as you like). You’ll even gain access to several other Star Alliance airline lounges.
The United Club Infinite also comes with:
- Free first and second checked bags on United flights (you must pay with the card)
- Priority boarding on United flights
- Premier Access travel services
- NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Complimentary Premier upgrades
- Expanded access to United award flights
Plus, it offers a limited-time elevated welcome bonus of 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Insider estimates United points value to be 1.3 cents each, making this bonus worth $1,300 in United flights. Read about how to maximize United miles for secrets of how to redeem that same amount of miles for thousands more dollars.
Review: United Club Infinite card review
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Intro offer
80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,500 within the first 3 months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Intro offer
80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,500 within the first 3 months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
This is a terrific card for frequent American Airlines flyers who can take advantage of its included Admirals Club membership and other day-of-travel perks to offset the high annual fee. Authorized users also get Admirals Club access, so there’s extra value to be had there, too. However, it’s not the best card for earning AA miles on everyday spending, and the lack of travel protections isn’t ideal for an airline credit card.
Details
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
Intro offer
80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,500 within the first 3 months of account opening
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.74% – 28.74% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® comes with a $450 annual fee. The main payoff — and the only reason you should consider paying that fee — is because the card offers American Airlines Admirals Club airport lounge access.
Unless you’ve got American Airlines elite status, you’ll pay $650 per year for Admirals Club membership. Opening this card is a much cheaper route. To enter American Airlines lounges, you must have a same-day boarding pass on American or one of its partners in order to access the lounge.
This card also comes with:
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Free first checked bag for you and up to eight companions on your reservation
- Priority screening, check-in, and boarding with American Airlines
To boot, you’ll receive 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,500 within the first 3 months of account opening. Insider estimates American Airlines miles are worth 1.4 cents each. That makes this bonus worth $1,120 in airfare. However, if you know the best ways to use American Airlines miles, you can receive many times that value.
Review: Citi AAdvantage Executive card review
One of the best credit cards for airport lounges is no longer available (but you can get it anyway)
The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card is perhaps the best travel credit card that isn’t on the market. It’s’ not available to new applicants — but there’s a way you can still get it.
If you ask them, Chase can convert your existing Marriott credit card, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, into the Ritz-Carlton Card. The only catch is that you must have held your current Marriott card for at least one year, and your credit limit must be $10,000 or more. If your credit limit is lower, you can request that credit from your other Chase cards be reallocated to the Ritz-Carlton Card.
The Chase Ritz-Carlton Card comes with Priority Pass lounge access. Here are a few reasons why it’s better than the majority of travel credit cards for airport lounges:
- There’s no (written) cap on the number of free guests you can bring with you. If you travel with a large family, this could save you $100+ every time you visit a lounge.
- You can add authorized users for free, and they get their own Priority Pass membership (with unlimited guests).
- The Priority Pass membership issued from the Ritz-Carlton card qualifies for Priority Pass restaurant discounts ($28 to $30 off your meal, plus another $28 to $30 if you bring a guest).
You won’t get a sign-up bonus since there’s no way to apply for the card. But it also comes with valuable benefits such as:
- Up to $300 in annual credits to offset airline incidentals
- Annual free night certificate with Marriott for hotels costing up to 50,000 points per night
- Top-tier travel coverage
This card comes with a $450 annual fee.
New to airport lounges? Give them a test drive for cheap (or even free)
It’s understandable if you’re apprehensive about paying $395+ for a credit card that comes with access to airport lounges — especially if you’re not even sure you’ll like them.
If you want to give them a try to see if they fit your travel style, open one of the following cards first.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Intro offer
130,000 points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 12x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 6x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 6x Points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 6x Points on gas at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Intro offer
130,000 points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 12x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 6x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 6x Points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 6x Points on gas at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases
On American Express’s website
This card is a terrific choice if you stay with Hilton, even occasionally. It balances excellent benefits, including Gold elite status and 10 airport lounge visits per year, with a modest annual fee. And while it doesn’t come with an automatic free night certificate on your account anniversary, you can earn one by spending $15,000 on the card in a year.
Details
Rewards
Earn 12x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 6x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 6x Points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 6x Points on gas at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases
Intro offer
130,000 points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.49% – 28.49% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card does not come with a full-fledged Priority Pass airport lounge membership. Instead, you’ll get 10 free visits per year. You can choose to use your 10 entries for yourself and for guests. For example, if you and a guest enter a lounge five times, you’ll have exhausted your 10 Priority Pass visits for the year.
This is an excellent way to become familiar with the Priority Pass network. The Amex Hilton Surpass charges a $95 annual fee — far more digestible than other cards on this list.
You’ll also receive:
- Hilton Gold elite status
- Upgrade to Diamond status after you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year
- Free weekend night certificate after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year
As a first-time cardmember, you’ll even earn 130,000 points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership.
Review: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass review
United℠ Explorer Card
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Annual Fee
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Annual Fee
On Chase’s website
The United Explorer card is the best all-around credit card for United flyers, offering a generous range of benefits for a modest annual fee. Cardholders receive a free checked bag, priority boarding, and inflight discounts on United flights, plus two one-time United Club airport lounge passes each year.
Details
Rewards
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.49% – 26.49% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
The United℠ Explorer Card allows you to get a feel for airline lounges instead of Priority Pass. Each cardmember year, you’ll receive two single-use passes to United Club lounges. These day passes often cost $59 each.
The best part? The United℠ Explorer Card comes with an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95. In other words, you can try these lounges without having to pay a dime the first year. If you don’t like the card, you can cancel when your first annual fee comes due.
This card also offers:
- Free first checked bag on United flights (when you pay for your fare with the card)
- Priority boarding on United flights
- NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Complimentary Premier upgrades
- Expanded access to United award flights
Its welcome bonus offer is also increased for a limited time: 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Read more: United Explorer card review
Credit cards with airport lounge access frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Amex Centurion Lounges are at the following airports:
- Charlotte (CLT), between Concourse D and E
- Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Terminal D
- Denver (DEN), Concourse C
- Houston (IAH), Terminal D
- Las Vegas (LAS), Concourse D
- Los Angeles (LAX), Tom Bradley International Terminal
- Miami (MIA), Concourse D
- New York (JFK), Terminal 4
- New York (LGA), Terminal B, post-security
- Philadelphia (PHL), Terminal A
- Phoenix (PHX), Terminal 4
- San Francisco (SFO), Terminal 3
- Seattle (SEA), Concourse B
- Hong Kong (HKG), Terminal 1
- London (LHR), Terminal 3
There are also high-quality American Express Lounges internationally which you can browse here.
Priority Pass lounges aren’t always crowded, but they all tend to have a busy period which varies depending on the airport. The danger in visiting during peak hours is that you may actually be turned away. Lounges have limited capacity, after all.
If you want to see when a lounge is busy, you can simply google the name of the lounge along with the airport. You should see a graphic on the right side indicating the historical foot traffic of the lounge.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is the all-around best credit card for airport lounge access. Amex Platinum cards offer the most privileges of any travel credit card — from Centurion Lounge access to Delta Sky Club access (when flying Delta) to Priority Pass membership.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a no-annual-fee card that also offers airport lounge access. However, the United℠ Explorer Card offers two United Club lounge day passes each anniversary year. Its annual fee is $0 intro for the first year, then $95, so you can experience a lounge or two without committing to a big annual fee.
Top Offers From Our Partners
Wealthfront Cash Account
