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Airport lounges are becoming increasingly popular, and while some travellers may be frequent fliers with memberships, others may be infrequent travellers looking for a quiet place to wait out a layover. For those who don't have a membership, there are still ways to access airport lounges. From purchasing day passes to using certain credit cards, this article will explore the various ways to gain access to airport lounges without a membership.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Access without membership | Day passes, annual memberships, credit card benefits, military personnel benefits, elite status, Priority Pass membership |
| Day passes | Available for purchase online or at the airport, cost varies by airline and lounge location, typically $25 to $80 per person |
| Annual memberships | Cost varies by airline and membership type, can range from $550 to $850 for individual, non-elite status flyers |
| Credit card benefits | Certain credit cards offer complimentary lounge access or Priority Pass membership, e.g. Citi Prestige® Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® card |
| Military personnel benefits | Active-duty U.S. military members may qualify for free lounge access with select airlines, e.g. USO airport lounges, Admirals Clubs, United Club locations |
| Elite status | Business and first-class passengers often get free access to lounges, as do elite members of certain airlines |
| Priority Pass membership | Access to over 1,500-1,700 lounges worldwide, complimentary with some premium credit cards or available for purchase at different tiers, typically starting at $99 per year |
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What You'll Learn
Paying for a day pass
If you don't travel often but want to visit an airport lounge, you can buy a day pass. Most airlines allow you to purchase a day pass either online or at the airport on the day of travel. Prices vary depending on the airline and lounge location but typically cost around $25 to $80 per person. Some airlines may also allow you to pre-book your space in the lounge for a small fee.
Alaska Airlines, for example, sells single-entry lounge passes for $65 USD per person. These passes are sold when space is available, and capacity may be managed based on operational needs. Lounge passes are non-refundable, but if you purchase a membership within 30 days of buying a lounge pass, Alaska Airlines will refund the cost of the pass.
Some airline lounges are also accessible through networks like Priority Pass. While Priority Pass is complimentary with premium credit cards, you can also buy a membership for as little as $99 per year. This includes access to more than 1,500 airport lounges worldwide.
Additionally, some credit cards offer lounge access as a benefit. For example, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® offers cardholders free Admirals Club membership, while the New United Club Card provides United Club membership, which grants the primary member and one adult guest access to United lounges. The Platinum Card from American Express is another option, offering access to select airline lounges and the exclusive Centurion Lounge network for eligible cardholders.
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Using a credit card with lounge benefits
Airport lounge access on credit cards is a valuable perk that can make a stressful travel day relaxing. If you frequently travel, paying for airport lounge access can be worthwhile.
The easiest way to check if your credit card offers lounge access is to review the benefits listed on the card’s official website. This information is also usually included in the welcome packet or benefits guide you receive when you get your card. If you're still unsure, you can call or chat with your credit card provider's customer service team to confirm.
There are several credit cards that offer airport lounge benefits. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® offers cardholders free Admirals Club membership, valued at up to $850 per year. The New United Club℠ Card is a premium co-branded United card that offers United Club membership, which grants the primary member, one adult guest, and dependent children access to United lounges. However, you must be flying United or a Star Alliance partner to access United Clubs. The Platinum Card® from American Express is considered the best travel card for frequent travellers because it offers complimentary entry to the most airport lounges of all premium cards. It has a hefty annual fee of $695, but its lounge access is comprehensive. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card allows you to enter the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club and Priority Pass Select lounges, although only a few Chase Sapphire Airport Lounges are currently open. Capital One’s premium card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, is another option for travellers seeking airport lounge access. The Citi Prestige® Card is no longer open for new applications, but current cardholders can take advantage of Priority Pass Select perks, including unlimited Admirals Club access. The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card offers complimentary Priority Pass Select benefits, providing access to more than 1,500 lounges worldwide.
Some of the key benefits that the best airport lounge credit cards offer include earning bonus air miles on booking tickets using the card, enhanced airport experiences, and discounts and savings on flight tickets. Lounge access cards also offer privileged priority pass and complimentary lounge access at thousands of domestic and international airports. Some cards also offer insurance benefits like accident cover or insurance against damage to goods, and interest-free periods. For example, the HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card offers complimentary access to more than 1,000 Priority Pass Airport Lounges across the globe, as well as access to VISA/MasterCard Lounges and foreign currency markups at just two per cent.
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Buying an annual membership
If you're a frequent flyer, buying an annual membership to an airline lounge can be a good idea. While prices vary depending on the airline and your status, annual memberships can provide unlimited access to lounge networks, even if you're not flying in a premium cabin.
Alaska Lounge, for example, offers an annual membership for $550, while American Airlines charges $850 or 85,000 AAdvantage miles. Delta's annual membership costs $695 or 69,500 SkyMiles, and United's is $750 or 94,000 MileagePlus miles.
Some airlines also offer premium credit cards that include lounge membership. The United Club℠ Infinite Card, for instance, costs $525 annually and includes United Club membership. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® ($595 annual fee) includes Admirals Club membership, and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card ($650 annual fee) provides entry to Delta Sky Clubs.
Another option is to purchase a Priority Pass membership, which grants access to over 1,500 airport lounges worldwide. There are three levels of membership: Standard, Standard Plus, and Prestige, each with an annual fee and guest charges. However, getting Priority Pass through a credit card can offer greater value than buying a membership outright. Cards like the Platinum Card® from American Express provide complimentary entry to a wide range of airport lounges, including Priority Pass lounges.
If you're not a frequent flyer, buying a day pass might be a more cost-effective option, as annual memberships can be expensive.
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Qualifying for free access
There are several ways to qualify for free airport lounge access. The first is your choice of credit card. Many premium credit cards offer complimentary lounge access as a perk. For example, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® offers cardholders free Admirals Club membership, while the New United Club Card offers United Club membership, which grants the primary member, one adult guest, and dependent children access to United lounges. The Platinum Card from American Express is another example of a premium card that offers complimentary entry to airport lounges.
The second way to qualify for free airport lounge access is through airline elite status. Business and first-class passengers often get free access to airline lounges, as do elite members. International and Domestic First Class Customers can access third-party contract lounges contracted by the Star Alliance member carrier they are travelling with. Star Alliance Gold customers travelling on a Star Alliance or Connecting Partner Flight are also entitled to bring one guest into the lounge.
The third way to qualify for free airport lounge access is through your profession. Some U.S. military members on active duty qualify for free lounge access with select airlines. For example, USO airport lounges are designed for active-duty service members and their families, and United provides complimentary access to U.S. military personnel at its United Club locations.
The fourth way to qualify for free airport lounge access is through membership programs. For example, WestJet Rewards Platinum and Gold members are eligible for complimentary access to the WestJet Elevation Lounge based on their tier benefits, as are Silver and Teal members with valid lounge vouchers.
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Using a travel rewards card
The Platinum Card from American Express
The Platinum Card from American Express is considered one of the best options for frequent travellers as it offers complimentary entry to a wide range of airport lounges. It provides access to select airline lounges and the exclusive Centurion Lounge network. However, it comes with a substantial annual fee of $695.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
This card offers cardholders free Admirals Club membership, valued at up to $850 per year. It also includes access to American Airlines lounges for cardholders and their immediate family or up to two guests.
The New United Club Card
The New United Club Card is a premium co-branded United card that provides individual membership. Cardholders can bring one adult guest and dependent children, accessing United lounges. To access Star Alliance lounges and bring two adult guests, the cardholder needs to spend $50,000 annually on the card or reach Premier Gold status.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card provides cardholders with access to Chase Sapphire Lounges and Priority Pass Select lounges. While the number of Chase Sapphire lounges is limited, the network is expanding. This option allows cardholders to bring up to two guests at no extra cost.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One's premium card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, offers cardholders lounge access with its Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass Select membership.
In addition to these options, it's worth noting that some cards provide guest access for an additional fee, while others include complimentary access for the primary cardholder and their guests. When choosing a travel rewards card for airport lounge access, consider the lounges available at your home airport and the airlines you frequently fly with.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can. Most airlines sell day passes that allow you to access airport lounges. The cost of these passes varies depending on the airline and the lounge location, but they typically cost between $25 and $80 per person.
You can buy an annual membership from most major airlines that provide unlimited access to their lounge networks. The cost of these memberships varies depending on your elite status and whether you are buying a new membership or renewing an old one.
Yes, there are several credit cards that offer complimentary airport lounge access. These include the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, the New United Club Card, the Platinum Card® from American Express, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Yes, you can also gain access to airport lounges by redeeming air miles, or by purchasing a business or first-class ticket. Additionally, some airport lounges offer complimentary access to U.S. military personnel.
