HOW TO GET INTO AN AIRPORT LOUNGE (WITHOUT FLYING FIRST CLASS OR HAVING AIRLINE STATUS)
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There are two things that have completely changed our lives on travel days: having TSA PreCheck and being able to get into airport lounges. I know it sounds dramatic, but I can’t begin to tell you what a game changer it has been for our family. And best of all, these are both perks that come with a credit card that anyone can get. No airline status or flying first class required.
WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT AN AIRPORT LOUNGE?
I’ll be the first to tell you that not all lounges are created equal. Some are bigger than others and some have better food and amenity offerings. But being able to go into the club, grab all the free food and drinks we want, and just having a quieter space to enjoy has made travel and spending time in an airport so much better.
Some features we enjoy are:
Complimentary food and snacks
Complimentary beverages including soda, coffee and alcoholic beverages
Wide array of comfortable seating
Free wi-fi
Clean restrooms
Movie rooms
Kids rooms (in many airline lounges)
Quiet computer work spaces and printers ( in many airline lounges)
Customer service agents that can assist you with your itinerary, flight changes, etc.
Kid’s Room in the Admiral’s Club at Boston International
CREDIT CARDS THAT COME WITH LOUNGE ACCESS
Not all credit cards come with airport lounge access and the ones that do are considered premium cards. You’ll find these have a higher annual fee than non-premium cards, but they also come with many travel perks and credits that help offset that annual fee.
There are two different kinds of lounge access you can get from a credit card. One that is tied to the airline you are flying (like the American Airlines Admiral’s Club) and one that you can access regardless of what airline you’re flying (like the Capital One Lounge).
To enter an airport lounge you will scan your boarding pass and/or credit card associated with lounge membership.
NON-AIRLINE SPECIFIC CREDIT CARDS
These credit cards come with lounge access that are not tied to flying a specific airline:
Capital One Lounge - DFW Airport
Best Value: Capital One® Venture® X Rewards Credit Card - earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Annual Fee $395
Access for cardholder and two guests to Capital One Lounges at DFW, Denver and Dulles. Coming soon to JFK and Harry Reid International in Las Vegas.
Priority Pass Membership which gives you access to over 1,400 lounges worldwide.
Access to select Plaza Premium Lounges for you and two guests
One complimentary visit annually (for one person) to the Sapphire Lounge by The Club (locations in PHX, JFK, LGA, BOS and coming soon to Vegas)
A fantastic perk of this card is that you can add up to four authorized users free of charge and they each get the same lounge access for themselves plus two guests.
The $395 annual fee can be offset with a:
$300 annual credit for travel purchased in the Capital One Travel Portal
$120 statement credit for purchasing TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
Capital One Lounge - DFW International Airport
Luxury Cards: Both the Platinum personal and business cards from American Express come with lounge access.
The Platinum Card® from American Express -(click bank>American Express) - Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership.
Annual Fee: $695
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (click bank>American Express)- Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Annual fee: $695
Both Amex Platinum cards give access to the American Express Global Lounge Network which includes: Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Membership, Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta same day), Virgin Clubhouses and Aspire Lounges.
Unfortunately, American Express removed the guest access feature on this card earlier this year in an effort to combat overcrowding. If you want to bring a guest in with you it will cost $50 per person, unless you spend $75,000 annually on the card.
The Sapphire Lounge at Boston International Airport
Chase Sapphire Reserve® - Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $550
Complimentary access to the Sapphire Lounge (Locations in: PHX, HKG, LGA, JFK and BOS) for cardholder and two guests
Complimentary membership to Priority Pass
Access to the Sapphire Terrace at AUS
Sapphire Lounge coming soon to: DFW, LAS, PHL and IAD
Air France/KLM Lounge at Geneva Airport - Priority Pass
AIRLINE CARDS WITH LOUNGE ACCESS
Each airline offers premium credit cards that allow access only when flying that specific airline. For example, if you have the American Airlines card below, you can’t access the lounge if you are flying United that day. These cards are best for travelers who are loyal to a specific airline.
The Admiral’s Club at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® - Earn 70,000 miles after $7,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual fee: $595
Complimentary Admiral’s Club Membership for you and two guests
Access to over 60 partner lounges worldwide (like the Alaska Lounges and Aspire Lounge in San Diego)
Add an Authorized user for $175 and they get access with up to two guests
One free checked bag for up to 8 passengers on one reservation
$120 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
The kids room at the Admiral’s Club at DFW airport
DELTA offers one personal card and one business card that come with complimentary Delta Sky Club access. Remember, you get access to Delta Sky Club if you hold the The Platinum Card® from American Express or the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express(click category>airlines)
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (click category>airlines)- Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months.
Annual Fee: $650
Enter Delta Sky Club® at no cost and bring up to two guests or immediate family at a rate of $50 per person per visit. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club.
Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
$120 credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry
Delta SkyClub at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
United Airlines offers one personal credit card that comes with complimentary membership to the United Club.
United Club℠ Infinite Card - (click category>airline) -Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Annual Fee: $525
Complimentary membership to the United Club and participating Star Alliance™ affiliated lounges worldwide for you and two guests
$120 credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry
Two free checked bags for each passenger on the reservation
Premier Access for primary cardholder and companions on same reservation
IHG Platinum Elite Status
Avis President’s Club Membership
FINAL THOUGHTS
Does having lounge access make sense? Do you travel 4-5 times a year or more? If so, then I think lounge access is worth it. There are credit cards with lower annual fees that offer a certain number of lounge passes each year. These cards are better suited for those that only travel a couple of times a year that want lounge access but can’t justify the higher annual fee.
Have a bigger family? Many readers will add their partner or child (aged 18 or older for Priority Pass Membership) as an authorized user and that person can enter with two more guests.
We value having lounge access so much that I don’t think I could ever live without it now. What are your thoughts? Team Lounge or Team “sit at the gate”?
Happy Travels!
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