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 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 is 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 (in DFW, Denver and Dulles)
Priority Pass Membership which gives you access to over 1,400 lounges worldwide.
Access to select Plaza Premium Lounges for you and two guests
A fantastic perk of this card is that you can add up to four authorized users and they each get the same lounge access for themselves plus two guests.
The $395 annual fee can be offset with a:
$300 annual statement credit for travel purchased and
$100 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 - Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual Fee: $695
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 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 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 (HKG, LGA 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
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card - Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of Card Membership.
Annual Fee: $95
10 free airport lounge visits each year once enrolled in complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership
Hilton Gold Status
Great for those who frequent Hilton and want to dip their toes into airport lounges without committing to a high annual fee
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
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
$100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck/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 SkyClub access:
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card - Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Annual Fee: $550
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.
$100 credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry
Delta SkyClub at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card - Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Annual Fee: $550
Complimentary access into Delta Sky Club®
You'll also receive two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year
United Airlines offers one personal credit card that comes with complimentary membership to the United Club.
United Club℠ Infinite Card - Earn 80,000 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
$100 credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry
FINAL THOUGHTS
Weigh the cost: Do you travel 4-5 times a year or more? If so, then I think lounge access is worth it.
Have a bigger family? Many readers will add their partner (or child aged 18 or older) 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. What are your thoughts? Team Lounge or Team “sit at the gate”?
Happy Travels!
Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.