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Savvy Ways to Enjoy Airport Lounges
Posted on Jun 17, 2021
Updated on Mar 28, 2022
Lounges offer a quiet space to relax or work, and some even provide complimentary food and drinks or shower facilities. With the COVID-19 pandemic, airport lounges are also seen as a safer place to wait for a flight as most lounges have taken measures to ensure guests' safety and protection during the visit. While the capacity of lounges may be limited (and some lounges may still be closed), you can, nevertheless, get airport lounge access.
Today airport lounges are much more accessible - you don't have to fly first class or business class to access them. You don't even need a membership if you do not want to. Here we're going through different ways to get a discounted or free airport lounge access and the handy tips for saving on lounge access. Read on to see which way to gain airport lounge access makes the most sense for your needs and budget.
Best credit cards for airport lounge access from our partners
Credit cards that offer complimentary access to airport lounges as a benefit typically charge high annual fees, with some as high as $450 to $550. If you find it worth paying that high annual fee to have free airport lounge access among other benefits, you will need the right premium credit card or an airline credit card.
Other benefits that may come with a lounge access credit card include no foreign transaction fees, statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, travel and purchase protection such as trip cancellation insurance, priority boarding, free checked bag, and some others. Exact benefits vary by card and the issuer.
As you consider which card to get, note that credit cards may offer access to only one lounge network, like Admirals Club or Delta's Sky Club, or a network of lounges, like Priority Pass or Plaza Premium Lounge. So, you will need to make sure you will have those lounges in your home airport and destination airports you usually travel to. Whether you travel domestically or internationally or if you tend to fly with a particular airline - this all should be considered when you pick the right credit card with lounge access.
How to save on airport lounges
With easy access to airport lounges, you may want to buy passes occasionally or have an annual lounge membership for unlimited visits to your preferred lounge. While not everyone can enjoy the comfort of a lounge for free, almost anyone can save on it. If a luxury card with an enormous annual fee is not for you, you can use a regular rewards credit card or a travel credit card to earn rewards on lounge access. Some cards may even allow you to redeem rewards towards lounge access. However, many cards will allow you to redeem rewards as statement credits.
our choice
Intro APR on Purchases
0% Intro APR (15 months)
Intro APR on Balance Transfer
0% Intro APR (15 months)
Regular APR
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Annual Fee
$0
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers - only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
- No annual fee
- Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% - 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
- Terms and conditions apply.
our choice
our choice
Intro APR on Purchases
N/A
Intro APR on Balance Transfer
N/A
Regular APR
21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee
5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Annual Fee
$95
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024. - Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- 60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
our choice
our choice
Intro APR on Purchases
N/A
Intro APR on Balance Transfer
N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee
Balance Transfer Fee applies to balances transferred at a promotional rate
Annual Fee
$395
- Click "APPLY ONLINE" to apply now
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
our choice
our choice
Intro APR on Purchases
0% Intro APR (15 months)
Intro APR on Balance Transfer
0% Intro APR (15 months)
Regular APR
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Annual Fee
$0
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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How to get airport lounge access
There are different ways to get lounge access and not all of them require a premium credit card or airline loyalty program membership. Here we share with you some of the best ways for accessing airport lounges:
- Day pass: the most accessible method if you do not fly first or business class. You don't even have to fly the lounge's airline. Every large airport has multiple spaces offering day passes. Day passes generally cost between $29 and $75 per entry and you can even buy them in advance of travel.
- Annual airline lounge membership: if you fly regularly, a branded airline pass can provide access to the lounges of the carrier and its partners. For example, with the American's Admirals Club membership, you can fly JetBlue (which doesn't have its own lounge) and still use Admirals Club lounges. Airline lounge memberships generally cost between $350 and $650.
- Elite status: not easy to earn, but it's a great option if you accrue tons of miles to reach top status in a frequent flyer program. Airlines usually have several tiers of elite status where the highest elite tiers provide lounge access when you fly their airline or alliance. Airline frequent flyer programs are free to join, but you will need to fly regularly to reach the elite status.
- Premium credit card: some premium credit cards can get you access to a wide range of airport lounges worldwide. Lounge access has become a standard benefit for premium travel credit cards and some co-branded airline credit cards as more airlines and banks are opening airport lounges and adding new premium spaces to their existing networks. And while this benefit is usually complimentary, the card's annual fee can be as high as $450 to $550.
- Lounge membership through an independent lounge network: if you travel regularly but do not have one preferred airline, buying a lounge membership through an independent airport lounge access program, like Priority Pass, LoungeBuddy, or Lounge Pass, can be an option for you. You can choose the level of membership that works for you and enjoy the comfort of lounges.
- Public Airport lounge: there are lounges in some airports that are not affiliated with airlines and provide access for a fee. These lounges offer the same amenities as other lounges - comfortable chairs, snacks, Wi-Fi access, drinks, or small meals - for a fee that can start around $20. Public lounges may provide hourly access.
Make sure you won't be denied airport lounge access
Anyone can easily buy or earn lounge access nowadays, which is good and bad at the same time. Lounges tend to be crowded more often and at certain times may place a sign to inform folks that they are not admitting certain members. Lounge policies may also change more often or become stricter to keep crowds out. For example, if you are not flying with their particular airline on the day of your visit, you may be denied lounge access.
Here are some common reasons you could be turned away at the lounge door:
- Overcrowding: crowding issues have become common and it's possible you might not get into an airport lounge even if you have the right card or Priority Pass. You can be turned away simply because the lounge is overcrowded. So, if you are heading to the airport during super busy hours, plan your lounge visit in advance.
- Lounge-specific restrictions: each lounge can have different rules and, for example, if your card offers free guests, the lounge may not allow them or allow only two guests. Opening hours may also be different for different members. Thus, Priority Pass members may only be allowed into some lounges between specific hours.
- Not having your card with lounge access with you: if you leave your credit card with lounge access at home, you won't be able to prove you have free lounge access. Also, being a cardmember alone may not mean you get automatic lounge membership. You may need to activate your lounge membership before you receive your lounge benefits. After enrolling, you should receive your membership card, which you need to present to access the lounge.
Final thoughts
Airport lounges are no longer exclusive to first class and business class travelers. The number of lounges has increased recently, and new airport lounges continue to open. And with the number came broad variation in quality, rules for entry, and costs. When you are planning your travel, do lounge research as well:
- Check to see if there are lounges in airports you are going to travel through
- Check if any of your credit cards can help you save on lounge access or get a discounted or free access to the lounge
- Don't forget that many lounges offer day passes and there are public lounges
- See if you can book your visit in advance to reserve a place for yourself.
