My first exposure to airport lounges was through the 2006 movie ‘Unaccompanied Minor’. The film featured a wealthy teenager sneaking into a luxury airport lounge with a ticket supposedly given to him by his parents.
Watching that scene gave me the impression that the airport lounge was a private club for the wealthy elite. It was a place that someone like me who grew up in a middle-class family who rarely traveled could never experience.
Funny how wrong I was.
Last year, I quit my job as a full-time personal finance editor to travel the world. With my knowledge of credit card points, savings hacks, and smart money advice, I’ve figured out how to visit more than 36 countries on a budget. One tip I learned along the way is that airport lounges are almost not Exclusive. You can generally purchase a day pass for around $35 to $75, but there are many ways to get it for free.
Our Priority Pass membership, which gives members access to a network of more than 1,600 airport lounges and experiences around the world, is one of our most popular options. Here’s how you can get access to Priority Pass airport lounges for less, and in some cases, at no extra cost.
How much is a Priority Pass membership?
that Annual Priority Pass Membership Pricing They range from $99 for the Standard plan ($35 fee per lounge visit) to $469 for the Prestige plan (including unlimited free visits).
If you only plan to visit the lounge once or twice a year, it’s best to pay for a day pass or standard plan. However, if you travel more often, you’ll want a plan that offers unlimited access.
Luckily, there is a cheaper way to get a Prestige plan from Priority Pass than buying it directly. It’s a credit card.
Popular credit cards that offer Priority Pass
Several premium travel credit cards offer cardholders (and sometimes authorized users) a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership that includes unlimited lounge visits, similar to the Prestige plan.
The Prestige plan costs $469 per year, so a credit card with an annual fee lower than that amount is already a better deal, even before you consider the card’s other benefits.
Here are some of the most popular travel cards people use for Priority Pass:
Several business cards and hotel or airline co-branded cards also offer Priority Pass, but these cards appeal to a narrower range of customers and aren’t much cheaper than the options above.
Cheapest way to buy Priority Pass
If you look at the four cards above, there is something that stands out. Capital One Venture X has the lowest annual fee at $395. Capital One also lets you add up to four authorized users, all of whom will get their own Priority Pass membership at no additional cost.
Venture X is definitely the winner, right?
Well, that depends. That may be the case if you don’t use the card for other travel benefits. But if you travel often enough to want a Priority Pass membership, there are other factors to consider.
In addition to offering Priority Pass, the four cards above come with a variety of benefits, including statement credits that provide quantifiable cash value. Using this credit to offset purchases you would otherwise have made through regular spending can help significantly lower your card’s annual fee. Let’s take a look at the value you can get from each card’s statement credit and the effective annual fee if you use both cards.
For ease of comparison, we only count credits that carry a defined cash value and are not subject to complex restrictions. Some credits are not available every year, so the calculations below reflect the first year’s value for each card.
Priority Pass credit card amount
| card name | annual fee | Total Cash Value of Credits and Benefits | Effective annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Capital One Venture | $395 | $420 | -$25 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $550 | $755 | -$205 |
| American Express Platinum Card | $695 | $1,294 | -$599 |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card | $550 | $550 | $0 |
Have you noticed a trend?
If you can maximize all your credits without overspending, this card is virtually free and may yield the best results.
Of the four cards above, the Amex Platinum technically has the lowest effective annual fee at -$599. However, Platinum’s credits are divided into several parts, some of which may be more difficult to maximize than others. It is also the highest scoring card among the options listed. actual Annual fees mean you’ll need to make the largest upfront investment with no guarantee you’ll “profit” back.
Which card offers the cheapest Priority Pass?
For most people, the Venture X offers the best balance between minimal effective annual fees and ease of access to credit. This card includes credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry and the Capital One travel portal, which offers a variety of flights, hotels and rental cars.
We didn’t take into account the rewards on each card in the calculations above, but it’s worth noting that Venture This bonus, combined with the $300 annual travel credit, keeps the card’s effective annual fee negative even in years without TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit.
However, if you have all your travel credits available, the Amex Platinum can be a more rewarding way to enjoy airport lounge access along with other perks.
Lesser-known cards that offer Priority Pass
If you plan to travel no more than four times a year, there’s another lesser-known card that will get you Priority Pass with no annual fee. It’s the US Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card*.
The card received an upgrade in September that changed some rewards and benefits and eliminated the previous $95 annual fee. Despite waiving the annual fee, the card retained Priority Pass and TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit benefits, giving it several premium card benefits for the price of a no-annual-fee card.
So what’s the problem?
Altitude Connect’s Priority Pass membership allows you to visit the lounge for free just four times per year. Any guests you bring will also count toward your four-visit allowance. It might not be enough to entice frequent travelers, but it’s perfect for occasional travelers or anyone curious about airport lounges who don’t want to pay an annual fee for a card.
final verdict
You don’t have to use an airport lounge to enjoy your trip. In fact, you may find, as I did, that these special benefits aren’t always as attractive as they seem. However, if you frequently travel to and from the airport, access to a lounge can improve your travel experience.
If this is your first time using an airport lounge, we do not recommend unlimited lounge access until you decide it is a worthwhile experience. Investing a few hundred dollars or opening a new credit card is not a decision you should take lightly, as it can have a greater impact on your credit score and overall finances. If you’re still thinking about it, purchase a day pass and try it out risk-free.
After testing out the real world, it’s wise to find a credit card that fits your travel goals if you plan to visit lounges often. For most travelers, the Capital One Venture X will be the best choice. If you travel more frequently, American Express Platinum may give you the best bang for your buck.
If I wanted to use the lounge again, I would choose the US Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® card. Airport lounge access with no annual fee feels like a nice perk rather than something you have to use every time you fly to get your money’s worth.
*All information about the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card, Capital One Venture
American Express Platinum Card rates and fees are: Click here.
Here is the full list of credits compared to the table above:
Capital One Ventures:
- $300 annual travel credit through Capital One Travel
- Up to $120 credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees every four years
Chase Sapphire Reserve:
- $300 annual travel credit for all travel purchases charged to your card
- Up to $100 credit toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fees every four years
- Free DashPass for one year when activated by December 31, 2027 (retail $96 through DoorDash)
- $5 DoorDash credit per month ($60 per year)
- Free Lyft Pink All Access membership for two years when activated by December 31, 2024 (annual retail price of $199 through Lyft)
Platinum Card from American Express:
- Up to $200 annual credit toward select prepaid hotel reservations through American Express Travel
- Up to $20 credit per month toward select digital entertainment subscriptions (up to $240 per year)
- Up to $12.95 Walmart+ credit per month ($155 per year)
- $15 Uber Cash per month + $20 bonus per month for rides within the U.S. (up to $200 per year)
- Up to $200 credit per year for airline incidental expenses on one eligible airline of your choice
- Up to $50 semi-annual credit to Saks Fifth Avenue ($100 per year)
- Up to $199 credit per year for CLEAR® Plus membership
American Express benefits and offers are subject to terms and conditions. Some American Express benefits and offers may require registration. To learn more, visit americanexpress.com.
Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card:
- $300 annual credit toward eligible airline incidental purchases
- $150 annual credit toward eligible purchases of video streaming services, food delivery, fitness subscriptions and ridesharing services
- Up to $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every four years
