Credit Cards With Complimentary Airport Lounge Access & Benefits

Credit cards with airport lounge access are a must-have for those who call airports their second home. No one likes being stuck in a noisy airport especially if you're in the middle of a long layover on a longhaul redeye flight. Lounges can be a nice oasis that features free drinks, free food and a quiet area where you can work or get some much needed shuteye. Unfortunately, membership to lounges is rarely cheap. By using a credit card to get complimentary access you can save hundreds of dollars each year.

• Best Credit Cards with Airport Lounge Access
• List of Credit Cards Offering Lounge Privileges

Best Credit Cards with Airport Lounge Access

Though many credit cards will give you access to airport lounges, we wanted to call out some of the best offers. If you're unsure of exactly what you're looking for, this is a good place to start.

Note: We discuss general lounge benefits as outlined by the terms of service for each card. However, individual lounges and certain airlines always have the option to set their own rules, or even shut down. Always check before whether a lounge is still open in your most frequently used airports before settling on a card.

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best Overall Lounge Access

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The Platinum Card® from American Express is the premier choice for anyone looking to make their travel more luxurious. The card provides access to the most lounges among the dozens of cards we examined. Moreover, the lounges you get with The Platinum Card® from American Express are some of the best in the industry. The crowing jewel of the Amex program are the Centurion® lounges. These high-end clubs provide some of the best amenities, including catered food, bars, showers, high-speed Wi-Fi, conference spaces, and (in some cases) even a dentist's office. The only downside to Centurion® lounges is the fact that they're not located at any international airport. Currently, you can only find them in New York (LGA), Miami (MIA), Houston (IAH), Dallas (DFW), Las Vegas (LAS), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA).

Pictured above is the American Express Centurion® Lounge in Las Vegas. Image Source: AmericanExpress.com

The Platinum Card® from American Express also throws in extra lounges for cardholders. You get the standard Priority Pass membership that is common among premium credit cards. The quality of Priority Pass lounges can differ significantly from location to location, and they aren't always reliable. One advantage they do have is their sheer number. As of the time this article is being written, there are over 1,000 lounges worldwide, with most centered around the Americas, Europe and Asia. With The Platinum Card® from American Express you also get access to Delta's SkyClub lounges. The only caveat there being that you must be travelling on a Delta flight that same day.

Click here for our full review of The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Card Highlights

• Annual Fee: $550
• $200 Annual Uber Credit
• $100 Annual Airline Fee Credit

Chase Sapphire Reserve℠: Great For Those Who Travel With Big Groups

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ gives you complimentary Priority Pass™ Select enrollment, with the best guest policy round. You're allowed to bring in with you all guests in your travel party at no additional cost. If you travel with a big group or have a large family, this can end up being a fantastic money saver. Many of the other Priority Pass credit cards limit your guests at two, and charge you $27 for each additional person.

Another reason to consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ is because it's bar none one of the absolute best travel credit cards. If you're reading about airport lounge access, odds are you're a frequent traveler. If that is indeed the case, you can stand to profit a lot from using the Chase Sapphire Reserve℠. The card comes with a $300 annual travel credit, a fantastic welcome bonus, and very good rewards on your everyday purchases. Cardholders get 3 points per dollar on travel and dining, plus 1 point per $1 on everything else.

Click here for our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve℠.

Card Highlights

• Annual Fee: $450
• Annual $300 Travel Credit
• 1.5% - 4.5% Rewards Rate On Purchases

Citi Prestige® Card: Mix of Solid Lounge Access Plus Great Travel Benefits

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The Citi Prestige® Card offers pretty boilerplate airport lounge access, but its other travel benefits elevate it in this list. Cardmembers and authorized users get Priority Pass Select membership which allows entry for them and a maximum of up to two guests and/or immediate family members (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18 years of age). Starting July 23rd 2017 the card no longer provided Admirals Club access, greatly undercutting its overall value.

The real benefit of getting this card is everything you get on top of the airport lounge privileges. First and foremost, you get a complimentary 4th night with any hotel stay — a benefit potentially worth hundreds of dollars. Cardholders also get an annual air travel credit of $250, and a $100 Global Entry application fee credit. Currently, the card also comes with a 75,000-point bonus that you get after spending at least $7,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. These perks put the Citi Prestige® Card into the upper echelon of rewards credit cards.

Click here for our full review of the Citi Prestige® Card.

Card Highlights

• Annual Fee: $450
• Annual $250 Air Travel Credit
• 4th night hotel benefit for any hotel stay at hotels booked through the Citi Prestige® Concierge

United MileagePlus® Club Card: High Quality Lounges With International Reach

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If you're after high-quality airport lounges, but don't like the limited number of Centurion® clubs, the United MileagePlus® Club Card may provide a solution. The card comes with complimentary access to United Club locations and participating Star Alliance™ affiliated lounges. United Clubs tend to be a favorite among frequent travelers in terms of quality. For example, the location in LAX is massive, sporting around 20,000 square feet. It has has both indoor and outdoor seating, fast Wi-Fi and a well-stocked bar. Normally, if you'd like to purchase your own United Club pass you'd need to pay $550 per year, making it one of the most high-valued lounge memberships.

Pictured above is the United Club in Hong Kong. Image Source: United.com

You don't need to be flying with United to take advantage of the lounges, though this card is mainly recommended for those who are frequent customers of the airline. The other perks that come on this card are mainly tied to this one airline. For example, you get your first and second checked bags for free when flying United — a potential value of $240 per roundtrip. If you don't travel with United, the lounge benefits may not be enough to justify this card's $450 annual fee.

Click here for our full review of the United MileagePlus® Club Card.

Card Highlights

• Annual Fee: $450
• $100 statement credit after your first purchase
• 1st and 2nd checked bags are free. Priority Check-in, screening and boarding

List of Credit Cards Offering Airport Lounge Privileges

In case you're interested in other credit cards that will provide you with airport lounge benefits, or if you simply want a summary of the cards we called out above, look to the table below. In either case, we recommend you check out a card's full review and details before choosing to apply.