We all love traveling, but let’s be honest, it can be a real pain sometimes. Taking off our shoes and removing your laptop never ceases to annoy anybody. The airports always seem to be crowded and the mediocre food is expensive.
With all the omnipresent anxiety in the airport, there are some options to make the pre-flight experience more enjoyable. For me and my family at least, knowing that we have complimentary airport lounge access puts us at ease.
Today, we will cover six top cards that offer complimentary airport lounge access along with some of their benefits. Although the lounge access is complimentary, these cards do come with larger than average annual fees.
1. Chase Sapphire Reserve
The chase saphire reserve card has easily become my favorite card. It offers Priority Pass Select lounge membership that includes guest access, giving you options at hundreds of airports around the world.
Beyond lounge access, you also get a $300 annual credit that can be used to cover many travel-related expenses which includes lounge passes. That’s an additional $300 toward a lounge outside of the Priority Pass program. Other benefits include 3x points on all travel and dining and the ability to redeem points for 1.5 cents apiece through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
Annual Fee: $450
We got our own private cinema room at the Number 1 Lounge in Heathrow airport, London.
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2. The Platinum Card from American Express
This card gives you access to Centurion Lounges, which are one of the best lounges you will find at major domestic airports. Visit them at Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), LaGuardia (LGA), Las Vegas (LAS), Miami (MIA), Seattle (SEA) and San Francisco (SFO). The first international location in Hong Kong (HKG).
There have been some changes to lounge access over the past year. Due to the popularity of this lounge network, Amex will no longer let you purchase day passes for $50 for certain people. However, you may purchase a day pass if you have an Amex Platinum, a Business Platinum Card from American Express OPEN or a Centurion Card. This exclusivity makes the Centurion lounge more valuable.
The Platinum Card also gets you Delta Sky Club access, but only when you’re flying Delta. If there is no centurian lounge in your airport, no worries. You also receive a Priority Pass Select membership (with two guests included).
The Platinum card may come with a hefty annual fee, but if you use all the benefits properly, it more than makes up for the fee.
Annual Fee: $550
Aspire Lounge in Heathrow Airport, London.
3. Citi Prestige Card
With this card you get Priority Pass Select membership, giving you access to more than 1,000 lounges around the world for up to two guests.
Other benefits include 3 ThankYou Points per dollar spent on airlines and hotels, 2x on dining and select entertainment and 1x everywhere else. Plus, the $250 travel credit helps offset the annual fee.
Annual Fee: $450
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Resting until our flight to Fiji in the Los Angeles International Lounge.
4. Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
The Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard comes with Admirals Club membership, along with access for immediate family members or up to two traveling guests. Another great perk includes membership for authorized users of this card.
Other benefits include 10,000 elite-qualifying miles after making $40,000 in purchases each calendar year. Along with no foreign transaction fees, earn 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. You also get priority boarding, 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases, and a free checked bag for you and up to eight companions.
Annual Fee: $450
This is an example of a bathroom and shower at a lounge. This photo was taken at the Number 1 lounge in London.
5. United MileagePlus Club Card
The final card on this list offers access to United Clubs, Star Alliance-branded business lounges around the world and Amtrak Acela lounges. Kkep in mind, to enter these clubs you need your United Club membership card in hand, not the credit card.
The other big draw is that these cards earn 1.5 United miles per dollar spent everywhere and 2x miles on United purchases. You will receive two free checked bags each for two people, waived close-in ticketing fees and priority boarding.
Annual Fee: $450
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Bella is loving the Sakura Lounge in Osaka, Japan.
6. Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card.
With this card, you get complimentary Priority Pass Select membership with two guests. There is a way you can enter any lounge you desire. This card can reimburse up to $300 per year for lounge passes when purchased with the card.
The card also offers three upgrades to Ritz-Carlton Club Level per year on paid stays of up to seven nights each and a $100 hotel credit on paid Ritz-Carlton stays of at least two nights and more. As you can see, the annual fee can easily be recouped many times over with the $300 travel credit and value of the upgrades received at Ritz-Carlton properties.
Annual Fee: $450
Find Your Peace At The Airport
You don’t have to be an elite or frequent flyer to relax in the lounges. We all know what it’s like to wait at the gate where its loud and everyone is huddled around recharging outlets. The annual fees on these cards may seem high at first glance, but they offer enough benefits and have the ability to earn you enough points to recover the fee many times over.
Which airport lounges have you accessed with a credit card?
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I have never been in a lounge at an airport before. I always thought it was for the 1%
I use the centurian lounge through my Platinum card. I usually fly domestic for business so it’s perfect.