Your Guide to Airport Lounge Access Through Credit Cards
by Krish Patel
Travel credit cards often include a variety of benefits, one of which is airport lounge access. Airport lounges make the airport ground experience more smooth, as they provide a break from the hustle and bustle of the terminal, as well as a host of other offerings, such as free food and drinks and more exclusive seating. In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular credit cards for airport lounge access and see if it’s worth it.
The Platinum Card from American Express
One of the most popular travel credit cards that includes access to multiple lounges is the Platinum Card from American Express, which includes a $695 annual fee. Most of the cards seen in this article are premium cards that come with high annual fees attached.
With the Amex Platinum Card, you’ll have access to more than 1,400 lounges worldwide, all of which are part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection. Some of the lounges part of this collection are listed below:
Amex Centurion Lounges
Delta Sky Clubs (10 annual visits, effective from February 1, 2025)
Select Priority Pass Lounges
Plaza Premium Lounges
Lufthansa Lounges
Escape Lounges (The Centurion Studio Partner)
Is it Worth it?
Being able to access Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs is nice, as they’re some of the better airport lounge networks in the country. Both lounges include chef-inspired dishes at the buffet, comfortable seating, and some even have unique amenities. For example, the Delta Sky Club at JFK has an outdoor terrace, which is also seen at some other Sky Clubs at major Delta hubs. The JFK Centurion Lounge has a secret speakeasy, offering prohibition-themed cocktails and a cool ambiance. Plus, Priority Pass lounge access is always a nice touch if you’re transiting through an airport with one and there aren't any other lounge options, as it’s the most common lounge network across the globe.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
Another popular credit card for airport lounge access is the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Despite the card’s high $550 annual fee, it includes access to hundreds of airport lounges worldwide, which makes this a good credit card to have if you travel a lot and value lounge access.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’ll have access to the following lounges:
Chase Sapphire Lounges by the Club
Priority Pass Lounges (accessible through a complimentary membership)
Is it Worth it?
Chase Sapphire Lounges are nice spaces, with a variety of locally-inspired food and comfortable seating in a modern ambiance. Having individually-plated food at the buffet and more elevated amenities makes the lounge experience feel more premium. I prefer Sapphire Lounges over the American Express Centurion Lounges because the ambiance just feels more exclusive. On the other hand, Priority Pass Lounges (excluding the Sapphire Lounges) are either a hit or a miss.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
Now that we’ve had a look at two of the most popular premium credit cards that aren’t co-branded, we’ll now have a look at three popular airline credit cards for lounge access.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card gives you access to the following lounges:
Delta Sky Clubs (15 annual visits, effective February 1, 2025)
Amex Centurion Lounges (when flying Delta on a same-day ticket)
Is it Worth it?
Both Delta Sky Clubs and Amex Centurion Lounges are nice spaces, however, taking out a Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex Card ($650 annual fee) might not be worth it unless you’re a Delta loyalist or frequently fly the airline. If you want additional travel benefits in addition to lounge access, then the Amex Platinum Card might be a better option.
United Club Infinite Card
The United Club Infinite Card is United's most premium personal credit card and comes with an annual fee of $525. However, buying a United Club membership is more expensive than paying off this card’s annual fee.
With the United Club Infinite, you’ll have access to the following lounges:
United Club Lounges (the card includes a complimentary membership)
Select Star Alliance Lounges (Ex. Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges)
Is it Worth it?
Some of United’s newer clubs have a very modern ambiance and plenty of amenities, such as a wellness room and shower suites. You can expect to find comfortable seating in these lounges, however, the buffet selection is minimal, with limited hot options and light and cold snacks. If you fly United often and value lounge access, then having this card might be worth it.
The Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Offered as the most premium personal credit card by American Airlines, the Citi/AAdvantage Executive Card is the only co-branded AA card that includes an Admirals Club membership. The card comes with a high annual fee of $595, however, buying a membership to the Admirals Club is more expensive, sometimes costing over $1,000. Plus, the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard allows you to add authorized users for an additional fee, who also get lounge access, even when they’re not traveling with the cardholder.
With the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, you’ll have access to the following lounges:
Admirals Clubs (through a complimentary membership)
Select OneWorld partner lounges (Ex. the Alaska Lounge)
Is it Worth it?
Admirals Clubs are similar to United Club Lounges and offer comfortable seating, sometimes in a modern atmosphere, however, some Admirals Clubs have scaled-back food offerings like the United Clubs. If you’re an American loyalist or value Admirals Club access, then pulling out a Citi/AAdvantage Executive Card might be a good decision. At hub airports, such as New York LaGuardia, Miami, or Dallas/Fort Worth, you can expect to find amenities such as showers and work rooms in Admirals Clubs.
Bottom Line
Having airport lounge access before a flight elevates the airport ground experience. When deciding the right credit card for lounge access, you really have to consider the quality of the lounge you’re given access to and if you see any useful travel benefits in the card that could come in handy. For those of you who aren’t loyal to an airline and prefer to have flexible perks, then choosing a card such as the Amex Platinum might be a better option. Otherwise, co-branded credit cards offer lots of benefits when flying that specific airline, one of which may be access to a lounge.