The best 6 credit cards with airport lounge access

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Sometimes traveling is about the journey, not the destination. If you can’t get enough of air travel but cringe at the thought of crowded gates and long security lines, consider a credit card with airport lounge access.

We looked at dozens of travel cards to find the best credit cards offering airport lounge access. Our criteria included the size of the lounge network, lounge access policies, card benefits, and annual fees.

Here are the 6 best travel credit cards with airport lounge access.

Best credit cards for airport lounge access

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• United Club℠ Infinite Card
• Citi / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve® American Express Card

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Rewards:

• 5X points on directly booked airfare, flights, and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year)
• 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel
• 1X points on all other purchases

Lounge access: Includes access to over 1,400 airport lounges in 140 countries, including Centurion® Lounges, Delta Sky Club®, Priority Pass lounges, Escape Lounges, and American Express Global Lounges.

Annual fee: $695. See rates and fees.

The Platinum Card® from American Express is ideal for luxury travelers who appreciate premium benefits like airport lounge access and flexible travel rewards.

This card includes other travel perks, including up to a $200 annual airline fee credit given in statement credits, up to $200 in annual Uber Cash, and up to $200 in statement credits toward hotel stays booked with The Hotel Collection (two-night minimum stay required). You’ll also get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.

Though it has a $695 annual fee, the Amex Platinum offers over $1,000 in statement credits and travel benefits that may offset travelers' costs. See rates and fees.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Rewards:

• 10X miles on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5X miles on flights through Capital One Travel
• 2X miles on all other purchases

Lounge access: Offers complimentary access to Capital One Lounges and over 1,500 Priority Pass lounges worldwide. Cardholders can also bring two guests for free into Capital One lounges.

Annual fee: $395

If you want flexible redemption options, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card lets you use miles towards any travel purchase. You can also access other travel perks, including a $300 annual travel credit, up to $100 in credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and 10,000 bonus miles on your account anniversary.

With no foreign transaction fees, this premium travel card offers flexibility and added perks.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Rewards:

• 10X points on hotel stays, car rentals, and Chase Dining purchases through Ultimate Rewards
• 10X points on Lyft purchases (through March 2025)
• 5X points on air travel through Chase Travel (after $300 travel credit)
• 3X points on restaurant and general travel purchases (after $300 travel credit)
• 1X points on all other purchases

Lounge access: Complimentary access to over 1,300 Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide.

Annual fee: $550

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® tops our list for its combination of bonus rewards, valuable redemption options, and luxury perks. This card comes with a $300 annual travel credit that can help offset the annual fee, plus a statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS membership application costs.

Rewards can be transferred to airline or hotel partners or used to book travel through Chase. This card includes a complimentary DoorDash DashPass plan, Lyft Pink membership, and Instacart+ membership.

With extra perks like rental car insurance, trip delay coverage, and no foreign transaction fees, the Sapphire Reserve is designed with travelers in mind.

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Rewards:

• 4X miles on United Airlines purchases
• 2X miles on all other travel purchases, dining, and eligible delivery services
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Lounge access: Includes United Club airport lounge membership with access to over 50 United Club locations and Star Alliance-affiliated lounges.

Annual fee: $525

For United loyalists who want VIP privileges when flying United, the United Club℠ Infinite Card offers perks like United Club airport lounge access and enhanced travel benefits.

Cardholders also get free first and second checked bags and two Premier Upgrades for award travel. Other perks include in-flight discounts and priority check-in. This co-branded airline credit card provides exceptional benefits in the air and on the ground.

Citi / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

Rewards:

• 2 AAdvantage® miles at gas stations and restaurants
• 2 AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
• 1 AAdvantage® mile on other purchases.
• 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases

Lounge access: Offers an Admirals Club membership with access to over 50 American Airlines Admirals Club airport lounges globally.

Annual fee: $99, waived for first 12 months

American Airlines flyers can maximize rewards and status with the Executive World Elite card, including Admirals Club lounge membership and early boarding privileges.

With this card, you’ll get one free checked back (up to four times), early boarding, and priority check-in. You’ll also get a credit towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve® American Express Card

Rewards:

• 3X miles per dollar on eligible Delta flights and Delta Vacations®
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Lounge access: Includes access to all Delta Sky Club airport lounges and The Centurion® Lounges, plus two Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes each year. As of Feb. 1, 2025, cardholders will only receive 15 annual visits to Delta Sky Club.

Annual fee: $550. See rates and fees. 

Delta flyers can enjoy an elevated travel experience with Delta Sky Club access and bonus miles with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card.

This card includes free checked bags, priority boarding, and a yearly round-trip companion certificate. You’ll also get a statement credit every four years for TSA PreCheck, in-flight discounts, and seat upgrade priority.

How does airport lounge access work?

Airport lounges provide an oasis away from crowded terminals. They have free food and drinks, high-speed WiFi, cozy seating, and more. Some also offer showers, conference rooms, and spa services. There are thousands of lounges globally.

The best premium travel credit cards come with a lounge access benefit.

“Depending on the card, you might get unlimited lounge visits or perhaps a set number that you can use throughout the year,” says Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst for Bankrate.

You’ll typically see lounge access in the following forms:

• Airline lounge membership: Some cards offer membership to lounges operated by airline carriers, including American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines.
• Issuer lounge membership: There are also lounges operated by card issuers, like American Express, Capital One, and Chase. These lounges are accessible to those with premium credit cards with the issuer.
• Lounge passes: Certain cards offer limited one-time lounge passes every year, allowing free access to various lounges.
• Priority Pass Select: Priority Pass partners with card issuers to offer free access to over 1,300 global lounges in their program. Priority Pass membership also allows free guest access.
• Lounge credits: Some cards may offer annual statement credits toward the cost of specific lounge programs, allowing you to pick the membership that suits you best.

There are other ways to get airport lounge access outside a credit card. For example, achieving a higher loyalty status with an airline may come with access to the airline’s lounges. Purchasing a business class or first-class ticket also often opens the door to airline lounge access.

Depending on the type of lounge access benefit, you may need to enroll online with a lounge program, either for free (with membership cards) or using annual credits. Lounge policies vary, but access is often limited to cardholders and may not allow guest passes. Make sure to check individual lounge guest policies before visiting.

How to choose a card with airport lounge access

When shopping for a credit card with airport lounge access, there are various factors to remember.

If you fly one airline regularly, opt for a co-branded airline card from that carrier for complimentary access to their lounges. Examples include the Delta Sky Club or United Club. Beyond airline lounges, premium cards often come with entry to hundreds of airport lounges via Priority Pass or other lounge networks.

An important consideration is the card’s annual fee. Credit cards that offer lounge access charge a high annual fee that can cost hundreds of dollars.

Based on your typical travel routines, estimate how frequently you'll visit airport lounges each year. Cards with higher annual fees and more lounge access make the most sense for regular travelers who use the lounge many times yearly. Some cards with higher annual fees offer travel credits and other perks that can help offset the cost.

“These cards can be well worth it if you take advantage of perks such as airport lounge access, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership fee waiver, travel insurance benefits, generous rewards programs, and other credits such as for food delivery, digital entertainment, retail perks, and more,” says Rossman. “Consider your travel and spending habits: Will you use enough perks to offset the annual fee (and then some)?”

How we rated the best credit cards with airport lounge access

To determine the best credit cards for lounge access, we carefully evaluated a wide range of factors, including the card's sign-up bonus, rewards earning rates on purchases, added perks and benefits, annual fees, and overall value for consumers.

Our team analyzed numerous credit card offers and selected the top contenders based on these key criteria. The options on this list represent the best value, rewards, and benefits available.

Here are some of the key factors we considered:

• Rewards: Rewards are the primary reason many people use credit cards, as they allow you to earn valuable points, miles, or cash back on your everyday spending.
• Redemption flexibility: What good are rewards if they're a hassle to redeem? Flexible redemption options allow you to use your rewards in the way that best suits you, whether that's offsetting your bill with statement credits or booking a dream vacation.
• Benefits: Credit card benefits can provide significant value and make your life easier, from saving you money on checked bags to providing peace of mind with travel insurance.
• Annual fee: The annual fee is a key factor because it's a recurring cost that can eat into your rewards earnings. It's important to make sure you're getting enough value from the card to justify the fee.
• Welcome bonus: A lucrative welcome bonus can give your rewards a massive head start, especially in the first year, making it a great way to kickstart your earnings.
• Rates & other fees: High interest rates and fees can quickly negate the value of any rewards you earn, so it's important to understand these costs and how to avoid them.

The bottom line

Choosing a credit card isn’t just about rewards rates – perks like airport lounge access can significantly impact your pre- and post-flight experience. Do your research to ensure the card you select unlocks the lounge access that suits your travel needs.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.