7 Best Credit Cards With Priority Pass

Credit cards with Priority Pass can give you access to more than 1,400 lounges worldwide.
Ariana Arghandewal
By Ariana Arghandewal 
Updated
Edited by Mary M. Flory

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Priority Pass Select membership is one of those great travel perks that has become more ubiquitous with a rise in premium rewards credit cards. Having access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide means having a quiet respite from busy airport terminals and enjoying free snacks, drinks and even full meals.

Why wouldn’t someone want that in their travel toolbelt? If you’re looking for a card with Priority Pass access, here are our top picks:

Best Priority Pass credit cards

1. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

By far, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is currently one of the best credit cards for airport lounge access. It offers Priority Pass access with unlimited visits per year for you and your guests at more than 1,300 participating lounges around the world. Just note that Priority Pass access with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card does not include access to the Priority Pass restaurant locations, which may be a dealbreaker for some.

Beyond Priority Pass lounges, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card also gets you access to the growing number of Capital One lounges opening all over the U.S. Plus, it gets you into more than 100 Plaza Premium lounges, including select Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses. All of this access comes at a much lower annual fee than its premium card competitors at only $395 per year.

2. U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
NerdWallet rating 

The U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is probably the best card for Priority Pass Select membership. That’s because unlike American Express, U.S. Bank has not discontinued restaurant credits as part of the Priority Pass Select membership. So if you're at an airport with subpar club lounges but a few decent restaurant options, this benefit gives you more choices.

In addition to the ability to use the membership at airport restaurants, the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is a more economic option when compared to the higher annual fee cards on this list. Cardholders get up to $325 in annual travel statement credits. That takes a huge chunk out of the card’s $400 annual fee.

As an added bonus, this credit applies to a wide variety of travel, including airfare, hotels, car rental companies, trains, taxis and more. That makes it much more versatile than the credits on the AmEx Platinum cards, which are limited to specific chosen airlines.

All mobile wallet purchases on this card earn 3x points and cardholders also receive 12 Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi credits every year. That, combined with the $100 Global Entry fee credit every four years makes this card an excellent value if you’re looking for Priority Pass Select access at under $500 per year.

3. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® increased its annual fee recently by $100, so the $550 annual fee might be tough for a lot of folks to swallow. But if you make full use of the card’s Priority Pass Select membership, you may be able to offset the increase.

Unlike AmEx cardholders, those with a Chase Sapphire Reserve® can use their Priority Pass Select membership at airport lounges as well as restaurants. The dining credit varies by location. To give you an idea, the credit at San Francisco International’s Yankee Pier restaurant and Houston’s Landrys’ Seafood is $28. Bring a guest and you’ll receive a total of $56 off your bill.

Depending on how often you travel, you could make up the higher annual fee fairly quickly. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is still rated one of our top rewards credit cards and you can get lots of great travel perks and value out of it beyond the Priority Pass Select membership.

4. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
NerdWallet rating 

When choosing a card for Priority Pass access, it’s important to take all features into account. If the features of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card don’t entirely float your boat, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card might be a better option.

Like the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, this card comes with 10 free Priority Pass visits rather than full membership. That’s ideal if you’re not a frequent traveler and would rather opt for a lower annual fee card.

At $195 per year, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card fits the bill.

5. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
NerdWallet rating 

Post-merger Marriott hasn’t been the most exciting rewards program, but it continues to make strides with the introduction of off-peak pricing. Granted, this also means there’s now peak pricing, but let’s view the glass half full.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is still a good option for Priority Pass Select membership if you’re a Marriott loyalist. The card has a $650 annual fee and comes with a $300 statement credit per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. You even get complimentary Platinum elite status. Terms apply.

If you can make use of these benefits, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card can be a great way to secure Priority Pass Select membership. Terms apply.

6. The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express
NerdWallet rating 

The Platinum Card® from American Express is similar to the business version, except with a lower annual fee set at $695.

It has many of the same travel perks as The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, including the $200 airline fee credit and Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required).

The same restaurant exclusion applies, and we think that at such a high annual fee there are better options if you’re solely after Priority Pass Select membership.

7. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
NerdWallet rating 

With a $695 annual fee, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is the most expensive option for securing Priority Pass access (enrollment required). The card does offer lots of premium benefits to make it worthwhile: A $200 annual airline fee credit, generous category bonuses, Gold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors™ Gold Status (enrollment required) and Global Entry fee credit, to name a few. Terms apply.

What puts this card over the top is that it also includes access to the exclusive Centurion Lounge network and Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta or via Priority Pass). So even though Priority Pass Select membership through this card excludes restaurants, you have plenty of other options. The reason it ranks so low is because the annual fee is quite hefty and not everyone can justify it in spite of the perks. Terms apply.

To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.


How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

Airport Lounge Cards from our Partners
Citibank Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard® Credit Card

on Citibank's application

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
4.6
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x

Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.

Miles

Intro offer

70,000

Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

Miles
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Sapphire Reserve®
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-10x

Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Points

Intro offer

60,000

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Points
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