Business owners who spend more time in an airport than an office can leverage their business credit card to access airport lounges. With amenities like free food, drinks and Wi-Fi — along with phone rooms, semi-private workspaces and conference rooms — lounges can make your travel more comfortable and productive.
Several business credit cards include airport lounge access, but the extent of that benefit varies widely. One card may unlock thousands of lounges across the globe, while another may include a few free visits each year. Unsurprisingly, the former tends to come with a heftier annual fee than the latter.
Factor that cost against the value of the card’s overall rewards, while making sure the lounge perk lines up with your typical travel routes. And don’t forget to look at extras, like free checked bags and airline credits. That will help you find the best overall travel business credit card for you.
All of our picks for the best business cards are chosen by our editorial team, who follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the business card for your company. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features. View our full methodology.
Note: Some of our selections can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you’ll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
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Business owners who spend more time in an airport than an office can leverage their business credit card to access airport lounges. With amenities like free food, drinks and Wi-Fi — along with phone rooms, semi-private workspaces and conference rooms — lounges can make your travel more comfortable and productive.
Several business credit cards include airport lounge access, but the extent of that benefit varies widely. One card may unlock thousands of lounges across the globe, while another may include a few free visits each year. Unsurprisingly, the former tends to come with a heftier annual fee than the latter.
Factor that cost against the value of the card’s overall rewards, while making sure the lounge perk lines up with your typical travel routes. And don’t forget to look at extras, like free checked bags and airline credits. That will help you find the best overall travel business credit card for you.
All of our picks for the best business cards are chosen by our editorial team, who follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the business card for your company. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features. View our full methodology.
Note: Some of our selections can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you’ll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
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Here are the best business credit cards for airport lounge access
Here are the best business credit cards for airport lounge access
Sort By
Annual fee
$395
Rewards rate
2x-10x
Miles
Intro offer
Up to 350,000 Miles
⏱️ Limited time offer
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Priority Pass lounge membership
- Annual travel credit, bonus points
- Statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®
Cons
- High annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
- Balance must be paid in full every month
Capital One Venture X Business
Best for Overall airport lounge access
Annual fee
$395
Rewards rate
2x-10x
Miles
Intro offer
Up to 350,000 Miles
⏱️ Limited time offer
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Priority Pass lounge membership
- Annual travel credit, bonus points
- Statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®
Cons
- High annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
- Balance must be paid in full every month
Annual fee
$695
Rewards rate
1x-5x
Points
Intro offer
150,000
Points
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Lounge membership
- Transfer partners
- Automatic elite status
- Annual statement credit for travel, business expenses
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- High annual fee
- Low ongoing rewards rate
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for Centurion lounge access
Annual fee
$695
Rewards rate
1x-5x
Points
Intro offer
150,000
Points
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Lounge membership
- Transfer partners
- Automatic elite status
- Annual statement credit for travel, business expenses
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- High annual fee
- Low ongoing rewards rate
Annual fee
$650
Rewards rate
1x-3x
Miles
Intro offer
80,000
Miles
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Generous free checked bag benefit
- SkyClub and Centurion Lounge membership (terms apply)
- Companion pass benefit
Cons
- High annual fee
- Limited reward redemption options
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Best for Delta frequent flyers
Annual fee
$650
Rewards rate
1x-3x
Miles
Intro offer
80,000
Miles
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Generous free checked bag benefit
- SkyClub and Centurion Lounge membership (terms apply)
- Companion pass benefit
Cons
- High annual fee
- Limited reward redemption options
Annual fee
$695
Rewards rate
1.5x-2x
Miles
Intro offer
125,000
Miles
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Lounge membership
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Free checked bag
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Does not include automatic elite status
United Club℠ Business Card
Best for United Club membership
Annual fee
$695
Rewards rate
1.5x-2x
Miles
Intro offer
125,000
Miles
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Lounge membership
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Free checked bag
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Does not include automatic elite status
NerdWallet’s editorial picks: Best business cards for airport lounge access
Capital One Venture X Business
Best for: Overall airport lounge access
NerdWallet star rating:
4.9
Capital One's premium business travel card delivers some serious perks, including a complimentary Priority Pass membership that provides unlimited access to more than 1,300 lounges for the primary cardholder and up to two guests. You'll also get access to Capital One and Plaza Premium lounges. Additional Venture X Business perks include annual statement credits and a massive welcome offer:
For a limited time, earn up to 350,000 bonus miles: 150,000 miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months, and an additional 200,000 miles once you spend $200,000 in the first 6 months.
And with an annual fee of $395
, the Venture X Business is also the most affordable card on this list. (See rates and fees.) Learn more and apply.The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for: Centurion lounge access
NerdWallet star rating:
4.5
A five-star option for business travelers,
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
opens the door to more than 1,400 lounges across 140 countries, including American Express Centurion lounges, as well as International American Express lounges and Priority Pass. Cardholders also get complimentary access to Delta Sky Club and Lufthansa lounges, when flying with the respective airlines. The AmEx Business Platinum card has other perks, too, including statement credits, automatic elite status and a generous welcome bonus. All this comes at a price, though. Namely, a $695
annual fee. If you use all of the cards’ rich benefits, though, the card pays for itself and then some. Learn more and apply.Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Best for: Delta frequent flyers
NerdWallet star rating:
5
Delta loyalists can gain access to some of the same lounges available through the AmEx Business Platinum with a few caveats. The
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
($650
annual fee) includes access to Centurion lounges and Delta’s own Sky Clubs, but only when flying Delta. Other travel-friendly perks include priority boarding, complimentary seat upgrades and an annual companion certificate. Terms apply. Learn more and apply.United Club℠ Business Card
Best for: United Club membership
NerdWallet star rating:
4.9
The
United Club℠ Business Card
’s most notable perk is the included United Club membership, which covers more than 45 United Club lounges and more than 1,000 Star Alliance-affiliated lounges (terms apply). Traveling with guests? United Club lounges allow you to bring along up to two adult guests, or one adult and any dependent children under the age of 21. Other popular lounges, like Sky Club and Centurion, charge for any guests that accompany members into a lounge. The United Club Business Card has a $695
annual fee.Other business cards with lounge access to consider
The following cards offer limited airport lounge access:
The New United℠ Business Card
: Includes two United Club passes per year. Passes don't include guests (except children under 2). There are more than 45 United Club lounges, including in a handful of popular international destinations, such as London Heathrow and Hong Kong International Airport.U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect World Elite Mastercard: Includes up to four free Priority Pass visits per year for the cardholder and one additional guest per visit. There are more than 1,400 Priority Pass lounges and experiences around the world.
There are also several personal travel cards that offer airport lounge access, which can be an option for sole proprietors or business owners who don’t need employee cards. Lounge benefits and annual fees are pretty similar between personal and business cards, but welcome offers and other rewards categories may differ slightly.
If you opt to use a personal card, it’s smart to keep it exclusively for business purchases. Commingling business and personal expenses can complicate bookkeeping and tax filing.
Compare airport lounge access for business credit cards
Business card | Lounge access |
|---|---|
Capital One Venture X Business | Priority Pass, Plaza Premium and Capital One lounges. |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | American Express Centurion and Escape Lounges, International American Express Lounges, Priority Pass Select, and Delta Sky Club and Lufthansa Lounges (when flying with that airline). |
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card | Delta Sky Club and American Express Centurion® and Escape Lounges, when flying on a Delta ticket purchased with the card. |
United Club℠ Business Card | United Club and participating Star Alliance lounges. |
The New United℠ Business Card | United Club (up to two visits per year). |
U.S. Bank Business AltitudeTM Connect World Elite Mastercard® | Priority Pass (up to four visits per year). |
How to choose a business card for airport lounge access
Seeking out a business credit card for airport lounge benefits narrows your options of business travel cards to a handful. But how do you choose from there? Ask yourself three questions:
1. Which airlines do you fly? If you’re loyal to United or Delta, a co-branded card like the
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
or the United Club℠ Business Card
will give you entry into the airlines’ respective lounges, plus airline-specific perks like discounts and free seat upgrades. Capital One Venture X Business
, on the other hand, is the best option if you fly with multiple airlines or have the flexibility to book most of your flights through Capital One’s travel portal (you’ll get 5 points per $1).2. What routes do you fly? Most major travel hubs have multiple airport lounges in each terminal, making it easy to pop into one on a layover. But some airports have limited options. In Detroit, Delta Sky Club is your only option (unless you’re flying Lufthansa). Always connecting through Charlotte, North Carolina? You won’t find a United Club lounge. Select a card that gives you convenient lounge access along your normal travel routes.
3. How often will you visit a lounge? Airport lounge access doesn't come cheap. Annual fees for many of our picks range from $
395
to $695
— and that’s usually less than what the lounge membership would cost. Make sure you’ll use the lounge benefits, and the card’s other perks, enough to justify the annual fee. Can AmEx business cards access airport lounges?
A handful of American Express business cards offer airport lounge access.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
, for example, includes complimentary access to Centurion and Priority Pass lounges, along with a handful of other domestic and international lounges. A handful of co-branded AmEx business cards, including the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
also offer lounge perks.To view rates and fees of
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
, see this page.To view rates and fees of the
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
, see this page.Last updated on April 17, 2025
Methodology
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for small business based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of small-business operators. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as special financing arrangements, free cards for employees or tools for managing business expenses. Learn more about how we rate business credit cards.