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How to Get Priority Pass Lounge Access
Holding membership or the right travel card can get you in, otherwise, you'll have to buy a day pass.
Ramsey is a freelance travel journalist covering business travel, loyalty programs and luxury travel. His work has appeared in Travel+Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Reader's Digest, AFAR, BBC Worldwide, USA Today, Frommers.com, Fodors.com, Business Traveler, Fortune, Airways, TravelAge West, MSN.com, Bustle.com and AAA magazines. As someone who flies more than 450,000 miles per year and has been to 173 countries, he is well-versed in the intricacies of credit cards and how to maximize the associated perks and services.
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These days, arriving early to the airport is a must, so having access to a lounge where you can relax with a drink, snacks and a quiet place to work is key. If you have club memberships to airline lounges like the Admirals Club or Delta Sky Club, you’ll want to make sure that you have a same-day ticket on an eligible airline to access it at the airport.
Other lounges, like the Centurion Lounge, do not require a particular airline, but you must have a same-day boarding pass. Both Sky Club and Centurion lounges also have restrictions on when you can enter (only within three hours of the flight’s departure time).
If your preferred airport doesn’t have a credit card-affiliated or airline-branded lounge, not all hope is lost. Priority Pass, a network of more than 1,400 lounges around the world, may have a lounge or dining option available for you. Here’s how to get into a Priority Pass lounge before a flight.
If you’re looking to become a member of Priority Pass, you have several options. For starters, you can purchase Priority Pass membership at three different membership levels.
Standard membership, the cheapest option, has an annual fee of $99. You’ll then pay $35 per person each time you enter a lounge. This is the best option for those who travel less frequently.
The Standard Plus membership has a higher annual cost at $299, but it comes with 10 free lounge visits per year. After 10 visits, the per-person cost is $35. This is a good option for more frequent travelers who are likely to visit an airport lounge several times per year.
The best deal for the most frequent flyer is Prestige membership, which costs $429 per year but includes unlimited lounge visits. Each accompanying guest would pay $35.
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Carry the right card
There are many travel cards that include access to Priority Pass Select membership as one of their benefits. This is a solid way to gain entry into these lounges, especially if you’re already paying the card’s annual fee.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Keep in mind that not all Priority Pass access via travel card is the same. Some cards offer unlimited lounge visits, while others come with a set amount of complimentary entries. Make sure to read your card’s benefits to understand the specifics of this perk.
In some cases, applying for one of these cards could be cheaper than buying the top Priority Pass membership by itself. For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has a $395 annual fee (cheaper than the $429 that Priority Pass charges for its Prestige membership). This could be a great option for lounge access since the card also comes with access to Capital One lounges and 100 plus Plaza Premium lounges. If you’re looking for extensive lounge options, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a winner.
While the American Express Platinum Card® has a higher $895 annual fee, it comes with a whole collection of lounges that you can use to more than cover the yearly cost (see rates and fees). These include Centurion Lounge and a host of others like Escape Lounge and Plaza Premium facilities. Cardholders can also access the Delta Sky Club when flying Delta up to 10 visits per year (though they can earn unlimited Delta Sky Club visits if they spend $75,000 on the card in a calendar year). It all comes down to studying the complement of card perks before deciding which is best for you. Terms apply.
I use my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card for lounge access. It not only comes with access to participating Priority Pass lounges, but also to Capital One lounges across the U.S. The food options at the Capital One Lounge are great. I like that there are a bunch of small plates, so you don't have to commit to a heavy meal before a flight. You can even grab food to take with you from their to-go section.
I use my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card for lounge access. It not only comes with access to participating Priority Pass lounges, but also to Capital One lounges across the U.S. The food options at the Capital One Lounge are great. I like that there are a bunch of small plates, so you don't have to commit to a heavy meal before a flight. You can even grab food to take with you from their to-go section.
Meghan Coyle
Assistant Assigning Editor, Travel
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been my go-to card for lounge access since 2018. You get a Priority Pass Select membership that allows unlimited lounge visits for you and up to two guests, and you can access Chase Sapphire lounges in New York and Boston. The food options in the Chase lounge are much better than most lounges, and the decor is modern and pleasant. It's a great place to relax or get some work done outside of the terminal.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been my go-to card for lounge access since 2018. You get a Priority Pass Select membership that allows unlimited lounge visits for you and up to two guests, and you can access Chase Sapphire lounges in New York and Boston. The food options in the Chase lounge are much better than most lounges, and the decor is modern and pleasant. It's a great place to relax or get some work done outside of the terminal.
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
Sally French
Lead Travel Writer/Spokesperson
I'm spoiled. I find it difficult to travel without lounge access! Lounge access makes it so I actually want to arrive at the airport early, removing any stress that unforeseen delays might cause me to miss my flight. Of course, some lounges are better than others. The American Express Platinum Card® gets me into Centurion Lounges, which are all better than any Priority Pass lounge I've been to.
I'm spoiled. I find it difficult to travel without lounge access! Lounge access makes it so I actually want to arrive at the airport early, removing any stress that unforeseen delays might cause me to miss my flight. Of course, some lounges are better than others. The American Express Platinum Card® gets me into Centurion Lounges, which are all better than any Priority Pass lounge I've been to.
Sally French
Lead Travel Writer/Spokesperson
Meghan Coyle
Assistant Assigning Editor, Travel
I use my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card for lounge access. It not only comes with access to participating Priority Pass lounges, but also to Capital One lounges across the U.S. The food options at the Capital One Lounge are great. I like that there are a bunch of small plates, so you don't have to commit to a heavy meal before a flight. You can even grab food to take with you from their to-go section.
I use my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card for lounge access. It not only comes with access to participating Priority Pass lounges, but also to Capital One lounges across the U.S. The food options at the Capital One Lounge are great. I like that there are a bunch of small plates, so you don't have to commit to a heavy meal before a flight. You can even grab food to take with you from their to-go section.
Meghan Coyle
Assistant Assigning Editor, Travel
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been my go-to card for lounge access since 2018. You get a Priority Pass Select membership that allows unlimited lounge visits for you and up to two guests, and you can access Chase Sapphire lounges in New York and Boston. The food options in the Chase lounge are much better than most lounges, and the decor is modern and pleasant. It's a great place to relax or get some work done outside of the terminal.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been my go-to card for lounge access since 2018. You get a Priority Pass Select membership that allows unlimited lounge visits for you and up to two guests, and you can access Chase Sapphire lounges in New York and Boston. The food options in the Chase lounge are much better than most lounges, and the decor is modern and pleasant. It's a great place to relax or get some work done outside of the terminal.
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
Sally French
Lead Travel Writer/Spokesperson
I'm spoiled. I find it difficult to travel without lounge access! Lounge access makes it so I actually want to arrive at the airport early, removing any stress that unforeseen delays might cause me to miss my flight. Of course, some lounges are better than others. The American Express Platinum Card® gets me into Centurion Lounges, which are all better than any Priority Pass lounge I've been to.
I'm spoiled. I find it difficult to travel without lounge access! Lounge access makes it so I actually want to arrive at the airport early, removing any stress that unforeseen delays might cause me to miss my flight. Of course, some lounges are better than others. The American Express Platinum Card® gets me into Centurion Lounges, which are all better than any Priority Pass lounge I've been to.
Sally French
Lead Travel Writer/Spokesperson
Meghan Coyle
Assistant Assigning Editor, Travel
I use my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card for lounge access. It not only comes with access to participating Priority Pass lounges, but also to Capital One lounges across the U.S. The food options at the Capital One Lounge are great. I like that there are a bunch of small plates, so you don't have to commit to a heavy meal before a flight. You can even grab food to take with you from their to-go section.
I use my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card for lounge access. It not only comes with access to participating Priority Pass lounges, but also to Capital One lounges across the U.S. The food options at the Capital One Lounge are great. I like that there are a bunch of small plates, so you don't have to commit to a heavy meal before a flight. You can even grab food to take with you from their to-go section.
Meghan Coyle
Assistant Assigning Editor, Travel
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been my go-to card for lounge access since 2018. You get a Priority Pass Select membership that allows unlimited lounge visits for you and up to two guests, and you can access Chase Sapphire lounges in New York and Boston. The food options in the Chase lounge are much better than most lounges, and the decor is modern and pleasant. It's a great place to relax or get some work done outside of the terminal.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been my go-to card for lounge access since 2018. You get a Priority Pass Select membership that allows unlimited lounge visits for you and up to two guests, and you can access Chase Sapphire lounges in New York and Boston. The food options in the Chase lounge are much better than most lounges, and the decor is modern and pleasant. It's a great place to relax or get some work done outside of the terminal.
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
Sally French
Lead Travel Writer/Spokesperson
I'm spoiled. I find it difficult to travel without lounge access! Lounge access makes it so I actually want to arrive at the airport early, removing any stress that unforeseen delays might cause me to miss my flight. Of course, some lounges are better than others. The American Express Platinum Card® gets me into Centurion Lounges, which are all better than any Priority Pass lounge I've been to.
I'm spoiled. I find it difficult to travel without lounge access! Lounge access makes it so I actually want to arrive at the airport early, removing any stress that unforeseen delays might cause me to miss my flight. Of course, some lounges are better than others. The American Express Platinum Card® gets me into Centurion Lounges, which are all better than any Priority Pass lounge I've been to.
Sally French
Lead Travel Writer/Spokesperson
Buy a lounge day pass
You will often see the Priority Pass name or logo outside a lounge or on the reception desk, and you may decide last minute that you want to try it out. Some, but not all, lounges sell day passes allowing you to bypass Priority Pass membership.
By asking the lounge receptionist if they sell day passes you might just find an easy way to enter the lounge.
If the airport you’re flying from has multiple lounges, check the availability of a day pass from different options. Some may be more affordable than others and have better amenities.
What else to know about Priority Pass
You may need to activate membership
Your credit card company may automatically mail you a Priority Pass membership card if you are eligible, but in some instances, you will need to enroll with Priority Pass first or call the credit card company to acquire and activate it.
Luckily, Priority Pass now has a digital card helping to make things a bit easier.
Restaurants and other venues are sometimes included
One of the nice features of Priority Pass is that it is not restricted to lounge access with certain cards. In some airports, it also includes a food and beverage credit at participating restaurants or video game centers.
Quality varies
Not all lounges are created equal. Some have open bars, like the Lignum Club in the Bahamas, while others may have a more limited selection. The amount of food will also vary, with some lounges offering a more substantial selection than others.
A few lounges really go all out. In Punta Cana, one lounge has an outdoor plunge pool overlooking the planes. Others have showers or spa facilities, and Priority Pass even partners with some airport spas to offer free chair massages.
The bottom line
You can buy your way into a Priority Pass lounge through membership or day passes or swipe your way in with a credit card that includes Priority Pass access. Of course, you can also fly your way into an airline branded Priority Pass lounge if your ticket or status level comes with that perk.
Whatever way you gain entry, you’ll be glad you have lounge access if you have a lot of time waiting for a flight.
To view rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page.
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