Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access of September 2025
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Written by
Andrew Kunesh
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
Airport lounges are an oasis away from the chaos of the airport terminal. They’re a dedicated place for travelers to enjoy complimentary food and drink, Wi-Fi, and other amenities before a long flight. Some lounges even offer additional perks, such as spas and workout rooms.
One common misconception is that you need to be an ultra-frequent flyer with elite status or an expensive business class ticket to access an airport lounge. While this may have been the case in years past, these days, you can access many airport lounges by having the right travel credit card in your wallet.
Quick Overview: Best Airport Lounge Access Credit Cards
| Our Choice For | Credit Range | Annual Fee | Highlights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Premium Perks & Benefits |
Good – Excellent
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$695 |
Massive welcome offer opportunity plus several annual statement credits, lounge access and other premium benefits You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
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Travel & Dining Purchases |
Excellent/Good
670-850*
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$550 |
75,000 bonus points plus travel perks75,000 online bonus points — a $750 value — after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
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| Premium Travel Rewards & Perks |
Excellent
720 – 850*
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$395 |
Very generous bonus and statement credit opportunities plus premium perks.
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Premium Perks |
Excellent
720 – 850*
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$795 |
Luxury travel card with airport lounge access & a bonus worth up to $2,500 in Travel Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Your points are worth up to 100% more when you redeem them through Chase Travel, making this bonus worth up to $2,500.
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| Elevated Rewards and Premium Travel Perks |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
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$595 |
Earn 80,000 points and premium benefits For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
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Premium Perks for Delta flyers |
Good – Excellent
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$650 |
Lounge access, annual companion certificate, statement credits and more
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AA Loyalists Who Want Lounge Access |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
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$595 |
Admirals Club membership and partner statement credits
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United Loyalists Who Want Lounge Access |
Excellent
720 – 850*
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$695 |
United Club membership
Full Review
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Detailed Overview: Best Credit Cards for Lounge Access
Top Feature
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Purchase APR
See Pay Over Time APR
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Terms apply.
Card Details From Issuer
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
- A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world’s most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Top Feature
75,000 online bonus points — a $750 value — after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
20.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Card Details From Issuer
- 75,000 bonus points after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn up to 2.5 to 3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87 to 2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
- No limit to the points you can earn and points don’t expire as long as the account remains open
Top Feature
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
19.99% – 29.24% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Top Feature
Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
20.24% – 28.74% Variable
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
Top Feature
For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
21.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
- Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Top Feature
Earn 125,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
Purchase APR
20.24%-29.24% Variable
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 125,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Top Feature
Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
20.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
- Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
Top Feature
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
20.49% – 28.99% Variable
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 80,000 bonus miles
- 4x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining and all other travel
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- United Club℠ card membership – at least a $750 value
- Free first and second checked bags – a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) – and Premier Access® travel services
- Earn a 10,000-mile award flight discount after $20,000 in purchases to use toward an eligible award flight – up to two times each calendar year
- Member FDIC
How To Choose the Best Credit Card for Lounge Access
With so many credit cards offering airport lounge access, it can be tough to know which is best for your travel habits. Credit cards offer access to different lounge networks and may provide benefits with specific airlines.
1. Which Lounges Can the Card Access?
Different credit cards provide access to different lounges. For example, the Citi AA Executive card, a co-branded American Airlines credit card, offers access to American Airlines Admirals Clubs. On the other hand, a card like the Capital One Venture X gives access to non-airline lounges, like Capital One Lounges, Capital One Landings and Priority Pass lounges, after enrollment.
2. What Lounges Are At Your Home Airport?
On a similar note, consider which lounges are at your home airport and the places you travel to the most. Ideally, you’ll want a card that provides access to one of these lounges so you can make use of the benefit. You can check your airport’s website for a list of lounges.
For example, if your home airport (or one you fly through often) has an American Express Centurion Lounge, you might consider opening The Platinum Card® from American Express, an advertising partner. It offers access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion, Priority Pass (enrollment required) and other partner lounges.
Similarly, if you travel through airports with Chase Sapphire Lounges, the Chase Sapphire Reserve may be your best bet, as it allows you to access these and Priority Pass locations.
3. What Airline Do You Fly the Most?
Likewise, if you’re loyal to a specific carrier, it can be worth applying for an airline credit card that provides access to that airline’s lounge network. These cards typically provide other benefits with the sponsoring airline, like free checked bags, priority boarding and even fast-tracks to elite status.
If you fly American Airlines now and then, the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card, an advertising partner, is another good option. It not only comes with access to Priority Pass lounges, but also offers four American Airlines Admirals Club passes a year, each good for 24 hours of entry.
4. Do You Have To Pay an Annual Fee?
Travel cards with airport lounge access typically have high annual fees, with the Capital One Venture X on the low end ($395) and the Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795) and Amex Platinum ($695) on the high end. Consider how much you’re willing to spend on airport lounge access before applying.
5. How Often Do You Travel?
Generally, it’s only worth paying the annual fee for a credit card with lounge access if you fly enough to use the lounge access benefit at least a few times per year. Otherwise, if you only travel once or twice per year, you might consider buying day passes for an airport lounge instead.
Pros and Cons of a Credit Card for Airport Lounge Access
As with any purchasing decision, there are pros and cons to opening a credit card with airport lounge access. It’s important to do your own research before you apply for a card to ensure you’re opening the right card for your spending habits and for how often you travel.
Pros
- Airport lounges have complimentary food and drink. If you travel often, this can give you big savings over buying food and drink at airport concession stalls.
- Lounges also provide a dedicated place to work or relax, charge your devices and enjoy a quiet space outside of the terminal. Some may have more premium amenities too, like showers and workout rooms.
- Credit cards with lounge access often include various statement credits that help offset the high annual fee.
Cons
- Credit cards with airport lounge access typically have high annual fees in the hundreds of dollars.
- Infrequent travelers can’t use lounge access benefits on a regular basis.
- Lounges can be overcrowded during peak travel times thanks to the popularity of credit cards with airport lounge access.
- The quality of airport lounges is inconsistent, even among major airlines. Depending on the airport, you may experience an outdated lounge with fewer amenities than a flagship lounge within the same network.
How To Maximize Airport Lounge Benefits
To make sure you’re getting the most out of your lounge access:
Fly Frequently
You can only maximize lounge benefits if you use them — so the more you fly, the more value you’ll get from the benefit. This is why it’s essential to consider how much you fly before you apply for one of these credit cards. Likewise, it’s important to check which lounges are available at your home airport.
Be Aware of Time Limits
You can maximize the benefit by arriving at the airport early enough to enjoy the lounge. Many lounges — for example, Delta Sky Clubs — limit access to within three hours of your flight’s departure time. Know these limits when you enter the lounge, and maximize them when you can.
Look for Lounge Access on Layovers
Keep lounges in mind when you’re on connecting itineraries, too. For example, if you’re flying from Chicago (ORD) to Prague (PRG) via Frankfurt (FRA), check and see if your credit card will get you into a lounge during your connection in Frankfurt.
Bring a Friend
Depending on your card, you may have guest privileges. Check this beforehand if you’re traveling with a companion, and you can bring them with you to enjoy all the amenities of the airport lounge. These policies vary depending on the card you have.
Know Before You Go
Finally, you’ll want to look at all of the lounges available to you before you arrive at the airport. Some are better than others, with varying amenities and food options. Know what to expect and pick the lounge that best fits your needs.
Tips When Accessing Airport Lounges
Heading to the airport lounge is easy enough — but there are a few things to know to improve your experience. These tips can help you maximize your time in the lounge and pick the best lounge that you have access to.
- Know entry requirements: You may need to be flying a specific airline or only be able to visit a lounge within a certain amount of time before your flight.
- Know the lounges available to you: If your credit card offers access to multiple lounge networks, consider your options before you head to the airport.
- Know guest rules: Your credit card may let you bring a guest or multiple guests with you. Check this beforehand and plan accordingly if you’re traveling with a companion.
Alternatives To Consider
If you’re in the market for one of the best travel credit cards but don’t travel enough to need a full-fledged lounge access card, you have some alternatives. Here are a few other classes of credit cards to consider if you want travel perks without the high annual fee of a lounge credit card.
- Mid-tier airline co-branded credit card: Most major US airlines — and some foreign airlines — have credit cards with $95 to $150 annual fees. These don’t often include lounge access, but let you earn airline miles and enjoy perks like priority boarding and complimentary checked bags.
- Mid-tier transferable points card: Likewise, there are mid-tier transferable points cards from Chase, Citi and other banks. These are good for earning points that you can transfer to various airlines and hotels, and may include other perks like a hotel credit.
- No-annual-fee card: If you’re in the market for a credit card but don’t want to pay an annual fee, you may opt for a no-annual-fee card. These are lighter on benefits but let you earn cash back or travel rewards wherever you shop.
In addition, if you only need lounge access once or twice a year, consider the following cards.
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card: This no-annual-fee travel credit card comes with a Priority Pass Select membership that includes four complimentary lounge visits each year.
- The New United℠ Explorer Card: This United credit card charges a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150. Cardholders receive two United Club one-time passes per year, on top of other United perks such as a free first checked bag and priority boarding on United flights.
The information related to Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, The New United℠ Explorer Card, The New United Club℠ Card, and U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for these products.
Frequently Asked Questions About Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access
What types of airport lounges are there?
Typically, you’ll see three types of lounges: airline, bank and third-party lounges. Airline and bank lounges are run by a host airline or bank, respectively, while third-party lounges (like The Club or Plaza Premium) may be run by an airport management company.
What is the best credit card for airport lounge access?
There’s no one-size-fits-all best credit card for airport lounge access — instead, you should consider what types of lounges you’d like to visit and other card benefits that matter to you.
For example, if you fly United every month and want to visit the United Club, The New United Club℠ Card may be your best bet. If you’re airline agnostic, you might go with the Capital One Venture X or a similar card that provides access to multiple lounge networks.
Can I get airport lounge access without a credit card?
You may be able to access airport lounges with your airline status or a business class ticket. Likewise, you can purchase a membership or one-time pass to many airport lounge networks.
How do I know which airport lounges are included with my credit card?
Use the issuing bank’s website or mobile app to find the lounges you can access. American Express even has a lounge finder built into its app that shows all available airport lounges.
How Do Our Critics Evaluate the Cards?
All of the credit cards featured on CardCritics™ are assessed using the same criteria. Our critics evaluate fees, interest rates, balance transfer options, introductory bonuses, rewards, additional benefits and the average credit score required for approval.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.