Featured Review: All About Airport Lounges
Updated May 1, 2024.
Many credit cards provide access to airport lounges and many people are confused. Here we would like to give a thorough review on pretty much everything you need to know about airport lounges. First of all, what are airport lounges and why do so many people use them? An Airport lounge, often branded as an "airport VIP club", is a lounge that is operated by an airline or an independent owner to provide an area for resting, meeting, or working, with a quieter environment, complimentary beverage (including alcohol) and snacks, TV, internet, phone, fax, and other services (some provide meals, showers, or even complimentary massage). You may have access to airport lounges by several different ways: flying premium cabins (details see Section 1), flying as elite frequent flyers (restrictions apply, see Section 2), buying lounge program memberships or day passes (see Section 3), or holding credit cards that entitle you the access (see Section 4).
1. Premium Cabin Passengers
There are three global airline alliances: oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam. Each of them provides airport lounge access to their most lucrative customers - first class and business class passengers. You may only access a lounge of an alliance if you are traveling on a member airline within that alliance. The rules are:
2. Elite Frequent Flyers in Three Airline Alliances
You automatically earn elite status with an alliance when you achieve status with one of its member airline. A mid-tier (or higher) elite member of a certain alliance may have access to the alliance's network of lounges when traveling on any member airline within that alliance - please see the details below regarding each alliance's lounge policy. You have to show a boarding pass and your status credential to enter. You may bring one guest for free.
3. Paid Lounge Program Memberships
Every major US airline has its own lounge program and sells memberships and day passes. As stated before, since US domestic lounges don't allow domestic first class passengers or their own elite frequent flyers (with Delta Diamond Medallion as an exception) unless the segments is part of an international ticket, purchasing memberships directly from airlines seems logical to many in the U.S. Here we are focusing on their annual memberships and day passes. In addition, they may also have monthly, 90-day, multi-year, or even life time memberships. Membership entitles you unlimited lounge access for yourself plus two guests or your immediate family (spouse and children under 21). A day pass is only good for yourself. You have to fly with the airline or its partner within the alliance and show the membership to enter a lounge.
Many credit cards provide access to airport lounges and many people are confused. Here we would like to give a thorough review on pretty much everything you need to know about airport lounges. First of all, what are airport lounges and why do so many people use them? An Airport lounge, often branded as an "airport VIP club", is a lounge that is operated by an airline or an independent owner to provide an area for resting, meeting, or working, with a quieter environment, complimentary beverage (including alcohol) and snacks, TV, internet, phone, fax, and other services (some provide meals, showers, or even complimentary massage). You may have access to airport lounges by several different ways: flying premium cabins (details see Section 1), flying as elite frequent flyers (restrictions apply, see Section 2), buying lounge program memberships or day passes (see Section 3), or holding credit cards that entitle you the access (see Section 4).
1. Premium Cabin Passengers
There are three global airline alliances: oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam. Each of them provides airport lounge access to their most lucrative customers - first class and business class passengers. You may only access a lounge of an alliance if you are traveling on a member airline within that alliance. The rules are:
- International first class passengers have access to first class or business class lounges. You may bring one guest for free.
- International business class passengers have access to business class lounges. No guest is allowed.
- Domestic first class passengers on some carriers (all oneworld members except American Airlines, and all Star Alliance members except United Airlines) have access to first class or business class lounges. You may bring one guest for free.
- Domestic business class passengers on some carriers (all oneworld members except American Airlines, and all Star Alliance members except United Airlines) have access to business class lounges. No guest is allowed.
2. Elite Frequent Flyers in Three Airline Alliances
You automatically earn elite status with an alliance when you achieve status with one of its member airline. A mid-tier (or higher) elite member of a certain alliance may have access to the alliance's network of lounges when traveling on any member airline within that alliance - please see the details below regarding each alliance's lounge policy. You have to show a boarding pass and your status credential to enter. You may bring one guest for free.
- oneworld has 14 member airlines and 550+ lounges throughout the world. oneworld mid-tier Sapphire elite members (such as American Airlines Platinum) have access to oneworld business class lounges (Qantas domestic business class lounges are excluded). oneworld top-tier Emerald elite members (such as American Airlines Executive Platinum) have access to oneworld first class or business class lounges. The entry-tier Ruby elite members (such as American Airlines Gold) are not entitled lounge access. However, the biggest catch here is that American Airlines elites cannot access lounges when traveling within North American (defined as the U.S., Canada, Mexico except Mexico City, the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean), unless the segment is part of an international itinerary. The reason behind this is the paid membership that we will discuss in the next section.
- Star Alliance has 27 member airlines and 970+ lounges worldwide. Star Alliance mid-tier Gold elite members (such as United Premier Gold and above) have access to Star Alliance Gold lounges, which are mostly business class. Note that Gold elites may not access certain lounges that are operated by third parties and contracted by member airlines. Star Alliance entry-tier Silver elite members are not entitled lounge access. Note that unlike oneworld, Star Alliance does not have top-tier status, thus top-tier elites of its members (such as United Premier Platinum and 1K) only receive Star Alliance Gold status. Very similar to oneworld, the biggest catch here is that United elites cannot access United Clubs within in the U.S., unless the segment is part of an international itinerary.
- SkyTeam has 20 member airlines and 460+ lounges worldwide. Unlike oneworld and Star Alliance, SkyTeam mid-tier Elite Plus members (such as Delta Gold Medallion and above) may only access SkyTeam lounges, which are mostly business class, when traveling internationally. SkyTeam entry-tier Elite members don't have lounge access, and SkyTeam, just like Star Alliance, does not have top-tier status thus top-tier elites of its members (such as Delta Platinum and Diamond Medallion) only receive SkyTeam Elite Plus.
3. Paid Lounge Program Memberships
Every major US airline has its own lounge program and sells memberships and day passes. As stated before, since US domestic lounges don't allow domestic first class passengers or their own elite frequent flyers (with Delta Diamond Medallion as an exception) unless the segments is part of an international ticket, purchasing memberships directly from airlines seems logical to many in the U.S. Here we are focusing on their annual memberships and day passes. In addition, they may also have monthly, 90-day, multi-year, or even life time memberships. Membership entitles you unlimited lounge access for yourself plus two guests or your immediate family (spouse and children under 21). A day pass is only good for yourself. You have to fly with the airline or its partner within the alliance and show the membership to enter a lounge.
- American Airlines Admirals Club: American operates 50+ lounges, and Admirals Club membership also grants you access to 60+ partner lounges (select Qantas, select Alaska, and other partners). The initiation fee is $50. Effective February 2019, the annual membership is $600 for general public, $575 for Gold elites, $550 for Platinum elites, $525 for Platinum Pro elites, and $500 for Executive Platinum elites. Hereinafter, we will use the $600/$575/$550/$525/$500 format to represent five levels: general member, entry-tier elite, lower mid-tier elite, upper mid-tier elite, and top-tier elite. The annual household membership costs $1,200/$1,175/$1,150/$1,125/$1,100. The day pass is $59.
- United Airlines United Club: United operates 50+ lounges, and United Club membership also gives you access to 200+ Star Alliance lounges, which include Star Alliance branded lounges and Star Alliance member operated business class lounges. Note that you can only bring one guest to Star Alliance lounges. There is no initiation fee (which used to be $50). The annual membership is $650/$650/$650/$600/$550 and the annual spouse membership $1,300/$1,300/$1,300/$1,200/$1,100. The one-time pass (not day pass) is $59.
- Delta Air Lines Sky Club: Sky Club membership allows you to access 50+ lounges operated by Delta Air Lines. Effective January 2019, the membership no longer gives access to partner lounges by Alaska, Air France, KLM and Virgin Australia. The annual Executive Membership is $845 for all members, and you can bring two guests for free. In addition, the more basic Individual Membership costs $545 for all members and you can bring up to two guests for $39 each. Diamond members as well as credit card customers (including Delta Reserve and Amex Platinum) have been switched over to the Individual Membership since May, 2014. The single visit pass has been discontinued for all but Amex Delta Platinum Card members who could pay $39 per visit per person.
- Alaska Airlines Board Room: Alaska operates only 7 lounges, but Board Room membership also allows you to access 50+ American lounges, 30+ Qantas lounges, and 8 other partner lounges. There is no initiation fee. The annual membership is $450/$400/$350/$300, and adding a spouse/domestic partner is $250. The day pass is $50.
- Priority Pass: this is an independent airport lounge program not affiliated with any particular airline. It has a coverage of 1,300+ lounges worldwide including 50+ domestic lounges. The best thing is that you don't need to fly with the airline that operates the lounge, not even showing a boarding pass; the only thing you need is your Priority Pass membership card. However, any guest you bring costs $27. American's domestic lounges have never been in the program. Delta left the program in 2009 which was quite a blow. US Airways left the program in 2013 due to the merger with American. United left the program in 2015. Since 2018, we have seen several Alaska lounges leaving the program while the remaining ones limiting access to the accompanying guests. There are three levels of membership: Standard is $99 and you pay $27 per visit; Standard Plus is $249 and you first 10 visits are free ($27 per visit thereafter); Prestige is $399 and you have unlimited entries (a guest is still $27).
- Priority Pass Select: Priority Pass created this sub-program specially for U.S. credit card issuers in 2011. From October 1, 2011, Priority Pass Select has excluded United/Continental lounges while Priority Pass still covers United/Continental. There was a story behind it. When Priority Pass came out a few years ago, it partnered with many U.S. credit card issuers to be included as a feature of some premium credit cards. Those credit cards (some discussed in the next section) gained huge popularity, and obviously Chase who has strong partnership with United stepped in and made a deal with Priority Pass to exclude United/Continental lounges from Priority Pass membership obtained through US financial institutions. With United finally leaving Priority Pass all together in May 2015, Priority Pass Select has been essentially the same as Priority Pass. However, starting August 2019, Amex issued Priority Pass Select excludes all airport restaurants which represent a small percentage of all participating locations.
- Lounge Club: This is actually managed by Priority Pass but its coverage is smaller - it excludes many international lounges from the Priority Pass program and has 650+ lounges worldwide. In May 2012, Chase started converting the Priority Pass Select membership to Lounge Club membership on all its credit cards. However, in August 2016, Chase reversed this and switched all Lounge Club memberships back to Priority Pass Select.
- LoungeKey: This appears to be another program managed by Priority Pass with smaller coverage - currently 1,000+ lounges worldwide. Both MasterCard and Visa partner with LoungeKey to provide select cardmembers LoungeKey membership which grants you access with a flat entry fee per person ($27-32).
- Airport Angel: This UK based independent lounge program is similar to Priority Pass. It covers 10 lounges in U.S. and 500+ lounges worldwide. Lounges of major U.S. airlines are not participating in this program. Any guest you bring costs £15. Similar to Priority Pass, there are three levels of membership: Premium is £65 and you pay £15 per visit; Premium Plus is £155 and your first 10 visits are free (£15 per visit thereafter); Platinum is £250 with unlimited visits just for you.
4. Credit Cards Issued by US Financial Institutions
There are many credit cards that give you airport lounge access. Here we would like to give a summary and annual fee is noted.
5. What is Good for Me?
It is totally up to your travel pattern: how much you do international travel, which airline(s) you fly, whether or not you have status with an alliance, how many times you need lounges in a year.
When you travel internationally and you fly premium cabin (by either paying cash or using miles) or you have mid-tier or higher status with the alliance through a foreign airline, you already have lounge access. If you don't have either, then club memberships make sense. Of course you still need to consider how many times you will use lounges in conjunction with your domestic travel pattern.
When you travel domestically and want lounge access, you might have to buy a membership or to pay annual fee on an eligible credit card.
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There are many credit cards that give you airport lounge access. Here we would like to give a summary and annual fee is noted.
- American Express Platinum Card ($695): complimentary access to Delta (for you only; $29 for each guest), Priority Pass Select lounges, Centurion, Airspace, and International AMEX lounges (for you plus immediate family or two guests).
- American Express Delta Reserve ($650): complimentary access to 50+ Delta and Centurion lounges for the primary cardholder only. Please note this is not a full Sky Club membership so it does not include partner lounges.
- Citi AA Executive WEMC ($595): Complimentary full Admirals Club membership, which gives the primary cardholder plus immediate family or two guests access to 90+ American and partner lounges. Complimentary access to 40+ American lounges for an authorized user plus immediate family or two guests.
- Chase MileagePlus United Club Visa ($525): complimentary full United Club membership, which gives the primary cardholder plus immediate family or two guests access to United lounges, and the primary cardholder plus one in over 200 Star Alliance lounges.
- Diners Club Card Premier ($95) and Diners Club Card Elite ($300) (both discontinued to new applications): complimentary access to 18 domestic lounges and 500+ international lounges for you only.
- Priority Pass Select with unlimited complimentary lounge access through CNB Crystal Visa Infinite ($400, for primary cardholder and up to one authorized user plus their guests), Chase Sapphire Reserve / J.P. Morgan Reserve ($550, for primary cardholder or authorized users, plus two guests), Citi Prestige ($495, for primary cardholder or authorized users, plus immediate family or two guests), Amex Marriott Brilliant ($650, for primary cardholder plus two guests), and MasterCard Black Card by Barclays ($495, for you plus two guests - pending verification).
- HSBC Elite WEMC ($395) provides complimentary LoungeKey membership with unlimited access for you plus one guest.
- Priority Pass Select Standard Level (normally $27 per visit for you or guest) through Saks Fifth Avenue World Elite MasterCard (no annual fee, $30 per visit), and US Bank Altitude Reserve ($400, offering Standard Level plus four free visits for you plus one guest).
5. What is Good for Me?
It is totally up to your travel pattern: how much you do international travel, which airline(s) you fly, whether or not you have status with an alliance, how many times you need lounges in a year.
When you travel internationally and you fly premium cabin (by either paying cash or using miles) or you have mid-tier or higher status with the alliance through a foreign airline, you already have lounge access. If you don't have either, then club memberships make sense. Of course you still need to consider how many times you will use lounges in conjunction with your domestic travel pattern.
- Admirals Club or Alaska Board Room membership for American, Alaska, and Qantas lounges. You can buy directly from Admirals Club, Board Room, or obtain Citi AA Executive WEMC.
- United Club membership for United and over 200 Star Alliance lounges. Chase MP Club Visa gives you full United Club membership plus other perks. If you qualify for JPM Reserve, you will also receive a full United Club membership.
- Sky Club membership for Delta lounges.
- Priority Pass Select with unlimited access offered by Chase Sapphire Reserve / JPM Reserve or CNB Crystal is probably the best deal compared to those offered by other cards due to guest policy and relative low cost (they all offer other valuable perks in addition to Priority Pass Select).
- Diners Club's lounge network available to Diners Club Card members has different coverage than Priority Pass Select's, which is worth considering.
When you travel domestically and want lounge access, you might have to buy a membership or to pay annual fee on an eligible credit card.
- If you frequent Delta, Amex Platinum which offers Delta, Airspace, Centurion and Priority Pass Select lounges is probably the best deal. The annual fee is $450, but you have many other valuable perks such as $200 annual airline credit and Fine Hotels & Resorts. You may want to consider Amex Delta Reserve if you value their MQMs and free annual companion certificate. However, if you want free guest access, you may have to consider buying the Delta Sky Club Executive membership.
- If you frequent American, you probably will consider Citi AA Executive WEMC if you value their EQMs and/or free admirals club access for authorized users.
- If you frequent United, your may consider Chase MP Club Visa, and you also receive 1.5 United miles per dollar spent and primary rental car insurance. JPM Reserve will be great if you qualify.
- If you frequent other airlines or don't have a specific affiliation, Priority Pass Select, which still covers 50+ domestic lounges, is the way to go. As discussed previously, Amex Marriott Brilliant, Amex Hilton Aspire, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Citi Prestige, and CNB Crystal are all great candidates.
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