There’s nothing fairly like airport lounge entry. With the proper bank card, you may escape from the overall airport stress to a separate house to work, chill out and luxuriate in complimentary refreshments whilst you wait on your flight.
However usually, that entry is reserved for these with probably the most premium playing cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express. If you happen to’re holding your annual charge prices low, you’ll have accepted your destiny to attend out your layover at whichever eatery is closest to your gate.
Nonetheless, there are a number of methods to realize airport lounge entry with out paying a excessive annual charge.
Listed below are our favourite playing cards that do not break the financial institution and get you thru the lounge doorways.
Associated: Best credit cards for lounge access
Turn into a licensed consumer
Earlier than you apply for a brand new bank card, contemplate whether or not a cherished one already has a card with lounge entry and is prepared so as to add you as a licensed consumer.
Licensed customers can typically get pleasure from the identical lounge entry as the first cardholder and may be added comparatively cheaply. If you happen to can swing it, this gives you the largest bang on your buck.
If a pal or member of the family has a Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), as an example, they will add you as a licensed consumer for simply $195 per 12 months. As a licensed consumer, you will get pleasure from the identical lounge entry — to Priority Pass and Chase Sapphire Lounges — as the first cardholder for a lot decrease than the $795 annual charge they pay.
Simply remember the fact that, as a licensed consumer, you will not earn your personal factors or get pleasure from another advantages the cardboard presents the first cardholder.
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Associated: The 7 credit cards with the greatest value for authorized users
The least costly playing cards for lounge entry
Even when you do not have a cherished one who can (or is prepared to) add you as a licensed consumer on their premium account, you continue to have some good choices. Whereas the playing cards beneath have extra restricted lounge entry than their premium counterparts, they’re going to get you thru a lounge door at a fraction of the associated fee.
U.S. Financial institution Altitude Join Visa Signature Card
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has no annual charge and comes with 4 Precedence Go visits annually. If you happen to’re an rare traveler or solely go by airports with Precedence Go lounges a number of occasions a 12 months, this card is a wonderful choice.
The knowledge for the U.S. Financial institution Altitude Join has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
With Altitude Join, you will earn 4 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases and a pair of factors per greenback spent on eating, streaming providers and grocery retailer purchases.
Cardholders additionally obtain an announcement credit score as much as $100 each 4 years for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck — a wonderful perk for a card with no annual charge.
For extra particulars, try our full review of the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect.
Associated: Best no annual fee credit cards
United Explorer Card and United Enterprise Card
You do not have to get United’s premium United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees) to get pleasure from entry to the United Club community.
Each the United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees) and the United℠ Business Card (see rates and fees) have annual charges of $150 ($0 intro annual charge for the primary 12 months with the Explorer card) and include two United Membership passes every cardholder 12 months (redeemable for the cardholder or licensed consumer).
Each playing cards additionally provide United perks equivalent to bonus miles on United purchases, a free checked bag and a quick monitor to incomes elite standing, in addition to useful journey protections.
With the United Enterprise Card, you will additionally earn bonus miles at fuel stations, workplace provide shops, transit purchases and eating purchases (together with eligible supply providers). In the meantime, with the United Explorer Card, you will earn bonus miles on eating and obtain a credit score for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus.
For extra particulars, try our full opinions of the United Explorer and United Business playing cards.
Apply right here: United Explorer Card
Apply right here: United Business Card
Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card and Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise
Despite the fact that it is within the premium bank card class, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business are value contemplating for lounge entry on a price range. Though their $395 annual charge could initially appear steep, it is nonetheless a lot decrease than their premium opponents.
Plus, the playing cards additionally include a $300 annual credit score for Capital One Travel. If you happen to can maximize that, your out of pocket price is simply $95 — a cut price, on condition that it comes with limitless entry to Precedence Go and Capital One lounges.
As a cardholder, you will earn bonus factors on journey booked by Capital One Journey and a pair of miles per greenback spent on all different purchases. You may additionally get pleasure from useful perks like bonus miles every account anniversary and a credit score for International Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Plus, with the Enterprise X, lounge entry is not only for the primary cardholder. Authorized users (you may add as much as 4 for no further price) obtain the identical entry, and every cardholder additionally gets complimentary access for as much as two company every till Feb. 1, 2026.
For extra particulars, try our full review of the Venture X and Venture X Business.
Be taught extra: Capital One Venture
Be taught extra: Capital One Venture X Business
Associated: Capital One Venture X vs. Venture X Business: Small but important differences
Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Credit score Card
One other premium card, the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card presents some lounge entry with a decrease $395 annual charge. Whereas this charge could also be steep, the perks offered by the cardboard may help offset it.
Cardholders obtain eight annual Alaska lounge passes (two per calendar quarter). If you have already got an Alaska Lounge membership, you may share these passes with family and friends. Moreover, this card presents perks like precedence boarding and a free checked bag when flying on Alaska and Hawaiian Airways.
Plus, you will additionally obtain an annual global companion award, earn bonus factors on Alaska and Hawaiian Airways purchases and on worldwide transactions and obtain an software charge credit score for International Entry or TSA PreCheck.
For extra particulars, try our full review of the Atmos Rewards Summit.
Apply right here: Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card
Associated: Is this new space the best Alaska Airlines lounge in the country?
PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Card
As a credit score union card, the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Card flies beneath the radar. However for those who’re in search of moderately priced airport lounge entry, it is undoubtedly value a glance.
It has an annual charge of $95 that’s waived for PenFed Honors Benefit members and comes with Priority Pass access for the cardholder and one visitor. It is necessary to notice that cardholders should pay a $35 lounge entry charge for every particular person, every lounge go to.
The knowledge for the PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
The cardboard additionally presents a $100 airline incidental credit score, which can be utilized to cowl lounge passes, and earns bonus rewards on journey purchases and comes with an announcement credit score to cowl your International Entry or TSA PreCheck.
You have to be a PenFed member to use for the Pathfinder Rewards Card, however you may become a member by opening a financial savings account with PenFed and depositing not less than $5.
Associated: Cash back vs. travel rewards: How to choose a credit card
Backside line
Airport lounge entry is a luxurious perk, however you do not essentially should pay luxurious annual charge costs to get it. With any of those playing cards, you can get pleasure from a reprieve throughout your subsequent lengthy layover for a a lot decrease price than what is often related to lounge entry.
Simply be warned — a style of the great life with one in every of these playing cards may persuade you to splurge for a extra premium travel rewards credit card in spite of everything.
Associated: How to choose a credit card for airport lounge access
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