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How to Get Access to Airport Lounges
- Monique Kiefner
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
For the budget-conscious traveler, airport lounges may seem a frivolous spend. Often perceived as an exclusive perk to first class flyers, we ourselves overlooked airport lounges for years until we realized two things:
Airport lounges can provide excellent value, especially when food, drinks, showers, and beds are provided.
Airport lounges can be obtained cheaply, sometimes even free, without frequent flyer status or flying first class.
So, ready to ditch airport bench naps and overpriced foodcourt eats? Here's how to get access to airport lounges for cheap, even free!
1. Use cards that give free lounge access
This is the easiest way to gain free, unlimited access to the largest possible number of airport lounges around the world, plus several other benefits that every traveler should have. Having the right card can be the difference between sitting in Starbucks on a 5-hour layover, or indulging in bottomless champagne before boarding for your next trip.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is our #1 pick for airport lounge access. This card has the largest pool of unlimited lounge access, including American Express lounges, The Centurion Lounge, partner networks, Delta Sky Club, and Priority Pass Select lounges.
To put that in perspective, the regular price on a Priority Pass membership for unlimited access to their network of lounges is $469 USD per year. By spending a bit more on this card, this access is included, but with a ton of other lounges and benefits.
Even if you only used the lounge access once, you're also getting a huge bonus of 80,000 points (which you can use towards flights, hotels, etc. after hitting the minimum spend in eligible purchases), up to $200 in Uber Cash annually, no foreign transaction fees (often 2.5% – 3% per transaction), and much more. In short, this is a great all-around card for travel, so if you frequently use the card and its benefits, you will more than make up for the annual fee.
If the annual fee is still too much, or for other options, consider these cards:
While both The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve both offer Priority Pass lounge access, there is one important difference: restaurant access. Usually, Priority Pass members get discounts off their bill at participating airport restaurants (around $28-$30 USD). This is included in the Chase Sapphire Reserve membership, but American Express cards no longer provide this restaurant discount.
2. Buy a third-party lounge pass
If you have several flights in your future, don't underestimate the value of an airport lounge pass. A pass grants entry to more than 1,110 lounges worldwide (much more than an airline's own lounge pass), offering free amenities like drinks, food, alcohol, showers, wifi, power, and more. Given that this eliminates your costs on dining, and sometimes even hotel costs (when bed amenities are available), a pass could pay for itself after just a couple of visits.
The Priority Pass grants access to over 1,500+ airport lounges around the world
Lounges include complimentary drinks (sometimes including alcohol), food, wifi, and sometimes shower and bedding facilities.
Get discounts at participating airport restaurants (usually $28-$30 USD off of your bill)
Access most lounges using your digital membership card in the app (physical card still needed at some locations)
Prices start at $69/USD with this 30% discount (usually $99 USD).
NOTE: The unlimited version of this pass is included in several credit cards, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve
3. Buy one-time access to a lounge for as low as $23
Most airport lounges now offer pay-per-use entry to anyone, even if you aren't flying with that airline. Pay-per-use access generally costs between $25-$75 USD per visit. Be sure to check the duration allowed, which is often 4-6 hours (though truthfully this is not always monitored). One-time passes can be pre-purchased online from Plaza Premium Lounge, Dragon Pass, and LoungeBuddy. However, you can also just walk up to any lounge and ask at the front desk. Most of them will be more than happy to sell you one-time access.
