Best Credit Cards For Lounge Access Of May 2024

Chase Sapphire Reserve®* cardholders have access to the Priority Pass network that includes complimentary entrance to lounges worldwide. Both primary cardholders and authorized users are eligible and they can each bring up to two guests per lounge visit.

Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $550

Other benefits and drawbacks: The card has an annual fee, but cardholders can help justify that high cost by receiving up to $300 in annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases. New cardholders receive a significant welcome bonus as well as generous earnings to increase their Chase Ultimate Rewards® balances.

The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees) advertises access to more lounges around the world than any other credit card that we know of. Cardholders can access lounges in 140 countries through the Global Lounge Collection and the Priority Pass network once enrolled, plus American Express Centurion Lounges. Cardholders can also access Delta SkyClub lounges (access is changing February 2025) and Lufthansa Lounges when flying the respective airline on the same day.

Rewards: Earn 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $8,000 on purchases on the card in the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $695

Other benefits and drawbacks: The card allows you to access benefits like Amex Offers, and comes with multiple credits you can take advantage of to lessen the sting of the high annual fee. It packs a punch when it comes to other travel-related benefits like status on hotels and car rental companies.

Cardholders of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) have access to the Priority Pass and Plaza Premium networks of lounges as well as the small but growing network of Capital One airport Lounges. Access to the Capital One Lounge network is unlimited for cardholders, plus complimentary entry for two guests per visit.

Rewards: Earn 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel.

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee: $395

Other benefits and drawbacks: While the annual fee is moderately high, it can be offset thanks to a $300 annual credit for Capital One Travel bookings and a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus that’s worth $100 toward travel.

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card* comes with a hefty annual fee of $550 but offsets that with statement credits that improve the value proposition. Apart from a slew of statement credits, Bank of America or Merrill Lynch customers have the chance to earn even more points depending on their bank relationship.

Rewards: Earn 2 points per dollar on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Annual fee: $550

Other benefits and drawbacks: Statement credits include $300 annually for airline incidental fees, $150 annually for lifestyle events like video streaming, food delivery and fitness subscriptions and a $100 credit for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck® once every four years. Preferred Rewards members can earn up to a 75% bonus on points meaning a maximum of 3.5 points on travel and dining and up to 2.62 points per dollar everywhere else. When you redeem those points for travel you’ll get a 20% discount on any domestic or international travel when you redeem points for travel.

As a unique bonus, this card allows up to four memberships to Priority Pass, meaning that you can give friends or family members their own memberships as well. Terms apply.

Another option from Chase is the United Club℠ Infinite Card—ideal for domestic and international travelers who frequently fly United. Cardholders and eligible travel companions have access to all United Club lounges and affiliated Star Alliance lounges worldwide.

Rewards: Earn 4 miles per dollar on United® purchases, 2 miles per dollar on all other travel, on dining including eligible delivery services and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $525

Other benefits and drawbacks: The United Club℠ Infinite Card offers a first and second bag free benefit when you use it to pay for your flights and a 25% discount on in-flight purchases.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) cardholders receive a Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited access and up to two guests per visit within the Priority Pass network after they enroll.

Rewards: Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program, 3 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months.

Annual fee: $650

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is ideal for people who frequent Marriott Bonvoy hotels. The cardholder can earn up to $300 in statement credits annually ($25 per month) for eligible dining purchases at restaurants and up to $100 in statement credits toward purchases made at specific Marriott properties, which helps make the card’s annual fee worthwhile.

Cardholders of the $400 annual fee U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card* receive a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership with access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide. Cardholders are allotted eight free visits within their membership year.

Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center, 3 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible net purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 points after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening.

Annual fee: $400

Other benefits and drawbacks: One big perk for the Altitude Reserve Visa is the $325 maximum annual credit for eligible travel or dining purchases. The points you earn are worth 50% more when used to redeem for travel, and to make your travels easier, the card offers up to $100 in statement credits towards your TSA Precheck or Global Entry application once every 4 years.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) is best for frequent Delta flyers. It offers complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs (effective 2/1/25, cardholders will receive 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year; unlimited visits can be earned when total purchases exceed $75,000 in 2024 and each calendar year thereafter) and the Centurion Lounge when flying the same day with Delta. Four one-time guest passes to the Delta Sky Club are allotted each year. Once you have redeemed your guest passes, guest access to Sky Club lounges are available for up to two guests for a $50 per-visit fee.

Rewards: Earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $650

Other benefits and drawbacks: First-time cardholders can take advantage of a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership. Other benefits include earning 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases, getting your first checked bag free when flying Delta, priority boarding on Delta flights and 20% back on Delta in-flight purchases with your card.

For fans of the Admirals Club, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®* provides access to more than 50 Admirals Club partner lounges worldwide for cardholders and immediate family (or up to two travel companions). Other lounges with which American Airlines has reciprocal access privileges are also accessible by the primary cardholder only.

The real advantage for those who want an Admirals Club membership is that the annual fee is only $595 (less than the annual cost of an individual Admirals Club membership).

Rewards: Earn 10 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through aa.com, 4 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.

Annual fee: $595

Other benefits and drawbacks: Authorized users are also extended lounge access benefits, and each of them can also bring in guests, but they must also pay their own separate annual fee. The card does come with a high annual fee and there are no waivers for the first year.

HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard®* cardholders receive complimentary unlimited access to over 1,000 lounges using LoungeKey. Up to one guest is allowed per visit.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar on new travel purchases – including airline, hotels, and car rentals, 2 points per dollar on dining purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.

Annual fee: $395

Other benefits and drawbacks: Other travel benefits include up to $400 a year in travel credits for all airfare, hotels and car rentals booked through HSBC Travel. Points earned with the card can be transferred to many travel partner programs.

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card* is a great introductory card for those looking for a few lounge visits throughout the year along with a wide variety of other benefits and discounts that come in handy. The annual fee is waived for the first year making this an even more compelling offer.

Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center, 4 points per dollar on travel and at gas stations through September 8, 2024, 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, dining and streaming services and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first 12 months, after that $95

Other benefits and drawbacks: While your Priority Pass membership here gets you just four free visits annually, it’s an ideal option for those who only fly a few times a year anyway. The card also comes with a $100 statement credit for TSA Precheck and Global Entry once every four years and cell phone coverage in case something goes sideways.

Another unique benefit this card offers is a complimentary GigSky mobile plan, allowing you mobile connectivity in over 125 countries around the world (redeemable through August 31, 2024).