Best Credit Cards with Unlimited Airport Lounge Access

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Waiting at an airport for your flight to depart can be monotonous at best and stressful at worst. One way to beat that dilemma is by taking advantage of airport lounges. Lounges offer an oasis where you can get work done, grab a drink or a bite to eat, or just hang out and relax in a comfortable setting.

Airport lounges can cost $50 or more for a single visit. If you have a credit card with unlimited airport lounge access, however, you can transform your airport visits for free. Here's our list of the best credit cards offering unlimited airport lounge access.

Overview of Credit Cards with Unlimited Airport Lounge Access

The table below provides a list of credit cards with unlimited airport lounge access and the basic features of each card. The Miles & More World Elite Mastercard is the exception as it doesn't offer unlimited airport lounge access. With a low annual fee, however, it may be valuable for select fliers. A deeper review of each card is in the next section.

Credit Card	Lounge Network	Number of Lounges	Annual Fee
The Platinum Card® from American Express	American Express Global Lounge Collection	1,400+	$695
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Lounges	1,400+	$395
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	Priority Pass	1,300+	$550
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite	Priority Pass Select	1,300+	$550
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card	Priority Pass Select	1,300+	$95
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card	Priority Pass Select	1,300+	$450
United Club℠ Infinite Card	United Club + Star Alliance	45 + 1,000+	$525
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®	Admirals Club + partners lounges	50 + 60	$595
HSBC Elite Credit Card	LoungeKey	1,000+	$395
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card	Priority Pass Select	1,300+	$650
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card	Delta Sky Club + The Centurion Lounge	50 + 40	$550
Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®	Lufthansa Business Lounge	10	$89
Mastercard® Black Card™	Priority Pass Select	1,300+	$495
Mastercard® Gold Card	Priority Pass Select	1,300+	$995
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express	American Express Global Lounge Collection	1,400+	$695
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card	Delta Sky Club + The Centurion Lounge Escape Lounge	50 + 40 + 12	$550

Best Credit Cards with Unlimited Airport Lounge Access

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Best All-around

The Platinum Card® from American Express justifies the high annual fee with the rewards and benefits it offers. It comes with a big welcome bonus, a $200 hotel credit, a $200 airline fee credit, and $200 in Uber Cash. The card also offers $100 Global Entry credit or $85 TSA PreCheck credit, car rental loss and damage insurance, cell phone protection, 24/7 Global Assist Hotline, travel protection, and the ability to transfer rewards points to airline and hotel partners.

Rewards:

• Welcome Bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• 0% Intro APR: None
• Annual Fee: $695, plus $175 for each authorized user
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Lounge Network: American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Number of lounges accessed: 1,400+
• The drawback: 5x points on airfare and hotel purchases must be booked through American Express.

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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Best for Annual and Referral Bonuses

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a solid all-around package of rewards and benefits. But the standout feature is the annual bonuses, good for 10,000 bonus miles each year, worth $100, and the referral bonus. The latter can get you 100,000 bonus miles when you refer a friend or family member and they're approved for the card.

The card also provides a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and a $100 credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Cardholders can also get access to exclusive reservations and top restaurants, as well as cell phone protection of up to $800.

Rewards: 

• Signup Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• 0% Intro APR: None
• Annual Fee: $395, no fee for authorized users
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Lounge Network: Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass, and Plaza Premium Lounges
• Number of lounges accessed: 1,400+
• The drawback: Rewards miles can only be redeemed for travel booked through Capital One Travel.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Best for Rewards Points Redemption Options

Chase Sapphire Reserve® has the largest number of redemption options. Bonus points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, statement credits, or even cash. Bonus points are worth up to $1,200 (1.5 cents each) when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. The card also comes with a $300 annual travel credit, 24/7 customer service, $100 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee, and room upgrade and daily breakfast at more than 1,000 properties booked with The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection.

There’s also plenty of travel buyer protection provided, and if that’s not enough, there’s also a generous referral bonus program. You can earn 10,000 bonus points for each friend who applies and is approved for a card, up to 50,000 bonus points per year.

Rewards: 

• Signup Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• 0% Intro APR: None
• Annual Fee: $550, $75 per authorized user
• Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
• Lounge Network: Priority Pass
• Number of lounges accessed: 1,300+
• The drawback: The rewards point calculation is a bit complicated since they’re only earned after spending $300 on travel annually.

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Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite 

Best For Preferred Bank of America members

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite offers an excellent signup bonus and some decent ongoing rewards. However, if you're a preferred member (meaning you have at least $20,000 parked at either Bank of America or Merrill), you get a boost in rewards. There are also a number of travel credits that can easily offset the annual fee.

Rewards:

• Signup Bonus: Get 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
• 0% Intro APR: None
• Annual Fee: $550
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Lounge Network: Priority Pass Select
• Number of lounges accessed: 1,300+
• The drawback: Unlike many cards on this list, Bank of America doesn't offer the ability to transfer your points to travel partners. You have to book travel through the Bank of America travel center.

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Best for Occasional Hilton Hotel Visitors

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers a free night reward at a Hilton hotel after you spend $15,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year. The $95 annual fee is among the lowest of all the cards on this list. The card comes with car rental loss and damage insurance and a 24/7 Global Assist Hotline.

Rewards:

• Welcome Bonus: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points + a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 0% Intro APR: None
• Annual Fee: $95
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Lounge Network: Priority Pass Select
• Number of lounges accessed: 1,300+
• The drawback: Rewards points are worth only about 0.6 cents, and hotel points are awarded only on stays at Hilton family hotels, otherwise 3x points will apply.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Best for Frequent Hilton Hotel Visitors

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers an annual free night at a Hilton property after spending at least $60,000 in purchases during the calendar year. Comes with a $250 airline fee credit, $100 property credit (at Waldorf-Astoria and Conrad properties), car rental loss and damage insurance, 24/7 Global Assist Hotline, and baggage insurance.

Rewards:  

• Welcome Bonus: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 0% Intro APR: None
• Annual Fee: $450
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Lounge Network: Priority Pass Select
• Number of lounges accessed: 1,300+
• The drawback: Similar to its Surpass cousin, Aspire points are worth only about 0.6 cents, and hotel points are awarded only on stays at Hilton family hotels, otherwise, 7x or 3x points will apply.

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United Club℠ Infinite Card

Best for Frequent United Airlines Flyers

United Club℠ Infinite Card allows your first and second checked bags for free when you use the card. You’ll also get $100 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS, plus room upgrades and daily breakfast at more than 1,000 properties booked within The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. The card also comes with travel and purchase protection.

Miles can be redeemed for travel, purchases with select merchants, and gift cards. The referral bonus earns 10,000 bonus miles for each friend who applies and is approved for a card, up to 50,000 bonus miles per year.

Rewards:  

• Signup Bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 0% Intro APR: None
• Annual Fee: $525
• Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
• Lounge Network: United Club + Star Alliance
• Number of lounges accessed: 45 + 1,000+
• The drawback: Rewards miles are relatively low in relation to the $525 annual fee.

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Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

Best for Frequent American Airlines Flyers

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® has a sign-up bonus worth about $800 and will more than cover the annual fee for the first year. Your first bag (and those of up to eight travel companions on the same reservation) will be checked free on domestic flights. You’ll also receive priority boarding, savings of up to 25% on in-flight food and beverage purchases, and up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Rewards:

• Signup Bonus: Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
• 0% Intro APR: None
• Annual Fee: $595
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%
• Lounge Network: Admirals Club + partner lounges
• Number of lounges accessed: 50 + 60
• The drawback: American Airlines mileage rewards drop to 2x in 2023. The relatively low level of rewards doesn’t seem to justify the high annual fee after the first year. The number of network lounges is small.

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HSBC Elite Credit Card

Best for Identity Fraud Expense Reimbursement

HSBC Elite Credit Card offers travel points on airlines, hotels, and car rentals. The card also offers $400 in travel credits per year on travel booked through HSBC Travel. Also, enjoy exclusive offers from fine restaurants and designer brands when traveling abroad. Points can be transferred to 11 airlines and two hotels. The card also offers cellular wireless phone protection reimbursement of up to $800. Note that you need to have a Premier Checking account with HSBC to qualify for the card.

Rewards:

• Signup Bonus: Earn 50,000 Rewards Bonus Points worth $750 in airfare – when booked online through HSBC Travel from Rewards – after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
• 0% Intro APR: None
• Annual Fee: $395
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Lounge Network: LoungeKey
• Number of lounges accessed: 1,000+
• The drawback: Rewards Bonus Points must be redeemed through HSBC Travel.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Best for Frequent Marriott Bonvoy Visitors

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers generous rewards points on Marriott Bonvoy hotel stays and a generous welcome bonus. This offer is made even better by a $100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit, free nights, and even more points for Platinum Elite Status. Comes with a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, car rental loss, and damage insurance, a 24/7 global assistance hotline, and plenty of travel insurance options. Also provides a $300 dining statement credit, up to $25 a month. Rewards points can be transferred to more than 40 airline partners.

Rewards:

• Welcome Bonus: Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months. Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023.
• 0% Intro APR: None
• Annual Fee: $650
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Lounge Network: Priority Pass Select
• Number of lounges accessed: 1,300+
• The drawback: The 6x points on hotels are limited to participating Marriott Bonvoy properties. High annual fee.

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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Best for Frequent Delta Flyers

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Rewards points are worth a very generous 1.2 cents per mile, but Delta purchases will need to figure heavily in your card activity. Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Points toward Medallion status after spending $30,000 in purchases per calendar year through December 31, 2023, up to four times. Comes with the first bag checked free, $100 Global Entry credit or $85 TSA Precheck credit, car rental loss and damage insurance, 24/7 Global Assist Hotline, as well as various travel insurance and purchase protection plans. Redeem rewards for travel with Delta, as well as more than 20 partner airlines.

Beginning February 1, 2025, Reserve Card Members will receive 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. To earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on February 1, 2023, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, and each calendar year thereafter.

Rewards:

• Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
• 0% Intro APR: None
• Annual Fee: $550
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Lounge Network: Delta Sky Club + The Centurion Lounge
• Number of lounges accessed: 50 + 40
• The drawback: The rewards on this card may be too low to justify the high annual fee, especially for infrequent travelers. The lounge network is on the small side.

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Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®

Best for Frequent Lufthansa Flyers

Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® is designed for Lufthansa Air Lines and is issued by Barclays Bank. The rewards on this card are admittedly low, and the lounge network is incredibly small. But the card is still a solid value since the annual fee is very low at $89.

Cardholders will receive an annual companion ticket after each account anniversary. Miles can be redeemed through companion airlines, including Swiss Air, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines.

Rewards:  

• Signup Bonus: Earn 100,000 award miles if you spend $3,000 in purchases and pay the annual fee, both within the first 90 days.
• 0% Intro APR: Get 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 15 months.
• Annual Fee: $89
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Lounge Network: Lufthansa Business Lounge (two complementary vouchers per year)
• Number of lounges accessed: 10
• The drawback: Has the smallest lounge network on this list, at just 10 locations. Plus, you’ll get only two complementary vouchers per year.

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Mastercard® Black Card™

Best for Low APR

Mastercard® Black Card™ allows you to redeem your points for airfare at 2% with no blackout dates or seat restrictions, or receive 1.5% cash back directly in your bank account or as a statement credit. Comes with a $100 annual air travel credit, cell phone protection, Global Entry and TSA application credit, and travel protection options.

Rewards:

• Signup Bonus: None
• 0% Intro APR: Get 0% on balance transfers for the first for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. After that, (and for balance transfers that do not post within 45 days of account opening) the APR will be 21.24%, 25.43% or 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness. There is a fee for balance transfers. months.
• Annual Fee: $495
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
• Lounge Network: Priority Pass Select
• Number of lounges accessed: 1,300+
• The drawback: No sign-up bonus and relatively low rewards for such a high annual fee.

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Mastercard® Gold Card

Best for Low APR

Mastercard® Gold Card is almost identical to the Luxury Card Mastercard Black Card, the major difference is 2% redemption on all points accumulated, redeemable for airfare purchases or cash back/statement credit (the Black Card offers 1.5% with the cash back/statement credit option). Comes with a $200 annual air travel credit, cell phone protection, $100 Global Entry and TSA application credit, and travel protection benefits.

Rewards:  

• Signup Bonus: None
• 0% Intro APR: Get 0% on balance transfers for the first 15 months.
• Annual Fee: $995
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Lounge Network: Priority Pass Select
• Number of lounges accessed: 1,300+
• The drawback: Very high annual fee, much higher than the Black Card but with only marginally better benefits. No sign-up bonus, and very low rewards.

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Business Credit Cards with Airport Lounge Access

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Best for High Rewards Points Redemption Value

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express allows you to accumulate a lot of reward points in a hurry, and they have a high redemption value. Points are worth up to 2 cents each.

But the Business Platinum Card is packed with more benefits than we can list here. Examples include a $200 airline fee credit, $100 Global Entry credit or $85 TSA Precheck credit, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status, Hilton Honors Gold Status, trip insurance, a $120 wireless phone credit, car rental loss and damage insurance, and 24/7 Premium Global Assist Hotline.

And perfect for business users, there is no preset spending limit, and you’ll have the option to pay your balance over time. The card comes with employee cards, the ability to connect to QuickBooks, an account manager, a year-end summary, and cell phone and purchase protection.

Rewards:

• Welcome Bonus: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 0% Intro APR: None
• Annual Fee: $695
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Lounge Network: American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Number of lounges accessed: 1,400+
• The drawback: The spending to earn the bonus is on the high side.

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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Frequent Delta Business Travelers

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is an excellent card for frequent Delta business travelers. It offers a generous welcome bonus and rewards for airfare purchased with Delta. The redemption value of those points is a very generous 1.4 cents.

Beginning February 1, 2025, Reserve Card Members will receive 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. To earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on February 1, 2025, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, and each calendar year thereafter.

You can also earn an additional 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after you spend $30,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year through December 31, 2023, up to four times per year.

The card also comes with main cabin priority boarding, your first bag checked free, cell phone protection, $100 Global Entry credit every five years, or $85 TSA Precheck credit every 4.5 years, collision rental loss and damage insurance, as well as various trip insurance and purchase protection benefits.

As a business card, you can also add employee cards, connect to QuickBooks, an account manager, and a year-end summary of card activity.

Rewards:  

• Welcome Bonus: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Bonus Miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/2023.
• 0% Intro APR: None
• Annual Fee: $550
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None
• Lounge Network: Delta Sky Club + The Centurion Lounge Escape Lounge
• Number of lounges accessed: 50 + 40 + 12
• The drawback: A very limited number of lounges. You must spend $150,000 before being eligible for 1.5x points on general purchases.

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Are Airport Lounges Worth the Cost?

The answer depends on a) how frequently you travel and need airport lounges, and b) what other rewards and benefits you can earn from a credit card that provides unlimited airport lounge access.

Here’s why: airport lounge access is generally available only from premium credit cards. As you see in our list above, those cards come with an annual fee. The fee can range from less than $100 to as much as $1,000. Before you commit, you’ll want to be sure you can take advantage of all the benefits of having the card. 

If you’re a frequent flier, airport lounge access can be a major part of that benefit. For example, if you fly 20 times per year and want to frequent an airport lounge each time – at $50 a pop – it’ll cost you $1,000 annually. But if you can get a credit card with a $595 annual fee and free lounge access, that benefit alone can more than cover the fee. Rewards points and other benefits will only tip the scale further in your direction.

Be sure to read the fine print in your card agreement regarding airport lounge access. For example, when you access an airport lounge that’s part of your credit card network, be sure to book your flight using the credit card. Some even require booking a flight with a specific airline. Fail in either direction, and the cost of the lounge may not be covered by your card.

How to Choose the Best Credit Card with Airport Lounge Access

Choosing the best credit card with airport lounge access can be like navigating a matrix.

To make the best choice for you, consider the following strategies:

• Choose a card that can either be used with any airline or one with the airline you use most frequently. That’s where you’ll get the most bang for your buck.
• The frequency with which you travel should more than offset the annual fee of the card.
• Carefully evaluate the rewards the card provides, even if the lounge access benefit is sufficient to justify the annual fee. For example, consider any upfront bonus offered, ongoing rewards points or miles, and how and where those rewards can be redeemed.
• Consider the transferability of rewards points or miles to airlines or hotels that you frequent. 
• Consider other card features that offer a real financial benefit, like collision car rental loss and damage insurance, Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credits, free baggage checks, and various travel credits.

Finally, make sure you qualify for the card you want. Since these are premium credit cards, you’ll need excellent credit as well as an income deemed sufficient for the spending levels typically associated with this kind of card.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Credit cards with unlimited airport lounge access are designed for frequent travelers and often more specifically for travelers who prefer a particular airline or hotel chain. If you’re not a frequent traveler, this list of credit cards won’t be of much value due to the usually high annual fee. Instead, check out our list of best cash back credit cards to find one that rewards you for your everyday spending.

Otherwise, study the list of credit cards with unlimited airport lounge access above and find the one that best fits your travel patterns and preferences.