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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Taking a few moments in an airport lounge can be just what you need to collect yourself before a flight, but they can add an unwanted additional cost to your travels. Luckily, some of the best travel rewards credit cards confer lounge access among their many benefits.
Some, like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® and the United Club℠ Infinite Card, only get you into their own airlines’ lounges. Others, though, like The Platinum Card® from American Express, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, allow cardholders to register for Priority Pass Select membership and enjoy access to over 1,300 airport lounge and restaurant locations worldwide (unfortunately, those with Priority Pass Select membership through an Amex or Capital One card do not get restaurant benefits).
Those are the ones we’ll focus on today, as we run through the best credit cards for Priority Pass lounge access.
Which are the best credit cards for Priority Pass lounge access?
The information for the Citi Prestige card, Hilton Aspire Amex card and U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Related: The 10 best Priority Pass lounges in the world
Comparing benefits of credit cards with Priority Pass access
Here are the details on each card, along with current welcome bonuses, annual fees and other notable perks:
Card | Lounge access | Welcome bonus | Annual fee |
---|---|---|---|
Capital One Venture X | Cardholder plus all guests traveling with the Priority Pass member; authorized users also get the same benefit. | 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | $395. |
Chase Sapphire Reserve | Cardholder plus two guests free, $27 per guest after that. | 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | $550. |
Citi Prestige | Cardholder plus immediate family or two guests free, $27 per guest after that. | Not available to new applicants. | $495. |
The Platinum Card from American Express | Cardholder plus two guests free, $32 per guest after that. Enrollment required. | 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership (possibly higher targeted offers through CardMatch, subject to change at any time). | $695 (see rates and fees). |
The Business Platinum Card from American Express | Cardholder plus two guests free, $32 per guest after that. Enrollment required. | 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. | $695 (see rates and fees). |
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | Cardholder plus two guests free, $32 per guest after that. Enrollment required. | 150,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Terms apply. | $450 (see rates and fees). |
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant | Cardholder plus two guests free, $32 per guest after that. Enrollment required. | Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $5,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. | $650 (see rates and fees). |
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite | 4 complimentary visits per year for cardholder, 4 complimentary visits per year for guests, $32 per visit after that. | 50,000 points after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening. | $400. |
Hilton Honors Surpass | 10 complimentary visits per year, $32 per visit after that. Enrollment required. | 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership. | $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). |
Hilton Honors Business | 10 complimentary visits per year, $32 per visit after that. Enrollment required. | Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership. | $95 (see rates and fees). |
Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
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Credit cards with Priority Pass
Now that we’ve gone over the Priority Pass-specific perks of each card, here are some of the other compelling benefits each confers.
Capital One Venture X
Add in extensive airport lounge access (including Capital One’s own lounges and Priority Pass Select), plus excellent travel protections and rental car privileges, and we’re talking about one of the best premium cards out there. It is worth noting, however, that as of the start of 2023, this card’s Priority Pass access no longer includes Priority Pass restaurants and spa services.
On a more positive note, cardholders get unlimited Priority Pass lounge guest access (subject to capacity constraints).
Official application link: Capital One Venture X with 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the most popular premium travel rewards credit cards thanks to its impressive list of benefits. Cardholders receive up to $300 in annual statement credits for a wide range of travel purchases.
The card earns 3 points per dollar on travel and dining and also earns bonuses in the following categories:
Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to 11 airline and three hotel partners. Points may also be redeemed at a rate of 1.5 cents apiece through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal as well as select categories through the Pay Yourself Back program.
The card reimburses members up to $100 once every four years for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application and waives foreign transaction fees.
Official application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve with 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Citi Prestige
Unfortunately, the Citi Prestige is no longer available to new applicants. However, it earns a phenomenal 5 points per dollar at restaurants and on air travel, 3 points per dollar at hotels and cruise lines, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Cardholders are eligible for up to $250 worth of annual statement credits each calendar year toward travel purchases.
Citi ThankYou Rewards points can be transferred to over a dozen airline and two hotel partner programs and are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed directly for travel through the Citi portal. Cardholders can book a fourth night free on up to two hotel stays per year when reserving through the Citi concierge or online at thankyou.com. They’re also eligible for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement once every five years.
Related: Devalued but still decent: Citi Prestige card review
The Platinum Card from American Express
In addition to Priority Pass lounges, cardholders have access to Amex’s own Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Escape, Airspace, Plaza Premium and certain Lufthansa lounges. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
The card earns 5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) and prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Cardholders can transfer Membership Rewards points to 21 airline and hotel partners.
The card also comes with a laundry list of perks, including an annual up-to-$200 statement credit on incidental fees charged by a carrier you select each calendar year and up to $200 in annual Uber Cash toward U.S. Uber rides and U.S. Uber Eats orders, among other credits that provide more than $1,500 in potential value.
Cardholders qualify for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee refund up to $100 once every four years (4.5 years for PreCheck). Booking stays through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts includes plenty of value-added benefits. Cardholders can register for both Gold status with Hilton Honors and Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. Amex’s International Airline Program can secure deep discounts on premium economy, business- and first-class tickets on over a dozen airlines, too. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Official application link: The Platinum Card from American Express with 80,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
The Business Platinum Amex offers a host of annual statement credits, including up to $400 for Dell technology U.S. purchases, an up-to-$120 annual wireless telephone credit and much more.
Cardholders earn 1.5 points per dollar on up to $2 million in eligible purchases in the U.S. per calendar year with:
- Electronic goods retailers.
- Software.
- Cloud service providers.
- Construction materials and hardware supplies.
- Shipping providers.
- Other purchases of $5,000 or more.
They also receive a 35% rebate when redeeming points through Amex Pay with Points for airfare on their designated airline (enrollment is required) or specifically for business- or first-class tickets on select qualifying airlines booked on Amex Travel, up to 1 million points back per calendar year.
Official application link: The Business Platinum Card from American Express with 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
This is the best all-around Hilton card for several reasons. It earns 14 points per dollar on Hilton purchases; 7 points per dollar on flights booked through Amex Travel or directly through airlines, on car rentals and at U.S. restaurants; and 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases.
Cardholders automatically receive top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status, an annual free weekend night and up to $250 in statement credits each cardmember year for purchases at participating Hilton Resorts, plus up to $250 in annual statement credits each calendar year for airline incidentals (enrollment is required).
They also qualify for up to $100 in credits for charges at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts when booking a two-night-minimum stay via hiltonhonors.com/aspirecard. Enrollment is required.
Related: How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
This card accrues 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 points per dollar at worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2 points per dollar on other eligible purchases.
Cardholders get up to $300 in statement credits each year of card membership for purchases at restaurants worldwide. They also receive automatic Marriott Platinum Elite status plus 25 elite night credits per year. Each anniversary after renewal, they get a free night award worth up to 85,000 points each year after their card renewal month at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program (certain hotels have resort fees). Special cardmember rates on stays of two nights or more at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties are eligible for up to $100 in credit for qualifying charges.
Finally, this card is yet another with a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application reimbursement up to $100 once every four years (4½ years for PreCheck).
Official application link: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express with 95,000 Marriott points after you use your new card to make $5,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card
This card earns 3 points per dollar on travel and mobile wallet purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Cardholders can redeem points for 1.5 cents apiece on airfare, hotels and car rentals (or lower values for other purchases). They can also count on 12 complimentary Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes each year, which can save them a chunk of change, plus reimbursement for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application once every four years (up to $100).
Finally, this card comes with up to $325 in statement credits per cardmember year for purchases made directly from airlines, hotels, car rental companies, taxis, limousines, passenger trains and cruise lines, as well as the new categories of takeout, food delivery and dining.
Related: The best U.S. Bank credit cards
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
If the Hilton Honors Aspire’s annual fee gives you pause, consider the Hilton Honors Surpass instead, since it just charges a $95 annual fee.
The card earns 12 points per dollar for charges at participating Hilton portfolio hotels; 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; and 3 points per dollar for other eligible purchases.
Cardholders receive automatic Hilton Honors Gold status and can spend their way to Diamond status by making $40,000 in eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year. They can also earn a free weekend night reward from Hilton Honors after spending $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
Official application link: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card with 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership.
Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Earn 12 Hilton Honors points per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio; 6 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, on U.S. shipping purchases, at U.S. restaurants, on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel and on car rentals booked directly from rental agencies; and 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases. That’s a lot of earning potential.
Cardholders get automatic Hilton Honors Gold status (Diamond status with $60,000 in spending per calendar year) and a free weekend night reward after hitting $15,000 in spending on purchases in a calendar year.
Official application link: Hilton Honors American Express Business Card with 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership.
Related credit card guides
Additional reporting by Emily Thompson, Ryan Wilcox and Chris Dong.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Business Amex, click here.
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