Your life may be chaos, but your airport experience doesn't have to be. Here's how to get airport-lounge access—and all the perks that come with it.
6 Ways to Get Airport-Lounge Access, According to Insiders
Updated on Nov. 22, 2024
Tell me if this sounds familiar: You arrive at the airport only to discover your flight is delayed, and you now have to spend several hours in an overcrowded terminal before boarding. This has happened to me more times than I care to count. After one especially excruciating delay when my young son and I had to sit on the floor for hours because all the seats at our gate were filled, I decided it was time to try an airport lounge. That experience was over a decade ago, and I’m here to tell you that airport-lounge access is the secret to a smoother journey—especially if you’re dealing with flight delays or a long layover.
Most airport lounges provide basic amenities, free food and a more private space than you’ll typically find at the food court or a flight gate. And the best lounges will make you feel like you’ve gotten a flight upgrade. In my travels, I’ve visited airport lounges that offered made-to-order meals, sleeping areas and showers—and one even had a Champagne bar!
So how can you experience these magical airport oases too? We collected advice from three airport-lounge experts who have traveled to dozens of different countries. Read on for their top tips for how to get access to airport lounges.
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What are airport lounges, anyway?
At their core, the best airport lounges are a respite from the busy airport terminal, a kind of private living room away from the hustle and bustle of the airport. There are three types of lounges:
- Those operated by the airlines
- Those operated by credit card issuers
- Those that operate on an individual membership basis
Common amenities include free Wi-Fi, drinks and light bites, but offerings vary by lounge. And in small regional airports (especially those without international service), you may not find any lounges at all.
“There are lounges that simply get you away from the melee of the crowded gates. This could be any lounge with some decent food and some space to relax or work,” says Dave Grossman, a travel-rewards expert and the founder of MilesTalk who has visited hundreds of lounges around the world. “And then there are lounges where you intentionally arrive early to maximize your time there as part of the airport experience.”
How can you get airport-lounge access?
There are multiple ways to get access to the best airport lounges and clubs, and you may be surprised by how many of them don’t involve paying for individual visits. Some are as easy as having the right credit card in your wallet, having elite frequent-flier status or flying in a premium-class seat on an international flight.
Even if you don’t have any of these, you can enter some lounges for about $35 a visit (more on that later). Scan the list below for the method that best suits you and your travel plans.
Earn elite status on an airline carrier
If you’re a frequent flier, enroll in your preferred airline’s membership program and always include your membership number when you book flights. Enrollment is free and allows the airline to track your miles. When you reach elite status, a common benefit is access to the airline’s—and its partners’—airport lounges.
For example, if you fly United or one of the two dozen other Star Alliance airlines—these include international carriers such as Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines—and achieve Gold frequent-flier status or higher, you can access any of the nearly 1,000 Star Alliance lounges around the world. This is the best free perk I’ve enjoyed with my elite United status, which I earned simply by flying (OK, by flying a lot) and not by paying any additional fees. Thanks to my status, I’ve enjoyed a buffet of treats at airports in Athens, Greece; Frankfurt, Germany; and South Africa, all without paying an extra dime.
Buy premium international tickets
Most airlines have branded lounges in their hub airports and in airports where they have extended flights. (Note that budget airlines don’t have lounges.) These are available to passengers flying business class or first class. However, it’s important to note that most airlines require you to fly in a premium cabin internationally or transcontinentally (not short haul) to get lounge access.
Flying in a premium cabin can mean more than just airport-lounge access; sometimes, it includes over-the-top lounge experiences, like Grossman’s all-time favorite airport lounge, which in Frankfurt. “The first-class lounge was called the First Class Terminal—yes, it was an entire building just for the lounge,” he says. “You get private security, full food and beverage service with top-quality food (including freshly shaved Ibérico ham) and top-shelf drinks that run in the range of hundreds of dollars per bottle. Afterward, a Porsche drove me directly to the plane!”
Use a credit card with travel perks
Airport-lounge access is one of the most popular travel credit card benefits, according to WalletHub. You may already have this perk and not realize it, especially if you have a credit card from your employer. Some travel credit cards have an airline allegiance, and they may provide anything from two free one-time lounge passes (like the United Explorer card, which has an annual fee of $95) to unlimited access to the branded clubs for a year (like the United Infinite Card, with an annual fee of $525).
The best credit cards for airport-lounge access
If you don’t already have a credit card with travel perks, you can apply for one that offers access to airport lounges. Here are a few options to consider:
- American Express Platinum: The American Express Platinum Card gets you into Priority Pass network lounges and Delta Skyclub lounges (if you are flying Delta that day) in addition to American Express’s branded Centurion Lounges, which often offer free spa treatments, wine tastings and other premium amenities. For this level of access, the annual fee is $695, but you’ll also receive other perks, including travel credits.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: While American Express currently has the largest network of credit card issuer lounges, Grossman notes that Chase has been building out the next largest network, called Chase Sapphire Lounges. “You can access them with either a Chase Sapphire Reserve or a Ritz-Carlton credit card,” he says. “Additionally, Priority Pass cardholders can get one complimentary access to a Chase Sapphire Lounge each year.” One of Grossman’s favorite lounges in the United States is the Chase Sapphire Lounge at LaGuardia Airport in New York, which offers two floors of seating, a large buffet, a full bar, a barista for coffee and food made to order.
- Capital One Venture X: Capital One has also been building a network of lounges, though only three are currently open. Grossman says you can access these with a Capital One Venture X card, a Capital One Venture X Business card or a $65-per-person, per-visit fee. The Capital One Venture X card is a favorite of Senitra Horbrook, a travel expert who shares how to get lounge access on her Points Travelher Instagram account (and is often my first source of info about credit card travel perks). The annual fee of $395 is less than the others in this category, and not only can you visit Capital One lounges, she says, but “you can also access more than 1,600 other lounges worldwide via the Priority Pass membership this credit card provides.”
When deciding on a travel credit card for airport-lounge access, Grossman recommends considering your location and airline preferences. “Choose based on how you fly,” he says. “If you fly Delta exclusively, then you want an Amex Platinum or Amex Delta Reserve for both Delta SkyClub and Centurion Lounge access. If you frequently fly out of a terminal that has a Chase or Capital One lounge, then I would go with a Chase Sapphire Reserve or a Capital One Venture X, respectively.” Given that all of these cards include Priority Pass membership, you’ll also have access to those lounges as well.
Enter as a guest
If your travel companion has a credit card, membership or frequent-flier status that includes lounge access, you may be in luck. Some will allow a guest into the lounge for free. But the rules vary by card, airline, membership program and lounge, so you’ll need to read the fine print or simply ask a lounge representative to check for you.
Have active military status
If you’re a current member of the United States military, you are eligible for free USO lounge access. These special lounges can be found across the United States and are available to U.S. armed forces active duty, Reserve and Guard service members; family members of these active military-service personnel are welcome in the lounges too. The lounges are staffed by volunteers and usually offer free Wi-Fi, snacks and comfy seats.
Other airport lounges may extend free or discounted access to members of the military. The requirements vary by lounge, so you’ll need to ask about specifics, such as whether you need to be in uniform or traveling on active orders, or if you can simply present your military ID and boarding pass.
Pay for access
If you don’t have airline or military status, aren’t flying in a premium seat internationally and don’t want to apply for a travel credit card, don’t worry. There are still ways to get into the best airport lounges without paying a bundle.
Day passes
Some lounges, including select Priority Pass and airline lounges, sell day passes for one-time use. These range in price and start at around $20, though most cost at least double that.
According to Grossman, United Airlines sells United Club day passes for $59, American Airlines sells its passes for $79 (or $150 for a Flagship First lounge), Alaska Airlines offers its passes for $60 and Delta doesn’t sell day passes.
Credit card issuer lounge options are even more limited when it comes to day passes. You can’t buy day-pass access to an American Express Centurion Lounge or Chase Sapphire Lounge, and a day pass to a Capital One lounge will run you $90 per person.
While day passes might be your only option in a pinch, keep in mind that they may have restrictions (such as a time limit) and are subject to availability. If the lounge is full when you arrive, you may not be able to enter. You can check Lounge Pass or similar apps that allow you to purchase day passes to some lounges in advance.
Plaza Premium Lounge
Another option is the Plaza Premium Lounge. Through its website, you can book a single visit to any of the more than 250 lounges that accept Plaza Premium Lounge passes, starting at about $40 a visit. There’s no membership fee required, so if you’re in the midst of an airport meltdown and need somewhere to relax, this could give you instant travel serenity, Wi-Fi and some refreshments for about the price of a checked piece of luggage. You’ll find a full list of lounge locations on the website.
Priority Pass membership
With Priority Pass, you pay for an annual membership, along with individual visits to any of its more than 1,600 airport lounges in over 145 countries. The cheapest membership costs $99 per year, and then you’ll pay $35 per visit and $35 per guest per visit. The most expensive membership costs $469 per year and includes unlimited visits for the member and $35 per guest per visit. (Compare this with having Priority Pass included as part of a credit card, such as the Capital One Venture X, and you’ll see why it’s valuable to have a travel credit card.)
Jeremy Dalkoff, the vice president of partnerships for the Americas and a travel experiences expert at Collinson Group (the operator of Priority Pass), recommends planning ahead to ensure a smooth experience. “Check lounge options through the Priority Pass app,” he says. “Arrive early if you can and use the prebooking feature to help secure a spot, especially in busier airports.”
FAQs
What types of perks will you find at an airport lounge?
Aside from a quiet place to chill before your flight, food is a big draw. But as mentioned, the type and quality vary. I’ve been to United lounges in the United States that are only “grab and go,” carrying food you can bring on the plane (think: packaged cheese and crackers, cookies and cans of soda or bottled water). My favorite airport lounge, though, was Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong. It had a dumpling bar and made-to-order noodle bowls that were among the best I’ve eaten anywhere.
Food isn’t the only thing you might find. Some lounges have showers, sleeping areas and business rooms for conducting calls and meetings. Another excellent, under-the-radar benefit? Front-of-the-line access to airline help-desk personnel. This is a priceless perk when dealing with delays, canceled flights or missed connections.
“When you’re at an airline’s lounge and have a problem with your flight, the lounge agents often have the ultimate ability to help,” Grossman says. “There have been times when my flight was canceled, and being in the lounge got me access to make the necessary changes to a relatively convenient alternative flight that would have likely been full if I’d had to call or wait in a long queue at the gate.”
Then there are the unexpected perks—like extending your vacation with a swim in a pool overlooking the active runway at the Punta Cana International Airport, which both Grossman and Dalkoff mentioned as an airport lounge highlight. You might also stumble on extra-special ways to pass the time in airport lounges. “Mexico City’s airport has a space capsule experience in the lounge,” Dalkoff says. “And I also enjoy gaming at some of the Gameway lounges.”
Why should you care about airport-lounge access?
OK, let’s address the elephant in the room: From the outside looking in, airport lounges seem a lot like elitist waiting rooms, yet another pay-to-play amenity at the airport. However, let’s say you’re in the middle of long-haul travel, like New York to Nairobi, with a multi-hour layover in Frankfurt. At an airport lounge, you’ll have a place to sit down and close your eyes without worrying about your bag’s safety (one of the perks I truly appreciate). You might also freshen up after a long leg of the journey—some lounges have private rooms you can reserve to take a shower or an uninterrupted nap.
You can see how those benefits would be worth it in certain travel situations. But even if you’re flying domestically, being able to grab a meal and charge your electronics while sitting in a comfy chair and having a glass of wine (all gratis) can go a long way toward alleviating travel stress.
“I love visiting the Capital One lounge at DFW [Dallas Fort Worth],” Horbrook says. “The lounge not only has a stylish design—it also has extensive amenities, such as a relaxation room, cycling and yoga room, and food stations with convenient individual portions available.”
How can you get free access to an airport lounge?
There are several ways to get airport-lounge access for free. Although these vary depending on each lounge’s specific policies, in general, methods for free entry include:
- Flying in a premium cabin that includes lounge access.
- Achieving elite status with an airline that includes lounge access as one of the benefits.
- Entering as a guest of a fellow traveler with access.
- Opening a credit card that offers lounge access as one of the perks.
- Presenting military ID (for free entry into USO lounges).
With so many options at your fingertips, you can pick the one that works best for you. From there, it’s smooth sailing … er, flying.
About the experts
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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. For this piece on airport-lounge access, Melissa Klurman tapped her more than 25 years of experience as an award-winning travel journalist. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Dave Grossman, credit card rewards consultant and founder of MilesTalk; email interview, Oct. 26, 2024
- Jeremy Dalkoff, vice president of partnerships for the Americas and travel experiences expert at Collinson Group; email interview, Oct. 28, 2024
- Senitra Horbrook, travel expert behind the @pointstravelher Instagram account; interviewed, June 2023
- WalletHub: “Best Travel Credit Cards”
- Star Alliance
