Introduction
Which credit card is best for airport lounge access? Currently, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card is the most popular for airport lounge access. It offers you a 20% bonus on all spending in airport lounges and provides 2 FREE airport lounge visits per year. However, the attached fees will raise your monthly card balance if you plan to use it to its full potential.
Airport lounge access can be one of the best perks you can get as a frequent flyer (or frequent traveler). It's not often you're in an airport and have access to refreshments, food, and even drinks during your travels. But sometimes, travelers don't get enough from the airports themselves. In fact, most airports allow their guests to use their locations for free during certain hours- but that doesn't mean everyone takes advantage of it! The question is: which credit card offers the best perks for airport lounge access?
Lufthansa Credit Card
The Lufthansa Credit Card offers airport lounge access by Lufthansa Miles and Miles&Bonus, which is one of the most popular airline loyalty programs. The card also offers an annual fee waiver for the first year, meaning you'll pay nothing for the first year of your account.
Many credit cards offer airport lounge access through their airline loyalty program, but only a few have access to both that program and airport lounges from other airlines. The Lufthansa Credit Card has two main benefits: access to Lufthansa's frequent flyer program, Miles&Bonus, and additional airport lounge access through Star Alliance partners.
This allows you to use the same card at more than one airport if desired — so long as you have enough miles to cover it.
United Club Infinite Card
The United Club Infinite Card is the best credit card for airport lounge access. This card gives you access to more than 650 airport lounges worldwide. The card also has several other perks, such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and baggage handling, and fee reimbursements.
The United Club Infinite Card is an American Express Centurion card that was launched in 2016. It has a $450 annual fee but offers some very valuable benefits to those who use it regularly:
Complimentary membership to over 650 airport lounges in over 150 countries
Free checked bags when traveling on domestic or transcontinental flights of four hours or less and when traveling on certain international itineraries
Priority boarding (when available)
Complimentary self-service kiosks at airport security checkpoints
American Express Gold Card
The American Express Gold Card is one of the best airline cards for airport lounge access. This card gives you access to Delta Sky Club and Priority Pass lounges, where you'll enjoy food and drinks from the comfort of your own seat.
You also get other perks, including a free companion ticket to use on certain flights (if you're traveling alone), $200 in travel credits per year for buying airline tickets, and other benefits.
The Gold Card also comes with a free membership in American Express' Centurion Lounge program, which allows you to visit five different Centurion lounges around the world every year -- including Delta's SkyClub in New York City.
The Gold Card can earn you 3 points per $1 spent on airline purchases, 2 points per $1 spent at US supermarkets, and 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else. In addition, you'll get 2 extra points for every $1 spent in US restaurants and on US hotels.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is a great option for travelers who want access to airport lounge space, but don't have the money for a Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card.
The Reserve program gives you access to Delta SkyClubs and other airport lounges worldwide. You can also use your membership to enter an annual lottery for a chance at up to $10,000 in spending credits.
However, if you're looking for something with more perks, the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card offers free checked bags on every flight within the U.S., discounted gift cards when you spend $1,000 per year on Delta purchases, and a higher sign-up bonus (50,000 miles).
United Club Business Card
The United Club Business Card is a great way to get access to the United Club lounges at airports. This card gives you access to all of the lounges at participating airports, including those in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and New York. You can also use your United Club Business Card to book a seat on an advanced or first-class flight.
This card is best for frequent fliers who want to get the most out of their trips without having to worry about getting charged extra fees. The card also comes with a $200 annual fee that will be waived for the first year if you spend $55,000 or more on your credit card within the first three months of opening an account with American Express.
Use Of United Club Business Card
You can use it when traveling on any airline, and you will get free entry into all of United's lounges. You'll also have access to free food and drink, although it's not clear if there are any other perks like extra baggage allowance or priority boarding.
This card gives you access to Continental Airlines lounges and other partner lounges as well. It has no annual fee, so if you don't plan on using it often, this might be an excellent choice for you.
Conclusion
In our opinion, the best credit card for lounge access will depend on your personal spending and travel habits. What card you end up with may also depend on your preferred airline or airport lounge. In general, we would suggest going with what Chase calls its Sapphire Preferred credit card, as it gives the most for airline reimbursement and transfers to a partner program for even more perks.
The different cards reward you with varying numbers of Lounge Club passes every year, and that is what really sets them apart. For example, the American Express Platinum card gives you 11,000 annual access passes to pass or fee-free lounge entries, according to Points Hacks. The Citi Prestige offers 4 free passes every year. In conclusion, I recommend the American Express Gold Card for the frequent traveler who wants lounge access every time he or she travels.
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