Which Credit Cards Offer Free Priority Pass Membership to Airport Lounges?

If you're a frequent flyer, airport lounge access can increase the comfort of your travels.

Many of the top travel rewards credit cards offer some form of complimentary lounge access.

Free membership to the Priority Pass Select program is a common perk found with such cards.

Basically, you get free access to many airport lounges across the world.

Now, you're going to start traveling in style.

But, there are many details that you must know about this travel benefit before you get taken by surprise.

Learn everything you need to know, including tips from past Priority Pass lounge experiences, about the program so that you can take advantage of this perk most effectively.

What is Priority Pass Select?

Priority Pass is an airport lounge network that has locations around the globe. Priority Pass Select is a program within the network that offers complimentary lounge access to people who own certain credit cards.

Which Credit Cards Come With a Priority Pass?

Many of the premium-tier travel rewards credit cards offer Priority Pass. If you're paying more than $300 for the card's annual fee, it probably comes with a complimentary Priority Pass membership.

While these cards charge steep annual fees, they offer several benefits, including Priority Pass Select membership, that can make it worth the cost.

Keep in mind that Priority Pass Select is a little different from a regular Priority Pass membership.

To join without an eligible credit card, you’ll have to pay an annual fee, which depends on the level of membership you want.

Priority Pass Membership Tiers

What Can You Do With Your Membership?

If you’re flying out of an airport with a Priority Pass lounge, you can stay in the lounge while you wait for your flight. If you have an early or late flight, though, note that some lounges aren’t open 24/7.

Every lounge is different, but common amenities include:

• Snacks and beverages
• Alcohol
• Wi-Fi
• Television
• Restrooms
• Showers
• Charging stations
• Business areas

Depending on the lounge, it may cost you to get certain food items, drinks, and services.

So it’s important to look up the lounge in advance to understand what’s available for free.

In some airports, you can choose to eat at a participating restaurant instead of staying in the lounge.

Priority Pass Lounges

Priority Pass has over a thousand lounges in more than 140 countries. Some airports even have multiple lounges from which you can choose.

While most of them are in international airports, there are quite a few lounges and restaurants in U.S. airports, including:

• Baltimore Washington International
• Blue Grass Airport
• Charlotte Douglas International
• Chicago O’Hare International
• Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International
• Cleveland Hopkins International
• Colorado Springs Airport
• Dallas/Fort Worth International
• Denver International
• Detroit Metropolitan Airport
• George Bush Intercontinental
• Greenville-Spartanburg International
• Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International
• Honolulu International
• Indianapolis International
• John F Kennedy International
• Logan International
• Los Angeles International
• McAllen Miller International
• McCarran International
• Miami International
• Minneapolis St. Paul International
• Newark Liberty International
• Norman Y Mineta International
• Orlando International
• Orlando Sanford International
• Philadelphia International
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International
• Pittsburgh International
• Portland International
• San Francisco International Airport
• Seattle Tacoma International
• St. Louis Lambert International
• Syracuse Hancock International
• Tampa Florida International
• Ted Stevens Anchorage International
• Tucson International
• Washington Dulles International
• Washington National

Some notable international airports with a Priority Pass lounge include:

• Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
• Athens International
• Auckland Airport
• Beijing Capital International
• Berlin Tegel
• Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International
• Cairo International
• Dubai International
• Dublin Airport
• Ho Chi Minh TSN International
• Johannesburg Lanseria International
• Kigali International
• London Heathrow Airport
• Mexico City Benito Juarez International
• Montego Bay Sangster International
• San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International
• Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport
• Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport
• Tokyo Narita Airport
• Václav Havel Airport Prague
• Vienna International
• Zurich Airport

How to Use Priority Pass Select for Lounge Access

If you have a credit card that offers Priority Pass Select, you have to enroll through your online card account.

The process is simple, but it may not be easy to find. If you need help, call the number on the back of your credit card to get step-by-step guidance.

After you enroll, you’ll receive a membership card in the mail. You can also download the Priority Pass app and register a mobile membership card.

Depending on where you’re going, though, some lounges require a physical membership card.

So either keep your physical card in your wallet whenever you travel or look up lounges in advance to understand their policy.

If you do download the app, be sure to update it every once in a while, as Priority Pass is always adding new lounges and restaurants to its network.

When you get to the airport, you’ll show your physical or digital membership card, plus your boarding pass showing a departure or arrival on the same day.

One thing to note:

Many of the Priority Pass lounges are contract lounges, which means that they’re owned by an airline or another company.

The lounge owners have the right to restrict access if the lounge is too busy, so you may be turned away.

Guest Access

You can usually bring at least one guest for free, and kids are also usually free.

But depending on the lounge and which credit card you have, the charge for guest access may vary.

That said, even if you can bring one guest for free, that’s better than the regular Priority Pass membership, which doesn’t offer complimentary guest access at all.

So again, it’s important to check the fine print on your credit card, and with the lounge you want to visit to make sure both you and your guests are free.

Tips for Using Your Priority Pass Select Membership

If you already have a Priority Pass Select membership or you’re considering it, there are a few tricks of the trade that can help you improve your experience.

Some credit cards offer more lounge access

The Platinum Card from American Express, for instance, offers complimentary lounge access in several lounge networks, including its own Centurion Lounge network.

If you have this card, do your research before you travel to find the lounge that best meets your needs.

Keep your membership card with your ID card

As previously mentioned, some lounges don’t accept the digital card. And there may be situations where you don’t have the wireless network to access the Priority Pass app.

So whether you’re using a passport or your driver's license, keep your physical membership card with you just in case you need it.

Don’t be afraid to wait

There may be situations where you’re denied entry because of crowding. But if you stick around, other travelers are bound to leave the lounge to get to their flights. Once you see a few people leave, check with the front desk again to see if you can enter.

There’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get in quickly, but it may be better than waiting at the gate.

Know where the lounges are beforehand

Some airports are large and getting from one terminal to another can be complicated. Before you get to the airport, check your Priority Pass app or the website to find out exactly where the airport’s lounges are located.

That way, you can go through security in the area of the lounge rather than having to get to it from your gate area.

This can also help you understand how much time you’ll need to get from the lounge to your gate.

Enjoy a meal instead of the lounge

Many Priority Pass lounges don’t offer much more than snacks and drinks. So if you’re hungry and you have a long flight ahead, it may be better to visit a participating restaurant.

And if your meal doesn’t cost enough to meet the full allowance, you can get some food or snacks to go to bring with you on the plane.

Get there early

Some Priority Pass lounges have a slew of amenities that can make your airport visit a luxurious one. The earlier you get to the airport, the more time you’ll have to take advantage of what the lounge has to offer.

Keep in mind:

Some lounges have a time limit for your stay.

So check the lounge terms before you leave your home or hotel, so you’re not asked to leave long before your flight leaves.

Conclusion

As a Priority Pass Select member, you have access to some of the best airport lounges in the world. Depending on how often you use that membership, it could be easy to make up for the annual fee on the associated credit card.

Before you leave for the airport, though, make sure that you know which lounges or restaurants you’re going to visit and what their amenities and terms are.

If you do it right, you’ll have a better experience every time you fly.