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Stepping into an airport lounge from the chaotic main terminal can feel like stepping onto dry land from a whitewater raft. It evokes a feeling of peace, tranquility and “phew – we made it.” As a result, airport lounge access is one of the most enviable perks you can get with a airline credit card. But which cards still offer it in 2024, and from that list, which are still worth getting?
The best cards for airport lounge access in September 2024
- Best overall: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Best for extensive lounge access: The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Best for affordable lounge access: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect VISA Signature® Card
- Best for Delta: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Best for United: United Club℠ Infinite Card
- Best for American Airlines: Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Best overall: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to a wide lounge network comprising Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group. Plus, its $395 annual fee is easy to recoup on account of the $300 back annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel plus 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Intro bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening| Annual Fee | $395 |
| Purchase APR | 19.99%–29.99% variable |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None |
at Cardratings.com
Rewards Rates
- 10X 10X Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5X 5X Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X 2X Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
Other benefits
- Travel protections including car rental insurance, trip cancellation/interruption and travel delay protection
- Consumer protections including extended warranty and return protection
at Cardratings.com
Why we like this card: We like how the Capital One Venture X comes with a hefty 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ airport lounges, including Capital One Lounges and our Partner Lounge Network, and 10X Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
The $395 annual fee may seem steep, but it’s actually a relative bargain among premium travel cards offering unlimited lounge access. Plus, you’ll earn $300 back annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel plus 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary–a combined $400 in travel value–which instantly covers your fee for the year.
The cherry on top is up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, so you can scoot through security and get to the lounge a little faster. And the Capital One Lounge network is small, but mighty, with game-changing features such as extensive to-go options. All things considered, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the airport lounge card to beat.
Learn more with our Venture X review.
Best for extensive lounge access: The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express claims to have the widest lounge access of any card on the market, with access to over 1,400 lounge locations in over 140 countries. Combine that with a list of travel-centric benefits longer than a CVS receipt, and it’s an easy pick for this list.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro bonus
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of card membership| Annual Fee | $695 |
| Purchase APR | See Pay Over Time APR |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None |
at Bankrate
Reward Rates
- 5XEarn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
- 5XEarn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
- 1XEarn 1x points on other eligible purchases
Other benefits
- Travel benefits including hotel and car rental chain statuses, car rental insurance, trip cancellation/interruption and travel delay protection
- Consumer protections including extended warranty and return protection
at Bankrate
Why we like this card: Like a fully-loaded Mercedes S-Class, The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with an eye-watering price tag but an expansive list of benefits to justify it.
Naturally, one of those benefits is airport lounge access. You’ll have access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection®, which includes the Centurion Network, Delta Sky Club, Lufthansa Lounge, Plaza Premium Lounge and Priority Pass Select. That’s 1,500+ lounges in total, meaning an Amex Platinum is the closest we have to an airport lounge master key.
You’ll also get up to $199 back per year on a CLEAR® Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®, up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your card, up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal (enrollment required), up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay and a welcome bonus of at least 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of card membership, so there are plenty of ways to extract value from your “Plat” outside of an airport lounge.
To learn more, see our Amex Platinum review.
To view rates and fees of the The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page
Best for affordable lounge access: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect VISA Signature® Card
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect VISA Signature® Card card includes four free visits to over 1,500 Priority Pass locations worldwide, a $100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit and a $500 welcome bonus–all for a modest annual fee of $95, which is waived for the first year.
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect
Intro bonus
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first 120 days worth $500 towards travel and more.| Annual fee | $0 first year, then $95 |
| Regular APR | 21.24% to 29.24% |
Rewards Rates
- 5x 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center
- 4x 4X points on travel, at gas stations and EV charging stations
- 2x 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining and streaming services
- 1x 1X on all other purchases
- Additional perks: Cell phone protection, Trip cancellation/interruption, TSA/Global Entry fee rebate
- Foreign transaction fee: None
Why we like this card: As an affordable travel rewards card, U.S. Bank’s Altitude Connect card is a worthy rival to the reigning Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Unlike the “CSP,” the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect VISA Signature® Card includes complimentary Priority Pass Select membership with four airport lounge passes, a $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and up to 4X on travel purchases.
The card also waives its $95 annual fee for the first year and offers a hefty welcome bonus of 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first 120 days worth $500 towards travel and more. In short, it’s positively packed with value for travelers, and if you’re not sure whether you’ll even visit a lounge more than four times this year, it’s a logical choice.
For more info, see our Altitude Connect review.
Best for Delta: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers Delta fans a truly elevated experience, with 15 visits to the Delta Sky Club per year, four guest passes, free checked bags, an Annual Companion Certificate, upgrade priority and more. It doesn’t include automatic Medallion status, but offers plenty of ways to to get there faster (e.g. MQD Headstart).
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro Bonus
Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership| Annual fee | $650 |
| Regular APR | 20.99%–29.99% variable |
at Bankrate
Reward Rates
- 3xEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases
- 1xEarn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- 15% discount on Delta award flights
- Travel protections including accident insurance, rental car coverage, trip cancellation and delay insurance
- Consumer protections including cell phone insurance, extended warranty, purchase and return protection
at Bankrate
Why we like this card: Though it charges a heart-stopping $650 annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card does include a 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership to help cover your first two years with the card. You’ll also earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases, up to 15% off award travel on Delta when booked on Delta.com, a free first checked bag, up to $240 at U.S. Resy restaurants, up to $200 Delta Stays statement credit and more to make the card’s high fee more palatable.
In terms of lounge access, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card includes 15 visits to the Delta Sky Club per year. That’s objectively pretty stingy considering there are cheaper cards on the market offering unlimited access to a larger network for both you and multiple guests. Still, if you’re a solo Delta traveler, 15 visits to the Delta Sky Club per year may be all you need.
To learn more, see our review of the Delta Reserve.
Best for United: United Club℠ Infinite Card
The United Club℠ Infinite Card may charge $525 per year, but it covers a United Club membership–which alone retails for $650–and includes a litany of other travel-friendly benefits like Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services, 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases and 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Intro bonus
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening| Annual fee | $525 |
| Regular APR | 21.99%–28.99% variable |
at Cardratings.com
Rewards Rates
- 4x4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- 2x2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
- 1x1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
-
- Additional perks: Primary rental car coverage, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement
-
- Foreign transaction fee: None
at Cardratings.com
Why we like this card: If you and your travel companion frequently fly United, check multiple bags each and relish the thought of decompressing in the United Club lounge, the United Club℠ Infinite Card might deserve a place in your wallet.
That’s because the card’s marquis feature is a $650 United Club membership, granting unlimited access for you and your travel companions. You’ll also get Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services, 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, 25% back on food/beverage/Wi-Fi purchases and 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Once the welcome bonus dries up it can be hard to continue justifying the United Club℠ Infinite Card‘s $525 annual fee–especially since you can only take advantage of the card’s best benefits while traveling with United. The lack of Polaris Lounge access is a bummer, too. But if you’re a hardcore brand loyalist who doesn’t travel light, the United Club℠ Infinite Card could still be a worthy travel companion.
For more detail see our United Infinite card review.
Best for American Airlines: Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
With complimentary Admirals Club membership (valued up to $850), up to nine free checked bags per trip and an “enhanced airport experience,” the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® rolls out the figurative red carpet for AA frequent flyers.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Intro bonus
70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening| Annual fee | $595 |
| Regular APR | 21.24%–29.99% variable |
Rewards Rates
- 10xEarn 10X AAdvantage miles on eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels and on eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars.
- 4x4x AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases (5X after you spend $15,000 on airfare)
- 1x1x AAdvantage miles on all other purchases
- Travel perks: AAdvantage club membership, checked bag benefit, trip cancellation and interruption protection
- Credits: Up to $120 annual credit to Avis or Budget rental cars, Up to $10 monthly credits to Lyft and Grubhub
- Foreign transaction fee: None
Why we like this card: If you’re ready to pledge fealty to American Airlines via a $595 rewards card, you’ll be receiving plenty of perks and value in return from the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. For starters, you’ll get a complimentary Admirals Club membership and free first checked bags for you and up to eight travel companions–saving up to $720 per round trip.
You’ll also get 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening, 25% savings on inflight purchases of food and beverages on flights and 10X AAdvantage® miles on hotels booked through aa.com/hotels. But perhaps most intriguingly, the card unlocks an “enhanced airport experience” with priority check-in, screening and boarding when flying with AA.
Just keep in mind that Admirals Club membership only includes access to 50ish Admirals Clubs and 60ish partner lounge locations total, so you may want to confirm that there’s one in your home airport before committing.
To learn more, see our AAdvantage Executive card review.
Frequently asked questions
Which card is best for airport lounge access?
The Platinum Card® from American Express has the most expansive lounge access, with unlimited visits to locations within the Centurion Network, Delta Sky Club, Lufthansa Lounge, Plaza Premium Lounge and Priority Pass Select.
However, we think the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers better value, with access to Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group locations for a $395 annual fee ($300 less than the Platinum).
If you are looking for a lower price tag, check out our article about the best cards for cheap airport lounge access.
Are lounge access cards worth it?
A rewards card with airport lounge access could be worth it if you fly several times a year, value having a secluded place to work, and relax and plan to take advantage of the card’s other benefits.
Some say that the most underrated perk of airport lounges is having access to a dedicated airline representative inside. That way, you can skip the long customer service line outside if something goes wrong with your travel plans.
How do I know if my credit card has lounge access?
Check your card benefits, which can usually be found online following a quick search. While you’re there, check to see if any of the included lounge networks require you to register your membership in advance–that way, you can save time and hassle at the airport.
Methodology
Fortune Recommends surveyed all the cards still offering airport lounge access in 2024 and handpicked the very best. In evaluating cards that offer airport lounge access, we compared the annual fees to the amount of lounge access provided. From the card granting access to the most locations worldwide to another charging a mere $95 annual fee ($0 for the first year), we found the best credit cards for airport lounge access in 2024. To learn more about how we rate credit cards, see our credit cards methodology.
Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
About the contributors
Chris Butsch is an expert on the subjects of credit cards and mortgages. Chris is a two-time author who has made it his mission to help people build better lives through financial literacy and positive psychology. His writing has been featured in Forbes Advisor, HuffPost, ConsumerAffairs, Money Under 30, and Investor Junkie.
Dia Adams is the senior editor leading the credit cards team at Fortune Recommends. Previously, Dia was a managing editor on the credit cards and travel rewards team at Forbes Advisor. She has been featured on national television, radio, print, and online media as an expert in the realms of credit cards, points and miles, Disney and family travel.
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE: The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.
