Master the Art of Airport Lounge Access with These 6 Insider Hacks

Airport Lounge Chair Luxury — atbastian from Getty Images

Does this scenario sound familiar to you? You arrive at the airport only to find out your flight is delayed, forcing you to wait for several hours in a crowded terminal before you can board. I’ve experienced this more times than I’d like to admit. After enduring one particularly tough delay where my young son and I had to sit on the floor for hours because every seat at our gate was taken, I decided it was time to try an airport lounge. That was over ten years ago, and I’m here to share that accessing an airport lounge can make your journey much smoother—especially when facing flight delays or long layovers.

Most airport lounges offer essential amenities, complimentary food, and a more secluded area compared to what you’d typically find at the food court or a flight gate. The best lounges make you feel as if you’ve received a flight upgrade. In my travels, I’ve encountered lounges with made-to-order meals, sleeping zones, showers—and one even featured a Champagne bar!

So, how can you enjoy these fantastic airport retreats as well? I gathered advice from three airport-lounge experts who have journeyed through numerous countries. Continue reading for their top strategies on gaining access to airport lounges.

Table of Contents

What Are Airport Lounges, Anyway?

Essentially, the best airport lounges serve as a sanctuary from the bustling airport terminal, offering a private living room away from the airport’s rush. There are three main types of lounges:

Airline-operated lounges
Credit card issuer-operated lounges
Individual membership-based lounges

Common features include free Wi-Fi, beverages, and light snacks, though offerings differ by lounge. In smaller regional airports, especially those without international flights, lounges might not be available at all.

“Some lounges simply provide an escape from the chaos of crowded gates. Any lounge with decent food and space to relax or work fits this description,” says Dave Grossman, a travel-rewards expert and founder of MilesTalk, who has visited hundreds of lounges globally. “Other lounges encourage you to arrive early to maximize your time there as part of the airport experience.”

How Can You Get Airport-Lounge Access?

There are several ways to gain entry to top airport lounges, many of which don’t require paying for individual visits. Some methods are as simple as having the right credit card, achieving elite frequent-flier status, or flying in a premium-class seat on an international flight.

Even without these, you can access certain lounges for around $35 per visit (more details below). Check the options below to find the method that best fits your travel needs.

Earn Elite Status with an Airline Carrier

If you fly frequently, join your preferred airline’s membership program and always include your membership number when booking flights. Enrollment is free and lets the airline track your miles. Upon reaching elite status, a typical benefit is access to the airline’s and its partners’ airport lounges.

For instance, flying with United or any of the two dozen Star Alliance airlines—including international carriers like Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines—and attaining Gold frequent-flier status or higher grants access to nearly 1,000 Star Alliance lounges worldwide. This is the best free perk I’ve enjoyed with my elite United status, which I earned solely by flying frequently without paying extra fees. Thanks to my status, I’ve enjoyed complimentary treats at airports in Athens, Frankfurt, and South Africa without spending an additional cent.

Buy Premium International Tickets

Most airlines have branded lounges in their hub airports and destinations where they operate extended flights (budget airlines typically don’t offer lounges). These lounges are accessible to passengers flying business or first class. However, airlines usually require you to fly in a premium cabin on international or long-haul flights to gain lounge access.

Flying in a premium cabin often means more than just lounge access; it can include exceptional lounge experiences. For example, Grossman’s favorite lounge in Frankfurt is the First Class Terminal—an entire building dedicated to the lounge. “You get private security, full food and beverage service with top-quality offerings like freshly shaved Ibérico ham and premium drinks costing hundreds per bottle. Afterwards, a Porsche drives me directly to the plane!” he shares.

Use a Credit Card with Travel Perks

Airport-lounge access is a top benefit of many travel credit cards, according to WalletHub. You might already have this perk without realizing it, especially if you have a credit card through your employer. Some travel credit cards are tied to specific airlines and may offer anything from two free one-time lounge passes (like the United Explorer card with a $95 annual fee) to unlimited access to branded clubs for a year (such as the United Infinite Card with a $525 annual fee).

beer sandwich airport lounge — ampueroleonardo from Getty Images Signature

The Best Credit Cards for Airport-Lounge Access

If you don’t have a credit card with travel perks, consider applying for one that offers lounge access. Here are a few options:

American Express Platinum: This card grants access to Priority Pass network lounges, Delta Skyclub lounges (when flying Delta that day), and American Express’s Centurion Lounges, which often feature free spa treatments, wine tastings, and other premium amenities. The annual fee is $695, but you also receive other benefits, including travel credits.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: While American Express has the largest network of issuer lounges, Chase is expanding its Chase Sapphire Lounges network. “You can access them with either a Chase Sapphire Reserve or a Ritz-Carlton credit card,” Grossman explains. “Additionally, Priority Pass cardholders get one complimentary access to a Chase Sapphire Lounge each year.” One of Grossman’s favorite lounges is the Chase Sapphire Lounge at LaGuardia Airport in New York, offering two floors of seating, a large buffet, a full bar, a barista for coffee, and made-to-order food.
Capital One Venture X: Capital One is also developing a lounge network, though only three are currently open. Grossman notes that you can access these lounges with a Capital One Venture X card, a Capital One Venture X Business card, or by paying a $65-per-person, per-visit fee. Travel expert Senitra Horbrook, who shares lounge access tips on her Points Travelher Instagram account, prefers the Capital One Venture X card for its $395 annual fee, which is lower than others in this category. “You can visit Capital One lounges and access over 1,600 other lounges worldwide via the Priority Pass membership this card provides,” she says.

When choosing a travel credit card for airport-lounge access, Grossman advises considering your location and airline preferences. “Pick based on how you fly,” he suggests. “If you exclusively fly Delta, choose an Amex Platinum or Amex Delta Reserve for both Delta SkyClub and Centurion Lounge access. If you often fly out of a terminal with a Chase or Capital One lounge, opt for a Chase Sapphire Reserve or a Capital One Venture X, respectively.” Since all these cards include Priority Pass membership, you’ll also have access to those lounges.

Enter as a Guest

If your travel companion has a credit card, membership, or frequent-flier status that includes lounge access, you might be able to join them as a guest. Some programs allow a guest to enter the lounge for free, but rules vary by card, airline, membership program, and lounge. You’ll need to read the fine print or ask a lounge representative to confirm.

Have Active Military Status

If you’re currently serving in the United States military, you qualify for free USO lounge access. These special lounges are located across the United States and are open to active duty, Reserve, and Guard service members, as well as their family members. Staffed by volunteers, these lounges typically offer free Wi-Fi, snacks, and comfortable seating.

Other airport lounges might also offer free or discounted access to military members. Requirements differ by lounge, so you’ll need to inquire about specifics, such as whether you need to be in uniform, traveling on active orders, or 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 access top airport lounges without breaking the bank.

Day Passes

Some lounges, including select Priority Pass and airline lounges, sell day passes for one-time use. Prices vary, starting around $20, though most lounges charge at least double that.

According to Grossman, United Airlines offers United Club day passes for $59, American Airlines sells passes for $79 (or $150 for a Flagship First lounge), Alaska Airlines charges $60 for their passes, and Delta doesn’t offer day passes.

Credit card issuer lounge options are even more limited when it comes to day passes. You can’t purchase day-pass access to an American Express Centurion Lounge or Chase Sapphire Lounge, and a day pass to a Capital One lounge costs $90 per person.

While day passes might be your only option in a pinch, remember they may come with restrictions (like time limits) and depend on availability. If the lounge is full upon your arrival, entry might be denied. You can use apps like Lounge Pass to buy day passes to some lounges in advance.

Plaza Premium Lounge

Another option is the Plaza Premium Lounge. Through their 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 per visit. There’s no membership fee, so if you’re stuck in an airport meltdown and need a place to unwind, this option can provide instant travel calm, Wi-Fi, and refreshments for roughly the cost of a checked bag. The website lists all lounge locations.

Priority Pass Membership

With Priority Pass, you pay for an annual membership plus individual visits to any of its over 1,600 airport lounges in more than 145 countries. The cheapest membership costs $99 per year, with an additional $35 per visit and $35 per guest per visit. The most expensive membership is $469 per year, offering unlimited visits for the member and $35 per guest per visit. (Compare this to having Priority Pass included with a credit card, like the Capital One Venture X, to see why a travel credit card is valuable.)

Jeremy Dalkoff, Vice President of Partnerships for the Americas and a travel experiences expert at Collinson Group (the operator of Priority Pass), advises planning ahead for a seamless experience. “Check lounge options through the Priority Pass app,” he recommends. “Arrive early if possible and use the prebooking feature to secure a spot, especially in busier airports.”

FAQs

What Types of Perks Will You Find at an Airport Lounge?

Beyond a quiet space to relax before your flight, food is a major attraction. However, the type and quality vary. I’ve been to United lounges in the U.S. that only offer “grab and go” food, such as packaged cheese and crackers, cookies, soda cans, or bottled water. My favorite lounge, however, was Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong, featuring a dumpling bar and made-to-order noodle bowls that were some of the best I’ve ever had.

Food isn’t the only perk. Some lounges include showers, sleeping areas, and business rooms for calls and meetings. Another fantastic, lesser-known benefit is front-of-the-line access to airline help-desk personnel. This is invaluable when dealing with delays, canceled flights, or missed connections.

“When you’re in an airline’s lounge and have a flight issue, the lounge agents often have the best ability to help,” Grossman explains. “There have been times when my flight was canceled, and being in the lounge allowed me to make necessary changes to a convenient alternative flight that would have likely been full if I had to call or wait in a long queue at the gate.”

There are also unexpected perks, like extending your vacation with a swim in a pool overlooking the active runway at Punta Cana International Airport, which both Grossman and Dalkoff highlighted as lounge highlights. You might also discover unique ways to pass the time in airport lounges. “Mexico City’s airport has a space capsule experience in the lounge,” Dalkoff mentions. “And I enjoy gaming at some of the Gameway lounges.”

Why Should You Care About Airport-Lounge Access?

Let’s address the obvious concern: From the outside, airport lounges might seem like exclusive waiting rooms, another pay-to-play feature at the airport. However, imagine you’re in the middle of a long-haul trip, like New York to Nairobi, with a multi-hour layover in Frankfurt. In an airport lounge, you have a place to sit down and rest without worrying about your bag’s safety—a perk I truly value. You can also freshen up after a long flight; some lounges offer private rooms to take a shower or enjoy an uninterrupted nap.

These benefits clearly add value in certain travel situations. Even for domestic flights, being able to grab a meal, charge your devices while sitting in a comfortable chair, and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine can significantly reduce travel stress.

“I love visiting the Capital One lounge at DFW [Dallas Fort Worth],” Horbrook shares. “The lounge not only has a stylish design but also 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 access airport lounges for free. While specifics vary by lounge policies, generally, you can gain free entry through:

Flying in a premium cabin that includes lounge access.
Achieving elite status with an airline that offers lounge access as a benefit.
Entering as a guest of a traveler with access.
Obtaining a credit card that includes lounge access as a perk.
Presenting military ID for free entry into USO lounges.

With so many options available, you can choose the one that best suits your needs. From there, your travels can become much more enjoyable and stress-free.

About the Experts

Dave Grossman is a credit card rewards consultant and founder of MilesTalk, where he provides tips on maximizing frequent-flier miles and credit card rewards. He has traveled to 59 countries and visited hundreds of airport lounges over more than 20 years.
Senitra Horbrook is a travel expert who shares insights on obtaining airport-lounge access on her Points Travelher Instagram account.
Jeremy Dalkoff is the Vice President of Partnerships for the Americas and a travel experiences expert at Collinson Group, the operator of Priority Pass. He travels about 200,000 miles annually and has visited 42 countries and hundreds of airport lounges worldwide.

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