What are travel credit cards, and how do they work?
Travel credit cards are financial products that offer various rewards and benefits geared towards frequent travelers. They typically earn you points or miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases. These rewards can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses. Travel credit cards may also include perks like travel insurance, airport lounge access, and no foreign transaction fees.
How do I choose the best travel credit card for my needs?
Choosing the best travel credit card depends on your travel habits, spending patterns, and preferences. Consider factors like the type of rewards offered (points, miles, or cash back), the card’s annual fee, sign-up bonuses, earning rates, redemption options, and additional travel perks. Analyzing these features will help you find a card that aligns with your lifestyle and offers the most value.
What are the benefits of using a travel credit card over other types of credit cards?
Travel credit cards provide unique advantages for travelers, such as earning rewards specifically tailored to travel expenses. Additionally, many travel credit cards offer travel-related perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and travel insurance. Some cards also waive foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for international travelers.
What is a sign-up bonus, and how can I qualify for it?
A sign-up bonus is a promotional offer provided by the credit card issuer to entice new cardholders. To qualify for a sign-up bonus, you usually need to meet specific spending requirements within a certain timeframe after opening the account. The bonus can be in the form of points, miles, or cash back, and it’s a great way to jump-start your rewards earning.
Do travel credit cards charge foreign transaction fees?
Not all travel credit cards charge foreign transaction fees. Many of the top-tier travel cards waive these fees, making them ideal for international travel. However, it’s essential to read the card’s terms and conditions to confirm this before using it abroad.
How can I maximize the rewards earned with my travel credit card?
To maximize rewards, use your travel credit card for everyday expenses and large purchases. Take advantage of bonus categories and special promotions to earn more points or miles. Consider combining your travel credit card with loyalty programs to stack rewards and get even more value out of your purchases.
It’s 6 am.
You’re sitting on a rickety airport chair that rocks precariously every time the guy behind you shuffles around to fix his underwear. You have a lukewarm coffee in your hand and the college kid next to you smells of $25 airport beer. You can’t hear the intercom over the screaming kid opposite and the woman with her phone blaring.
It’s not JFK. It’s hell.
If that rings true, it’s time to change things. Lounge access is a game-changer and it’s never been more accessible than right now thanks to the power of travel credit cards. Whether it’s the fantasy of a peaceful layover or the feeling of luxury as you sip on a complimentary glass of bubbly, nothing’s stopping you.
To help transform your travel days, we’ve compiled the best travel credit cards for airport lounge access.
Before you discover the best travel credit cards for airport lounge access right now
Lounge access is amazing. But the new-found accessibility has changed the face of things a little. In the past, lounges were the hideout of the big-time travelers—business flyers and loyalty program elites. But with so many ways to get in, overcrowding is becoming a bit of a problem.
Do what you can to sift out your best options in any given airport, and if it’s super important to you, consider paying extra for one of the airline’s high-end lounges that don’t suffer from the same accessibility woes.
Paying for lounge access
It’s important to remember you can pay for lounge access, too. While some of the cards on this list may allow you to grab entry for almost nothing, if you’re an infrequent traveler it’s worth adding up the pros and cons of opening a card just for access.
You can even pay for a Priority Pass membership if it makes more sense. The current rates are set at:
- Standard: $99 a year plus $35 a visit
- Regular: $329 a year—10 free visits then $35 after that
- Select: $469 a year—unlimited visits
Guest fees of $35 apply to all three memberships.
Some of the cards offer the “Select” membership as a perk. This may feel like you’re getting $469 in value every year and technically you are. But if you wouldn’t have paid $469 for the lounge access before opening the card, it’s not a real saving and you should factor this into your calculations.
Airline specific access
In the same vein as the previous section, make sure you consider your loyalty to an airline’s lounge. Airlines are getting tighter every year on their requirements to help combat overcrowding, with Delta going as far as to limit visits to even its highest-paying customers. If you’re not sure about traveling enough or don’t use the specific airline on a regular basis, reconsider shelling out for an expensive card.
The best travel credit cards for airport lounge access: The Platinum Card from American Express®
Who’s this for? The Platinum Card from American Express is the ultimate card for anyone with an eye on luxury travel. No card offers as much in the way of lounge access or high-end perks as the Platinum. While it’s easy to gain value back, the high annual fee can be a barrier to some.
Details:
The Amex Platinum is a powerhouse when it comes to perks—especially lounge access. Cardholders enjoy access to the entire Global Lounge collection including a Priority Pass Select membership and entry to Amex’s own Centurion lounges.
The Priority Pass offers over 1,400 lounges across the world and allows two guests to each lounge. There’s a growing list of 27 Centurion lounges across the world with 13 of those located in the United States. Centurion lounges started charging guests $50 per entry with a cardholder unless they’ve spent over $75,000 on the card.
Of course, the Platinum comes with a hefty $695 annual fee, so if you’re only opening a card for lounge access you’ll need to ensure you find some direct value elsewhere or accept that you’re paying over $200 extra for a Priority Pass and access to the Centurion lounges. Its perks and huge 80,000-point intro bonus are more than enough to validate that fee—you just need to make sure you use them.
You’ll need to spend $8,000 within six months to earn that bonus.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of card membership
The Amex Platinum was once the sole dominating force in the luxury credit card space. While it now faces some stiff competition, it still offers unbeatable perks like unprecedented airport lounge access, elite status at Hilton and Marriott, and some outstanding statement credits making the mammoth $695 worth it for some.
PROS
- The Amex Platinum’s typical intro bonus of 80,000 points is massive in itself. It’s worth $800 when spent directly through Amex’s travel portal on flights and hotels, which is already stellar. But when transferred to a partner, it’s very possible to squeeze over $1,600 or more in value.
- The Platinum has a slew of top-tier benefits, like Priority Pass, which gives the cardholder access to thousands of airport lounges and restaurants around the world, as well as Amex’s own Centurion lounges which are known for the high-quality (and free) food and cocktails. Other perks include up to $200 in Uber credits (to receive this benefit, you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express card must be a method of payment in your Uber account, and this Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States), up to $200 in airline fee credits (given in statement credits), up to $240 in digital streaming credits, up to $200 towards hotel bookings (given in statement credits) with Amex’s Fine Hotels and Resorts (2 night minimum stay required), and more. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
- A number of statement credits spanning multiple industries can build even more value into the card, including free stays when applied strategically.
- The Amex concierge is an underutilized benefit that can transform a trip by helping book hard-to-find dinner reservations or show tickets.
CONS
- The $695 annual fee is brutally high. Too high for many that can’t, or don’t want to take full advantage of its benefits.
- Points-earning rates are low unless spending directly on flights or with the Amex Portal.
- Some of the benefits, like travel credits, are more limited and are harder to use than competing cards’ offerings.
Annual Fee: $695 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
The best travel credit cards for airport lounge access: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Who’s this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card caters to almost any traveler, making it one of the best travel credit cards for airport lounge access for anyone. Its easy-to-balance annual fee belies its Priority Pass membership as well as the slowly-growing arsenal of Capital One lounges.
Details:
The Capital One Venture X is our go-to recommendation for anyone looking for a premium travel card. That recommendation is doubled down when it comes to lounge access.
The value of this card comes from the ease with which you can balance out the annual fee. While the card costs $395 a year, its perks make it incredibly easy to validate its presence in your wallet. For example, the $300 annual travel statement credit effectively drops the card’s cost to $95, while the 10,000-mile anniversary bonuses add a further $100 in automatic value. There’s no jumping through hoops to maximize this card—as long as you spend that much on travel in a year, you’re coming out even.
Despite that ease, cardholders still enjoy a Priority Pass membership and access to the Capital One lounges. There aren’t too many of the latter yet, but it’s a growing facet of Capital One’s business.
If you’re looking for a simple, no-nonsense way to enjoy unlimited lounge access, the Capital One Venture X is your best friend.
As a bonus, Venture X authorized users also get lounge access with two guests each. There’s no fee to add a user, which means you could bring a squad into the lounge—although we don’t necessarily recommend doing that.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
75,000 Bonus Miles
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
The Capital One Venture X is a direct competitor to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and for many seeking a simpler earning scheme with premium perks, it could be the better option. But the Venture X truly shines with one benefit in particular: four free authorized users. Not only can they all use the card and earn miles, they all receive a Priority Pass membership which allows themselves and two guests access to airport lounges. In a highly improbable situation, that means you could technically bring 15 people into a lounge with you.
PROS
- Its solid intro bonus of 75,000 miles is worth well over $1,000 when transferred to partner airlines and hotels, or a flat rate $750 when redeemed on the Capital One Travel Portal.
- Cardholders get a bonus of 10,000 miles each year after their first account anniversary, which is nothing to shrug off, especially when a little bit short of that business class flight. It’s worth almost $200 depending on how you use it.
- The $300 annual credit for purchases made on the Capital One Travel Portal, combined with the yearly free miles, more than annul the $395 annual fee.
- Four authorized users can be added for free.
- The cardholder is entitled to a Priority Pass membership and entry to Capital One Lounges, even the authorized users.
- A generous offering of travel insurance, protections and reimbursements round out an excellent array of benefits.
CONS
- The $300 credit is a bit less flexible than the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s comparable benefit.
- Miles earning is the same as the Sapphire Reserve on portal-based purchases, but less on general travel spending.
- Capital one transfer partners are solid, but still don’t include any US-based airlines or hotels.
Annual Fee: $395 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
The best travel credit cards for airport lounge access: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Who’s this for? This card’s perfect for big travelers with no loyalty to a specific airline who are looking for a premium card with solid lounge access. Its strong earning rates on travel and dining make it the perfect earning companion while gifting unlimited lounge access around the world.
Details:
The target audience for the Chase Sapphire Reserve falls somewhere between the Amex Platinum and the Venture X—just like its annual fee.
While it’s not as simple to validate the $550 annual fee as the Venture X, its 60,000-point intro bonus and 3X points per dollar earning rate on travel and dining mean it’s immensely valuable for the regular traveler. The card is best matched for someone who’s in the market for a premium card that focuses on high-earning as opposed to frills. You’ll need to spend $4,000 within three months of opening the card to earn the bonus.
It comes with the same Priority Pass access as its high-end competitors, as well as offering entry to the burgeoning Chase Sapphire lounges. At the time of writing, there are only four of them—in New York, Hong Kong, Boston, and a stripped-down terrace in Austin—so it might be a while until these become a regular part of your travel day. For travelers in those locations, it could be a big deal, though.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
60,000 Bonus Points
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel card that’s accessible to most travelers as it has a number of valuable and easy-to-use benefits. Its annual fee of $550, though still high, is quickly offset thanks to its $300 travel credit, large welcome bonus, strong spending categories, and premium perks like airport lounge access. It’s also great for those who don’t want to deal with transferring their points, as you’ll get big value when redeeming through Chase’s travel portal.
PROS
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel—which is more than the annual fee.
- The $300 travel credit covers anything travel related, whether thats an Airbnb, a taxi, a flight, or hotel, making it almost impossible not to lessen the dent the fee made.
- The points are worth 1.5 cents a piece when used directly on Chase’s Ultimate Rewards Portal, offering a simple but high value use for your points.
- Plenty of excellent transfer partners allow points to be maximized
- Some excellent partnerships with Doordash and Lyft add to its value.
- Priority Pass membership allows access to over 1,300+ airport lounges and restaurants.
CONS
- No complimentary elite hotel status, like that offered by the Amex Platinum.
- You won’t earn points on travel purchases until the $300 credit is used.
- It’s subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. So if you’ve opened five cards in the last two years, you’re most likely not going to be accepted.
Annual Fee: $550 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
The best travel credit cards for airport lounge access: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
Who’s this for? This product is best for infrequent travelers who still like to take a little off their expenses. For a soon-to-be free card, it comes with a lot of perks and earning potential.
Details:
This is a pretty unique addition, as its points aren’t transferable and can only be used as cash back. By most standards, it’s not as valuable as the other cards on the list. But its soon-to-be no-annual-fee setup means it’ll be the only card on the market offering lounge access for nothing.
The card comes with a limited Priority Pass membership that affords the cardholder four lounge visits a year. If you’re a regular traveler, you’ll probably want to level up, but for the casual flyer, it’s a pretty great deal.
It’s also got an intro bonus of 20,000 points earned after spending $1,000 within 120 days of opening the card, 4X points per dollar on a broad definition of travel purchases, and even a $100 TSAPreCheck or Global Entry credit.
It’s actually a pretty damn impressive product, all things considered.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
The US Bank Altitude Connect can fit well into the wallet of many Americans. The biggest draw is its 4 points per dollar on travel purchases, including gas stations. There are few cards that offer you as much of a return on your fill-ups — making it strongly worth considering for road warriors.
PROS
- Its 4x points on gas stations and EV charging is industry leading. This also applies to most travel expenses. You’ll also earn 2 points per dollar at supermarkets and streaming services. Because of this, it does make a good case for a single, simple-earning card.
- The $95 dollar annual fee is waived the first first year
- Its 50,000 point intro bonus is worth a direct $500 to be redeemed as travel credit, gift cards, or cash back.
- Up to a $100 credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry can balance out the $95 fee when it kicks in
- A $30 credit for streaming purchases sweetens the pot a bit more
CONS
- The bonus is fixed at $500, and other cards with the same annual fee have far higher offers that can be transferred to travel partners and maximized.
Annual Fee: $95, waived the first year | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
The best travel credit cards for airport lounge access: United℠ Explorer Card
Who’s this for? The United Explorer Card is for occasional flyers with a United hub as their home base or those looking for a little taste of the lounge experience.
Details:
If your home airport is a United Airlines hub or you fly a couple of times a year through one, the United Explorer Card is worth taking a look at. The card is free for the first year and $95 from then on, but allows two visits to the United Club annually.
That’s not a huge amount, but those looking to try out the lounge experience before searching for something with a little more oomph could be served well by the card. It’s also a nice touch for infrequent flyers looking to level up their experience a bit. There are over 40 United lounges around the world, so there’s a good chance you’ll come across them.
Other airlines are getting tighter on their access rules, so finding a co-branded card with any lounge visits at this price point is pretty great.
United℠ Explorer Credit Card
Limited-time offer: 50,000 bonus miles
after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
The United℠ Explorer Card is a strong card for its price point. No other comparably priced card includes lounge access along with the more typical free checked bags, a solid limited-time offer of 50,000 bonus points, and priority boarding. Considering the $95 annual fee is waived for the first year, if any United or Star Alliance flights are on the horizon, it could be worth giving a test drive.
PROS
- Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- Cardholders enjoy two one-time passes to the United Club a year, usually worth $59 each.
- Access to expanded award availability makes booking United flights with miles easier and cheaper.
- Free first checked bag for the cardholder and a companion can justify the annual fee with one roundtrip flight.
- The $95 annual fee is waived for the first year.
- Any in-flight purchases, including Wi-Fi, will generate a 25% cash back in the form of a statement credit.
- A year’s membership to DoorDash’s DashPass is a nice addition for those who use the food delivery service.
- The up to $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA Precheck® pass is great for regular travelers.
CONS
- The DashPass and Global Entry/TSA perks are great, but only helpful for some and overlap with other cards.
- Without using the perks available, the fee can become harder to justify unless you’re a regular United flyer.
Annual Fee: $95 (First Year Waived) | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
The best of the rest
Best for one-off visits: American Express Green Card®
The Amex Green card takes a slightly different approach to other cards. Instead of offering limited Priority Pass access, it offers a $100 statement credit with LoungeBuddy. Just pay for lounge access with the card and the credit will be applied.
American Express® Green Card
40,000 Membership Rewards® Points
after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
The American Express® Green Card is a great travel card for those who want to accumulate as many membership rewards points as possible through their everyday spending. Its 3X points-earning on travel and dining purchases means you’ll be on your way to booking award flights and hotels in no time. Plus, it has a few other valuable travel benefits that get you access to airport lounges and expedited security at airports.
PROS
- The substantial 40,000-point intro bonus is earned by spending an extremely achievable $3,000 in six months. Well within a realistic budget for many.
- Great points-earning rate on two popular spending categories: travel and dining
- Annual CLEAR® Plus statement credit covers the cost of a membership that will get you through airport security much quicker
- You get lounge access perks, albeit limited, without the large annual fee required by many other cards with similar benefits.
CONS
- $150 annual fee
- Ancillary benefits are more limited when compared to similar cards
Annual Fee: $150 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best for Delta loyalists: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
If SkyClub access is important to you as a Delta fan, Delta SkyMiles Reserve is your best bet. It limited visits to 15 a year unless you spend over $75,000 annually on the card, but that’s probably more than enough for most people. Business and heavy travelers may find themselves a little frustrated by the new limits, though.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
60,000 Bonus Miles
after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is built for frequent Delta fliers who want the most return from their loyalty. Regular business travelers will make the most from the card.
Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® when traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. You’ll get four Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year, and up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location thereafter. Starting 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. Earning an unlimited number of visits each year starting on 2/1/25 requires the total eligible purchases on the card to equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
You’ll also receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
Enjoy a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights to select destinations each year after renewal of your card.
There’s a bevy of other benefits, like up to $240 in statement credits for U.S. Resy restaurants, and up to $120 in statements credits for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
PROS
- The card comes with Delta Sky Club® access at no cost, with the option to bring up to two guests or immediate family at a rate of $50 per person per visit. (Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members receive 10 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. Earning unlimited visits each year starting 2/1/25 can be achieved when the total eligible purchases on the card equals $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.)
- You’ll receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card.
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- First checked bag free on Delta flights
- 3X miles on Delta purchases
- 1X mile on all other eligible purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year
- Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year
- Up to $120 in statement credits for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
- Up to $240 in statement credits at U.S. Resy restaurants.
CONS
- The high $650 annual fee is only worth it for very frequent Delta travelers or high spenders
- Its miles-earning potential is relatively low for a high-end card; the only bonus spend category is 3X miles per dollar on Delta purchases
Annual Fee: $650 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best for American loyalists: Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Another co-branded premium card, this is the only one of American’s line that gets you access to the Admiral’s Club. Not only is it cheaper to own the card than paying for a membership, it comes with a solid AAdvantage bonus and authorized user access, too.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a strong airline-centric card to have in your travel toolbox if your main airport is an American Airlines hub like Boston, Chicago, Dallas, or Charlotte, or if you just have a preference for the airline. Regular business travelers may want to upgrade for luxury perks like lounge access, but for everyone else, the low annual fee, 50,000 point intro bonus, solid miles-earning categories, and free checked bag perks are more than enough to validate the space in your wallet.
PROS
- The strong 50,000-point intro bonus is worth as much as $750, earned after spending $2,500 in three months.
- Cardholders and up to four companions can enjoy a free first checked bag on any domestic American Airlines flight, comfortably justifying the $99 fee when used.
- The card earns 2X miles for gas and dining purchases
- Each eligible mile earned with the card also earns a loyalty point towards American Airlines elite status
- A generous 25% discount on in-flight purchases when using the card round out the benefits
- Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
CONS
- American Airlines miles can’t be transferred to other airlines or hotels (although they can be used to book AA partner flights)
- Premium perks are reserved for pricier cards
Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best for United loyalists: United Club℠ Infinite Card
The United Club Infinite Card remains where we’d hope premium co-branded cards would be—with unlimited access to United’s lounges. Throw in its strong earnings, free checked baggage, and other airline perks, and you’ve got a no-brainer for heavy United flyers.
The point
The best travel credit cards for airport lounge access are varied in their offerings and cater to specific markets. Make sure you weigh up the pros and cons of each product and don’t open one just for the lounge access without ensuring you’re retaining value.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
