There’s nothing fairly like airport lounge entry. With the best bank card, you possibly can escape from the final airport stress to a separate area to work, chill out and revel in complimentary refreshments when you wait on your flight.
However usually, that entry is reserved for these with essentially the most premium playing cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express. In case you’re preserving your annual charge prices low, you will have accepted your destiny to attend out your layover at whichever eatery is closest to your gate.
Nonetheless, there are a number of methods to realize airport lounge entry with out paying a excessive annual charge.
Listed here are our favourite playing cards that do not break the financial institution and get you thru the lounge doorways.
Associated: Best credit cards for lounge access
Develop into a certified person
Earlier than you apply for a brand new bank card, think about whether or not a beloved one already has a card with lounge entry and is prepared so as to add you as a certified person.
Approved customers can usually take pleasure in the identical lounge entry as the first cardholder and will be added comparatively cheaply. In case you can swing it, this will provide you with the largest bang on your buck.
If a pal or member of the family has a Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), as an example, they’ll add you as a certified person for simply $195 per yr. As a certified person, you may take pleasure in the identical lounge entry — to Priority Pass and Chase Sapphire Lounges — as the first cardholder for a lot decrease than the $795 annual charge they pay.
Simply understand that, as a certified person, you will not earn your individual factors or take pleasure in another advantages the cardboard affords the first cardholder.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day e-newsletter
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
Associated: The 7 credit cards with the greatest value for authorized users
The least costly playing cards for lounge entry
Even when you do not have a beloved one who can (or is prepared to) add you as a certified person on their premium account, you continue to have some good choices. Whereas the playing cards beneath have extra restricted lounge entry than their premium counterparts, they’re going to get you thru a lounge door at a fraction of the fee.
U.S. Financial institution Altitude Join Visa Signature Card
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has no annual charge and comes with 4 Precedence Go visits every year. In case you’re an rare traveler or solely cross by means of airports with Precedence Go lounges a couple of occasions a yr, this card is a wonderful possibility.
The knowledge for the U.S. Financial institution Altitude Join has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
With Altitude Join, you may earn 4 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases and a pair of factors per greenback spent on eating, streaming companies and grocery retailer purchases.
Cardholders additionally obtain an announcement credit score as much as $100 each 4 years for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck — a superb perk for a card with no annual charge.
For extra particulars, take a look at our full review of the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect.
Associated: Best no annual fee credit cards
United Explorer Card and United Enterprise Card
You do not have to get United’s premium United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees) to take pleasure in entry to the United Club community.
Each the United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees) and the United℠ Business Card (see rates and fees) have annual charges of $150 ($0 intro annual charge for the primary yr with the Explorer card) and include two United Membership passes every cardholder yr (redeemable for the cardholder or licensed person).
Each playing cards additionally supply United perks reminiscent of bonus miles on United purchases, a free checked bag and a quick monitor to incomes elite standing, in addition to invaluable journey protections.
With the United Enterprise Card, you may additionally earn bonus miles at gasoline stations, workplace provide shops, transit purchases and eating purchases (together with eligible supply companies). In the meantime, with the United Explorer Card, you may earn bonus miles on eating and obtain a credit score for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus.
For extra particulars, take a look at our full opinions of the United Explorer and United Business playing cards.
Apply right here: United Explorer Card
Apply right here: United Business Card
Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card and Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise
Although it is within the premium bank card class, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business are value contemplating for lounge entry on a funds. Though their $395 annual charge could initially appear steep, it is nonetheless a lot decrease than their premium opponents.
Plus, the playing cards additionally include a $300 annual credit score for Capital One Travel. In case you can maximize that, your out of pocket price is simply $95 — a discount, provided that it comes with limitless entry to Precedence Go and Capital One lounges.
As a cardholder, you may earn bonus factors on journey booked by means of Capital One Journey and a pair of miles per greenback spent on all different purchases. You will additionally take pleasure in invaluable perks like bonus miles every account anniversary and a credit score for International Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Plus, with the Enterprise X, lounge entry is not only for the principle cardholder. Authorized users (you possibly can add as much as 4 for no further price) obtain the identical entry, and every cardholder additionally gets complimentary access for as much as two visitors every till Feb. 1, 2026.
For extra particulars, take a look at our full review of the Venture X and Venture X Business.
Be taught extra: Capital One Venture
Be taught extra: Capital One Venture X Business
Associated: Capital One Venture X vs. Venture X Business: Small but important differences
Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Credit score Card
One other premium card, the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card affords some lounge entry with a decrease $395 annual charge. Whereas this charge could also be steep, the perks supplied by the cardboard can assist offset it.
Cardholders obtain eight annual Alaska lounge passes (two per calendar quarter). If you have already got an Alaska Lounge membership, you possibly can share these passes with family and friends. Moreover, this card affords perks like precedence boarding and a free checked bag when flying on Alaska and Hawaiian Airways.
Plus, you may additionally obtain an annual global companion award, earn bonus factors on Alaska and Hawaiian Airways purchases and on worldwide transactions and obtain an software charge credit score for International Entry or TSA PreCheck.
For extra particulars, take a look at our full review of the Atmos Rewards Summit.
Apply right here: Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card
Associated: Is this new space the best Alaska Airlines lounge in the country?
PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Card
As a credit score union card, the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Card flies below the radar. However when you’re on the lookout for moderately priced airport lounge entry, it is positively value a glance.
It has an annual charge of $95 that’s waived for PenFed Honors Benefit members and comes with Priority Pass access for the cardholder and one visitor. It is essential to notice that cardholders must pay a $35 lounge entry charge for every individual, every lounge go to.
The knowledge for the PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
The cardboard additionally affords a $100 airline incidental credit score, which can be utilized to cowl lounge passes, and earns bonus rewards on journey purchases and comes with an announcement credit score to cowl your International Entry or TSA PreCheck.
You have to be a PenFed member to use for the Pathfinder Rewards Card, however you possibly can become a member by opening a financial savings account with PenFed and depositing no less than $5.
Associated: Cash back vs. travel rewards: How to choose a credit card
Backside line
Airport lounge entry is a luxurious perk, however you do not essentially must pay luxurious annual charge costs to get it. With any of those playing cards, you can take pleasure in a reprieve throughout your subsequent lengthy layover for a a lot decrease price than what is usually related to lounge entry.
Simply be warned — a style of the nice life with certainly one of these playing cards may persuade you to splurge for a extra premium travel rewards credit card in spite of everything.
Associated: How to choose a credit card for airport lounge access