A man sitting and relaxing in an airport lounge chair.

Are Credit Cards With Airport Lounge Access Worth It?

6 min read

Published September 3, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

Select credit card issuers may offer access to airport lounges connected to a specific airline or lounge network.
Credit cards with lounge access tend to come with high annual fees, so it’s important to make sure the rewards and features are worth the cost.
You may also enjoy an airport lounge visit by buying a day pass or lounge membership, or securing elite flyer status.

Airports are often stressful. Before you board your flight, you may find yourself paying inflated food prices, dodging families rushing to their gates, and scrambling to keep track of your carry-on.

An airport lounge may offer respite from the pre-flight chaos. Certain premium credit cards may come with access to an airport lounge. But that perk can come at a high price. Before opting for a credit card with airport lounge access, ensure the benefits are worth the potential fees.

How do airport lounge access credit cards work?

With an airport lounge access credit card, you may be able to relax in luxury or enjoy a drink before your flights. But which airport lounge you have access to depends on your credit card issuer. Each credit card company handles this perk a little differently.

Some credit card companies issue co-branded airline credit cards. If the affiliated airlines have their own lounge system, you may be able to access them with your co-branded credit card.

If you usually fly with the same airline, a co-branded card may be a good fit.

Travel credit cards aren’t always affiliated with a specific airline. More general travel cards may allow cardmembers to enter lounges within a specific lounge network instead of an airline network, like Priority Pass^™. Select credit card companies have their own branded lounge networks.

Some charge cards, like the Diners Club International^® card, also offer access to select airport lounges.

Before you can enter an airport lounge with your card, you typically have to show your physical credit card, ID, and boarding pass to enter. Sometimes, you have to enroll in a separate membership program before taking advantage of your lounge access.

Comparing credit cards with airport lounge access

A wide range of credit cards offer lounge access. To find the best card for you, consider the features that matter most to you and any potential dealbreakers.

Annual fees

Travel credit cards with premium perks often charge a high annual fee, so it’s essential to make sure the benefits you receive offset the cost. Consider how frequently you travel and the credit card’s other features. A travel credit card with a lower fee and more limited access may make more sense than a pricier card with extensive airport perks.

Cost of access

Some credit cards offer complimentary lounge access, but it’s not a guarantee. Other credit card issuers may require an additional entry or membership fee. If you’re already paying a high annual fee for the credit card itself, you may not want to shell out the extra cash for the lounge.

Food and drinks

Most airport lounges offer complimentary food and beverages, which can provide a much-needed break from pricey airport food. But the quantity and quality of the fare vary. Some lounges only offer basic snacks and drinks or have a limited selection, while others may offer a more luxe spread.

Lounge access benefits

Airport lounges are not all created equal. While some have extensive amenities and plenty of room to get comfortable, others are basic and a little snug.

Before you apply for an airport lounge credit card, make sure the lounges offer the amenities you need, whether that’s free wi-fi, personalized customer service, showers, or a rest area. Keep in mind that an international airport lounge generally offers more perks than a domestic airport lounge, since international travelers may have longer layovers.

Lounge visit limits

Your credit card may not give you complete, unlimited access to every lounge in your network. You may have domestic lounge access but not international lounge access, for example. Or cardmembers might only be able to visit an airport lounge only a set number of times per year.

Other credit card perks and rewards

Airport lounge access alone may not be enough to make a credit card worth the annual fee. Consider other features, like complimentary travel insurance, fraud protection, priority boarding, and free checked bags.

The best credit card option may also help you earn rewards on your everyday purchases. With a co-branded credit card, you may only be able to redeem rewards with the affiliated airline. If you only fly a few times a year, the rewards may not offset the fee.

Did you know?

You can earn credit card rewards without paying an annual fee. Every Discover^® Card lets you keep more in your pocket with no annual fee. So, you have more money to spend where it matters.

Learn More

Other ways to get airport lounge access

A credit card isn’t the only way to access an airport lounge. And, depending on your travel preferences, budget, and credit score, credit cards with lounge access may not always be your best option.

Buy an airport lounge day pass

Maybe you want to check out your airport lounge options before applying for a credit card that locks you into a certain airline or network. Or perhaps you don’t fly often, but you want to start your trip with an airport lounge visit. An airport lounge day pass may be the solution. You could buy a day pass online or from customer service at the airport on the day of your flight using any debit card or credit card.

When you access an airport lounge with a day pass, you have the opportunity to try out the food and other amenities, assess the crowd, and look around the space to determine whether a card that offers access may be worthwhile.

You may earn rewards on your day pass if you purchase it with a credit card. And, unlike most premium credit cards, you don’t need a strong credit score to purchase a day pass.

Get an airport lounge membership

You may purchase an airport lounge membership if you’d like to relax in airport lounges when you travel but you don’t need a new credit card. Airlines typically sell memberships that grant you domestic lounge access and international lounge access.

Like day passes, you may buy memberships with your debit card or credit card. If you use a credit card, your membership purchase may earn rewards.

Business, first-class, and elite status flyers

If you’re flying in business class or first class, you may already have complimentary airport lounge access, depending on the airline. Elite status flyers may also enjoy complimentary lounge access, along with other perks like priority boarding.

The bottom line

Complimentary airport lounge access is a luxurious credit card perk that frequent travelers may enjoy. But if you don’t travel often, or if you’re not interested in the other credit card features, it may not be worth the steep annual fee.

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