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There’s no denying it: Being in an airport terminal is draining. The crowds, the often subpar food options, and the lack of adequate seating make for a tedious and uncomfortable experience.
But fortunately, most airports have lounges, where travelers can ease these woes with complimentary craft cocktails, comfy armchairs, and buffets of gourmet food. In some of the more modern spaces, there are even tranquility areas for meditating or napping, cycling and yoga rooms, and shower suites for freshening up.
There are more ways than ever to access these sanctuaries amid the airport bedlam, but each tactic is becoming more expensive and competitive as airlines and credit card companies try to solve overcrowding issues across their lounge networks.
The most infamous example is probably the recent changes Delta made to lounge access rules as part of a larger redesign of its loyalty program. To the chagrin of fliers, the airline is capping the annual number of visits credit cardholders can have to its Sky Clubs in 2025. (It’s not clear yet how many visits each credit cardholder will be allotted per year—Delta is tweaking the numbers after severe backlash from customers.) Additionally, any passenger flying in basic economy won’t be allowed in the lounges beginning in 2024.
Suffice it to say that the lounge game is getting more cutthroat. But even with ever-growing restrictions, you should be able to find a way to score a coveted spot in one of these peaceful havens—as long as you plan ahead. Here are some useful strategies for accessing airport lounges around the world, no matter where you’re flying next.
Fly in premium cabins
The most obvious way to gain entry into an airline lounge is to buy a ticket in a premium cabin. Some airlines reserve spaces aside for business class or first class passengers only (and occasionally travelers in the upper echelons of their loyalty schemes), ensuring these lounges still feel exclusive and not overcrowded.
United Polaris lounges, for instance, only allow fliers with tickets in its long-haul business class cabin to enter the rarefied spaces, which are at six US airports and are some of the slickest lounges around. Other ultra-exclusive lounges include British Airways’ Concorde Room, Air France’s La Premiere, Cathay Pacific’s The Pier, which all limit access to first-class passengers or the very top-tier status members.
But you don’t necessarily need to splash out on the most expensive seats to enjoy a lounge: A growing number of airlines are offering access to passengers in their premium economy cabins. The perk helps further distinguish this popular fare class from the regular economy class. Scandinavian Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and LATAM all bestow complimentary lounge access to premium economy passengers across their networks of lounges. Be sure to check with your airline that you’ll have lounge access on your route before you book a premium economy ticket, as some carriers limit premium economy passengers to specific locations.
Premium credit cards
Holding the right travel credit card is a savvy way of ensuring you’ll have entry to a wide scope of airport lounges. Lounge access is now a standard—and beloved—perk on most premium reward cards, so much so that a growing number of credit card companies are launching their own concepts to entice cardmembers.
One of the best credit card options to secure airport lounge access is The Platinum Card from American Express (which carries a $695 annual fee, see rates and fee details). This card will grant you complimentary access to the coveted Centurion Lounges, which are something of a gold standard. These high-end spaces offer travelers a glamorous respite from chaotic terminals, with many offering amenities like shower suites, spas, and tranquility areas for relaxing or napping.
There are currently 13 of these swanky lounges in the US and 14 locations in airports abroad, though the network is rapidly expanding, with new Centurions slated to open in busy hubs like Atlanta and Washington, DC (DCA), in coming months. AmEx also recently announced that a Centurion location will be opening in New Jersey’s Newark Airport Terminal A in 2026, complete with a jazz-era cocktail bar and a piano lounge with live music.
Centurion loyalists love the spaces for their focus on an upscale atmosphere and delectable food and craft cocktails that are inspired by the local cuisine. In fact, there are so many fans of the lounges that overcrowding has been a problem. To rectify the issue, AmEx tightened up the guest policy in Centurion lounges back in February 2023: Guests are now charged $50 per visit (kids two and under are $30, with proof of age); previously, cardholders were allowed to bring in two friends or family members for free. The only way to avoid those guest fees is to spend at least $75,000 on your card annually.
Platinum cardholders also have access to Delta Sky Clubs and thousands of other airport lounges through Priority Pass Select (enrollment required, terms apply). Additionally, the Platinum card comes with a raft of generous travel credits, including a $200 Uber credit (enrollment required, terms apply) and TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership credit.
Another solid credit card option for lounge access is the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Chase has been launching its own network of lounges called Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club. So far, two of the spaces have debuted in Hong Kong and Boston. Similar to Centurions’ spaces, Chase’s lounges feature perks like specialty cocktail bars, local cuisine like dim sum, and “relaxation areas” for lounging. Six more locations are set to open soon at the Las Vegas airport, New York-LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, and Washington-Dulles.
Aside from Sapphire Reserve cardholders, travelers with the J.P. Morgan Reserve card and The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card can also access the lounges. Priority Pass members get one free visit per year. Travelers with the Sapphire Reserve and J.P. Morgan Reserve cards can bring up to two guests for free, while those with the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card are allowed unlimited complimentary guests. No matter which card you have, make sure to activate your card’s complimentary Priority Pass membership in order to access the lounges.
Capital One has also been busy rolling out its own lounge products across airports. Starting in 2021, the company launched Capital One Lounge network, debuting the first location at Dallas Fort Worth. Most recently, a new location opened at Washington Dulles International Airport in September 2023. (A new Capital One Lounge at Denver International Airport is expected to open soon, but no date is available as of yet.)
Capital One says it designed the spaces to be a “modern airport oasis,” featuring luxe amenities like cycling and yoga rooms, shower suites, and a relaxation room. On the culinary side of things, there’s a focus on health-conscious cuisine that can be enjoyed on-site or taken to-go.
Access to the sleek spaces is complimentary for Capital One Venture X Rewards cardholders and up to two guests; Venture Rewards and Spark Miles for Business cardholders, meanwhile, receive a range of special entry offers.
Aside from its main lounge product, Capital One is also launching an additional culinary-focused concept called Capital One Landing. Through a partnership with celebrity chef José Andrés, the lounges will offer “top-notch food for travelers,” according to a release. Locations of the gourmet spaces are planned for LaGuardia’s Terminal B and Washington, DC’s Reagan National Airport. Specific lounge access details and entry fees will be released closer to the opening dates (which are also not yet released); however, travelers with certain Capital One cards, like the Venture Card, will be eligible for special entry rates.
And don’t forget about airline credit cards, too. They’re another sure way to score a spot in some exclusive lounges. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card, which has an annual fee of $550 per year (see rates and fees), has similar benefits to the Platinum card, plus complimentary access to Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (though it doesn’t offer Priority Pass membership). However, keep in mind the changes to lounge access Delta has been making recently; more on that below.
The Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, which comes with a $595 annual fee, bestows complimentary American Airlines Admirals Club access to the cardholder, their immediate family, or two guests.
Several other premium credit cards, including the Citi Prestige and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express cards (both have an annual fee: $495 and $650, respectively), come with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership.
Buy a Priority Pass membership
If a premium travel card isn’t an option, consider buying a lounge membership directly with Priority Pass, which opens the door to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide that you can access through Priority Pass's mobile app. In the US, most participating lounges are independently operated. A handful of top business class airline lounges participate at select airports. Airlines with Priority Pass–accessible lounges in US airports include Korean Air, Air France, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and British Airways.
There are three tiers of membership, and at the entry level (Priority Pass Standard) you’ll pay a $99 annual membership and then $35 per lounge visit (members can also bring a guest for $35). If you visit 10 or more lounges per year, then your sweet spot is Priority Pass Standard Plus, which has a $329 annual membership fee that includes 10 free lounge visits—translating to about $33 a pop. Beyond 10 visits, you pay $35 for each visit and $35 per guest, too. The top tier is Priority Pass Prestige, with a $469 annual fee that gets you unlimited lounge visits per year (but you’ll need to pay $35 for guest passes). This becomes a better deal than Standard Plus when you hit 14 or more lounge visits in one year.
One caveat: When lounges get very crowded, Priority Pass members can be turned away—which is a more common occurrence these days.
Day passes
If you don’t have the right credit card or a Priority Pass and you’re not flying in a premium cabin, you may still be able to buy your way into a nice lounge. Nearly every large airport has spaces offering day passes that any traveler can purchase for a single visit.
Escape Lounges are a good example: They have a network of 23 lounges across the US and UK and offer day passes that cost $40 when booked 24 hours in advance, or $45 at the door. Entry fees cover food selections like Thai shrimp salad or braised short ribs with polenta, plus local craft brews, wine, and handcrafted cocktails. Expect plenty of seating and free Wi-Fi, too. AmEx Platinum and Centurion cardholders also get free entry to Escape Lounges (plus two guests), while AmEx Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card members get free access.
Another reliable option is Minute Suites, which offers small private rooms ideal for napping or working. Individual rooms are rented in 15-minute increments (with a one-hour minimum) and include a daybed, workstation, and television—in some locations, you can pay extra for a shower. Prices start at $48 for the first hour.
Some airlines also offer the opportunity to purchase day passes to some of their clubs, depending on capacity. Both United Club and Alaska Lounge accept walk-ins for day passes, as does American Airlines' Admirals Club. You must be flying with each respective airline or a carrier in their alliance—like Oneworld or Star Alliance—to buy access to their lounges. Prices generally range from $50 to $80. Many airlines are limiting the sale of lounge day passes due to overcrowding: Alaska no longer offers them at its Seattle or Anchorage hubs, and Delta discontinued the ability to purchase general day passes at its Sky Clubs several years ago. If you try to show up and buy one at the door, you could be denied if the space is filling up. Purchasing a day pass in advance of travel, rather than at the door, is highly recommended. That way your spot is secure when you land. Having that guarantee in the current travel landscape, where overcrowding is still a problem in many lounges, will provide added peace of mind when you show up at the airport.
Apps like LoungeBuddy sell advance day passes to lounges of all stripes—and also help to track whether you're eligible for entry based on factors like your airline or travel credit cards in your wallet. (In fact, a credit card is now one requirement to use LoungeBuddy's service: Since it was sold to American Express in 2019, you must be an AmEx cardholder to book through the site.)
Annual airline lounge passes
Let’s say you fly regularly on short-haul flights that don’t accrue a ton of miles. Or maybe you’ve racked up a lot of miles on Southwest or JetBlue, airlines that don’t have their own lounges. A branded airline pass provides access to the lounges of that carrier and its partners, regardless of which airline you’re flying on any given day. So you could, for instance, fly JetBlue but use American’s Admirals Club.
Be aware that airlines are continually making these memberships more expensive as they try to clamp down on the rampant overcrowding problems across most airport lounges. Average current rates range from $500 to $850 per year for an individual membership, depending on the airline and whether you have elite status. (The higher your status, the cheaper the membership becomes—Delta limits the ability to purchase memberships to Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion elite status fliers.)
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, Qantas, and United all offer options to buy annual lounge memberships.
Whether or not such membership programs end up being a deal depends on your personal circumstances and how much you fly—you’ll have to crunch the numbers and assess accordingly. As an example, an annual pass with unlimited access to Alaska lounges (as well as partner airlines) costs $500. Since a day pass costs $60, you break even when you visit an Alaska lounge or partner lounge at least eight times per year.
See rates and fees for the American Express cards listed: Delta SkyMiles Reserve; the Platinum Card; the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.