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Now that travel is back in full swing, the crowds have returned — and navigating a busy, loud airport can be stressful at the best of times. Fortunately, there are travel credit cards that can make your airport experience more civilized, including cards that offer statement credits for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry to speed through security and customs lines and credit cards with priority boarding to help get you settled on the plane sooner.

There's another credit card perk that can offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of the airport terminal. Priority Pass is a network of over 1,300 airport lounges around the world, and you can get a free membership to access them when you have certain credit cards. Some cards also offer up to $30 per person in free food and drinks at select airport restaurants that participate in the Priority Pass program.

Here's a breakdown of the Priority Pass program and how you can get access through select credit cards.

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Which credit cards offer Priority Pass membership?

Many of these are premium cards with high annual fees that come with other lucrative travel perks — but there are a few that won't cost you an arm and a leg. And getting Priority Pass access through a credit card is a better deal than purchasing a Priority Pass membership directly — the program normally charges up to $429 per year for the privilege.

Compare Priority Pass credit cards

Chase Sapphire Reserve

If you want access to the full range of Priority Pass lounges and restaurants, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a great option. Not only does the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offer lots of great travel perks, but the Priority Pass Select membership doesn't exclude access to restaurants and cafes like membership through American Express cards do.

The card currently offers a new limited-time welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (worth $1,440 in travel, based on Insider's valuation of Chase points). The annual fee is $550, but cardholders receive up to $300 in travel credits each year and top-notch travel and purchase protections. 

Chase Sapphire Reserve Priority Pass details

• The primary cardholder and up to two guests get unlimited free visits
• Airport restaurants are included (most offer credit for cardholder and one guest)
• Authorized users ($75 each per year) get their own Priority Pass Select membership with guest privileges

For just $75 annually, you can add an authorized user to your Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and this qualifies for the same membership perks. That includes bringing up to two guests into the lounge per visit. Any guests beyond this number can enter at a discounted rate of $32 per person. 

Capital One Venture X

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is Capital One's first-ever premium credit card, and it's a great value if you want a Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited visits, restaurant access, and two free guests (additional guests cost $27).

Its annual fee of Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is lower than similar travel rewards cards, and you'll also get access to Plaza Premium Lounges and Capital One's new airport lounges, the first of which recently opened at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), with a second opening next year in Denver (DEN).

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is also an affordable choice if you want your authorized users to receive Priority Pass access as well. You can add up to four authorized users for free, and each gets their own Priority Pass Select membership and Plaza Premium/Capital One airport lounge access.

Capital One Venture X Priority Pass details

• The primary cardholder and up to two guests get unlimited free visits
• Airport restaurants are included (most offer credit for cardholder and one guest)
• Up to four free authorized users get their own Priority Pass Select membership with guest privileges

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (worth $750 according to our valuation of Capital One miles). In addition, cardholders receive up to $300 in credit toward Capital One travel portal purchases each year.

Amex Platinum

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers one of the most comprehensive airport lounge programs of any premium credit card, which includes access to the Priority Pass network as well as Centurion lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when you fly Delta), and several other lounge brands.

Primary cardholders and authorized users get Priority Pass Select membership** with complimentary admission for up to two guests per visit (additional guests cost $32). You won't get access to Priority Pass airport restaurants because this is an American Express card, so if that's important to you, another different card may be a better fit.

Amex Platinum Priority Pass details

• The primary cardholder and up to two guests get unlimited free visits
• Airport restaurants are not included 
• You can add up to three authorized users for $175 total per year and each gets their own Priority Pass membership with guest privileges

The Platinum Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 in your first 6 months of card membership (worth $1,800 according to Insider's Amex points valuation). It also offers a slew of benefits to help offset its $695 annual fee.

Amex Business Platinum

Small-business owners who travel frequently might prefer The Business Platinum Card® from American Express , which comes with the same Priority Pass and other lounge access as the personal version of the card. Authorized users cost $300 each and receive their own Priority Pass membership with guest privileges.

Amex Business Platinum Priority Pass details

• The primary cardholder and up to two guests get unlimited free visits
• Airport restaurants are not included 
• Authorized users cost $300 per year and receive their own Priority Pass membership with guest privileges

The Amex Business Platinum Card is offering a welcome bonus of 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership (worth $2,160 based on Insider's valuations). You can offset its $695 annual fee with valuable statement credits for airline incidental fees**, Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers**, and more.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is Marriott's premium credit card, and along with upscale hotel perks and statement credits, it also offers a Priority Pass Select membership for the primary cardholder.

Again, because it's an Amex card, there's no access to Priority Pass airport restaurants, and in this case, authorized users don't get their own membership.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Priority Pass details

• The primary cardholder and up to two guests get unlimited free visits
• Airport restaurants are not included 
• Authorized users do not receive Priority Pass benefits

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card currently offers a hefty welcome bonus: 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new card to make $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first 3 months (worth $1,050 in travel, according to Insider's Marriott points valuation).

There's a $650 annual fee, but in return, cardholders get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, Platinum elite status, and a free night each year after your card renewal month at hotels where the redemption level is at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Amex Hilton Aspire card

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card  is one of the best hotel credit cards because of the generous benefits it offers. Along with complimentary top-tier Hilton Diamond elite status, cardholders receive up to $250 in Hilton resort credits each anniversary year, up to $250 in airline incidental fee credits** each calendar year, and an annual free night valid at nearly any Hilton hotel.

Cardholders receive a Priority Pass Select membership and guest privileges (up to two per visit), but again, because it's an Amex card, restaurants are excluded. Authorized users do not get their own Priority Pass membership, either.

Amex Hilton Aspire Priority Pass details

• The primary cardholder and up to two guests get unlimited free visits
• Airport restaurants are not included 
• Authorized users do not receive Priority Pass benefits

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is currently offering a welcome bonus of 150,000 points after you spend at least $4,000 in your first 3 months of account opening (worth $750 in stays, according to Insider's valuations). There's a $450 annual fee.

US Bank Altitude Reserve

The  U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is a premium card that comes with a limited Priority Pass Select membership. The membership is valid for 12 months and comes with four free visits for the primary cardholder and four guest visits. Additional visits are $32 each, and authorized users aren't eligible for their own membership.

The card also comes with excellent Visa Infinite benefits including top-notch travel and purchase protections. Cardholders receive up to $325 per year in credit toward travel and dining purchases, which offsets most of the card's $400 annual fee.

US Bank Altitude Reserve Priority Pass details

• The primary cardholder receives a 12-month Priority Pass Select membership
• Four visits for the primary cardholder and four guest visits are free (including restaurants); after that, a $32 fee per visit applies
• Authorized users do not get their own Priority Pass membership

There's also a solid welcome bonus on the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card: 50,000 points after you spend $4,500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Amex Hilton Surpass card

If you don't want to shell out hundreds of dollars for an annual fee but still want Priority Pass lounge access, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is an excellent option. It has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (offer ends 10/26/22), but it comes with a Priority Pass Select membership that includes 10 free visits a year.

This is a good choice for less-frequent travelers who might not need unlimited lounge visits or care about restaurant credits. Keep in mind that authorized users won't receive a Priority Pass membership, either.

Amex Hilton Surpass Priority Pass details

• The primary cardholder receives a Priority Pass Select membership (no restaurant access)
• Cardholders receive 10 free visits total (for themselves and guests) each year; after that, visits are $32 each
• Authorized users do not receive Priority Pass benefits

If you open the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card now, you can earn an excellent welcome bonus of 130,000 points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership (worth $650 in stays based on our valuations).

Cardholders also receive automatic Hilton Gold elite status which offers perks like better rooms and free breakfast (currently awarded as a food and beverage credit). 

Amex Hilton Business card

Like the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card,  The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a solid choice if you don't travel often but still want Priority Pass airport lounge access. Again, restaurants are excluded, but this card's membership includes 10 free visits per year.

For a reasonable $95 annual fee, cardholders also receive Hilton Gold elite status and great bonus earning categories. Authorized users do not receive their own Priority Pass membership.

Amex Hilton Business Priority Pass details

• The primary cardholder receives a Priority Pass Select membership (no restaurant access)
• Cardholders receive 10 free visits total (for themselves and guests) each year; after that, visits are $32 each
• Authorized users do not receive Priority Pass benefits

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is offering a huge welcome bonus right now: 130,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the card in the first 3 months of card membership (worth $650 in stays based on our valuations). You can find out more in our Hilton Honors Business card review.

Other credit cards with Priority Pass lounge access

There are a couple of other credit cards that come with Priority Pass Select membership, but neither is currently available to new applicants:

• Citi Prestige® Card : Unlimited visits for the primary cardholder and up to two guests or immediate family (defined as spouse/domestic partner and children under 18). Authorized users cost $75 and get their own Priority Pass Select membership with the same guest privileges. The annual fee is $495 for the primary cardmember.
• Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card: Unlimited visits for the primary cardholder and no limit on the number of guests. Authorized users are free and receive the same unlimited guest privileges. $450 annual fee.

The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card is still available as an upgrade from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. If you've had one of these cards for at least a year, it's possible to call Chase and request to change to the Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card. You won't earn a welcome bonus, but it could be worth it if the card's benefits are valuable to you. 

What is Priority Pass?

Priority Pass is a network of more than 1,300 airport lounges, restaurants, and cafés worldwide. Many of these are independent lounges that aren't affiliated with a particular airline, but sometimes you'll find branded lounges — like the Air France/KLM lounge or Star Alliance lounge — at certain airports.

Many larger US airports have Priority Pass lounges and restaurants, but there are even more overseas, so having a Priority Pass membership is especially useful if you travel internationally.

You can find Priority Pass lounges and restaurants by searching for your airport on the Priority Pass website or through the Priority Pass app. Here you'll be able to check lounge hours, amenities, guest policies, and any restrictions to be aware of.

Priority Pass lounges

Typically, airport lounges in the Priority Pass network are off-limits to the general public unless you have access through a membership, airline ticket, elite status, or via a paid day pass. They offer a quieter, more comfortable place to relax before a flight, usually offering light food and drinks, free Wi-Fi, and sometimes showers or other amenities depending on the location.

International lounges are often nicer with better amenities and food than you'll find in US airports, too. Keep in mind that Priority Pass can deny access to its lounges if they are overcrowded — if it's busy, you may have to wait to get in.  

Priority Pass restaurants, cafés, spas, and more

In addition to airport lounges, the Priority Pass network includes restaurants and cafés at airports like Houston (IAH) and San Francisco (SFO). Priority Pass members can get anywhere from $28 to $30 of free food and drinks at participating restaurants.

The credit is usually enough for an entrée or snack and adult beverage — and this can be a great way to save money if you'd otherwise buy a pricey meal at the airport. Some airports have multiple participating restaurants, and there's no reason you can't use the credit at each one, even on the same trip.

Some airports also have other non-lounge experiences (like spas or rest suites) that are included in the Priority Pass network. In these cases, check the Priority Pass website or app to find out what's included in your complimentary visit.

Keep in mind American Express cardholders no longer get access to Priority Pass airport restaurants or most other non-lounge locations (like Be Relax airport spas). 

Be sure to check each restaurant's guest policy —  often the credit is for the primary member and one guest (as opposed to two free guests at most lounges).

Priority Pass membership options

If you want to buy a Priority Pass membership, there are three options:

• Standard membership: $99 per year and enables you to buy lounge passes for $32 per visit
• Standard Plus: $299 per year and gets you 10 free visits
• Prestige membership: $429 per year and includes unlimited free visits to Priority Pass lounges

All of these membership tiers allow you to purchase guest passes for $32 per person.

The Priority Pass membership you get from a credit card is called Priority Pass Select, which you can't purchase directly. It's much better than the publicly available memberships in that most credit cards offer some form of free guest access.

Credit cards with Priority Pass frequently asked questions (FAQ)