There is nothing like Airport Lounge entering. With the right credit card, you can relax and enjoy free refreshments while waiting for a flight from general airport stress to a separate workspace.
But usually, that access is reserved for those with premium cards, e.g. American Express Platinum Card®. If you are going to keep your annual fee low, you may have accepted your fate to wait for the restaurant closest to the portal.
However, there are several ways to enable access to the airport lounge without paying a high fee.
This is our favorite card that won’t ruin the bank and take you through the doors of the lounge.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Lounge
Become an authorized user
Before applying for a new credit card, consider whether a loved one already has a card with lounge access and is willing to add you as an authorized user.
Authorized users can often enjoy the same lounge access as the primary cardholder and can be added relatively cheaply. If you can swing, this will give you the best effort.
If a friend or family member has one Chase SapphireReserve® (See rates and fees) For example, they can add you as an authorized user for just $195 a year. As an authorized user, you will enjoy the same lounge access – priority pass and chase the sapphire lounge – as the primary cardholder whose primary cardholder is much less than the $795 annual fee they pay.
Remember that as an authorized user, you won’t earn your own points or enjoy other benefits the card offers for the primary cardholder.
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Related: 7 credit cards with the greatest value of authorized users
Card with the lowest access to the lounge
Even if you don’t have a loved one who can (or is willing) add (or is willing) as an authorized user in their premium account, you still have some good options. While the cards below are more limited with the lounge access of the premium peers, they will take you through the lounge door for a fraction of the fee.
Bank of America Highly Connected Visa Card
Bank of America Altitude® Connect VisaIndature® Cards have no annual fees and are given priority visits four times a year. This card is an excellent choice if you are an infrequent traveler, or just pass by the airport a few times a few times a Priority Pass Lounge.
Bank of America’s highly connected information has been collected independently by Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
With a high connection, you will earn 4 points per dollar on travel purchases and 2 points per dollar on dining, streaming services and grocery purchases.
Cardholders also receive a declared credit of up to $100 per four years from Global Entry or TSA Precheck, an excellent privilege without an annual fee.
For more details, check out our full review of Bank of America’s highly connected.
Related: Best Credit Cards Without Annual Fee
United Explorer Cards and Joint Business Cards
You don’t have to get a premium from Manchester United United Club Card (See rates and fees) Enjoy access to the United Club network.
Both United ℠Explorer Card (See rates and fees) and Joint business card (See Interest Rates and Fees) Annual fee is $150 (annual introduction annual fee for first year using Explorer cards) and comes with two Union Club passes for each cardholder year (redeemable cardholder or authorized user).
The two cards also offer joint allowances such as United’s bonus miles, free check bags and a fast track to earn elite status, and valuable travel protection.
With the Joint Business Card, you will also earn bonus miles in gas stations, office supplies stores, shipping purchases and catering purchases, including qualified delivery services. Meanwhile, with the United Explorer card, you will receive a reward miles on your meal and earn a credit from Global Entry, TSA Precheck or Nexus.
For more details, check out our full review of United Explorer and United Chusperscars.
Apply here: United Explorer Card
Apply here: Joint business card
Capital One Venture X Reward Credit Cards and Capital One Venture X Business
Even if it’s in the premium credit card category, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business are worth the budget-oriented lounge access. Although their annual charges may seem high at first, they are still much lower than their senior competitors.
Additionally, the card comes with a $300 annual credit for Capital One Travel. If you can make this the most, your non-change fee is only $95 – a bargain, as it comes with an unlimited priority pass and Capital One Lounges.
As a cardholder, you will receive bonus points on your trip booked through Capital One Travel, which costs 2 miles per dollar. You will also enjoy valuable privileges such as reward miles for each account anniversary, as well as honors for global entry or TSA Precheck.
Plus, with Venture X, the lounge access is more than just the main cardholder. Authorized users (you can add up to four for no additional charge) can receive the same access, and each cardholder can also get two guests for free until February 1, 2026.
For more details, check out our full review of the Venture X and Venture X businesses.
Learn more: Capital One Venture
Learn more: Capital One Venture X Business
Related: Capital One Venture X vs. Venture X Business: Small but Important Differences
Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Credit Card
Another premium card, Atmos™ Rewards Summit VisaInfinite® Credit Card Offers some lounge access and costs $395. While the fee may be high, the allowance provided by the card can help offset it.
Cardholders will receive eight annual Alaska Lounge Passes (two per calendar quarter). If you already have an Alaska Lounge membership, you can share these passes with friends and family. Additionally, the card offers privileges such as priority boarding and free check-in bags when flying in Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines.
Additionally, you will receive the Global Companion of the Year Award, earn bonus points on Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines purchases and international transactions, and receive a fee for applying for Global Entry or TSA Precheck.
For more details, check out our full review of the Atmos Rewards Summit.
Apply here: Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Unlimited Credit Card
Related: Is this new space the best Alaska air lounge in the country?
Penfed Pathfinder Rewards Card
As a credit alliance card, the PenfedPathfinder® reward card flies under the radar. However, if you’re looking for affordable airport lounge access, it’s definitely worth a look.
Its annual fee is $95, exempts Penfed Honors Advantage members and provides priority access to cardholders and one guest. It is important to note that cardholders must pay a $35 lounge admission fee for each person (accessed per lounge).
Point Guy independently collects information about the Penfed Pathfinder Rewards card. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The card also offers $100 airline-accessed credit that can be used to cover lounge passes and win rewards on travel purchases with a declared credit to cover your global entrance or TSA Precheck.
You must be the one applying for a Pathfinder reward card, but you can become a member by using a PENFED and a savings account that deposits at least $5.
Related: Cash Back and Travel Rewards: How to Choose a Credit Card
Bottom line
Airport Lounge Access is a luxury item, but you don’t have to pay for the luxury item annually to get it. With any of these cards, you will be able to receive probation during your next long stopover, which costs much less than usually associated with lounge access.
Just a warning – a good life of one of these cards may convince you to waste more quality travel reward credit cards.
Related: How to choose an airport lounge to access credit card
