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Entrance to airport lounges isn’t only for fancy flyers and road warriors with elite status. Many credit cards with travel benefits offer lounge access and airline club memberships as a bonus. This isn’t just a minor benefit. A day pass in most airline lounges costs an average of $50 and an annual membership varies anywhere from $300-$600.
In domestic U.S. airports, lounge access typically includes complimentary coffee, beer, wine, soft drinks, light snacks, wifi, magazines and a place to sit outside the hustle and bustle of the main terminal. Lounges outside of the U.S. or those in the U.S. that cater to international travelers are often one step nicer with amenities such as showers, quick spa services (like chair or foot massage) and hot meals.
Looking to get into lounges? Here are some cards with lounge benefits that can help you:
- The Chase Ink Bold and Ink Plus cards both offer card holders complimentary membership in the Lounge Club program and two free lounge passes per year.
- The Platinum Card from American Express gives card members access to the new chain of U.S.-based Centurion Lounges opening across the U.S. A few Centurion lounges are now open for business in major airports, and AmEx is actively planning to open many more. (The American Express Centurion card and Mercedes Benz American Express will also get you into these lounges)
- American Express Platinum also gets you access to more than 600 lounges around the world through its complimentary Priority Pass Select membership.
- The United MileagePlus Explorer card gets you two lounge passes a year to United Clubs. (If you’re a diehard United flyer, the more pricey United MileagePlus Club Card also from Chase includes an annual United Club membership worth at least $500.)
- The US Airways Premier World MasterCard from Barclays gets you one complimentary pass into a US Airways club or Admirals Club now that US Airways is part of the new American.
- The Citi Executive AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard also has a steep annual fee ($450) but gets cardholders an annual membership (at least $500 value) with access to 40 Admiral’s Clubs worldwide, US Airways clubs, and 30 additional One World Lounges when flying Qantas.
The Qantas Business Class Lounge in HKG
Note that the rules of all lounges are different. Some lounges allow international access, some allow you to bring a guest or even two for no additional charge or a discounted price. If you aren’t sure what benefits you’re entitled to as a cardholder, it never hurts to ask, and it’s always worth the possibility of a free drink.
Happy Lounging!
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