Priority Pass:
Accessing exclusive airport lounges like the Priority Pass is a dream for many people, but in this Miles Logistic article you will find 7 accessible options that will make that dream come true.
As if the airport experience wasn’t stressful enough, passengers now have to deal with changing health and safety requirements and juggling vaccine passports and QR codes for COVID-19 testing, not to mention face masks, disinfectant products and more.
Taking a few moments in an airport lounge could be just what you need to compose yourself before a flight, especially now that many passenger terminals are getting crowded again. The good news is that resurgent passenger numbers have also prompted airport lounges to reopen en masse. Fortunately, some of the best travel rewards credit cards include lounge access among their many benefits.
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Some, like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® and the United Club Infinite Card, only take you to the airlines’ own lounges.
Others, however, such as the American Express Platinum Card®, Chase Sapphire Reserve and the recently launched Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card allow cardholders to register for Priority Pass Select membership and enjoy access privileges. to over 1,300 airport lounges and restaurants worldwide (unfortunately, those with Priority Pass Select membership through an Amex card do not receive restaurant benefits).
These are the ones we are going to focus on today, as we use the best credit cards to access the Priority Pass lounge.
Some of the most popular Priority Pass locations in the US include the Turkish Airlines Lounge in Washington Dulles (IAD) and the Air France Lounge in New York-JFK. Three Lufthansa US lounges – in Newark (EWR), New York (JFK) and Washington Dulles (IAD) – are now also Priority Pass affiliates, and members can once again visit multiple Alaska Airlines lounges.
Internationally, the SkyTeam Lounge in Vancouver (YVR), the ANA Lounge in Tokyo Haneda (HND) and the Ahlan Business Class Lounge in Dubai (DXB) appeal to the public, while the VIP Lounge in Punta Cana (PUJ) Terminal B still has the your own pool.
Given the large footprint of the Priority Pass, you may want to consider applying for a new card that takes you to their lounges, especially if you return to travel in the near future. Here are the details of the best cards with Priority Pass lounge access and the specific benefit of each.
Priority Pass credit cards:
Now that we’ve looked at the specific Priority Pass perks of each card, here are some of the other compelling benefits that each one confers.
American Express Hilton Honors Business Card
Earn 12 Hilton Honors Points per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio; 6x per dollar at US gas stations, on wireless phone services purchased directly from US service providers, for US mail purchases, in US restaurants, on flights booked directly with an airline or via Amex Travel, and for a car rented directly rental agencies; then 3x on other qualifying purchases. That’s a lot of earning potential!
Cardholders obtain automatic Hilton Honors Gold status (Diamond status with $60,000 in spend per calendar year) and a free weekend night reward upon reaching $15,000 in purchase spend in a calendar year.
Official app link: American Express Hilton Honors Business Card
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
If the Hilton Honors Aspire annual fee gives you a break, consider the Hilton Honors Surpass as it only charges $95 a year.
Card earns 12x for charges at participating hotels in the Hilton portfolio; 6x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations; and 3x for other eligible purchases.
Cardholders receive automatic Hilton Honors Gold status and can progress to Diamond status by making $40,000 of eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year. They can also earn a free Hilton Honors weekend night award after spending $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
Official app link: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card – Priority Pass
This card earns 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3 points per dollar at US restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2 points per dollar on other eligible purchases.
Cardholders receive up to $300 in statement credits each year of card membership for purchases at participating hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy program. They receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold car status as well as 15 elite night credits per year.
Each anniversary after renewal, they receive a free night award worth up to 50,000 points per year after the card renewal month at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels (some hotels have resort fees). Special rates for cardmembers on stays of two nights or more at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis are eligible for up to $100 in credit for qualifying charges.
Finally, this card is one more with a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application refund of up to $100 once every four years (4.5 years for PreCheck).
Official app link: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
The American Express Business Platinum Card – Priority Pass
Business Platinum Amex was recently updated and offers a range of annual statement credits, including up to $400 for Dell technology purchases in the US, an annual cordless phone credit of up to $120, and more.
Cardholders will now earn 1.5 points per dollar on up to $2 million of eligible US purchases per calendar year with:
Electronics retailers.
Software.
Cloud service providers.
Building materials and hardware supplies.
Transport providers.
Purchases of $5,000 or more.
They also receive a 35% discount when redeeming points through Amex Pay with Points for airline tickets on their designated airline (registration required) or specifically for business class or first class tickets on select eligible airlines booked on Amex Travel , up to 1 million points back per calendar year.
Official app link: The American Express Business Platinum Card
The American Express Platinum Card – Priority Pass
In addition to Priority Pass lounges, cardholders have access to Amex’s own Centurion lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Escape, Airspace, Plaza Premium and select Lufthansa lounges. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
The card earns 5 points per dollar on airline tickets booked directly with the airline or American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on those purchases per calendar year) and prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Cardholders can transfer Membership Rewards points to 21 partner airlines and hotels.
The card also comes with a list of perks, including an annual credit of up to $200 in incidental fees charged by an operator you select each calendar year, up to $200 in annual Uber Cash for U.S. Uber trips and Uber orders. Eats in the US among other credits that provide over $1,500 in potential value.
Cardholders are eligible for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee refund of up to US$100 once every four years (4.5 years for PreCheck). Booking stays through Amex Fine Hotels Resorts includes many value-added benefits. Cardholders can register for either Gold status with Hilton Honors or Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. Amex’s international airline program can also guarantee deep discounts on premium economy, business and first class tickets on more than a dozen airlines. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Official app link: The American Express Platinum Card
Citi Prestige – Priority Pass
Unfortunately, Citi Prestige is no longer available to new applicants. However, he earns a phenomenal 5 points per dollar on restaurants and air travel, 3 points per dollar on hotels and cruise lines, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Cardholders are eligible for up to $250 in annual statement credits each calendar year towards travel purchases.
Citi ThankYou Rewards points can be transferred to 16 airlines and two partner hotel programs and are worth 1 cent each when redeemed directly for travel through the Citi portal. Cardholders can book a free fourth night on up to two hotel stays per year by booking through the Citi Concierge or online at Thankyou.com. They are also eligible for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee refund once every five years.
Chase Sapphire Reserve – Priority Pass
Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the most popular premium travel rewards credit cards, thanks to its impressive list of benefits. Cardholders receive up to $300 in annual travel statement credits for a wide variety of travel purchases.
The card earns 3 points per dollar on travel and meals and now also earns bonuses in the following categories:
10 points per dollar at Chase Dining booked through Ultimate Rewards.
10 points per dollar on hotel and car rental purchases via the Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
5 points per dollar on air travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to 11 airlines and three partner hotels. Points can also be redeemed at a rate of 1.5 cents each through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, as well as select categories through the Pay Yourself Back program.
The card reimburses members up to $100 once every four years for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application and waives overseas transaction fees.
Official app link: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Capital One Venture X – Priority Pass
Capital One’s first premium travel credit card is a success. First, it offers up to $300 in annual statement credits for bookings made through Capital One Travel. Then you also get 10,000 bonus miles with every account anniversary (for even more free travel). Both perks help offset the card’s $395 annual fee.
Add in extensive airport lounge access (including Capital One’s own lounges and Priority Pass Select), excellent travel protections and car rental privileges, and we’re talking one of the best premium cards on the market.
Even better, the lounge benefits extend to authorized users – and you can add up to four for free.
Official app link: Capital One Venture X
