If you have ever been stuck at an airport during a long layover -- fighting for an outlet near the gate, paying $18 for a mediocre sandwich, and sitting in a hard plastic chair for three hours -- you already understand the appeal of airport lounges. Free food, open bars, comfortable seating, fast Wi-Fi, and sometimes even showers and spa services. The question is not whether lounge access is worth it. The question is which credit card gets you the best access for the money.
In this guide, we break down every major lounge network, the credit cards that unlock them, and the real math behind whether the annual fee is justified by lounge access alone. Whether you fly twice a year or twice a month, there is a card here that fits.
Types of Airport Lounges
Not all lounges are created equal. Before picking a card, you need to understand the landscape. Here is a breakdown of the major lounge networks and what you can expect from each.
Priority Pass
Priority Pass is the world's largest independent lounge network, with access to 1,500+ lounges across 600+ cities in 148 countries. This is the network most premium credit cards tap into. Quality varies significantly -- some Priority Pass lounges are world-class, while others are little more than a quiet room with coffee and crackers. The network also includes restaurant credits at select airports (for example, up to $28 per person at participating restaurants in the U.S.), which can be more practical than a lounge visit at certain terminals.
Who it is best for: Travelers who fly through many different airports and want the widest possible coverage.
American Express Centurion Lounges
Centurion Lounges are the gold standard of credit-card-affiliated lounges in the United States. With locations in major hubs like DFW, JFK, SFO, LAX, MIA, SEA, PHL, and more, these lounges offer chef-curated menus, premium cocktail bars, shower suites, and a consistently upscale experience. The catch: they are exclusive to American Express Platinum and Centurion cardholders, and they have become increasingly crowded. Amex has responded by restricting guest access -- as of 2023, guests cost $50 each unless you spend $75,000+ on the card annually.
Who it is best for: Travelers who frequently fly through U.S. hub airports and want a reliably premium experience.
Capital One Lounges
Capital One Lounges are the newest entrants in the premium lounge space, with locations currently open at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), and Washington Dulles (IAD). These lounges have earned praise for their quality, with hot food, craft cocktails, shower suites, and a design-forward atmosphere that rivals Centurion Lounges. Capital One is actively expanding the network, with additional locations planned.
Who it is best for: Venture X cardholders who fly through DFW, DEN, or IAD -- and anyone watching this network grow.
Delta Sky Clubs
Delta Sky Clubs are among the best domestic airline lounges, found in every Delta hub. They offer complimentary food, drinks (including cocktails), Wi-Fi, and shower facilities at select locations. Access has tightened in recent years -- Delta now requires you to be flying Delta that day, and access through the Amex Platinum is limited to flights operated by Delta.
Who it is best for: Delta loyalists who fly primarily on Delta metal.
United Clubs
United Clubs offer a comfortable space with complimentary snacks, beverages, and Wi-Fi at United hub airports. While they are a step below Delta Sky Clubs in food and drink quality, they are solid options for United flyers. The United Quest card provides a limited number of day passes each year, while the United Club Infinite card offers full membership.
Who it is best for: United frequent flyers looking for a quiet workspace between flights.
Other Airline Lounges
Airline-specific lounges from carriers like American (Admirals Club), Alaska (Alaska Lounges), and international carriers each have their own access rules. Most require either elite status, a paid membership, or a co-branded credit card at the top tier.
iNote
Many travelers underestimate how often they will actually use a lounge. Before committing to a high-fee card, think about how many times per year you realistically fly, which airports you use most, and whether you typically have enough time between flights to visit a lounge.
Best Cards by Lounge Type
Now let us look at the specific cards that unlock each lounge network -- and what else you get for the annual fee.
Best Overall Value: Capital One Venture X
Capital One Venture X Rewards
Best value premium card with lounge access
Annual Fee
$395
Sign-up Bonus
75,000 miles after $4,000 spend in 3 months
Rating
/5
The Venture X is the card that changed the premium travel card landscape. For a $395 annual fee, you get Priority Pass membership and access to Capital One's own growing lounge network. But the real story is the effective cost: the $300 annual travel credit through Capital One Travel and the 10,000 anniversary bonus miles (worth approximately $185) bring the net annual cost down to roughly $95 per year -- less than many no-frills travel cards. You also earn an unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, 5X on flights, and 10X on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
On Capital One's website
Best Lounge Network: The Platinum Card from American Express
The Platinum Card from American Express
Widest lounge access across multiple networks
Annual Fee
$895
Sign-up Bonus
Up to 175,000 MR points after $8,000 spend in 6 months
Rating
/5
No card opens more lounge doors than the Amex Platinum. You get access to Centurion Lounges, the full Priority Pass network, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Escape Lounges, and various international partner lounges. The $895 annual fee is steep, but Amex offloads over $1,500 in annual statement credits across categories like hotels ($600 via Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection), dining ($400 via Resy), airline incidentals, digital entertainment, and more. The challenge is that maximizing all those credits takes deliberate effort. If you will use even half of them, the card's effective cost for lounge access alone becomes very reasonable.
On American Express's website
Best for Chase Loyalists: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase ecosystem travelers who want Priority Pass
Annual Fee
$795
Sign-up Bonus
125,000 UR points after $6,000 spend in 3 months
Rating
/5
The Sapphire Reserve provides Priority Pass Select membership, granting access to the full 1,500+ lounge network. Following its 2025 refresh, the card now carries a $795 annual fee but has added significant new perks: up to $500 per year in hotel credits via The Edit and up to $300 per year in dining credits. Points are earned at 8X on Chase Travel, 4X on flights and hotels booked directly, and 3X on dining. If you are already invested in the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem with transfer partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest, the Reserve is the natural premium upgrade -- and it brings lounge access along with it.
On Chase's website
For a detailed breakdown of how the Reserve and Platinum stack up head-to-head, see our Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Platinum comparison guide.
Best for Delta Flyers: Delta Reserve Card
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
Delta loyalists who want guaranteed Sky Club access
Annual Fee
$650
Sign-up Bonus
125,000 miles after $6,000 spend in 6 months
Rating
/5
If you fly Delta regularly and want guaranteed access to Delta Sky Clubs without status, the Delta Reserve is your card. It includes Sky Club entry on Delta-operated flights, a First Class-eligible Companion Certificate, CLEAR Plus membership, and priority boarding. The 3X earning on Delta purchases and 1X on everything else is not particularly exciting, but the lounge access and companion certificate alone can justify the $650 fee for frequent Delta travelers. Keep in mind that Delta has implemented access restrictions, so this card provides more reliable Sky Club access than the Amex Platinum for non-elite flyers.
Best Budget Options for Lounge Access
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Hilton loyalists who want Priority Pass + Diamond status
Annual Fee
$550
Sign-up Bonus
175,000 Hilton points after $6,000 spend in 6 months
Rating
/5
The Aspire earns its keep through a combination of Priority Pass membership, automatic Hilton Diamond status, a $250 Hilton resort credit, a $250 airline fee credit, and a Free Weekend Night certificate. For Hilton loyalists, Diamond status alone (with complimentary breakfast and room upgrades) can be worth hundreds per trip. The Priority Pass access is a full membership, not limited to a set number of visits.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Lowest-fee card with any lounge access
Annual Fee
$150
Sign-up Bonus
155,000 Hilton points after $3,000 spend in 6 months
Rating
/5
The Surpass is the most affordable card on this list that includes any lounge benefit. For just $150 per year, you get 10 Priority Pass visits per year, Hilton Gold status (which includes complimentary breakfast at most properties), and solid earning rates of 12X at Hilton and 6X on flights, dining, and supermarkets. If you take 5-10 trips per year and stay at Hilton properties, this card is an excellent value play that adds lounge visits as a bonus.
Limited Lounge Access: United Quest
United Quest Card
United flyers who want occasional club access
Annual Fee
$250
Sign-up Bonus
80,000 miles + 10,000 for authorized user
Rating
/5
The United Quest does not offer full lounge membership, but it does provide 2 United Club one-time passes per year. Combined with two free checked bags, a $200 annual United TravelBank credit, and strong earning on United purchases, the $250 annual fee is reasonable for United loyalists. Think of the lounge passes as a nice add-on rather than a primary reason to get the card.
*Pro Tip
You can stack lounge access strategies. For example, holding a Capital One Venture X for Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges alongside the Amex Platinum for Centurion Lounges and Sky Club access gives you the widest coverage. The combined annual fees are high, but the credits and benefits from both cards can offset the cost significantly.
Cost Analysis: Is the Annual Fee Worth It?
Let us run the numbers. A single Priority Pass membership purchased independently costs $99 to $469 per year depending on the plan, and individual lounge visits run $30 to $50 each. Here is how to think about the value of lounge access from each card:
Capital One Venture X ($395/year)
- $300 travel credit + ~$185 anniversary miles = ~$485 in direct value
- Net cost after credits: -$90 (the card effectively pays you)
- Lounge access is essentially free, plus you are ahead
Amex Platinum ($895/year)
- $600 hotel credits + $400 dining credits + $300 digital entertainment + $200 airline fee + other credits = $1,500+ in credits
- Net cost if you maximize credits: $0 or negative
- Reality check: Most cardholders use 50-70% of credits, putting net cost at $200-$400
- Lounge access across 4+ networks is a strong bonus on top
Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795/year)
- $500 hotel credits + $300 dining credits = $800 in core credits
- Net cost after credits: -$5 to $795 depending on usage
- Priority Pass alone is worth $200-$400 for moderate travelers
Hilton Surpass ($150/year)
- 10 Priority Pass visits worth $300-$500 at standard rates
- Plus Hilton Gold status (breakfast value: $20-$40/night at Hilton)
- Net cost of card for lounge access: as low as $0 with just 5 lounge visits
| Card | Annual Fee | Credits That Offset | Effective Cost | Lounge Visits to Break Even | |---|---|---|---|---| | Capital One Venture X | $395 | ~$485 | -$90 | 0 (free) | | Amex Platinum | $895 | $1,500+ | $0-$400 | 0-10 visits | | Chase Sapphire Reserve | $795 | $800 | $0-$795 | 0-20 visits | | Delta Reserve | $650 | CLEAR ($199) + Companion Cert | $200-$400 | 5-10 visits | | Hilton Aspire | $550 | $500+ | $0-$50 | 1-2 visits | | Hilton Surpass | $150 | Gold status value | $0-$150 | 3-5 visits | | United Quest | $250 | $200 TravelBank | $50 | 2 passes only |
*Pro Tip
The Capital One Venture X has the strongest pure cost argument for lounge access. After the $300 travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles, the card costs roughly $95 per year -- and that is before counting the sign-up bonus. For anyone who takes at least two or three trips per year, this is the easiest card to justify.
Full Comparison Table
Here is a side-by-side view of every card with lounge access discussed in this guide:
| Card | Annual Fee | Lounge Networks | Guest Policy | Other Key Perks | |---|---|---|---|---| | Capital One Venture X | $395 | Priority Pass, Capital One Lounges | 2 free guests | $300 travel credit, 10K anniversary miles, 2X on everything | | Amex Platinum | $895 | Centurion, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club (on Delta flights), Escape Lounges | $50/guest (free if $75K+ spend) | $1,500+ in credits, 5X flights, Marriott/Hilton Gold | | Chase Sapphire Reserve | $795 | Priority Pass | 2 free guests | $500 hotel + $300 dining credits, 8X Chase Travel, 4X flights/hotels | | Delta Reserve | $650 | Delta Sky Clubs | Guests at $50 each | First Class Companion Cert, CLEAR Plus, MQM boost | | Hilton Aspire | $550 | Priority Pass (unlimited) | Per Priority Pass rules | Diamond status, $250 resort + $250 airline credits, Free Night | | Hilton Surpass | $150 | Priority Pass (10 visits/year) | Uses visit count | Gold status, Free Night after $15K spend | | United Quest | $250 | 2 United Club passes/year | N/A | 2 free bags, $200 TravelBank credit, Priority boarding |
Which Card Should You Get?
Choosing the right lounge-access card depends on how you travel. Here are our recommendations by traveler type:
If you want the best value with the lowest risk: Get the Capital One Venture X. The math works in your favor from day one, the lounge network is solid and growing, and the 2X earning on everything keeps things simple. This is the card we recommend to most people asking about lounge access for the first time.
If you want the absolute widest lounge access: Get the Amex Platinum. No other card opens as many doors. Between Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Clubs, and partner lounges, you will rarely be without an option at a major airport. Be prepared to work to maximize the credits.
If you are deep in the Chase ecosystem: Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Priority Pass access combined with the best transfer partner lineup in the industry (Hyatt, United, Southwest, and more) makes this the right choice for Chase loyalists. The updated credits help offset the higher annual fee.
If you fly Delta more than 10 times per year: Get the Delta Reserve. Guaranteed Sky Club access plus the Companion Certificate can save you more than the annual fee on a single trip.
If you want lounge access on a budget: Get the Hilton Surpass. At $150 per year with 10 Priority Pass visits, it is the cheapest way to get into airport lounges with a credit card. The Hilton Gold status is a valuable bonus.
If you are a Hilton loyalist and want premium perks: Get the Hilton Aspire. Diamond status, unlimited Priority Pass, and over $500 in annual credits make this a strong all-around card for Hilton travelers.
iNote
Annual fees, benefits, and lounge access policies change frequently. Card issuers can modify terms at any time. We verify this information regularly, but always confirm current terms on the issuer's website before applying. See our full credit card comparison page for the latest details.
Related reading:
- All Credit Cards We Recommend -- Our full card comparison hub
- Airport Lounge Directory -- Find lounges at your airport
- Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Platinum -- A detailed head-to-head comparison
- Card Comparison Tool -- Build your own side-by-side comparison