Airport Lounge Access
We often get questions in the Travel on Point(s) Facebook group about which lounges folks can access when flying. The answer always depends on many factors. These include the airline and class of service you're flying and which credit cards you have. In this post, we walk you through how to assess whether you have any airport lounge access.
Updated 3/7/2026
Step 1: Are you flying in a premium cabin internationally?
Let's start simple. If you're flying premium cabin (business or first class) internationally, you will almost always have some sort of lounge access with your boarding pass. If the airline you're flying has a lounge at your departure airport, you will have access to that lounge. For example, if you're flying Air France business class out of Washington Dulles (IAD), you will have access to the Air France/KLM lounge. It's as simple as that.
If you don't know whether your airline has a lounge at your departure airport, check the airline or alliance website. Airlines and alliances have helpful information about their own lounges on their websites.
If the airline you're flying does not have a lounge at your departure airport, then you will likely have access to a partner's lounge at that airport. For example, if you're flying Iberia business class out of Miami (MIA), Iberia does not have a lounge at MIA. But you will have access to the American Airlines lounges at MIA since Iberia and American are Oneworld partners. Again, the airline's website is a helpful resource for figuring this out. The great thing about flying in premium cabins is that airport lounge access is based on your ticket. You don't need elite status or a special credit card to do this. Just show up with your boarding pass. It's that easy!
Step 2: Do you have Priority Pass access?
Priority Pass is a network of lounges (and restaurants) to which members have access, regardless of what airline or cabin they are flying. For example, if you're flying a domestic flight on Southwest out of Washington Dulles (IAD), you can still access the Priority Pass lounges at IAD.
Many credit cards offer Priority Pass membership as a perk. But not all Priority Pass memberships are created equal. Some allow for multiple guests to join you in the lounge. Others offer restaurant benefits, meaning you can use your Priority Pass card to cover food and drinks at select restaurants in the Priority Pass network.
To learn about the different types of Priority Pass membership and which cards offer them, check out this post. To learn more information about specific Priority Pass lounge locations, visit the website or download the mobile app. When logged in, you should only see the Priority Pass lounges you have access to.
Step 3: Do your credit cards offer any lounge access on their own?
Some premium credit cards offer access to their own lounges. Amex, Chase, and Capital One have each launched their own lounge networks. Access to each of these lounges is based on which credit card you hold, regardless of the airline or cabin of service you're flying.
Amex Centurion and Escape Lounges
Amex led the way with airport lounges, opening the first Centurion Lounge in 2013. The Centurion Lounge footprint has expanded steadily in the US (and also includes locations in London and Hong Kong). The newest Centurion Lounge concept is Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge with the first location opened in Las Vegas (LAS) in March, 2026.
Amex has Escape Lounges at smaller airports throughout the country. These lounges are smaller and offer fewer amenities, but tend to be less crowded than the Centurion Lounges. Escape Lounges are part of the Global Lounge Collection as discussed below.
Access to Centurion and Escape lounges is available to Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardholders. Guests aged 18+ cost $50 per guest. Those aged between 2 and 17 are $30 per guest. Guests below age 2 are free.
Access to Centurion and Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge locations is also available to holders of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card.
To check whether you have lounge access at your airport, search the Amex app. It allows you to search for airport lounge access by proximity.
American Express Global Lounge Collection
Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardholders also have access to Amex's Global Lounge Collection. This program offers complimentary access to the Centurion and Escape lounges discussed above, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club lounges (more on this below), and the following lounge networks:
- Plaza Premium Lounges
- Lufthansa (when flying Lufthansa, SWISS, or Austrian airlines)
Chase Sapphire Lounges
Chase is the latest card issuer to launch its own lounge network, named the Chase Sapphire Lounge, by The Club. Lounges are now open in:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- Reserve Suites at LGA (Reservations Only) (LGA)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN)
- Others are in the works for Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX).
Access to the Sapphire lounges is available to holders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Reserve For Business, J.P. Morgan Reserve, and Chase Ritz-Carlton cards. Card members may enter with up to two guests for no charge, additional guests cost $27. Priority Pass holders may also access the Sapphire Lounge once per calendar year. Additional visits and any guest visits cost US$75 per person, per visit, payable to the lounge.
Note that some Sapphire Lounges require reservations in advance, which can be made in the Chase Mobile app.
Capital One
Capital One launched its own network of Capital One Lounges. The first lounge was located at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW). There are now Capital One Lounges in the following locations:
- Denver (DEN)
- New York City – John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Las Vegas (LAS)
- Washington, D.C. – Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Capital One Landing locations are now open in New York City – LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Washington, D.C. – Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
A new location in Charlotte (CLT) is coming soon.
Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders receive complimentary access. However, in 2026 many rules changed limiting the number of guests. Prior to Feb. 1, 2026, Venture X Rewards additional cardholders and up to two guests could enter Priority Pass lounges and Capital One Lounges and Landings for free. No more. New annual fees or admission costs will now be required.
Primary account owners of these cards enjoy complimentary access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One Lounges and Landings (based on availability):
Capital One Venture Rewards and Capital One Spark Miles For Business credit cardholders can purchase passes for themselves and guests. Prices are $45 for those 18 and older, $25 for guests ages 17 and younger and free for children under age 2. (The non-cardholder rate would be $90 otherwise.)
Delta Sky Club Lounges
As of 2024, Sky Club lounges no longer grant unlimited access to Amex cardholders. Instead, some cards have a fixed number of visits per year, while other cards have lost the ability to purchase access altogether. Here is what the access requirements look like for Delta cardholders now (you must be traveling on Delta to access Sky Club lounges with your credit card):
- Delta Skymiles Reserve Card & Business Reserve Card
- 15 Delta Sky Club visits per status year (up from 10)
- Unlimited if you spend $75,000 on your card in a calendar year
- 15 Delta Sky Club visits per status year (up from 10)
- The Platinum Card from American Express & Business Platinum Card (not the Delta Skymiles Platinum card)
- 10 Delta Sky Club visits per status year (up from 6)
- Unlimited if you spend $75,000 on your card in a calendar year
- 10 Delta Sky Club visits per status year (up from 6)
- All other Delta Cards
- No longer have the ability to purchase access
Also keep in mind that a “visit” includes as many visits as you wish for 24 hours after checking in to any Sky Club:
A Visit includes all access to the Sky Club within a 24-hour period after your first check-in at any Delta Sky Club. This includes your departure city, connecting airports and arrival at your destination. If you are traveling on a same-day roundtrip, and use the Delta Sky Club for both your outbound and return flights, that would be included within a single Visit.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges
The Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Reserve For Business and J.P. Morgan Reserve cards offer access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges in the US, Canada and Europe. Cardholders enjoy complimentary access by presenting their card and an eligible departing same-day boarding pass for a flight operated by Air Canada or a Star Alliance member airline. Note: Authorized users may also access select lounges, but entry is not available for non-primary Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business cardmembers.Â
Guests are subject to a charge of $59 in the local currency of where the lounge is located. A list of participating Maple Leaf Lounges is available here.
United Club Lounges
The United Club Infinite and United Club Business cards from Chase offer complimentary United Club membership to primary cardholders. United Club members receive complimentary access to United Club lounges when flying United. Also, United Explorer cardholders also receive two United Club passes annually as a card benefit. It is important to note these United Club passes can no longer be shared or given to others.
American Airlines Admirals Club Lounges
The Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard offers complimentary Admirals Club membership to cardholders (including authorized users). Admirals Club members receive complimentary access to Admirals Club lounges when flying American.
Citi AAdvantage Executive cardholders who present their current physical card also receive complimentary access to Alaska Lounges. (Authorized users are not included in complimentary access to Alaska Lounges.) Access includes the cardholder's immediate family (partner and children under the age of 18) or up to 2 guests at no extra charge.
Step 4: Other Ways to Access Airport Lounges
A handful of other ways to access airport lounges exist. If you absolutely need to access a lounge, many lounges will sell you a one-time pass. Another way to access airport lounges is by having certain elite status with different airlines. The rules governing lounge access based on status are quite complicated and beyond the scope of this article.
Airport Lounge Access: ToP Thoughts
Understanding how and when you can access airport lounges can help you escape the hustle and bustle of the concourse and make your next trip more enjoyable. The right credit card can be a great tool to gain you lounge access when you're not flying a premium cabin.
