Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Long lines, delays and other unexpected hurdles can make flying stressful, even for the most seasoned travelers.
Want to ensure your upcoming flight is less of a headache? We've selected the best travel credit cards that include complimentary lounge access. As a bonus, all of our picks offer statement credits you can use toward expedited airport security programs like Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck®.
Best credit cards with airport lounge access
- American Express Platinum Card®
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- United Clubâ„ Card (see rates and fees)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees)
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
American Express Platinum Card®
Lounge benefits: American Express Platinum Card® members enjoy access to the following airport lounges (enrollment required):
- Priority Pass lounges (requires enrollment in Priority Passâ„¢ Select)
- American Express Centurionâ„ lounges
- *Delta Sky Club® lounges
- Escape Lounges
- Plaza Premium Lounges
- Lufthansa lounges
Security benefits: Receive up to $209 CLEAR+ Credit in the form of statement credits (subject to auto-renewal) every year. In addition, you can receive $120 in statement credits every four years for a Global Entry application fee or up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck application (through a TSA official enrollment provider) when you charge the application fee to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
*With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year.
To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Passâ„¢ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.Â
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.Â
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.Â
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.Â
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.Â
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.Â
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.Â
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.Â
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.Â
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.Â
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.Â
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.Â
- $895 annual fee.Â
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
Lounge benefits: The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card comes with access to American Express Centurion℠lounges and Delta Sky Club® lounges when you book Delta flights. Get 15 visits to the Delta Sky Club® per Medallion® status year when flying Delta or unlock an unlimited number of visits after charging $75,000 in purchases in a calendar year. You also receive four guest passes each Medallion status year to share the experience with family and friends.
Security benefits: Cardholders receive a $120 statement credit every 4 years for Global Entry or up to an $85 statement credit every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck (through an official enrollment provider).
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card's array of premium benefits make it a perfect fit for the most loyal Delta flyers, including elite status boosts, rideshare credits (enrollment required) and airport lounge access.
- Access to airport lounges, including Amex Centurion lounges
- Up to $560 in annual statement credits (Enrollment may be required)
- 15% discount for eligible Delta award flights (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.)
- High annual fee
- No bonus spending categories outside of Delta purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you'll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Lounge benefits: Capital One Venture X Rewards cardmembers can enroll in a Priority Pass membership and enjoy unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and Capital One Landing locations.
Security benefits: A statement credit of up to $120 every four years to pay for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
- Annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus miles after every card anniversary
- Unlimited complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges, including Capital One Lounge locations
- Long list of valuable travel and shopping protections, including return protection, rental car coverage and trip delay reimbursement (Benefit(s) only available to accounts approved for the Visa Infinite card. Terms apply.)
- Limited bonus spending categories compared to other premium credit cards
- High annual fee
- High credit score requirement (excellent credit)
Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Passâ„¢ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
United Club Card
Lounge benefits: The United Clubâ„ Card gets you and one guest (plus dependents under 18 years old) unlimited access to United Club lounges when you fly United or an eligible partner airline. Reach United Premier Gold status or spend $50,000 on the card in a calendar year and get upgraded to United Club All Access, which includes complimentary guest access for two adults and access to Star Alliance-affiliated lounges worldwide.
Security benefits: A statement credit of up to $120 every four years to cover Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS membership.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Lounge benefits: Get approved for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and you'll have unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required) and Sapphire Lounge by the Club locations.
Security benefits: A statement credit of up to $120 every four years to cover the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSMÂ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Lounge benefits: The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard comes with a full Admirals Club membership, which costs up to $850 per year. You can bring immediate family members or up to two guests for free into any Admirals Club lounge. For $175, you can add up to three authorized users, who can also access Admirals Club lounges when flying American Airlines.
Security benefits: A statement credit of up to $120 every four years to cover your application fee with Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is one of the best ways to get access to American Airlines' network of Admirals Club® airport lounges.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- For a limited time, earn 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
- Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
Balance transfer fee
5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
Who's this for? The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a rare no-annual-fee card that offers airport lounge access and a trusted traveler program credit.
Lounge benefits: You can enroll for a Priority Pass membership with four free visits per year. These visits include airport experiences and restaurants within the Priority Pass network.
Security benefits: You can receive up to $100 in statement credits once every four years for your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
- Intro APR for balance transfers
- Global Entry and TSA PreCheck® application fee credit
- Limited to four free lounge visits per year
- You cannot transfer points to travel programs
Using your credit card to access airport lounges
Once you have a credit card with an airport lounge access benefit, you may need to enroll to use the perk. For example, any card with a Priority Pass benefit requires enrollment before you can access Priority Pass lounges — meaning lounge access isn't always instant.
Every lounge has its own entry requirements. Normally, you'll need a same-day boarding pass and a government-issued ID, and you may be required to present a physical or digital lounge membership card or a credit card.
Airline-branded lounges usually require you to be traveling with that airline or on an eligible partner flight. For example, you can only access a United Club lounge if you're flying with United or on an eligible Star Alliance partner flight.
- How to access American Express Centurion lounges
- How to access Chase Sapphire airport lounges
- How to access Capital One airport lounges
- How to access United Club airport lounges
- How to access Delta Sky Club airport lounges
- How to access American Airlines Admirals Club airport lounges
Expedited airport security programs
Airport security can put a damper on anyone's trip, but expedited screening programs speed up the process by conducting a risk assessment long before you arrive at the airport. All the cards on our list offer statement credits toward one or more of these programs' application fees.
- TSA PreCheck: The cheapest option, PreCheck grants access to shorter lines at U.S. airports ($76.75 to $85 for a five-year membership).
- Global Entry: Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck and allows U.S. residents to also clear customs faster when returning from international travel ($120 for a five-year membership).
- NEXUS: Take advantage of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, as well as dedicated lanes and kiosks at U.S. and Canadian border crossings ($120 for a five-year membership).
- CLEAR+: Scan your boarding pass and use a retinal or fingerprint scan to get escorted to the front of the line ($209 per year).
Find the right travel insurance for your next trip
How to choose a credit card with airport lounge access
Many rewards credit cards can get you into an airport lounge, where you can enjoy comfortable seating, complimentary food and beverages and other amenities, including showers, massages and even dedicated workout rooms.
Choosing the right credit card with airport lounge access largely comes down to what lounges are available in the airports you frequent the most.
A card with a Priority Pass membership grants access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. These cards are useful if you're not loyal to a single airline or airline alliance. Many card issuers have proprietary lounges, such as Capital One airport lounges, Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club locations and Amex Centurion lounges. These lounges tend to be higher quality but have far fewer locations.
Co-branded airline credit cards are a great way to access a carrier's lounge network and are usually cheaper than paying for a membership. Delta, United and American Airlines all offer co-branded cards with airport lounge access. With this type of card, it's important to be aware of the entry rules because most airline lounges require guests to be traveling with that airline (or a partner airline).
Is airport lounge access actually worth it?
Airport lounge access is a headlining-grabbing benefit that's difficult to value. Part of the problem with this benefit is how hard it can be to use in certain situations. You don't want to get a card for this perk, only to realize it's not useful for your travel plans.
Depending on the flight schedule or airport, you may have few (if any) lounge options or they may be inconveniently located. Do you really want to show up at the airport early so you have time to visit a lounge that's across the airport from your departure gate? Also, many smaller airports do not offer lounges and a lounge visit usually isn't feasible if you have a tight connection.
If you travel with your family or a group, most lounge access perks have complimentary guest benefits. However, that's not always the case, so be sure you confirm how many guests you can bring with you and what the fee is if guest access isn't included.
On the other hand, the best airport lounges have a lot to offer. It's a great place to get away from the crowds, charge your devices, get work done or relax. Given the price of airport food, having access to a lounge can save you money as well. It's just important to not overvalue this benefit if you don't travel frequently enough to make it worth it.
FAQs
Which card is best for airport lounge access?
The best credit card for airport lounge access depends on a variety of factors, including which airport you visit most often, which airline you fly the most and whether you'll use the card enough to offset any annual fee. That said, American Express Platinum has one of the most extensive lounge networks (enrollment required).
Which is better, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck?
TSA PreCheck allows you to use expedited PreCheck security lanes at U.S. airports. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck and also offers expedited customs when returning to the U.S. from international trips, but it's more expensive and requires a more extensive interview for approval. If you mainly travel within the U.S., TSA PreCheck can make more sense.
Can I use my TSA PreCheck credit for someone else?
You can use your TSA PreCheck application fee credit for another person, although you may need to be present during the in-person interview to pay with your card.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed financial decisions. Every credit card list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards for airport lounge access and expedited security.
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Read more
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
Information about the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
