Which Credit Cards Offer Lounge Membership Other Than Priority Pass

Which Credit Cards Offer Lounge Membership Other Than Priority Pass

Last week, we highlighted which credit cards offer lounge membership through Priority Pass. While it is the most well-known lounge membership, it’s not the only lounge program out there. There are other credit cards offering lounge memberships of various flavors. Just look at this sign from a lounge I went to on a recent trip and the number of ways to gain access.

Let’s look at what other types of memberships are out there and then which credit cards offer them.

Lounge Membership Programs

As mentioned, there are more options out there. Let’s look at them in alphabetical order.

Dragon Pass

Dragon Pass is a paid membership that offers an unlimited plan to access their 1000 partner lounges. This membership is offered by Barclays cards in the UK. The number of 1-star and 2-star reviews on their app should worry anyone investigating it.

• Cost of membership: $399
• Visits included in membership: unlimited
• Number of guests permitted: 0, $31 per guest
• Number of locations: 1000
• Features in the app: lounge locations and information, digital membership card, request meet & greet services, restaurant discounts information

Lounge Buddy

Lounge Buddy was recently acquired by American Express but does not offer lounge access simply by having any American Express cards. It’s a pay-per-visit program operated through a website and app for info and reservations. However, the revamped American Express Green card offers an annual perk of $100 of Lounge Buddy reimbursements. Use your card to buy lounge entry and get reimbursed up to $100 per year.

• Cost of membership: $0, pay per visit
• Visits included in membership: 0, pay per visit, prices fluctuate during peak/off-peak hours
• Number of guests permitted: 0, pay per person
• Number of locations: 1000+
• Features in the app: lounge locations and information, digital membership card, save favorite lounges

Lounge Club

Lounge Club is another membership program owned by Collinson, owners of Priority Pass. Long story short, US banks offer Priority Pass membership, and those same cards offer Lounge Club when issued in the UK.

• Cost of membership: $0 extra, included in card membership
• Visits included in membership: unlimited
• Number of guests permitted: 2, then $27 each
• Number of locations: 700
• Features in the app: lounge locations and information, digital membership card, save favorite lounges

LoungeKey

LoungeKey is another membership program owned by Collinson. It’s also a membership offered by your credit card, such as Visa Signature, Visa Infinite, and Visa Platinum, as well as the World Elite Mastercard.

• Cost of membership: $0 extra, included in card membership
• Visits included in membership: varies by card perks, and app does not tell you the number of visits remaining
• Number of guests permitted: varies by lounge policy if guests are free or paid
• Number of locations: 1000+, worldwide
• Features in the app: lounge details and directions, membership number, save favorite lounges; does not offer digital card or tell perks level for your membership

Lounge Me

Lounge Me offers an unlimited lounge membership to over 500 lounges that you can even buy for 499 euros. There are also lower-tier options for fewer visits then paying per visit after these are exhausted.

• Cost of membership: 499 euros
• Visits included in membership: unlimited
• Number of guests permitted: 1, then 27 euros each
• Number of locations: 500, worldwide footprint
• Features in the app: lounge locations and information, digital membership card, games to earn points for additional visits on the lower membership tiers

Lounge Pass

Lounge Pass is owned by Collinson but offers an a la carte lounge membership to over 500 lounges. You can even pre-book lounge visits. This is a pay-per-use membership.

• Cost of membership: $0, pay per use
• Visits included in membership: 0
• Number of guests permitted: varies by the lounge you are booking
• Number of locations: 500, worldwide footprint
• Features in the app: no app available

Credit Card Lounge Memberships

Some credit cards offer lounge membership of their own, rather than a third-party offering. Here is a list of various co-branded cards with lounge access and lounges owned by the actual card issuer.  I have broken the list down by credit card provider.

American Express

American Express has a wide variety of lounge membership options from their credit cards, including their own and also Delta lounges.

Delta Lounges

There are several ways to access the Delta lounges via American Express cards. It’s important to note that you must be flying on Delta that day to use the lounge.

• American Express Platinum Card – unlimited visits when flying Delta
• American Express Business Platinum Card – unlimited visits when flying Delta
• Delta Reserve Credit Card – unlimited visits when flying Delta
• Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card – unlimited visits when Flying Delta

American Express Lounges

American Express offers its own lounges, which include The Centurion Lounge and The International American Express Lounges. Platinum (business or personal) card members also have access to US locations of Escape Lounges and Air Space lounges, plus worldwide locations of Plaza Premium lounges.

These cards are included in the program:

• American Express Centurion Card
• All 4 Types Of The American Express Platinum Card
• American Express Business Platinum Card

These cards all offer unlimited visits, regardless of what airline or ticket class you are flying that day.

Chase

Along with the Priority Pass membership offered with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, there are 4 different cards that offer United Club access of varying levels.

Personal Cards

• United Explorer Card – 2 passes to the United Club annually
• United Club Card – unlimited access when flying on United or a Star Alliance partner; authorized users do not get their own membership

Business Cards

• United Explorer Business Card – 2 passes to the United Club annually
• United Club Business Card – unlimited access when flying on United or a Star Alliance partner; authorized users do not get their own membership

Citi

The Citi Prestige used to be one of the better cards with lounge access but the card was cut off at the knees after the first year.  That leaves on the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite card that offers lounge access. This is one of the best options out there for lounge access since you get 2 guests in with you. But the real kicker is that authorized users also get access and can bring in 2 guests. The cherry on top, authorized user cards are free! The card does come with a $450 annual fee which is cheaper than buying a lounge membership directly.  You must be flying American Airlines to gain access too.

Diners Club

Diners Club offers its own lounge membership to card holders. All of their cards carry this perk, so you don’t need a card with a higher annual fee to access the lounges. However, the amount of visits/cost vary greatly.

• Cost of membership: $0, included in credit card
• Visits included in membership: varies by card
• Number of guests permitted: 0, cost determined by lounge; note: authorized users are not guests and fall under the normal user guidelines
• Number of locations: 1000, worldwide footprint
• Features in the app: find lounges, view benefit levels, lounge information

UBS Visa Infinite

In a very different approach, this card does not offer any type of membership. What they offer is an annual $500 lounges credit. If you visit a lounge where you have to pay (including paying for guests), they will refund you up to $500 per year. This can open access to airline-specific lounges that aren’t included in most memberships.

Barclays Card

The only lounge access offered from Barclays in the US is with their Lufthansa Miles & More card. With this card, you receive 2 passes per year to visit Lufthansa business lounges. The card has an $89 annual fee.

Final Thoughts on Which Credit Cards Offer Lounge Memberships

There are numerous lounge membership programs, and some come included with credit cards. If you visit lounges a lot, this is much better than buying a membership or paying per visit. To access the most lounges possible for frequent travel to a wide variety of locations, the question changes. “Which credit cards offer lounge memberships?” changes to “Which credit cards offer the widest range of lounge access without extra fees?” The answer to that looks like the American Express cards – Platinum, Business Platinum, or Centurion.

Disclosure: Miles to Memories has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Miles to Memories and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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