Priority Pass: How to Access Airport Lounges for Free With Your Credit Card Benefit

Priority Pass is a membership program that gives you access to airport lounges around the world, regardless of which airline you are flying or what class of service you purchased. With a Priority Pass membership, you can walk into a participating lounge and enjoy free food, beverages, comfortable seating, Wi-Fi, and a quieter environment than the main terminal.

There are more than 1,300 Priority Pass lounges in airports across 148 countries. They are run by airlines, independent lounge operators, and hospitality companies. Access is available as long as you are a Priority Pass member — you do not need to be flying business class or have elite status with an airline.

The most important thing to know is that many credit cards now include Priority Pass as a free cardholder benefit. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express Platinum, and Capital One Venture X all include Priority Pass membership. If you carry one of these cards, you may already have access without realizing it.

To find out if your card includes Priority Pass, look at the benefits section of your card's website or call the number on the back of your card and ask. If it is included, you typically need to activate the benefit through the card issuer's website before Priority Pass will recognize you as a member.

Stand-alone Priority Pass memberships (without a credit card) range from around $99 per year for a limited number of visits to $429 per year for unlimited access. For travelers who use lounges frequently, the math often works out in favor of a card that includes the benefit.