What Priority Pass membership means on a credit card
Priority Pass is a membership program that gives you access to airport lounges around the world. When a credit card includes Priority Pass, the card issuer pays your membership fee — usually between $99 and $500 per year — as a cardholder benefit. You get the membership for free as long as you hold the card.
The membership itself works the same way whether you pay for it directly or receive it through a card. You read the Priority Pass app, find a lounge at your departure airport, and walk in. Most lounges let you bring one or two guests at no extra cost, though some charge per guest. You get access to food, drinks, Wi-Fi, showers, and quiet seating — the exact amenities vary by lounge.
The card issuer does not run the lounges. Priority Pass is a separate company that contracts with thousands of lounges worldwide. Your card straightforward covers the membership cost that Priority Pass charges. If you cancel the card, the membership ends when your card year ends.
Key Takeaways
- Priority Pass membership through a credit card is free to you because the card issuer pays the annual fee, which ranges from $99 to $500 depending on the card.
- You access lounges through the Priority Pass app and can usually bring one or two guests per visit at no additional cost.
- Different cards offer different membership tiers — Standard, Standard Plus, and Prestige — which determine how many lounge visits you get per year.
- Not all airport lounges accept Priority Pass, and some lounges charge a per-visit fee even with membership, so check before you travel.
- The membership ends when your card ends, so you lose lounge access if you close the card or let it expire.
The three Priority Pass membership tiers and what each covers
Priority Pass offers three levels of membership, and which one your card includes depends on the card itself. The card issuer chooses which tier to bundle with each product.
Standard membership gives you 10 lounge visits per year. Each visit counts as one visit, whether you go alone or bring guests. Once you use your 10 visits, additional visits cost money — usually $25 to $35 per visit depending on the lounge. Standard is the least expensive tier for Priority Pass to offer, so it appears on mid-tier premium cards.
Standard Plus membership gives you unlimited lounge visits per year at no per-visit charge. You can visit as many times as you want, and bringing guests does not use extra visits. This tier costs Priority Pass more to offer, so it typically appears on higher-tier premium cards or cards with higher annual fees.
Prestige membership is the highest tier and includes unlimited visits plus additional perks like restaurant credits at certain partner restaurants and spa discounts at some lounges. Very few credit cards include Prestige membership because of the cost. Most cards that offer Priority Pass include either Standard or Standard Plus.
Which credit cards currently offer Priority Pass membership
Priority Pass appears on premium travel cards and some premium business cards. The specific cards change as issuers update their benefits, so the list below reflects cards that have historically included this benefit — but you should verify current benefits directly with the card issuer before explore.
Cards from American Express, Chase, and Citi have offered Priority Pass in the past. American Express Platinum cards have historically included Priority Pass Standard Plus. Chase Sapphire Reserve and certain other Chase premium cards have included Priority Pass. Citi Prestige has included Priority Pass as well. Capital One Venture X has offered Priority Pass membership to cardholders.
The tier you receive and the number of guest passes varies by card. A card with a $450 annual fee might include Standard Plus with unlimited visits, while a card with a $95 annual fee might include Standard with 10 visits per year. Always check the current benefits page for the specific card you are considering, because issuers change benefits regularly and without notice.
How to use Priority Pass once you have it
After your card is approved, Priority Pass will send you a welcome email with instructions to read the app and create an account. You will need your membership number, which appears on your card or in the welcome materials. The app shows you which lounges are near your departure airport and whether each one is currently open.
On the day of travel, open the app at the airport, find the lounge, and show the lounge staff either your digital membership card in the app or your physical Priority Pass card. They will scan it and let you in. If you are bringing guests, they will ask how many and may ask for their names or IDs depending on the lounge's policy.
Some lounges operate on a reservation system rather than walk-in access. The app will tell you if a lounge requires a reservation and let you book a time slot. A few lounges charge a per-visit fee even with Priority Pass membership — the app shows this before you enter, so you can decide whether to pay or find another lounge.
What Priority Pass does not cover and where it has limits
Priority Pass is not accepted at every airport lounge. Many airports have lounges run by individual airlines or by other lounge networks that do not partner with Priority Pass. If you fly frequently on one airline, that airline's lounge network may be more useful to you than Priority Pass.
Some lounges that accept Priority Pass charge a per-visit fee on top of your membership. These fees typically range from $15 to $35 per visit. The Priority Pass app shows which lounges charge fees, but you have to check before you visit. If you have Standard membership with 10 visits per year, paying fees for extra visits can add up quickly.
Priority Pass membership is tied to your credit card. If you close the card or let it expire, your membership ends. You do not get to keep the membership if you downgrade to a different card from the same issuer. If you want to keep Priority Pass after closing a card, you would need to pay for it directly — which costs $99 to $500 per year depending on the tier.
Whether Priority Pass is worth the card's annual fee
Priority Pass has real value only if you actually use it. If you fly once or twice a year, you may never visit a lounge. If you fly frequently but always fly the same airline, that airline's lounge network might serve you better. If you fly multiple airlines or international routes where lounges are common, Priority Pass becomes more useful.
The math is straightforward: if the card's annual fee is $450 and Priority Pass membership alone would cost you $300 per year, the card needs to deliver $150 in value from other benefits to break even. That might come from travel credits, points bonuses, or other perks the card offers. If Priority Pass is the only benefit you care about, and the card costs more than Priority Pass membership would cost you to buy separately, the card is not a good fit.
Many people who hold premium cards with Priority Pass never use the benefit. They keep the card for other reasons — points earning rates, travel credits, or status with the card issuer's bank. If you are considering a card primarily for Priority Pass, make sure the card's other benefits justify the annual fee in your actual travel patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Priority Pass at any airport lounge?
No. Priority Pass is accepted at thousands of lounges worldwide, but not all lounges accept it. Some airports have lounges run by airlines or other networks that do not partner with Priority Pass. The Priority Pass app shows you which lounges near your airport accept the membership before you travel.
What happens to my Priority Pass membership if I cancel the credit card?
Your membership ends when your card ends. If you close the card or let it expire, you lose lounge access. You can buy Priority Pass membership directly from Priority Pass if you want to keep it, but you will pay the full annual fee — usually $99 to $500 depending on the tier you choose.
Do my guests get the same lounge access as I do?
Yes. Guests you bring can use the same lounge amenities you can — food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and seating. Most Priority Pass memberships let you bring one or two guests per visit at no extra charge. Some lounges may have separate guest policies, so check with the lounge staff when you arrive.
Can I use Priority Pass if I am not flying that day?
Most lounges require proof of same-day travel — a boarding pass or flight confirmation. Some lounges are more flexible, but you should assume you need to show a boarding pass for a flight departing that day. The Priority Pass app notes any exceptions for specific lounges.
How do I know if a lounge charges a per-visit fee?
The Priority Pass app shows per-visit fees before you enter the lounge. If a lounge charges a fee, the app will display the amount. You can decide whether to pay the fee or find another lounge nearby. Fees typically range from $15 to $35 per visit.