What Priority Pass gives you and how to use it
Priority Pass is a membership program that lets you enter airport lounges around the world without paying per visit. When you hold certain premium credit cards, the card issuer includes Priority Pass membership as a benefit — you don't buy it separately. You show your Priority Pass membership card or app at the lounge entrance, and you're admitted. Most cardholders get unlimited lounge visits included, though a few cards limit the number of free visits per year and charge a fee for visits beyond that.
The card issuer pays Priority Pass an annual fee on your behalf, and that cost is built into the card's annual fee. You never see an invoice for Priority Pass itself. When you travel, you use the membership to skip airport restaurant lines, access quieter seating, and sometimes get food, drinks, and shower facilities — depending on which lounge you visit and which tier of Priority Pass membership your card includes.
Priority Pass operates over 1,400 lounges globally, but not every airport has one. Before you rely on Priority Pass for a specific trip, check the Priority Pass website or app to confirm a lounge exists at your departure airport. Some airports have multiple lounges; others have none.
Key Takeaways
- Priority Pass membership comes free with certain premium credit cards; the card issuer pays the annual membership fee as part of your card benefits.
- You access lounges by showing your Priority Pass card or mobile app at the lounge entrance — no separate booking or payment required per visit.
- Most premium cards include unlimited lounge visits, but a few cards cap free visits and charge per additional visit in the same year.
- Priority Pass operates over 1,400 lounges worldwide, but availability varies by airport, so confirm a lounge exists at your departure city before you travel.
- Lounge amenities differ by location but typically include seating, food, drinks, and sometimes showers or business services.
Which credit cards include Priority Pass and what tier you get
Premium travel cards from major issuers — American Express, Chase, Citi, and Capital One — include Priority Pass as a standard benefit. The specific tier of membership varies by card. Most cards include Priority Pass Select, which covers unlimited visits to most lounges in the network. A smaller number of cards include Priority Pass Prestige, a higher tier with additional perks like spa access and restaurant discounts at some locations.
The card issuer determines which tier comes with your card, and that tier is fixed — you cannot upgrade to a higher tier using Priority Pass membership alone. If you want to know which tier your card includes, check the benefits guide that came with your card or log into your card account online and search for "Priority Pass" in the benefits section.
Some cards also include a guest policy: you may be able to bring one or more companions into the lounge with you at no extra charge. Others require each guest to pay a per-visit fee. Read your card's benefits guide to confirm whether guests are included.
How to enroll and access your membership
After your credit card is approved and activated, you need to enroll in Priority Pass through the card issuer's website or app. The card issuer provides a link to the Priority Pass enrollment page, usually in your online account under "Benefits" or "Rewards." You'll create a Priority Pass account, provide your name and email, and receive a membership number and digital card.
Once enrolled, you can access lounges in two ways: show your physical Priority Pass card at the lounge entrance, or use the Priority Pass mobile app to display your membership card on your phone. The app also shows lounge locations, hours, and amenities near your current airport. read the app before you travel so you have it available even if you lose cell service.
Enrollment usually takes a few minutes, but it's a separate step from card approval. Don't assume you're automatically enrolled — you must complete the enrollment process yourself. If you don't enroll, you won't have a membership number or card to present at the lounge.
What lounges cost and what you actually get inside
You pay nothing per visit when you use Priority Pass through your credit card. The card issuer covers the membership fee. However, some lounges charge a fee to Priority Pass members for certain services — typically alcohol, premium food items, or spa services beyond the basic amenities. These à la carte charges are separate from lounge entry and vary by lounge.
Standard lounge amenities usually include comfortable seating, complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, and charging stations. Many lounges offer hot food, alcoholic drinks, and shower facilities, but not all. A few lounges in major hubs offer spa services, business centers, or sleeping pods, though these are less common and may carry extra charges even for Priority Pass members.
Lounge quality and size vary widely. A lounge at a small regional airport may be a single room with a few chairs and a coffee station. A lounge at a major international hub may span thousands of square feet with multiple dining areas, showers, and quiet zones. Check the Priority Pass app before your trip to see photos and reviews of the specific lounge you plan to visit.
Limits on visits and what happens if you exceed them
Most premium credit cards include unlimited Priority Pass visits at no charge. However, a few cards cap the number of free visits per year — typically between 10 and 12 — and charge a per-visit fee for additional visits beyond that cap. Check your card's benefits guide to see whether your card has a visit limit.
If your card includes unlimited visits and you visit a lounge, you won't be charged. If your card caps visits and you've used all your free visits for the year, you'll be asked to pay a per-visit fee at the lounge entrance — usually between $25 and $35 — or you can decline entry. The fee is not automatically charged to your credit card; you pay it directly at the lounge.
Visit limits reset on your card's anniversary date, not on the calendar year. If your card anniversary is in March, your visit count resets in March each year.
When Priority Pass doesn't work and what to do instead
Priority Pass membership doesn't may provide lounge entry in every situation. Some airports have no Priority Pass lounges at all. Some airlines operate private lounges that don't participate in the Priority Pass network — for example, certain airline-specific lounges are off-limits to Priority Pass members. And some lounges are temporarily closed for renovation or staffing issues.
If you arrive at an airport and find no Priority Pass lounge, or the lounge is full and not admitting new guests, you have limited options. Some premium credit cards include other lounge benefits — for example, American Express Platinum includes access to American Express Centurion Lounges and some airline lounges independent of Priority Pass. Check your card's full benefits list to see what other lounge access you may have.
If your card includes only Priority Pass and no lounge is available, you can purchase a day pass to a lounge directly through the lounge operator or through apps like Lounge Club or Plaza Premium, though these typically cost $25 to $50 per visit. Some airports also have paid lounges operated by airlines or independent operators that don't require membership.
How Priority Pass compares to other lounge programs
Priority Pass is the largest independent lounge network, but it's not the only way to access airport lounges. Some premium cards include airline-specific lounge access — for example, Chase Sapphire Reserve includes Priority Pass but also includes some United Club passes. American Express Platinum includes Centurion Lounges and some airline lounges in addition to Priority Pass. Capital One Venture X includes Capital One Lounge access plus Priority Pass.
The advantage of Priority Pass is breadth: 1,400 lounges across many airports and airlines. The disadvantage is inconsistency — lounge quality and amenities vary more than they do in airline-branded lounges, which follow a single brand standard. If you fly the same airline most of the time, an airline-specific lounge benefit may be more useful than Priority Pass. If you fly different airlines or travel internationally, Priority Pass covers more ground.
Some travelers hold multiple premium cards to layer lounge benefits. For example, you might hold both a Chase card with Priority Pass and an American Express card with Centurion Lounges, giving you options at more airports. This strategy makes sense only if the cards' annual fees and other benefits justify the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my family into the lounge with me?
It depends on your card. Some cards include one or more free guest passes per visit; others charge guests a per-visit fee, typically $25 to $35. A few cards don't allow guests at all. Check your card's benefits guide or contact your card issuer to confirm your guest policy. Children policies also vary — some lounges allow children free, others charge a reduced fee.
What if I lose my Priority Pass card?
You can request a replacement card through your Priority Pass account on the Priority Pass website or app. Replacement cards usually arrive within 5 to 10 business days. In the meantime, you can use the Priority Pass mobile app to display your membership card on your phone at the lounge entrance.
Do I lose Priority Pass if I close my credit card?
Yes. Your Priority Pass membership is tied to your credit card. If you close the card, your Priority Pass membership ends. If you downgrade to a different card from the same issuer that doesn't include Priority Pass, your membership also ends. If you switch to a different premium card that includes Priority Pass, you'll need to enroll in a new membership through that card.
Can I use Priority Pass on a flight I'm not taking?
No. Priority Pass lounges are for passengers with a same-day boarding pass. You must show your boarding pass at the lounge entrance along with your Priority Pass card. Some lounges are stricter about this rule than others, but the policy is universal across the network.
Does Priority Pass work internationally?
Yes. Priority Pass operates lounges in over 140 countries. However, availability is lower in some regions — for example, fewer lounges in parts of Asia or Africa than in North America or Europe. Use the Priority Pass app or website to search for lounges at your specific international airports before you travel.