Priority Pass membership comes with specific premium credit cards, but the benefit varies by card tier and issuer
Priority Pass is a membership program that gives you access to airport lounges worldwide. Several premium credit cards include Priority Pass as a cardholder benefit, though the level of access — how many visits per year, whether companions are included, whether you pay per visit — depends on which card you hold. The cards that offer it tend to be in the $400 to $550 annual fee range, and the benefit is designed to offset some of that cost if you travel regularly.
Not every premium card includes Priority Pass, and not every Priority Pass membership is the same. Some cards give you unlimited lounge visits; others give you a set number per year and charge you for visits beyond that. A few cards include Priority Pass but only at the basic tier, which covers fewer lounges than the higher tiers. Understanding which card offers which level matters if lounge access is part of why you are considering the card in the first place.
Key Takeaways
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express Platinum, and Citi Prestige are the most widely known cards that include Priority Pass membership as a standard benefit.
- Priority Pass comes in three tiers — Standard, Standard Plus, and Prestige — and different cards offer different tiers, affecting how many lounges you can visit and what you pay per visit.
- Some cards include unlimited Priority Pass visits, while others cap the number of visits per year and charge you for additional visits.
- Priority Pass covers airport lounges globally, but the specific lounges available depend on your membership tier and the airports you travel through.
Cards that include Priority Pass membership
The Chase Sapphire Reserve includes Priority Pass Select membership, which is the mid-tier option. This membership covers over 1,400 lounges worldwide and includes unlimited visits at no per-visit charge. The card carries a $550 annual fee.
The American Express Platinum Card includes Priority Pass Select as well. Like the Sapphire Reserve, it offers unlimited visits. The annual fee is $695, though American Express offers various credits that can reduce the effective cost depending on how you use the card.
The Citi Prestige Card includes Priority Pass Prestige membership, which is the highest tier and covers the most lounges — over 1,300 locations. It also offers unlimited visits. The annual fee is $495.
Several other cards include Priority Pass at the Standard or Standard Plus tier, which means fewer lounges and sometimes a per-visit fee. These cards typically have lower annual fees. The specific cards and their benefits change over time, so checking the current terms with each issuer is necessary before deciding based on this benefit alone.
How Priority Pass tiers differ
Priority Pass comes in three membership levels, and the card you hold determines which one you receive. Standard is the entry level and covers roughly 1,000 lounges. Standard members typically pay $32 per visit after a certain number of free visits per year. Standard Plus covers about 1,100 lounges and includes more free visits per year before per-visit charges kick in. Prestige is the highest tier, covers the most lounges, and usually includes unlimited visits at no per-visit charge.
The difference matters most if you travel frequently or to airports where lounge availability is limited. A card that includes Standard membership might leave you paying out of pocket at certain airports, while Prestige membership covers more locations. If you travel to the same airports regularly, you can check the Priority Pass website to see which tier covers the lounges at those specific airports before choosing a card.
What Priority Pass actually covers
Priority Pass membership gives you access to airport lounges, not airline lounges. This is an important distinction. Airport lounges are independent facilities that may be operated by Priority Pass itself or by third-party lounge operators. They typically offer seating, Wi-Fi, refreshments, and sometimes showers or nap rooms. They are not the same as airline lounges run by specific carriers like United Club or American Airlines Admiral's Club.
Some credit cards include both Priority Pass and access to specific airline lounges. For example, the American Express Platinum includes both Priority Pass Select and access to certain American Express Centurion Lounges. The Chase Sapphire Reserve includes Priority Pass but does not include airline lounge access. Knowing what your card covers prevents disappointment when you arrive at an airport and find that the lounge you want to use is not part of your membership.
Companion policies and guest access
Most Priority Pass memberships allow you to bring one companion into the lounge with you at no additional charge. However, if your companion also wants lounge access on a separate trip, they would need their own Priority Pass membership or a credit card that includes it. Some cards allow you to add an authorized user who also receives Priority Pass benefits, though this varies by card and issuer.
If you travel frequently with the same person, it may make sense for both of you to hold a card that includes Priority Pass rather than relying on the companion policy. This ensures both of you have access even when you travel separately. Check the specific card's terms to see whether authorized users receive the same Priority Pass benefit or a different level.
Annual fees versus lounge value
The annual fees on cards that include Priority Pass range from roughly $400 to $700. Whether the Priority Pass benefit justifies that fee depends on how often you travel and use lounges. If you take four or more round-trip flights per year and use a lounge on each trip, the benefit may cover a meaningful portion of the annual fee. If you fly once or twice a year, the benefit is less likely to justify the cost on its own.
Many of these cards also include other benefits — travel credits, statement credits, points multipliers on certain purchases — that can offset the annual fee. The Priority Pass benefit should be evaluated as part of the full card benefit package, not in isolation. Some people find that the combination of Priority Pass, airline credits, and other perks makes the card worthwhile; others find that they would be better served by a lower-fee card and paying for lounge access when needed.
How to use Priority Pass once you have it
When you are approved for a card that includes Priority Pass, the issuer will send you information about how to register your membership. You typically register online or through the Priority Pass app, which generates a membership number and digital card. At the lounge, you show your membership number or digital card to the attendant, and they verify your access.
Some lounges also allow you to register in advance through the Priority Pass app, which can speed up entry. The app also shows you which lounges are available at your airport and their hours. Not every lounge is open 24 hours, and some have capacity limits, so checking before you head to the airport can save you from arriving to find the lounge closed or full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Priority Pass at any airport lounge?
No. Priority Pass covers specific lounges in its network, which varies by membership tier. Standard covers roughly 1,000 lounges, Standard Plus covers about 1,100, and Prestige covers the most. You can search the Priority Pass website or app to see which lounges are available at your specific airports before choosing a card.
What happens if I bring a guest to the lounge?
Most Priority Pass memberships allow one companion to enter with you at no charge. If your companion wants to visit a lounge on a separate trip without you, they would need their own membership or a credit card that includes Priority Pass.
Do I lose Priority Pass if I cancel the credit card?
Yes. Your Priority Pass membership is tied to your credit card. If you close the card or let it become inactive, your Priority Pass membership ends. If you later open the same card again, you would receive a new Priority Pass membership.
Is Priority Pass the same as an airline lounge?
No. Priority Pass covers independent airport lounges, not airline-specific lounges like United Club or American Airlines Admiral's Club. Some credit cards include both Priority Pass and access to certain airline lounges, but they are separate benefits.
How many free visits does Priority Pass include per year?
It depends on the tier. Standard members typically get a limited number of free visits per year, then pay per visit after that. Standard Plus members get more free visits. Prestige members usually get unlimited visits at no per-visit charge. Check your specific membership tier to see what applies to you.