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Airport lounges remain one of the few respites from the craziness of air travel. And though some credit cards and airline loyalty programs provide selective access to the coveted spaces, the world’s largest independent airport lounge program is Priority Pass, which has lounges in more than 600 cities spanning 145 countries. Best of all, Priority Pass membership is a lot easier to attain than elite status with an airline.
Priority Pass does not actually own and operate airport lounges but rather consolidates them through a single membership program. The collection includes a diverse range of lounges, from airport-managed spaces and Plaza Premium lounges to Chase Sapphire Lounges, select Escape Lounges, and even lounges operated by major airlines. (The network’s app makes it easy to search for lounges by global airport code and terminals.) With Priority Pass, travelers can enter the lounges in the portfolio on their flight date, regardless of airline or class flown.
While you can purchase a Priority Pass membership outright, it’s often offered as a complimentary perk with select credit cards. Here’s a complete guide to Priority Pass: what it is, how to become a member, and how to bring friends and family into lounges—often at no extra cost.
How to get Priority Pass
There are multiple ways to get Priority Pass. You can buy membership directly from the company, get it as a complimentary perk by being a primary cardholder of a premium credit card, and also get it by being an additional cardholder on select credit cards.
How to buy a Priority Pass membership
It’s possible to acquire membership directly through the Priority Pass website. The three levels of membership (Standard, Standard Plus, and Prestige) all have an annual membership fee. Regardless of membership tier, the cost for a guest is $35 per visit.
How to get a Priority Pass membership for free
Despite Priority Pass’s published prices for membership, most travelers obtain it for free and even avoid guest fees. How? Several credit cards come with a complimentary membership at a special tier called Priority Pass Select. With certain credit cards, the benefits and lounge access of Select tend to be the same as Prestige plus a bonus of two complimentary guests per visit at most lounges. The credit cards include:
While Select membership may be complimentary in all cases above, enrollment is not automatic. You’ll need to activate your membership online through your credit card login or call the 800 number on the back of your credit card. Once enrolled, you can set up your membership in the Priority Pass app and download your digital card to your digital wallet. A physical Priority Pass Select card will also arrive in the mail. Note that keeping the actual card in your wallet or passport holder is a smart idea, especially if traveling to countries where Wi-Fi connectivity can be an issue.
Extending membership to authorized users
For credit cards, Priority Pass Select membership is given in the name of the cardholder and provides that cardholder with access to all lounges within the network. However, most credit cards also grant membership to authorized users/additional cardholders.
Authorized users of Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, and the Platinum Card from American Express are each entitled to their own Priority Pass Select Membership with the same access and two-guest policy (with the exception of the Chase lounges in the United States—more on that below). While authorized users typically come with a fee, the Venture X stands out in the premium travel credit card market by allowing free additional cardholders. It’s the only high-fee card to do so while still offering full lounge benefits. A primary Venture X cardholder can add up to four authorized users, each receiving their own Priority Pass membership with the ability to bring two guests at no extra cost.
What are Priority Pass lounges like?
As one might expect with so many independent lounges under one umbrella, not all Priority Pass lounges are created equal. In general, a Priority Pass lounge offers complimentary access to snacks or meals, alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, power outlets, and comfortable seating before most flights. Some, however, go above and beyond, featuring full meal presentations and artisan cocktails. Take Sala VIP Internacional at Quito International Airport in Ecuador, for instance—a stunning space with an alfresco rooftop seating area and a lunchtime spread that includes sushi, ceviche, and a manned sandwich station for made-to-order creations.
To help you uncover the crème de la crème, we’ve curated our own list of the best Priority Pass lounges worldwide. You might also explore the spaces honored in 2024’s Lounge of the Year Awards, where Priority Pass members crowned Vienna Lounge at Vienna Airport’s Terminal 1 as the Global Winner, based on 379,966 ratings and reviews submitted via the Priority Pass app.
On the flip side, some lounges fall short—ranging from mediocre to outright basic, with a few bordering on questionable. The least impressive often appear in airports with generally subpar facilities, where even a cold beer can feel like a luxury, despite being served on a cracked, well-worn leather couch under dim lighting.
Lounges these days often feel packed to the brim. Why? For starters, there are more premium credit cardholders than ever before. And with travel at an all-time high, peak seasons and rush hours are stretching longer than ever. In 2024, Priority Pass saw a 31 percent increase in lounge and travel experience visits globally compared to 2023.
What about overcrowding?
Lounges reserve the right to refuse entry when at capacity, and some even prioritize travelers flying business class with a partner airline. Personally, I’ve encountered waitlists at most Priority Pass lounges over the past year.
To address overcrowding, Priority Pass has rolled out a Pre-Book option at over 140 lounges across 100+ airports in regions like the United Kingdom, USA, South America, the Middle East, and Japan, with more locations being added frequently. You can prebook for these specific lounges through the app or directly on the Priority Pass website. Unfortunately, prebooking comes with a $7 per person fee. While I see this as a practical solution, it slightly undermines the idea of complimentary lounge membership. That said, I’m willing to pay the fee for a lounge I know and enjoy if it means guaranteed access.
There are other ways to improve your Priority Pass experience. Arrive early to secure entry and enjoy the amenities, try to fly during off-peak hours, and be sure to check out our full set of tips for avoiding crowds at Priority Pass airport lounges.
What’s the deal with Chase lounges?
Chase is actively expanding its network of branded lounges, currently featuring one in Hong Kong and six across the United States (Boston Logan, Dulles, New York JFK, New York LaGuardia, Phoenix Sky Harbor, and San Diego). Three more are slated to open soon: Philadelphia and Las Vegas in 2025, followed by Los Angeles.
All Chase lounges are part of the Priority Pass network, but there’s a catch. Priority Pass members with the Chase Sapphire Reserve enjoy full access to these lounges and can bring two guests free of charge, just like other Priority Pass lounges. However, Priority Pass members linked to other credit cards are limited to just one free visit to a U.S. Chase lounge per calendar year—regardless of location. Any additional visits cost $75 per person, as do guest entries. To clarify, this isn’t one free visit per lounge; it’s one free visit total to any Chase lounge annually. Womp, womp!
In contrast, the Chase lounge in Hong Kong operates under the standard Priority Pass Select rules for all credit cards, offering unlimited entry plus two complimentary guests.
Can I get into Escape lounges with Priority Pass?
Escape Lounges comprise a network of 21 airport lounges, with 15 in the United States and six in the United Kingdom. Historically, Escape Lounges have been tied to American Express as part of AmEx’s broader Global Lounge Collection, offering complimentary entry to AmEx Platinum cardholders and allowing them to bring two guests for free.
While the U.K. Escape Lounges had already joined Priority Pass, most of the U.S. locations followed suit in July 2024. Now, 11 of the 15 U.S. Escape Lounges are part of Priority Pass, adhering to the traditional entry rules, including guest access. These include lounges in Providence, Sacramento, and Minneapolis–St. Paul.
Unfortunately, my favorite Escape Lounge at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) isn’t among those 11. Thankfully, I carry both an AmEx Platinum and a Venture X, so I can still gain access when flying through FLL.
What’s the difference between Priority Pass and Plaza Premium?
Admittedly for those not highly familiar with the lounge world, it’s easy to get confused between Priority Pass and another name going around, Plaza Premium. While they have the same initials, they are indeed different companies, and we’re here to clear things up.
Priority Pass is the world’s largest independent airport lounge program while Plaza Premium Group (PPG) is the world’s largest operator of airport lounges. PPG owns and operates its own branded lounges and also runs many more under other names, including Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses in the United States, the Capital One Lounge in Dallas, and several Avianca Lounges in Colombia. PPG’s branded lounges are part of the Priority Pass network, although some of the lounges they operate on behalf of airlines are not. In short, you can enter Plaza Premium–branded lounges with your Priority Pass.
R.I.P. Nonlounge airport alternatives for credit cardholders
In addition to its lounges, Priority Pass includes numerous airport restaurants, cafés, and bars in its network. These so-called lounge alternatives offer Priority Pass members a food and beverage credit of $28 to $32 per guest at over 35 locations.
In the past, members with Select Memberships could access this benefit depending on their bank or affiliated card. However, in July 2024, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders lost this perk, making it the last major premium credit card to discontinue the credit.
As a result, Priority Pass cards linked to credit cards no longer provide this benefit at nonlounge airport venues. Be warned: Even if you see the Priority Pass sign, attempting to use your Priority Pass card at these restaurants and bars will likely result in the full charge being billed to your credit card.
Is Priority Pass worth it?
The Priority Pass lounge network offers travelers the chance to relax and unwind before flights at airports worldwide. With the right credit card, you can enjoy complimentary access to over 1,700 airport lounges—and even bring friends and family along at no extra cost. So is it worth it? As a bundled credit card perk, for sure. But to pay outright for membership, it’s a pass (pun intended).
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