Here's How to Get Airport Lounge Access With Your Favorite Airline

I never used to be a huge fan of airports. Paying twice as much for food and drinks, sitting shoulder to shoulder with strangers in uncomfortable chairs -- it's not exactly a fun way to kick off a trip.

That all changed when I got a credit card with airport lounge access. Since then, I've been able to stop into lounges before most of my trips. I've relaxed, I've grabbed bites to eat, and I've consumed my fair share of pre-flight drinks. I've even had the occasional pre-flight shower in an airport lounge.

If you want to get into lounges with your favorite airline, you could buy a membership to its lounge program. But you're probably better off with an airline credit card. Here are the options for Delta, United, and American.

1. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Lounge access:

• Complimentary Delta Sky Club® access when traveling with Delta
• Four Delta Sky Club® One-Time Guest Passes each year
• Complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve Card
• Terms apply

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has high-end perks for a hefty price tag. It charges a $650 annual fee (see rates and fees). That's still less than the cost of a Delta Sky Club® membership -- an individual membership is $695.

If you're a frequent flyer, it's worth mentioning that the rules on this benefit will be changing. Starting Feb. 1, 2025, this card will include 15 free visits per year to the Delta Sky Club®. You can earn unlimited visits by spending at least $75,000 on your Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve during the prior calendar year. For example, to earn unlimited visits in 2025, you'll need to spend $75,000 or more in 2024. Terms apply.

2. United Club℠ Infinite Card

Lounge access:

• Complimentary United Club℠ membership
• May bring one adult guest and dependent children up to 21 years old, or up to two guests

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is the most feature-packed United credit card. There's a $525 annual fee, but it includes a United Club℠ membership, which normally costs $650. Note that this membership doesn't get you into United Polaris lounges, which have stricter entry requirements.

If you don't fly with United enough to make a $525 annual fee worth it, another option is the United℠ Explorer Card. You get two one-time United Club℠ passes when you're approved for this card, and you'll get two more every year after that on your account anniversary. This card has a $95 annual fee, and there's a $0 intro fee the first year.

3. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

Lounge access:

• Complimentary Admirals® Club membership
• May bring immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and children under 18 years of age) or up to two guests

If you fly with American Airlines often, you can get lounge access with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. This card has a $595 annual fee. For that, you get a long list of air travel perks, including a membership to the airline's Admirals® Club (a value of up to $850).

Another perk of American Airlines credit cards is that they make it much easier to earn elite status. You earn 1 Loyalty Point per $1 spent on this card. It also offers a 10,000 Loyalty Point boost after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points and 90,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. You could earn elite status with American Airlines entirely from credit card spending, especially if you're a big spender.

Here are more options for airport lounge access

Airline credit cards like those are well worth it if you fly with the same airline regularly. So if you're a loyal customer to an airline, the best way to get lounge access with it is probably through its credit card.

If you're more of a free agent when you fly, you could be better off with a card that has a Priority Pass membership. Many premium travel rewards cards offer a complimentary membership to this program, which has over 1,400 lounges around the world. Here are a few cards that have this benefit:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

And if you want access to as many lounges as possible, you may want to go with The Platinum Card® from American Express. It's expensive with a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). But it has over $1,500 in annual spending credits and access to several airport lounge programs. Terms apply.

To sum it up, you have plenty of credit card options if you want to get into airport lounges. Most of them are expensive, but all these cards include lots of travel perks that could help you get your money's worth.