Best credit cards for free Airport Lounge access for Families
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Centurion Lounge, Phoenix, Arizona
Why do we need lounge access?
Did you know the lounges in airports are not just for rich people or people traveling in business class? Before we had lounge access we never realized or understood how to access it. We never thought we would be able to take our family of five into the lounge, but several years ago we did just that.
Being at a lounge during a long layover or any layover is exactly what a family needs during travel. You can save so much money by visiting a lounge and eating and drinking there for free and avoiding expensive airport food. Most lounges offer free food and drinks. Lounges vary in services and offerings.
Centurion Lounge, Phoenix, Arizona
Centurion lounge is one of the top lounges and will give you access to a full bar and upscale food. Priority pass earned through any bank besides American Express will also offer a restaurant benefit at certain airports. In addition to lounge access. a cardholder can order up to $28 in free food for themselves and one other with the Priority Pass Benefit (which does not include the American Express Priority Pass).
Without these credit cards below, you can usually only access the lounge with:
1) A business/first-class ticket
2) Airline Status
3) A purchased day pass
If you are considering getting one of these credit cards below with priority pass access, you may be wondering how often you will be able to visit the lounges and where they are located. Go to the priority pass website and search for any airports you may be traveling to this year. If there is a lounge in that airport, the website will list it. Keep in mind, that the lounge may require walking to a different terminal.
Another thing to remember is if you do apply for a card with Priority Pass, you will need to enroll to gain access. Please do not go to the airport without enrolling and downloading the Priority Pass App. Once you are enrolled, you will have a barcode on the app for access. You will also receive a card in the mail.
Here is a summary of the top cards that give you complimentary access to lounges. Below the list, we break down our favorite credit cards for family lounge access.
Top Cards that give you FREE Access to Airport lounges
Capital One Venture X
(Our Current Favorite Card for lounge access)
Sign Up Bonus: 75,000 after spending 4,000 in 3 months
Annual Fee:$395
Annual Credit: $300 Travel Credit
This card includes access to Capital one lounges and Priority Pass Membership. Enrollment is required.
Guest Allowed: Up to 2 guests. Authorized Users get access as well.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
(Another Favorite Card for lounge access)
Sign Up Bonus: 75,000 points, spend 3,000 in 3 months Annual Fee:$450 Annual Credit: $300 Marriott Travel Credit
This card includes access to Priority Pass Membership. Enrollment is required.
Guest Allowed: Up to 2 guests.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Sign Up Bonus: 150,000 points, spend 6,000 in 6 months Annual Fee:$695 Annual Credit: Many credits, click apply here for more details
This card includes access to the elite Centurion Lounges as well as Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, and Delta Sky Clubs. Enrollment is required.
Guest Allowed: Up to 2 guests.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Sign Up Bonus: 120,000 points, spend 15,000 in 3 months Annual Fee:$695 Annual Credit: Many credits, click apply here for more details.
This card includes access to the elite Centurion Lounges as well as Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, and Delta Sky Clubs. Enrollment is required.
Guest Allowed: Up to 2 guests.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Sign Up Bonus: 50,000 points, spend 4,000 in 3 months Annual Fee:$550 Annual Credit: $300 Annual Travel credit, earn 3x on travel
This visa card includes access to Priority Pass lounges. Enrollment is required.
Guest Allowed: Up to 2 guests.
Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard
Sign Up Bonus: 50,000 points, spend 5,000 in 3 months Annual Fee:$450 Benefits: First Checked bag free
This card includes access to Admirals Club.
Guest Allowed: Immediate family (includes children up to 18) or up to 2 guests.
Chase United Club Infinite Card
Sign Up Bonus: 100,000 points, spend 5,000 in 3 months Annual Fee:$525 Benefits: Two free checked bags, 4x united & 2x travel & dining
This card includes access to United Club.
Guest Allowed: Immediate family (includes children up to 21) or up to 2 guests.
Sign Up Bonus: 150,000 points, spend 4,000 in 3 months Annual Fee:$450
Benefits: $250 Hilton Annual Credit, $250 Airline Credit
This card includes access to Priority Pass lounges. Enrollment required.
Guest Allowed: Up to 2 guests.
Our favorite card from this list and the card that make the most sense for families is the Capital One Venture X. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card and the Hilton Aspire card are great options too.
Let’s discuss them below.
Capital One Venture X
The Capital One Venture X has a $395 annual fee, but in the first year, you can earn that great welcome bonus AND a $300 travel credit. On the anniversary of your card will get the $300 travel credit again, making the annual fee only $95, plus you will receive 10,000 capital one points. The 10,000 capital one points are worth $100, so you can break even with that annual fee.
The Capital One Venture X give you access to Capital one lounges AND priority pass lounges and restaurants. Currently, there is only one Capital one lounge in DFW, but there are plans for two more Capital one lounges in Washington Dulles (IAD) and Denver (DEN) in 2022. These are some of the most luxurious lounges. They include chef-inspired food, grab-and-go food, a coffee bar, a full bar, relaxation rooms, showers, and a cycling and yoga room.
In addition Venture X cardholders have unlimited access to priority pass lounges and restaurants. There are over 1300 lounges in 600 cities across 148 counties.
Priority Pass Restaurant Benefit, Mustards Bar & Grill
Even with all these benefits, there are more. Cardholders can add up to four authorized users to their accounts. Authorized users can also gain access to lounges. When the parents each have a Venture Card (either as a cardholder or authorized user), you could get your family of six access to the lounge, since you can each bring two guests. However, if you have seven people in your family, you could add one of your children as an authorized user and that would enable you to bring your entire family to the lounge.
This is the number one card to get for family access to Airport Lounges.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
This Marriott card is a great card to keep in your wallet. Wait and sign up for this card, when there is a great welcome bonus. The limited card bonus just ended, but every few months it increases.
In addition to a great welcome bonus, this card also gives you an annual free night certificate of up to 50,000 points a night. With the recent changes to the Marriott Bonvoy program, you can now top off your free night certificates with up to 15,000 more points.
The card also gives you a $300 Marriott credit each year. This can be used for any Marriott-related expense. The credit is valid on parking or resort fees and room charges. It’s very easy to use and sometimes you can combine it with other offers on your American Express card. We consistently use the credit to pay for timeshare deals. More on that here.
With the credit, the annual fee basically becomes $150. However, you are receiving your free night for $150. You will get a much higher value from your free night than $150. Think of it as a discounted hotel stay. Last spring we booked the Wailea Marriott with our free night certificate and the nightly rate was around $1,500!
Air France Lounge, San Francisco
With this card, comes priority pass membership. However, if you only have one card in your family, you can only get two guests in. Both my husband and I have this card so that we can get our family of five into the lounge. Although the annual fee is high, we know we’re getting more in benefits and so we keep the card open.
Remember that priority pass through American express does not include the restaurant benefit, but still includes a large number of lounges.
The Hilton American Express Aspire Card
Similar to the Marriott Brilliant Card, you and your travel partner would each need this card to get a family of 4 to 6 in the priority pass lounge for free. If you are a Hilton fan, this could be a great card for your family. The benefits of this card definitely outweigh the annual fee.
Some of the highlights included are a $250 Hilton credit and a $250 airline credit. The airline credit can be used for airline incidentals, but the airline needs to be selected before use.
A free weekend night is included annually. Automatic Diamond Status is also a perk of the card, which will get you free breakfast and upgrades.
Remember that priority pass through American Express does not include the restaurant benefit, but still includes a large number of lounges.
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