Beyond the shrinking plane seats, limited
plane amenities and constant travel delays, most airports are crowded, loud and
downright uncomfortable to spend much time in. Food and drink in the airport
are so overpriced that it's almost laughable, and most meals in the terminal
are disappointing, to boot.
Enter the airport lounge, which provides travelers with
a quiet, relaxing space to unwind before travel or between flights at airports
worldwide. While lounge amenities vary, most offer some snacks and drinks (or
even full-fledged meals), free internet service and comfortable spaces to sit
and work. Some of the best airport lounges worldwide even have
miniature spas and shower suites that let you freshen up before a big trip.
How can you get access to these exclusive
spaces? The best ways to get airport lounge access in 2025 can dramatically
improve your flying experience for years to come.
Fly In a Premium Cabin
While airline policies vary, most offer some
sort of airport lounge access if you're flying in a premium cabin (Business or First class) on a long-haul flight
across the world. This means you get lounge access for that specific flight
only ¡ª if you're willing to pay a premium to avoid the economy flying
experience.
What do specific airline policies look like?
With American Airlines, for example, customers in
First or Business on a qualifying departing or arriving international,
transcontinental or other domestic flight marketed and operated by American, a
oneworld partner airline or marketed by Aer Lingus and operated by American can
enter an eligible lounge.
Reach Elite Status
Some frequent flyer programs let their elite
members enter their lounges when they fly with the airline or an eligible
partner airline. However, this is typically only for long-haul international
flights with departure and arrival pairings that vary by carrier.
There are also programs that let their elite
members choose lounge membership as one of their benefits. For example, Delta
Diamond members can choose from Choice Benefits in 2025, including an Executive
or Individual Delta Sky Club membership.
You may also get access to airport lounges if
you fly with an airline that partners with the airline you have status with.
Suppose you have top-tier elite status with a SkyTeam partner like Delta Air
Lines or Virgin Atlantic, for example. In that case, you automatically qualify
for SkyTeam Elite Plus status and get lounge access when you fly
internationally on a partner airline.
Look Into Travel Credit Cards
Some travel credit cards also offer airport lounge
membership as a cardholder perk, although their annual fees tend to be on the
high side. For $550 or $695, respectively, individuals can get the Chase
Sapphire Reserve or the Platinum Card from American Express, both of which offer
Priority Pass Select membership with entry into more than 1,500 airport lounges
around the world. The Platinum Card from American Express also offers access to
Amex Centurion lounges and Delta Sky Clubs when flying with Delta.
There are also co-branded airline credit cards
that offer entry into eligible lounges for a higher annual fee. An example is
the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card, which requires a $650 annual
fee each year but includes 15 visits to Delta Sky Clubs annually.
Buy an Annual Membership
You can also purchase an airport lounge
membership that works with specific air carrier lounges, or you can opt for a
general lounge program like Priority Pass. A Priority Pass Prestige
membership will set you back $469 per year, including entry into more than
1,700 airport lounges and experiences worldwide. The benefit of this kind of
membership is the fact you can use Priority Pass lounges regardless of which
airline you fly with on a specific day.
If you always fly with one carrier, on the
other hand, you may want to go with an airline-specific lounge program. For
example, you can buy a traditional United Club membership for an annual cost of
$650 or 85,000 miles. Admirals Club membership with American Airlines would set
you back a minimum of $850 per year (or 85,000 miles) for new members.
Buy a Day Pass
Some airport lounges also offer day passes,
which can help you take advantage of them without making a big financial
commitment each year. The problem with day passes is that they're offered on a first-come,
first-served basis. This means you may not even be able to pay to get into a
lounge if it's crowded and you're traveling during a busy time.
Lounge day passes can also be expensive, thus
making them difficult to justify if you only have a short layover. For example,
if you want to buy a day pass for an Admirals Club lounge, they're offered for $79
or 7,900 American AAdvantage miles based on availability.
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