What Priority Pass gives you and how it works
Priority Pass is a membership program that gives you access to airport lounges around the world. When a credit card includes Priority Pass as a benefit, the card issuer pays your membership fee — usually $99 to $469 per year — and you get lounge access without paying separately.
You use it by showing your Priority Pass membership card (digital or physical) at participating airport lounges when you arrive. Most lounges let you stay for two to three hours. You can bring one or two guests with you, depending on your membership tier and the lounge's rules. The card itself doesn't get you in — the Priority Pass membership does.
What you find in a lounge varies. Most have free food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and seating quieter than the gate area. Some have showers, nap rooms, or business centers. Airport lounges run by airlines (like United Club or American Admirals Club) are usually not part of Priority Pass, so check the specific card's benefit details to see which lounges you can actually enter.
Key Takeaways
- Priority Pass membership is included with certain premium credit cards, so you don't pay the annual membership fee separately.
- You show your Priority Pass card at the lounge entrance; the credit card itself does not grant entry.
- Most lounges allow you to stay two to three hours and bring one or two guests, though rules vary by lounge.
- Airport lounges operated by airlines themselves (United Club, American Admirals Club) are usually not part of Priority Pass.
- The benefit only works at airports where Priority Pass has partner lounges, so check coverage for airports you use most.
Which credit cards include Priority Pass and what they cost
Priority Pass comes with certain premium travel and business credit cards. The cards that offer it typically charge annual fees between $450 and $695. Examples include the Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express Platinum, and Capital One Venture X, though the specific cards and their terms change over time.
The annual fee for the card itself is separate from the Priority Pass benefit. You pay the card's annual fee to the card issuer, and that fee includes Priority Pass membership. If you cancel the card, your Priority Pass membership ends when your card membership ends.
Different cards offer different Priority Pass tiers. The most common tier included with premium cards is Priority Pass Select, which gives you unlimited lounge visits and typically lets you bring two guests per visit. Some cards include the standard tier, which limits visits or charges per guest. Check your card's benefits guide to see which tier you receive.
How to use Priority Pass at the airport
Before your trip, read the Priority Pass app or request a physical membership card. You can do this through your credit card issuer's website or the Priority Pass website directly. The app shows you which lounges are near your gate and their current hours.
When you arrive at the airport, find a Priority Pass lounge using the app or by asking at an information desk. Walk to the lounge entrance and show your Priority Pass card — digital or physical — along with your boarding pass. The lounge staff will scan your card and let you in. If you're bringing guests, they enter with you.
You can visit as many lounges as you want on the same day, as long as each lounge is at a different airport. If you have a long layover at one airport, you can visit the same lounge only once during that layover, depending on the lounge's policy.
What Priority Pass does not cover
Priority Pass does not include airline lounges run by the airlines themselves. If you fly United, you won't get into United Club with Priority Pass. American Express Platinum includes separate access to certain American Express lounges and Centurion Lounges, which is different from Priority Pass. Check your specific card's full benefits list to see what lounge access you actually get.
Priority Pass does not cover lounge access for family members who don't travel with you. Your spouse or children can enter a lounge only if they are physically with you at the airport. It also does not cover lounge access at train stations, hotels, or other non-airport locations, even if those venues have Priority Pass partnerships.
The benefit does not extend to ground transportation, meals outside the lounge, or any services beyond what the lounge itself offers. If a lounge charges for premium items (like alcohol at some locations), those charges may not be covered.
Whether Priority Pass is worth the credit card's annual fee
The value of Priority Pass depends on how often you fly and which airports you use. If you fly four or more times per year and spend two or more hours in airports during those trips, lounge access usually saves you money on food and drinks. A meal in an airport restaurant costs $15 to $30; a lounge visit with free food and drinks is worth roughly $25 to $50 per visit.
If you fly fewer than four times per year, or if you only use airports where Priority Pass has few partner lounges, the benefit may not offset the card's annual fee. Check the Priority Pass app to see how many lounges are at the airports you use most before you sign up for the card.
Some premium cards bundle Priority Pass with other benefits — travel credits, points multipliers, or concierge services — that may justify the annual fee even if you don't use the lounge frequently. Compare the full benefit package, not just Priority Pass alone.
How Priority Pass compares to airline lounge memberships
Airline lounges (United Club, American Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club) are run by the airlines and usually offer better food and amenities than Priority Pass lounges. However, airline lounge memberships cost $400 to $700 per year and only work on that airline. Priority Pass gives you access to many different lounges across many airlines, so you have more options if you fly different carriers.
Some premium credit cards include both Priority Pass and airline lounge access. American Express Platinum, for example, includes Priority Pass plus access to certain American Express and Centurion lounges. Chase Sapphire Reserve includes Priority Pass but not airline lounge memberships. If you fly one airline most of the time, an airline lounge membership might be better. If you fly multiple airlines, Priority Pass is usually more flexible.
Priority Pass lounges tend to be smaller and less crowded than airline lounges, which some travelers prefer. The trade-off is that food and drink options are usually simpler. Visit a Priority Pass lounge at an airport you use frequently to see whether the experience matches what you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Priority Pass if I'm not the cardholder?
No. Only the person whose name is on the credit card can use the Priority Pass membership. Your spouse or travel companion can enter the lounge with you as a guest, but they cannot use Priority Pass on their own card or membership.
Do I lose Priority Pass if I downgrade my credit card?
Yes. Priority Pass membership is tied to the credit card. If you downgrade to a card without Priority Pass, your membership ends. If you later upgrade back to a card that includes Priority Pass, you'll need to reactivate your membership through the card issuer.
What happens if a lounge is full?
Some lounges have capacity limits and may turn away guests if they're at maximum occupancy. This is rare but can happen during peak travel times. If a lounge is full, you can try another Priority Pass lounge at the same airport, or wait and try again later.
Does Priority Pass work internationally?
Yes. Priority Pass has partner lounges in over 1,300 locations worldwide, including major airports in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Use the Priority Pass app to check which lounges are available at your destination airport before you travel.
Can I bring my children into a Priority Pass lounge?
Yes, as long as they travel with you. Children count as guests and are subject to the same guest policy as adults — usually one or two guests per visit depending on your membership tier.