There’s a scene in the movie “Unaccompanied Minors” where a rich teenager sneaks into a luxe airport lounge. That was my first exposure to this glamorous travel perk — an amenity I never thought I’d be able to experience myself. Last year, I left my job as a full-time personal finance editor to travel the world. Armed with my knowledge of credit card points, savings hacks and smart money advice, I figured out how to visit more than 36 countries on a budget.
I quickly learned that airport lounge access doesn’t cost as much as you’d think. You can typically snag a day pass for around $35 to $75. But if you play your cards right, you might be able to snag Priority Pass lounge access for free. Priority Pass membership can get your access to a network of over 1,600 airport lounges and experiences worldwide. Here’s how you can get Priority Pass airport lounge access affordably, and in some cases, for not extra cost.
The prices for an annual Priority Pass membership range from $99 for the Standard plan (with a $35 charge for each lounge visit) to $469 for the Prestige plan (with unlimited complimentary visits). If you only plan to visit a lounge once or twice a year, paying for a day pass or the standard plan is your best bet. But if you’re taking more frequent trips, you’ll want a plan that gives you unlimited access. Luckily, there’s a cheaper way to get it than purchasing the Prestige plan directly from Priority Pass: credit cards.
- Priority Pass membership grants access to over 1,600 airport lounges and experiences worldwide.
- Affordable ways to obtain Priority Pass airport lounge access through credit cards.
- Consideration of different credit cards that offer Priority Pass membership.