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  • There are numerous credit cards with lounge access. The key is picking the right one that suits you, your airline preference, and airport in question.
  • Many cards use lounge alliances such as Priority Pass - you will need to look at their respective websites to see what's available and the quality of lounge on offer.
  • Many of these cards have other travel perks, yet have high interest rates and hefty annual fees, so you will want to make sure you're getting value for money. 
  • Some might still charge international transaction fees, so in this case, it might not be the best idea to actually spend on the card at your international destination. 

If you've schlepping it up with the great unwashed in regular airport waiting areas, where the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses yearn to breathe free, you'll know the desire for somewhere more comfy to dine and relax before your flight is strong.

Lounges can be a godsend to feel human, to recline, to drown out the airport noise, to separate yourself from the 'other' - even if your flight is on cattle class to Calcutta - but how do you get access to one, let alone for 'free'?

Well, certain credit cards give you complimentary access to a number of lounges worldwide - either on a capped or unlimited basis. For this prestige you'll most likely need to be looking at the big players and their premium cards - think American Express, Qantas, and the major banks.

There are thousands of lounges out there, so let's see which credit card gets you the golden ticket.

Compare Credit Cards With Airport Lounge Access


[American Express Membership Rewards]0[Receive 70, 000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points when you apply online, are approved and spend $4, 000 on your new Card on eligible purchases within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only. Offer subject to change without notice. Receive $400 to spend on eligible domestic and international flights, hotels or car hire with American Express Travel. Earn up to 2 Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases. Enjoy two complimentary entries per year to The Centurion® Lounge at Sydney International Airport or Melbourne International Airport. Apple Pay, Android Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, ]0030$product[$field["value"]]-1AMEXMore details
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American Express Explorer® Credit Card

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    [Qantas Frequent Flyer]0[Receive 90, 000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 3 September 2024, are approved, and spend $3, 000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. Plus, an additional 20, 000 bonus Qantas Points in your second year upon fee renewal. Annual Card fee is $450. T&Cs apply. New Amex Card Members only. Apple Pay, Android Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, ]0030$product[$field["value"]]0AMEXMore details
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    American Express Qantas Ultimate Card

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      [Altitude Rewards]0[Earn 150, 000 bonus Altitude Points with $4k+ spend on eligible purchases† within 90 days of card approval^. Redeem 150, 000 Altitude Points for $620 in eGift cards at a range of retailers or choose merchandise from our online store 0% p.a. for 18 months on balance transfers requested at card application##. 1% balance transfer fee applies. After 18 months the rate reverts to the variable cash advance rate. Offer ends 30th November 2021. T&Cs apply. Platinum concierge service. Complimentary insurance cover., ]0015$product[$field["value"]]21.99MastercardMore details
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      Westpac Altitude Black (Altitude Rewards)

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        [Qantas Frequent Flyer]0[Earn 120, 000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $4, 000 on eligible purchases on a new Altitude Black credit card within 90 days from card approval. 0% p.a. for 18 months on balance transfers when requested at card application. 1% balance transfer fee applies. After 18 months the rate reverts to the variable cash advance rate Offer ends 30th November 2021. T&Cs apply. Platinum concierge service. Complimentary insurance cover. Apple Pay, Android Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, ]0015$product[$field["value"]]21.99MastercardMore details
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        Westpac Altitude Black (Qantas Rewards)

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          [Velocity Black]0[$6, 000 - Minimum credit limit $75, 000 p.a. - Minimum income required 0.75 pts/$ - Uncapped Velocity Points6 earn rate on eligible purchases†, ]0015$product[$field["value"]]21.99MastercardMore details

          Westpac Altitude Velocity Black

            [Ultimate Awards ]0[Earn up to 3 Awards points or 1.2 Qantas Points4 for every dollar spent on eligible purchases, up to and including $10, 000 in a statement period5 Earn unlimited Awards points or Qantas Points each year Pay no additional cardholder fee Choose to earn CommBank Awards points or opt-in to earn Qantas Points for $90 per year4. Cashback benefits for eligible cardholders through CommBank Yello Cashback Offers2 in the CommBank app No international transaction fees9 Exclusive access to Travel Booking via the CommBank App13 Access to?international travel insurance when you spend at least $500 in a single transaction on prepaid travel using your card and activate before you travel6 Enjoy two complimentary airport lounge passes each calendar year to over 1, 300 airport lounges worldwide and up-to-date travel information10 Enjoy cashback offers at participating overseas merchants with Mastercard Travel Rewards7, ]0020$product[$field["value"]]21.99MastercardMore details

            Commonwealth Bank Ultimate Awards Credit Card

              [Qantas Frequent Flyer]0[Earn up to 90, 000 bonus Qantas Points and $200 back to your new ANZ Frequent Flyer Black when you spend $5, 000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months from approval and an additional 40, 000 Qantas Points when you keep your card for over 12 months* Total Annual Fee is $425 Balance transfer rates is 21.99% Offer ongoing until further notice View balances, transfer money and make payments simply and easily with the ANZ App. Apple Pay® and Google Pay let you use your compatible Apple® or Android™ device to tap and pay with an eligible ANZ credit card. Apple Pay, Android Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, ]01020$product[$field["value"]]21.99VisaMore details
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              ANZ Frequent Flyer Black

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                [Qantas Frequent Flyer]0[Earn 75, 000 bonus Qantas Points on your new ANZ Rewards Platinum credit card. Bonus Qantas Points earned when you spend $2, 500 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months from approval.* Offer ongoing until further notice. Up to 55 days interest free credit on purchases. Interest rate of 20.49% p.a. on purchases and 21.99% p.a. on cash advances. View balances, transfer money and make payments simply and easily with the ANZ App. Apple Pay® and Google Pay let you use your compatible Apple® or Android™ device to tap and pay with an eligible ANZ credit card. Apple Pay, Android Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, ]01020$product[$field["value"]]21.99VisaMore details
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                ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum

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                  [Rewards Plus]0[Get 0% p.a. interest on Balance Transfers for 12months (2% Balance Transfer Fee applies) and reduced annual fee of $0 first year, $149 thereafter. Earn 1.5 Rewards Plus point per dollar for all other eligible purchases. Rewards Plus points can be redeemed for e-gift cards from Bunnings, Coles, Woolworths, Uber and more Enjoy 2 airport lounge passes every year at over 500 airports worldwide Complimentary domestic and international travel insurance Available when you apply for a new Platinum Credit Card. HSBC may change or end this offer at any time. Please see full terms and conditions below. Other fees and charges apply.  Apple Pay, Android Pay, Google Pay, ]0030$product[$field["value"]]21.99VisaMore details
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                  HSBC Platinum Credit Card

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                    [Premier World]0[With an HSBC Premier World Mastercard, you can choose to earn Rewards Plus or Qantas Points. The perks continue at home and away, with exclusive discounts, complimentary travel insurance, and so much more. Unlock premium benefits and perks from your chosen rewards program Get 0% p.a. interest on balance transfers for 12 months1Footnote link 1 (2% balance transfer fee applies)2Footnote link 2 Share the benefits with those close to you, with no additional cardholder fees3, ]00$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]21.99MastercardMore details

                    HSBC Premier World Mastercard

                      [Citi Rewards]0[Earn up to 275, 000 bonus Points when you spend $10, 000 in the first 3 months from account approval. 0% p.a. for 6 months (reverts to cash advance rate). This offer commenced 22 February 2024. We may vary or end this offer at any time. Earn from 1 Point per $1 spent on selected purchases. One Luxury Airport Transfer in selected cities in Australia up to $100. Complementary Priority Pass™ grants you and a guest access to over 1, 200 airport lounges. With Priceless Cities, explore unforgettable experiences in more than 40 cities across the world. To learn more, visit priceless.com. For the full list of up to date airport lounges and Priority Pass™ Conditions of Use please refer to www.prioritypass.com 4th night free when you book 4 consecutive nights at a huge range of hotels., ]0030$product[$field["value"]]22.99MastercardMore details
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                      Citi Prestige Card

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                        Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                        Rates correct as of June 20, 2025.View disclaimer

                        Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                        Snapshot of Popular Credit Cards With Lounge Access

                        Some of the best credit cards in Australia feature access to Qantas, Virgin Australia or other lounges at Sydney, Melbourne and other international airports. They often have promotions featuring thousands of Qantas or Velocity frequent flyer points. Here's a comparison of some popular products.

                        Brand

                        Products

                        Details

                        Amex

                        • Platinum Charge Card

                        • Explorer

                        • Ultimate

                        • Access over 1,400 lounges worldwide: Centurion Lounge; Delta Sky Club; Priority Pass; Lufthansa; Qantas Club; Virgin Australia; and more depending on card.

                        Qantas

                        • Premier Platinum

                        • Premier Titanium

                        • Two visits to Qantas Lounges or First Lounges per year depending on card.

                        Westpac

                        1. Altitude Rewards Black

                        2. Altitude Qantas Black

                        3. Altitude Velocity Black

                        1. Two complimentary lounge access passes through Priority Pass per year. Access more than 1,700 lounges worldwide.

                        2. Two complimentary Qantas Lounge passes per year.

                        3. Two complimentary domestic Virgin lounge passes per year.

                        CommBank

                        • Ultimate Awards

                        • Two complimentary passes each year through Mastercard Travel Pass. Access over 1,300 lounges worldwide.

                        ANZ

                        • Frequent Flyer Black

                        • Two complimentary Qantas Club lounge passes per year.

                        HSBC

                        1. Platinum

                        2. Premier World

                        1. Two complimentary passes via Lounge Key per year.

                        2. Two complimentary passes via Mastercard Travel Pass per year.

                        Citi*

                        1. Citi Premier

                        2. Citi Prestige

                        1. Two complimentary passes via Priority Pass per year.

                        2. Unlimited access via Priority Pass.

                        Access over 1,700 locations via Priority Pass.

                        *Citi's credit card portfolio is set to be fully integrated with NAB's platform post-acquisition by the end of 2025.

                        There are many other Platinum and Black cards from other providers out there, but that's a brief breakdown of the most popular.

                        Amex Cards with Lounge Access

                        American Express is the brand many turn to when they think premium credit cards. For complimentary lounge access you'll need to be looking at either the Platinum, Explorer, or Ultimate series of cards.

                        Be aware that for unlimited access to the Centurion Lounge you will need to be on the Platinum charge card, otherwise visits are capped at two per year. A charge card is slightly different from a regular card in that there's no set spending limit per month yet you must pay the balance off in full.

                        Cards can be aligned with an airline - Qantas or Virgin - and in many cases you'll be given access to their respective lounges as well.

                        Qantas Cards with Lounge Access

                        It's pretty obvious that a credit card delivered by an airline offers access to its lounges. On the more premium end of Qantas' offerings, you'll be granted access to Qantas Club lounges. The Titanium product also grants access to First Lounges when travelling internationally.

                        Big Banks' Cards with Lounge Access

                        There's a few on offer from the major banks which can be useful if you want the familiarity of a big brand or already bank with them.

                        For these you'll be looking at the premium end of the offerings from CBA, ANZ, and Westpac. With CBA's lesser Awards card you'll need to pay for lounge access. A notable absentee is NAB, which has a range of rewards cards but no explicit product with an ongoing complimentary lounge access feature.

                        HSBC Cards with Lounge Access

                        For such an internationally-recognised brand, HSBC has a surprisingly humble suite of products with lounge access. You will need to assess the benefits of Lounge Key versus Mastercard Travel Pass here.

                        Citi Cards with Lounge Access

                        Before it gets fully absorbed into NAB's banking world, Citi offers two products with lounge access via Priority Pass. Plus, these credit cards might be airline-aligned allowing you to accrue points.

                        AmexLoungeAccess.jpg

                        Picking the Right Card for You

                        It can be confusing the number of products out there with lounge access. Lounge access isn't made equal either, with differing quality and ease of access depending on what program you're on.

                        Your Travel Habits

                        If you're a frequent traveller - particularly international - you may find it's worth a more premium card that grants you unlimited lounge access per year. Otherwise, you're probably limited to two lounge visits per year, which would cover only one A to B trip for a single traveller if you had a lounge for the return leg.

                        If you're only an occasional traveller, and are using the card's lounge access for one trip, you might want to pick a product that keeps the annual fee low, while also researching what lounges are at your departure airport/s and through the program you are offered.

                        Airline Preferences

                        Some cards are airline-aligned, for example Qantas or Virgin, or some other airline. This can be good if you're already a fan of that airline and want to turbocharge your customer experience with them. However, if that airline doesn't offer the fares or routes you're after, then it probably makes little sense to take out a card just for the lounge access - many airline-specific lounges will want to see an eligible boarding pass as well.

                        In addition, you may still need to pay for part or all of your frequent flyer membership, for example Qantas, despite the card giving access to that airline's lounge. 

                        Airports and Destinations

                        Like the point above, you will want to make sure there's lounges you can access at the airports you're travelling out of. If you've got a generic Mastercard or Priority Pass perk, you might find the options limited unless the airport is prominent or a major international hub. Or, if you're opting for Qantas or Virgin, you might find their lounges limited outside of Australia.

                        Some airlines might grant access to lounges with their alliance partners. For example, Qantas is on the One World alliance which consists of American Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airways, and Cathay Pacific among others. Again, you'll have to find out which card product offers the alliance you're after at the airport you're using.

                        Quality of Lounge

                        This is entirely subjective and can be hard to gauge before you set foot in one, but the quality of lounge can differ between brands and airports. Some might have more comfortable and quiet areas, one's WiFi might be terrible, some food options might be better than others, and the list goes on. Further, some Middle Eastern-owned airlines or lounges might not serve alcohol. It depends on what you value for one or two hours of downtime.

                        Other Travel Perks

                        Two major other travel perks include fee-free international transactions and complimentary travel insurance. It's rare you will get all three included on one card, and if so, you'll likely be paying for it via a huge annual fee. If not, you may find the international transaction fees costly, sometimes north of 3% on every purchase, which could negate any other benefits.

                        Many cards also offer supercharged points accrual or bonus points through certain airlines, as well as status credits. You will have to decide what you value, and whether that's a lounge, points, or benefits while travelling at your destination.

                        If you're a keen international traveller you might find you will benefit most from two cards - one for lounge access and airline benefits, and one for actually using on-the-ground at your destination. However this comes with additional costs and considerations.

                        What to Consider

                        When you're looking for a credit card with benefits like airport lounge access, check out the rate, fees, costs and interest-free days to ensure that the card is right for you. The best credit card for you is the one that suits your way of managing spending and debt while offering the perks you're after.

                        Interest Rates

                        Many of the fanciest credit cards come with sky-high interest rates north of 20% p.a. If you think you will carry a balance then you might want to re-think a premium card. Keeping up with the interest payments may also nerf the benefit of lounge access altogether.

                        Further, many cards will not allow access to lounges if you're carrying a balance or behind on your repayments by one or two statement periods.

                        You will also want to consider the interest-free period, which can be hard to track if you're overseas for an extended period. The common period is 55 days, however some premium cards shorten this to 44 days or fewer. This makes it imperative to pay off the balance in-full when your statement rolls in.

                        Annual or Monthly Fees

                        Annual fees on these cards can be high. For the most part you're looking at at least $300 per annum, but in the case of some Citi and Amex cards, it could be as high as $700 to over $1,000. Some might charge a monthly fee, which can work out to be costly.

                        You'll want to make sure you're getting at least that back in benefits or conveniences, otherwise it's free money to the card provider. Some might waive the fee in the first year or if you spend a certain amount.

                        Minimum Spend

                        Some cards might require a minimum spend per month or year to attain the benefits. In many cases this runs into the many thousands of dollars per month. In this case, you will probably need to re-think how you use the card and use it for most or all purchases - not just travel related. This comes with risks, too, if you don't pay your statement in-full and in-time.

                        Minimum Income

                        Many cards at this tier have minimum income limits and stricter eligibility. The credit provider will want to see a good credit history as well as reliable income such as from a permanent, full-time job. Some income requirements might be as low as $30,000 while some might be $70,000 to $100,000. Some of the tippy-top cards might require an income of $200,000 or more. It usually tracks that the more 'premium' cards require a higher income.

                        In addition, when you start getting into platinum or black territory, many require minimum credit limits of $15,000 or more. You shouldn't consider this a goal, but it does give you a long leash and you will want to make sure you stay on top of your spending.

                        Getting Value for Money

                        Are you using all the benefits of the credit card you are paying for? If you aren't using all you are paying for, could you be better off with a low-rate credit card or a no-annual fee credit card? Unless you're travelling a lot or putting your daily household expenses on the card and paying off the statement, you might find the annual fees on premium cards with lounge access negate any benefit.

                        First published January 2020 by Jason Bryce

                        In-text image by cardmapr.nl on Unsplash

                        Head image by Max Harlynking on Unsplash