- 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
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.
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Brand |
Products |
Details |
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Amex |
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Qantas |
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Westpac |
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CommBank |
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ANZ |
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HSBC |
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Citi* |
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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.
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
