There is not any denying that airport lounges might be one of the best a part of the on-ground expertise when flying. You will discover fascinating facilities, comparable to complimentary foods and drinks, bathe services and seating areas to chill and loosen up earlier than your flight takes off.
However with extra methods than ever to achieve lounge entry, the lounges can get fairly crowded. All of those methods to entry lounges may also create confusion relating to who has entry and what number of visitors they will (or cannot) deliver into the lounge, because of their bank card perks.
Let us take a look at bank cards that provide lounge entry and the visitor insurance policies of every card, so you possibly can keep away from surprises when coming into a lounge earlier than your subsequent flight.
Alaska Lounges
Most individuals achieve entry to Alaska lounges by having elite standing with Mileage Plan or a Oneworld accomplice loyalty program.
| Entry | Visitor coverage |
|---|---|
| Alaska Airways lounge member | Quick household or two visitors; further visitors $30 every |
| American Airways Admirals Membership member when departing or arriving on flights with American Airways or Alaska Airways | Quick household or two visitors; further visitors $30 every |
| Alaska MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K members touring on Oneworld airways past the U.S., Canada or Mexico | Quick household or two visitors; further visitors $30 every |
| Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members
(excludes members w/standing by way of American Airways) |
One visitor flying on a Oneworld airline; further visitors $30 every |
| Precedence Go member (choose Alaska lounges solely) | Relying on the cardboard, it usually grants entry for the cardholder and two visitors for free of charge |
| Energetic obligation navy touring in uniform and on orders | No visitors are listed within the coverage |
Suppose you maintain an Alaska Airways lounge membership. In that case, you possibly can deliver speedy relations (thought-about companions and youngsters underneath 21 years outdated) or as much as two visitors when coming into an Alaska lounge (of which there are eight). Notice that your visitors should stick with you always.
Members might buy visitor passes at a decreased charge of $30 per individual for all different visitors. Notice that members don’t have to be touring together with your visitor to buy a visitor move, so you possibly can snag this discounted charge pretty simply for any of your family and friends touring quickly. Youngsters underneath two years outdated can enter freed from cost when accompanying an grownup.
American Airways Admirals Membership
Admirals Golf equipment might be accessed in many various methods, however maybe the simplest technique to achieve membership is by opening a Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and charges). Though the cardboard comes with $595 annual price, the Admirals Membership membership worth by itself prices $850 a yr — a substantial deal for loyal A.A. flyers. With an Admirals Membership membership, your speedy household (partner, home accomplice and youngsters as much as 18) or as much as two visitors might entry the lounge with you.
| Entry kind | Visitor coverage |
|---|---|
| Admirals Membership members | Quick household or as much as two visitors |
| Citi/AAdvantage Govt cardholders and approved customers | Quick household or as much as two visitors |
| Energetic U.S. navy touring on orders and in uniform | Quick household or as much as two visitors |
| First-class passengers on qualifying worldwide flights | One visitor (youngsters over 2 rely as a visitor); no visitors for business-class passengers |
| AAdvantage Platinum members and better flying on qualifying worldwide flights (no matter class) | One visitor (youngsters over 2 rely as a visitor) |
| Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members on all American and Oneworld flights | One visitor (youngsters over 2 rely as a visitor) |
| Admirals Membership daypass holders | As much as three youngsters underneath 18 |
Notice that you would be able to add as much as three approved customers to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® for a further $175 annual price and $175 for every approved person thereafter, thus granting them the distinctive skill to deliver speedy household or as much as two visitors on their very own.
In any other case, first-class passengers or AAdvantage Platinum members (or greater) on qualifying worldwide flights and Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members can deliver one visitor every. For those who pay $79 for a day move, you possibly can deliver as much as three youngsters underneath 18 with you to the Admirals Membership as properly.
American Specific Centurion Lounges
These playing cards grant you entry to American Specific Centurion Lounges, with the visitor insurance policies relying on the cardboard you have got:
The knowledge for the Centurion Card, Enterprise Centurion Card and Company Platinum Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Amex Platinum and Enterprise Platinum cardholders
The Platinum Card and the Enterprise Platinum Card are two widespread luxurious journey playing cards that grant complimentary entry to the Centurion Lounges (enrollment required).
Earlier this yr, Amex’s coverage for lounge entry modified and went into impact on February 2023. Until you spend $75,000 or extra in purchases per calendar yr in your card, you will be charged $50 per grownup visitor. This transformation does not affect Company Platinum cardholders.
For those who’re touring with youngsters, perceive that anybody over two years outdated counts as a visitor. Youngsters underneath two years outdated can enter freed from cost, whereas these aged 2-17 are charged a $30 visitor price.
Delta Reserve and Enterprise Reserve cardholders
When flying on Delta, Reserve and Enterprise Reserve cardholders can entry each Delta Sky Golf equipment and the Centurion lounges. For those who select to go to the Centurion Lounge as an alternative, you possibly can pay to deliver as much as two visitors on the per-visit charge of $50 per individual.
Centurion and Enterprise Centurion cardholders
For those who’re a Centurion or Enterprise Centurion cardholder, you possibly can deliver as much as two visitors or speedy relations (partner or youngsters underneath 18) for no cost. Further visitors will price $50 per individual. The upcoming visitor adjustments outlined for Platinum cardholders won’t have an effect on Centurion cardholders.
Capital One Lounges
Capital One presently has only one lounge positioned at Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport (DFW). Nevertheless, further lounges are slated to open in 2023.
Enterprise X cardholders can add as much as 4 free approved customers to the cardboard. Every individual can deliver two visitors (plus youngsters underneath 2) into the lounge. Thus, one bank card can present admission for quite a few folks right into a Capital One Lounge.
Delta Sky Membership
There are a number of methods to enter a Delta Sky Membership, whether or not you maintain a Delta Sky Membership government membership or are an eligible Delta Medallion. Like different airline lounges, the visitor insurance policies rely in your entry kind.
The knowledge for the Delta Diners Membership, Delta TRUST Membership Platinum and the Delta TRUST Membership Gold Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Usually, the one technique to achieve complimentary visitor entry is to buy a Delta Sky Membership Govt membership or be a Delta Gold Medallion member (or greater). For those who’re a cardholder of both the Delta Platinum or the Reserve, you are restricted to 2 visitors or speedy household and should pay $50 per visitor.
Delta considers anybody over age 2 to be a visitor. Youngsters underneath 2 obtain complimentary entry. On the opposite finish of the spectrum, youngsters as much as age 21 can achieve entry as relations on classes of admission that enable for visitor entry for speedy relations.
Plaza Premium lounges
Costs to enter Plaza Premium lounges varies vastly, so what you may pay for a daypass or to deliver an additional visitor ranges from $35-$65.
Precedence Go lounges
Premium journey playing cards just like the Amex Platinum and the Chase Sapphire Reserve provide cardholders complimentary Precedence Go Choose memberships — providing you with entry to over 1,300 lounges worldwide. The visitor coverage is determined by the kind of card you have got, so we have outlined the variations for our high card picks for Precedence Go lounge entry under (enrollment required):
Enrollment required for choose advantages.
The knowledge for the Hilton Aspire card, Citi Status Card, Altitude Reserve and Ritz-Carlton Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Most playing cards that grant you Precedence Go Choose membership enable lounge entry for you and as much as two visitors. There’s a further visitor price that ranges between $27 and $32, relying on the cardboard you have got. Staff can restrict the variety of visitors for capability controls, so that you is probably not assured to deliver a number of visitors if a sure lounge is particularly crowded.
The notable exceptions are the Enterprise X and Ritz-Carlton playing cards, which supply beneficiant visitor insurance policies. You probably have a big household, these playing cards may very well be price holding onto.
United Membership
United has comparatively simple visitor insurance policies: United Membership members might deliver one grownup and dependent youngsters underneath 21 or deliver as much as two visitors. Any further visitors will incur further charges. In order for you complimentary entry, the United Membership Infinite Card affords a complimentary United Membership membership — as much as a $650 worth.
| Entry kind | Visitor coverage |
|---|---|
| United Membership membership | As much as two adults or one grownup and dependents underneath 21 years of age |
| United Premier Gold standing or greater (or Star Alliance Gold member) | One visitor; the visitor should be on the identical flight |
| Star Alliance first-class passenger | One visitor |
| Energetic U.S. navy personnel | Relations touring on the identical flight because the navy member |
| United or Star Alliance business-class passenger | No visitors allowed |
| Air Canada Maple Leaf Membership Worldwide members | One visitor |
| Virgin Australia Velocity elite members with Gold, Platinum or VIP standing when flying on a world United or Virgin Australia flight | One visitor provided that the member is flying on a United-operated flight |
| United Membership one-time move | No visitors allowed |
Members with United Premier Gold standing or greater can deliver one visitor, however be aware that your visitor should be on the identical flight as you. Star Alliance first-class passengers can also deliver one visitor into United Golf equipment.
For those who’re a one-time United Membership passholder or a business-class passenger on a United or Star Alliance flight, you are not allowed to deliver any visitors with you — except you have got a baby underneath two years outdated.
It is also price noting that these entry insurance policies don’t apply to United’s Polaris lounges. These are accessible solely by passengers flying in long-haul Polaris enterprise class with United or flying in long-haul enterprise or first-class with a Star Alliance accomplice airline.
Backside line
The visitor tips will fluctuate vastly if in case you have lounge entry by way of your bank card or airline elite standing. Some lounges permit you to deliver free visitors, whereas others cost a price of as excessive as $65 per individual. As a basic rule of thumb, you possibly can deliver youngsters aged two or youthful at no further cost. Previous this age, as irritating as it might appear, you will want privileges free of charge visitors or should pay as much as deliver your baby into the lounge with you.