What is Priority Pass and how does it work?
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 2:13 p.m. UTC March 28, 2024
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Have you ever wondered how some travelers manage to show up looking rested and refreshed at their destinations? It isn’t just first-class seats and private cars — where you spend time in the airport can make or break your travel experience.
Enter the airport lounge concept: Exclusive spaces within airports that offer a range of amenities and services to enhance your travel experience.
Priority Pass boasts the world’s largest network of independent airport lounges, with more than 1,400 experiences on every inhabited continent. Priority Pass members can enter these lounges any time regardless of the airline they’re flying or the class of their ticket. Enrollment is required.
Here’s what you should know about visiting Priority Pass lounges.
What is Priority Pass?
Airport lounges are an excellent way to unwind before a flight, catch up on work or simply escape the hustle and bustle of the main terminal.
“At Priority Pass, we are committed to delivering both seamless and premium airport experiences that allow travelers to love the entire journey. Our lounges provide a restful escape of peace and quiet, away from the bustle of the airport that provides travelers with the necessary space needed to relax, work, dine and simply unwind”, says Sheryl Pflaum, president of the Priority Pass Americas division, to USA TODAY Blueprint in an exclusive interview.
Many airport lounges are affiliated with a specific airline, which often means that you can only enter those lounges when you’re flying with that specific carrier. In contrast, Priority Pass is a membership program that offers travelers access to airport lounges around the world upon enrollment, regardless of their airline or flight class. Its global presence makes Priority Pass access a valuable benefit for anyone who values peace, quiet and comfort while traveling.
Complimentary food, drinks, Wi-Fi, comfortable seating and quiet areas come standard in many Priority Pass lounges, adding a layer of convenience and flexibility to your travel experience. Fancier locations boast nap pods, private showers, made-to-order meals and cocktails, and even spa services such as chair massages and manicures.
Overall, Priority Pass offers a passport to a more relaxed and comfortable airport experience upon enrollment, allowing you to make the most of your time before departure.
Curious about the best airport lounges? See our Reader’s Choice winners for 2024
How Priority Pass works
To visit a Priority Pass lounge, you must either be a Priority Pass member or be a guest of someone who holds a membership. Members must present their membership card and a same-day boarding pass at the check-in desk.
Members have a certain number of complimentary lounge visits per year depending on their membership tier. Some memberships offer unlimited access, while others have a specified number of free visits and charge a fee for additional visits.
Priority Pass members are allowed to bring guests into the lounge, although most memberships carry a limit on the number of guests you can invite or charge an additional entry fee per guest. The guest policy varies based on your membership level and the specific lounge.
Most Priority Pass lounges are located past security checkpoints and there can be multiple lounges in a single airport. Busy airports may occasionally be overwhelmed by lounge guests, especially on days with delayed or canceled flights. As a result, some lounges might have capacity limits, especially during busy times.
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How to get Priority Pass
Priority Pass offers three tiers of membership through its website and a fourth tier that’s only available through partner financial institutions.
These memberships can be purchased on the Priority Pass website:
Prestige
Frequent flyers benefit most from the Prestige membership tier. For $469 per year, members get unlimited visits to any participating Priority Pass lounge around the world. Guest fees are $35 per visit apiece.
Standard Plus
Travelers who jetset on a regular basis may benefit from an upgraded version of the Standard Priority Pass membership. The Standard Plus membership tier costs $329 annually but comes with 10 free member visits each year. After that, each member visit costs $35. As with the Standard membership, guests cost $35 per visit per person.
Standard
Priority Pass Standard is the basic level of membership, designed for infrequent travelers. With a Standard membership, you’ll pay a base rate of $99 per year, as well as a $35 visit fee per person each time you visit a lounge, whether you’re paying for yourself or for a guest traveling with you.
Select
There’s a fourth tier of Priority Pass membership that’s only available through certain banks. Priority Pass Select is a complimentary benefit provided through a select number of credit cards upon enrollment, with varying levels of access depending on the card. Of course, you’ll still be subject to individual lounge capacity restrictions and may be added to a wait list if the lounge is full.
There are multiple travel credit cards that offer Priority Pass Select lounge access with enrollment. Some offer cardholders a fixed number of visits per year, while others include unlimited access for members and their guests.
Unlimited cardholder visits and unlimited guests
The following credit cards allow you to enter all Priority Pass lounges for free with enrollment in the Priority Pass Select program. You can even invite your traveling companions to join you — yes, the whole crew. This tier of Select membership exceeds even that of the $469 annually-paid Prestige membership offered through Priority Pass, since Prestige members do not receive any complimentary guest invitations.
- The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card (no longer open to new applicants)
- Mastercard® Gold Card™ * The information for the Mastercard® Gold Card™ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
- Mastercard® Black Card™ * The information for the Mastercard® Black Card™ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Unlimited cardholder visits with two guests; additional guests allowed for a fee
These credit cards offer generous benefits for cardholders, but limit you to two complimentary guests per visit upon enrollment. While the perks are lesser than the previous tier, this tier of Select membership also supersedes Prestige.
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply)
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (terms apply)
- Citi Prestige® Card (no longer open to new applicants)
All information about The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Eight complimentary cardholder visits per year
This credit card offers the lowest tier of Priority Pass Select, upon enrollment, out of all the cards on this list. If you’re selecting a credit card for Priority Pass benefits, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is not the one to choose.
How to activate your Priority Pass membership
You’ll need to activate your Priority Pass membership before you can use it to enter airport lounges. After you are enrolled in Priority Pass, you’ll receive a membership card with your account number within one to two weeks.
Go to the Priority Pass activation page and fill out the information on the form using your new account number. Once that’s done, you’ll be able to use your physical or digital card on the Priority Pass app to check in at airport lounges.
Where is Priority Pass accepted?
You can easily search for Priority Pass lounges on the website or via the app, which is available for both iOS and Android. Just type in the city, airport or airport code for your desired location and the search function will give you a list of suitable options if available — as well as the benefits, hours, location and requirements for each destination.
Restaurants, suites and other perks
Some airports do not have Priority Pass lounges but offer access to Minute Suites, which provide private rest pods that can be booked by the hour or by 15-minute increments. Priority Pass members can reserve a complimentary one-hour stay, subject to availability.
A handful of airport restaurants and bars also partner with Priority Pass. Members who visit these participating facilities will receive a dining credit towards eligible items on their bill — usually just under $30 per eligible visitor, though the amount will differ depending on the restaurant.
Finally, there are a few Be Relax Spa locations offering complimentary massage services for eligible Priority Pass members. You’ll be able to find these via searching on the Priority Pass app (or website).
Note that access to these non-lounge experiences is limited to eligible Priority Pass Select memberships upon enrollment; those provided by American Express and Capital One’s personal cards do not include this benefit.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Priority Pass membership ranges from $99 to $469 per year, depending on the tier. You can also get a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership through certain credit cards (enrollment required).
Priority Pass lounges offer a comfortable way to pass time in airports around the world, especially if you can enter for free on a complimentary membership upon enrollment.
Priority Pass lounges are for members only. You can pay for membership through the Priority Pass website. You can also get a complimentary membership through select credit cards with enrollment. Some lounges may also sell access via programs such as LoungeKey.
Your membership tier determines the number of free visits you get to Priority Pass lounges. If you have a Priority Pass Select membership through your credit card (enrollment required), you may have unlimited access to lounges year-round.
*The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Mastercard® Black Card™, Mastercard® Gold Card™, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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