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Free access to airport lounges has become an increasingly rare and elusive perk. These days, it seems like you need diamond-level status with the airline, a credit card with a sky-high annual fee, or A-list celebrity status to walk through the gate and grab a pre-flight cabernet.
Or you?
To find out, Fortune Recommends conducted research to find out which credit cards, if any, still include airport lounge access for a reasonable annual fee in 2024. The good news is that there are several, and each of them has much more to offer frequent flyers. than a simple pair of lounge coupons. From free checked bags to welcome bonuses worth $750 or more, here are the best credit cards for affordable lounge access in 2024.
Best credit cards for cheap lounge access in April 2024
Best overall: US Bank Altitude Connect
The US Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card includes a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership with four complimentary passes each year to more than 1,500 lounge locations worldwide. That, combined with a 50,000-point welcome bonus worth $500 and no annual fee for the first year, made it an easy pick for the best overall card for affordable lounge access in 2024.
US Bank Altitude Connection
Introductory bonus
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first 120 days worth $500 on travel and more.
| Annual fee | $0 the first year, then $95 |
| Regular APR | From 21.24% to 29.24% |
Why we like this card: Similar to how Pepsi takes on Coca-Cola, the US Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature card looks poised to keep the Chase Sapphire Preferred in charge® Paper on tiptoe. The latter offers an incredible range of travel benefits for its modest $95 annual fee, including 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening, free Priority Pass Select membership with four free passes each year and up to $100 on your statement towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
But the benefits don’t end there: You’ll also receive free travel insurance (trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay reimbursement, and SmartDelay), no foreign transaction fees, and up to 5x on prepaid hotel/car rentals and 4x on travel/petrol. . Did we mention it doesn’t charge any annual fees even for the first year?
So if free PreCheck and lounge access with a $0 initial commitment sounds like a good fit for you, check out the US Bank Altitude Connect card.
Best for checked bags: UnitedSM Explorer card
The United StatesSM The Explorer Card may only offer two United Club passes per year, but it more than makes up for it with a free checked bag for you and a companion, priority boarding, a $100 Global Entry/PreCheck/NEXUS fee credit, and a $50,000 credit welcome bonus points. Plus, it also waives the $95 annual fee for the first year.
UnitedSM Explorer card
Introductory bonus
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
| Annual fee | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (then $95) |
| Regular APR | Variable APR 21.99%–28.99%. |
Why we like this card
Although Chase’s United Explorer card only offers two lounge passes per year, we thought it deserved a space on this list since it’s much cheaper and hassle-free on virtually every other step of your flying experience.
Starting from the moment of check-in you will receive a free checked bag for you and a companion. Then, you’ll get through security a little faster with a $100 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS. Once you’ve cashed in your lounge passes, you’ll be able to board a little earlier with priority boarding. Finally, even after take-off you can benefit from a 25% discount on food, drinks and Wi-Fi packages on board.
The caveat, of course, is that most of these benefits only apply to United flights, so you’ll have to show some brand loyalty to maximize the benefits of the United Explorer card. But if you’re already a United fan and would like to finally try the United Club experience on your next trip, it’s an obvious choice.
Ideal for CLEAR Plus: American Express Green
For a modest $150 annual fee, the American Express® Green Card includes up to a $100 LoungeBuddy statement credit, up to $189 CLEAR® Plus cost credit per calendar year, and 3X travel/transit/ catering. All things considered, it’s a solid, all-around travel companion.
American Express® Green Card
Introductory bonus
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership.
| Annual fee | $150 |
| Regular APR | See APR payment over time |
Why we like this card
If you like the idea of speeding through security and arriving at the lounge within minutes of entering the airport, the American Express Green card could be your ticket to that fantasy.
That’s because the Amex Green comes with a handy pair of credits for both CLEAR Plus and LoungeBuddy. For the uninitiated, CLEAR Plus lets you move through security faster by scanning your eyes and/or fingerprints in a dedicated CLEAR lane, and LoungeBuddy lets you pre-book lounge access throughout the world from $25 per visit.
The Amex Green also offers a welcome bonus of 40,000 points worth up to $400 in travel or gift cards (earned after spending $3,000 in six months) plus 3X on travel/transit meals, making it a rewarding card to take on a trip. Even better, these points are Membership Rewards points that can have even more value when transferred to partners.
All information on the American Express® Green Card was independently collected by Fortune Recommends™.
Best Value Premium Card: Capital One Venture
The Capital One Venture everything, unlimited access to the airport lounge for you and up to two people. guests. Not only that, authorized users are free and can each get their own membership. So while the Venture X certainly isn’t cheap, the value proposition earns it a spot on the list.
Capital One Venture
Introductory bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
| Annual fee | $395 |
| Buy APR | 19.99%–29.99% variable |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | Nobody |
Why we like this card
While it may be an exaggeration to say that a card that charges $395 per year provides something “affordable,” consider this: Capital One Venture of the account, an annual refund of $300 per year for bookings made through Capital One Travel and a 10,000 mile anniversary bonus. This means that while you technically pay a $395 fee each year, you immediately get $400 back in travel credit.
Not to mention the frequent flyer card’s Marquis benefit: unlimited airport lounge access for you and up to two guests at any Capital One, Priority Pass, or Plaza Premium Group location. The pampering doesn’t stop there, as you’ll also receive immediate Hertz President’s Circle status (through January 1, 2025), a $100 experience credit at Premier Collection hotels and more.
So, if you’re looking for a premium travel card with easy-to-use benefits and unlimited lounge access, your search may end with Capital One Venture
Frequent questions
Which card offers free lounge access with no annual fee?
As of this writing, there are no rewards cards that offer airport lounge access for a $0 annual fee. However, both the US Bank Altitude Connect and the United Explorer card offer airport lounge access for an annual fee of $0 for the first year and $95 annually thereafter.
What’s the best card that offers airport lounge access for an annual fee under $100?
Our pick for the best card that offers airport lounge access for under $100 is the US Bank Altitude Connect card. The card includes a welcome bonus worth $500, a free Priority Pass Select membership with four lounge passes per year, and charges no annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter).
Is lounge access free with AmEx Rewards cards?
Free lounge access is a benefit of the Amex Green (up to $100 per year) and Platinum cards.
Which airline reward cards include lounge access for under $100?
The United Explorer, Miles & More World Elite Mastercard (Lufthansa), and SKYPASS Visa Signature cards (Korean Air) all include two free lounge passes per year for an annual fee of under $100.
Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Please note that card details are accurate as of the date of publication, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the Issuer. Please contact your card issuer to verify rates, fees and benefits before applying.
Eligibility and benefit level vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. For more details, visit the guide Americanexpress.com/benefits. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.