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The Best Credit Card for Airport Lounge Access (2025-2026 Changes)
Manage episode 519033450 series 3565430
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Finding the "best" credit card for airport lounge access is a trick question. The real answer depends on your home airport, who you travel with, and your budget. With changes to guest policies and new cards being released, the lounge landscape is totally different in 2025.
In this episode, I’ll walk you through all the options, from airline-specific cards to the big bank lounges like Centurion, Capital One, and the newer Sapphire Lounges. I’ll cover the "secret" card that still offers unlimited guests, which cards still work at Priority Pass restaurants, and help you decide which card (if any) is the right move for you.
ACTION STEPS:
- Check the chart: Look at this blog post chart to see which bank lounges (Amex, Capital One, Chase) are in the airports you frequent: https://katiestraveltricks.com/best-credit-card-for-lounge-access-by-airport/
- Research your airports: Go to prioritypass.com to see what other lounges, restaurants, or "Experiences" are available at your home airport and common destinations.
- Target restaurants (if needed): If your airport's main option is a Priority Pass restaurant, consider the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite or the US Bank Altitude Connect card.
- Plan for the Ritz card: If you want the best guest benefits, open a Chase Marriott card (like the Boundless) and set a reminder to call and upgrade it to the Ritz-Carlton card after one year.
- Do a trial run: If you're unsure, consider upgrading a Chase Sapphire Preferred to the Reserve for one year to see if you use the lounge benefits enough to make it worth it.
New Here?
Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.
Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.
More from Katie’s Travel Tricks
🔗 Website
🎒 Favorite Travel Gear
Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...
Chapters
1. The Best Credit Card for Airport Lounge Access (2025-2026 Changes) (00:00:00)
2. Why “Best Lounge Card” Is A Myth (00:00:09)
3. Show Intro And Host’s Philosophy (00:00:30)
4. Starter Cards vs Premium Fees (00:01:03)
5. How Lounges Differ Widely (00:01:50)
6. Airline Lounges And Loyalty Tradeoffs (00:04:18)
7. American Airlines Options And Pass Strategies (00:08:21)
8. Delta Restrictions And Who They Suit (00:11:18)
9. Centurion Lounges: Great But Guest-Unfriendly (00:13:00)
10. Venture X Changes And Guest Access Cuts (00:15:40)
11. Sapphire Lounges, Priority Pass, And Guests (00:17:44)
12. The Ritz-Carlton Upgrade Path And Perks (00:20:35)
13. Priority Pass Restaurants And Workarounds (00:23:25)
14. Expect Crowds, Waitlists, And Flux (00:25:07)
15. Action Steps And Card-Picking Framework (00:25:50)
16. Personal Card Decisions And Final Takeaway (00:27:20)
43 episodes
Manage episode 519033450 series 3565430
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures
Finding the "best" credit card for airport lounge access is a trick question. The real answer depends on your home airport, who you travel with, and your budget. With changes to guest policies and new cards being released, the lounge landscape is totally different in 2025.
In this episode, I’ll walk you through all the options, from airline-specific cards to the big bank lounges like Centurion, Capital One, and the newer Sapphire Lounges. I’ll cover the "secret" card that still offers unlimited guests, which cards still work at Priority Pass restaurants, and help you decide which card (if any) is the right move for you.
ACTION STEPS:
- Check the chart: Look at this blog post chart to see which bank lounges (Amex, Capital One, Chase) are in the airports you frequent: https://katiestraveltricks.com/best-credit-card-for-lounge-access-by-airport/
- Research your airports: Go to prioritypass.com to see what other lounges, restaurants, or "Experiences" are available at your home airport and common destinations.
- Target restaurants (if needed): If your airport's main option is a Priority Pass restaurant, consider the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite or the US Bank Altitude Connect card.
- Plan for the Ritz card: If you want the best guest benefits, open a Chase Marriott card (like the Boundless) and set a reminder to call and upgrade it to the Ritz-Carlton card after one year.
- Do a trial run: If you're unsure, consider upgrading a Chase Sapphire Preferred to the Reserve for one year to see if you use the lounge benefits enough to make it worth it.
New Here?
Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.
Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.
More from Katie’s Travel Tricks
🔗 Website
🎒 Favorite Travel Gear
Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...
Chapters
1. The Best Credit Card for Airport Lounge Access (2025-2026 Changes) (00:00:00)
2. Why “Best Lounge Card” Is A Myth (00:00:09)
3. Show Intro And Host’s Philosophy (00:00:30)
4. Starter Cards vs Premium Fees (00:01:03)
5. How Lounges Differ Widely (00:01:50)
6. Airline Lounges And Loyalty Tradeoffs (00:04:18)
7. American Airlines Options And Pass Strategies (00:08:21)
8. Delta Restrictions And Who They Suit (00:11:18)
9. Centurion Lounges: Great But Guest-Unfriendly (00:13:00)
10. Venture X Changes And Guest Access Cuts (00:15:40)
11. Sapphire Lounges, Priority Pass, And Guests (00:17:44)
12. The Ritz-Carlton Upgrade Path And Perks (00:20:35)
13. Priority Pass Restaurants And Workarounds (00:23:25)
14. Expect Crowds, Waitlists, And Flux (00:25:07)
15. Action Steps And Card-Picking Framework (00:25:50)
16. Personal Card Decisions And Final Takeaway (00:27:20)
43 episodes
All episodes
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