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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
Paying for airline lounge access with miles: Worth it or a bad deal?
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
Kyle Olsen is the former points and miles reporter at TPG. He specializes in maximizing points and miles, elite status and credit cards so readers travel more comfortably and at a lower cost.
also contributed to this story
November 6, 2023 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
Airline lounge memberships can be purchased with cash or miles from major U.S. carriers, but redeeming miles for this purpose typically yields less value than other options.
Memberships grant access to numerous lounges and may include guest privileges, with eligibility tied to same-day travel on the airline or its partners.
TPG's valuations indicate that using miles for lounge memberships generally provides lower value compared to redeeming them for flights or upgrades.
Alternative lounge access methods, such as certain premium travel cards or lounge networks, may offer broader benefits and better value.
What to consider
The value per mile when redeeming for lounge memberships is significantly below TPG's valuations as of June 2024.
Lounge access is usually restricted to travelers flying with the airline or its partners on the same day.
Some offers and card-based lounge access policies may have changed or expired; always check current terms.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of airline lounge membership costs, mile redemption values and alternative access strategies to maximize your airport lounge experience.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Airline lounges offer many benefits for all types of travelers. Many of us have spent hours happily working from lounges, which usually provide complimentary food and drinks and personalized assistance with flight cancellations and rebookings.
The Admirals Club at LaGuardia Airport (LGA). ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
If American Airlines is your airline of choice, you may want to purchase an annual Admirals Club membership. Admirals Club membership offers access to nearly 50 Admirals Club locations and more than 60 partner lounges across the globe.
To gain Admirals Club access, Admirals Club members must have a boarding pass for same-day travel on any departing or arriving flight that is:
Marketed or operated by American
Marketed and operated by any Oneworld airline
Admirals Club membership includes access for the member and the member’s immediate family members (spouse or domestic partner and children under 18 years of age) or up to two guests when these individuals accompany the Admirals Club member.
The cost for an Admirals Club membership varies across the different elite levels of the AAdvantage program, and new memberships require additional miles or cash to cover the initiation fee. Travelers can choose between a single membership or a household membership that provides full membership to a spouse or domestic partner.
Membership type
AAdvantage member
AAdvantage Gold
AAdvantage Platinum
AAdvantage Platinum Pro
AAdvantage Executive Platinum
Individual (new)
$850 or 85,000 miles per year
$825 or 82,500 miles per year
$800 or 80,000 miles per year
$775 or 77,500 miles per year
$750 or 75,000 miles per year
Individual (renewal)
$800 or 80,000 miles per year
$775 or 77,500 miles per year
$750 or 75,000 miles per year
$725 or 72,500 miles per year
$700 or 70,000 miles per year
Household (new)
$1,650 or 165,000 miles per year
$1,625 or 162,500 miles per year
$1,600 or 160,000 miles per year
$1,575 or 157,500 miles per year
$1,550 or 155,000 miles per year
Household (renewal)
$1,600 or 160,000 miles per year
$1,675 or 167,500 miles per year
$1,550 or 155,000 miles per year
$1,525 or 152,500 miles per year
$1,500 or 150,000 miles per year
As you can see in the table, AAdvantage miles are valued at 1 cent each when used to purchase an Admirals Club membership. This is well below TPG’s valuation of AAdvantage miles at 1.55 cents each, so we generally wouldn’t recommend using your AAdvantage miles to purchase an Admirals Club membership.
Another option for an Admirals Club membership is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees). Although this card carries a $595 annual fee, the card comes with full Admirals Club access.
If Delta Air Lines is your airline of choice, you may want to purchase a Delta Sky Club membership. Sky Club membership offers access to more than 50 Sky Club lounges.
Delta Sky Club members may only use the Sky Club with same-day, ticketed air travel on Delta or its partner airlines. You can also purchase a Sky Club membership with Delta Medallion elite status.
Delta offers two types of Sky Club membership: executive or individual. Executive membership includes unlimited Delta Sky Club access for the member and up to two guests per visit, while individual membership includes unlimited Sky Club access for only the member. However, members with an individual membership may bring up to two guests for $50 per guest per visit (or $25 per guest at grab-and-go Sky Clubs).
When you use SkyMiles to pay for a one-year Sky Club membership, Delta SkyMiles are valued at 1 cent each. This is below TPG’s valuation of Delta SkyMiles at 1.15 cents apiece, so we generally wouldn’t recommend using your SkyMiles to purchase a Sky Club membership.
Delta will limit how many times you can visit a Sky Club in each program year (Feb. 1 through Jan. 31 of the following year) as follows:
Card
Number of annual visits
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
15
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
15
The Platinum Card® from American Express
10
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
10
Also, suppose you have a Delta Reserve card and travel on a Delta partner airline on flights not marketed or operated by Delta. In that case, you can enter a Sky Club for $50 per person (up to two guests) per visit.
United Club customers, including members and their guests, must provide a same-day arrival and/or departure boarding pass in the customer’s name on a United, Star Alliance or a contracted partner flight to enter all United Club locations.
United Club membership includes access to select guests that accompany the United member. Guests are limited to two adults or one adult and dependent children under 21.
Another option if you’re considering paying for a United Club membership is the United Club Infinite Card ($525 annual fee) or the United Club Business Card ($450 annual fee). The annual fees for these cards are lower than even the least expensive United Club membership, so it may make sense to apply for one of these United credit cards instead of paying for a United Club membership. To learn more, read our United Club Infinite Card review.
The information for the United Club Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
This guide specifically focuses on airline lounges within the U.S. that offer membership options using points or miles. However, it is crucial to note that access to airline lounges is typically limited to flights with a specific airline or its partner airlines. Therefore, it is important to explore alternative methods for accessing a wider range of airport lounges.
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The value you’ll get from purchasing these airline lounge memberships with miles ranges from 0.73 cents per mile to 1 cent per mile. In each case, TPG values these miles at a higher rate than what you’ll get by redeeming them for a lounge membership.
We all have different valuations for our hard-earned frequent flyer currencies, though. So, if you are short on cash, these memberships can offer an alternate way to spend your miles to make your airport experience more comfortable.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
