by Emily Thompson, Newsletter & Partnerships Editor
It’s amazing how much money I can blow when I’m killing time in an airport between flights. Whether it’s the full $65 meal and drink at a restaurant or the more modest (yet still outrageous) $25 cold wrap and bottled water from a shop near the gate, it’s easy to see why so many experienced travelers spring for access to a cozy lounge that offers complimentary snacks and drinks and a quiet reprieve from the airport chaos.
If keeping your annual fee costs low is a priority, you may have resigned yourself to waiting out your layover at whatever chain restaurant is closest to your gate. But we have good news: There are some ways that you can get lounge access without incurring the high annual fees of a premium credit card.
The easiest (and cheapest) way to score airport lounge access is by becoming an authorized user on a loved one’s premium account. The Amex Platinum, Sapphire Reserve and Venture X all grant lounge access to authorized users. You’ll have to pay an annual fee as an authorized user on the Amex Platinum (see rates and fees) or Sapphire Reserve, but it’s much lower than what you would pay as a primary cardholder.
And if you have a friend or family member who’s willing to add you as an authorized user on their Venture X, you’ve really hit the jackpot. Venture X cardholders can add up to four authorized users to their account, and each one gets the same lounge access as the primary cardholder — including getting to bring in up to two guests for no additional cost.
But if you don’t have a good opportunity to be added as an authorized user on one of the above cards, there are still some cards with lounge access that have more modest annual fees.
For instance, the United℠ Explorer Card and United℠ Business Card both come with two United Club passes each cardholder year and have modest annual fees which don’t kick in until the second year ($95 starting in the second year for the United Explorer and $99 starting in the second year for the United Business). Just remember that you can only use these passes when you’re flying on United Airlines or a partner airline.
Posts in this newsletter contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products, and this may impact how or where they appear. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
You are receiving this email because you opted in atthepointsguy.com.
Where to find us:
The Points Guy 100 5th Ave., 16th Floor New York, NY 10011 USA USA
If this newsletter was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here.
Advertiser Disclosure:
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. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
