UPDATES:
  • Priority Pass membership issued by Capital One Venture X Credit Card offers unlimited guest access. However, the non-airport lounges access, such as restaurants, spas, etc., will no longer be included.

Getting into airport lounges in this day and time is much simpler and easier than you can imagine. Best of all, it can be FREE! 

Many travel credit cards offer complimentary Priority Pass Select Membership benefits, allowing you free access to airport lounges worldwide and bringing additional guests. In addition, you can also access participating airport restaurants and spa locations with an eligible Priority Pass membership. 

Suppose you are located in a country that does not have a credit card that offers the Priority Pass Select Membership benefit. In that case, I also include promotional Priority Pass Membership discount offers in this article. 

Credit Cards that Give You Free Priority Pass Lounges Access
Salones VIP Pacific Club - A Priority Pass Lounge
Santiago International Airport, Chile

Table of Contents  [show/hide]

    What is Priority Pass?

    Priority Pass has an extensive airport lounges network in the world. In addition, a Priority Pass membership also gives you access to participating airport restaurants with a discount for you and your guests. Priority Pass now also adds airport spa locations to its network. 

    By having Priority Pass Membership, you can access the following airport places that participate in the Priority Pass network:
    • Airport lounges
    • Airport restaurants
    • Airport spas - Be Relax

    Priority Pass Membership requires membership fees to join; however, the fee is too much that you are better off holding a travel credit card instead. More below. 

    Priority Pass Airport Lounge Locations

    Priority Pass has over 1,300 airport lounges in the whole wide world. The Priority Pass program partners with airport lounges to provide members with airport experiences to relax and enjoy complimentary refreshments before flights. 

    All Priority Pass Restaurants 2022

    Below are the current airport restaurants that participating in Priority Pass:

    Restaurants
    Airports
    U.S. Priority Pass Restaurants
    BOS – Boston, MA
    BOS – Boston, MA
    CLE – Cleveland, OH
    DCA – Washington, DC
    DCA – Washington, DC
    DEN – Denver, Colorado
    IAD – Dulles, VA
    IAH – Houston, TX
    IAH – Houston, TX
    IND – Indianapolis, IN
    JFK – New York, NY
    LAX – Los Angeles, CA
    LAX – Los Angeles, CA
    LEX – Lexington, KY
    MIA – Miami, FL
    PDX – Portland, OR
    PDX – Portland, OR
    SEA – Seattle, WA
    SEA – Seattle, WA
    SFO – San Francisco, CA
    SFO – San Francisco, CA
    SFO – San Francisco, CA
    STL – St Louis, MO
    STL – St Louis, MO
    SYR – Syracuse, NY
    TPA – Tampa, FL
    TUS – Tuscon, AZ
    International Priority Pass Restaurants
    EZE – Buenos Aires, Argentina
    BNE – Brisbane, Australia
    BNE – Brisbane, Australia
    BNE – Brisbane, Australia
    CBR – Canberra, Australia
    CBR – Canberra, Australia
    OOL – Gold Coast, Australia
    MEL – Melbourne, Australia
    MEL – Melbourne, Australia
    MEL – Melbourne, Australia
    SYD – Sydney, Australia
    SYD – Sydney, Australia
    SYD – Sydney, Australia
    SYD – Sydney, Australia
    SYD – Sydney, Australia
    SYD – Sydney, Australia
    SYD – Sydney, Australia
    SYD – Sydney, Australia
    GRU – São Paulo, Brazil
    Tryp GRU Airport (by Wyndham)
    GRU – São Paulo, Brazil
    YUL – Montréal, Canada
    YUL – Montréal, Canada
    YUL – Montréal, Canada
    CAN – Guangzhou, China
    CAN – Guangzhou, China
    CAN – Guangzhou, China
    CAN – Guangzhou, China
    IXC – Chandigarh, India
    IXC – Chandigarh, India
    CJB – Coimbatore, India
    KIX – Osaka, Japan
    LGW – London, United Kingdom

    How Priority Pass Restaurants Benefit Works

    Priority Pass partners with some restaurants that are located inside the airport. Priority Pass gives every Priority Pass member and the member's guest a certain amount of credit to spend at that participating restaurant. 

    To use your Priority Pass credits at a participating Priority Pass restaurant: 

    • First and foremost, ensure that your Priority Pass Membership includes the Priority Pass restaurants benefit. 
    • Locate an airport restaurant that participates in the Priority Pass network. The process is the same as you were to find a Priority Pass airport lounge. 
      • Go to Priority Pass Lounge Locations website. 
      • Find a lounge by the airport name. 
      • Locate available restaurants on the left-hand side under the Lounges
    • Check the restaurant you plan on using your Priority Pass restaurant credits. Most Priority Pass restaurants offer you a $28 credit per cardholder, that's clearly stated in the terms. 
      • If you have a Priority Pass Membership that allows guesting privileges, you and your guest(s) will receive the bill's credit. Simply multiply the credit by how many guests you have based on the terms and conditions. 
    • Before ordering, let the waiter/waitress know that you'd like to use your Priority Pass credits. 
    • Depending on the restaurant:
      • You will be asked for your Priority Pass membership card and boarding pass upfront or after you finish your meal.
      • Some restaurants require that you have an outbound boarding pass, while other restaurants don't really care. My experience shows that most restaurants don't have such a requirement. 
    • You can visit multiple Priority Pass restaurants in the same airport.
    • Tipping is always a personal choice, which is true when tipping at a participating Priority Pass restaurant. The Priority Pass restaurant credit work is the same as a gift card, and you can use the credit to pay for your meals, drinks, and gratuity at some restaurants. 
      • Be sure to look at the final bill closely, though, because some restaurants automatically add the gratuity to the bill. 
      • Some restaurants' final bills may not have a tip line or allow you to use the remaining Priority Pass restaurant credit to tip. You can tip with cash or your credit card and let your server know after receiving your final bill. 

    Priority Pass Be Relax Spas Locations 2021

    Priority Pass recently partnered with Be Relax airport spa locations and added these spas to the Priority Pass network for members with improved airport experiences in addition to the traditional airport lounges and restaurants mentioned above. 

    Currently, there are ten (10) Be Relax airport spa locations:

    How Priority Pass Be Relax Spas Benefit Works

    Priority Pass members receive the following treatments at the participating Be Relax airport spa locations:
    • Be Back 30-minute Lounger Massage - $35 value
    • Be Back 15-minute Lounger Massage plus Aromatherapy & O2 - $35 value
    • Head-Up 10-minute Head Massage plus Aromatherapy & O2 - $38 value
    • Be Feet 10-minute Foot Massage plus Aromatherapy & O2 - $38 value

    To use the Priority Pass membership benefit for the Be Relax spa:
    • First and foremost, make sure that your Priority Pass Membership includes access to the Priority Pass airport spa experience. 
    • You must show your Priority Pass Membership card and a confirmed same-day travel boarding pass. Arriving boarding passes should be fine. 
    • Check the terms and conditions for guest policy because certain spa locations only accept the primary cardholder. 
    • Tipping is optional, and it's completely up to you, and there's no Priority Pass credit to cover that. 

    Priority Pass Gameway Lounges Locations 2022

    Priority Pass recently partnered with Gameway Lounges and added these lounges to the Priority Pass network for members with improved airport experiences in addition to the traditional airport lounges and restaurants mentioned above. 

    Currently, here are the airport Gameway lounges locations:

    How Priority Pass Gameway Lounges Benefit Works

    Priority Pass members receive the following benefits at the participating airport video game Gameway locations:
    • 2 hours of gaming. Each subsequent hour of gaming receives a 10% discount rate. 
    • 2 snacks
    • Complimentary soft drinks are limited to one bottle of soda or water. 

    Priority Pass Membership Cost

    Priority Pass Membership contains four (4) types of membership in terms of access and guest policy:
    • Standard: $99 annual fee
      • You pay a $32 visit fee and a $32 guest visit fee. 
    • Standard Plus: $299 annual fee
      • You get 10 free visits, then a $32 visit fee. $32 guest visit fee. 
    • Prestige: $429 annual fee
      • You receive unlimited free visits and a $32 guest visit fee. 
    • Priority Pass Select: free 
      • This membership is available as part of the credit card benefits. 

    Discounted Priority Pass Membership Offers

    Priority Pass Membership is available worldwide, but not every country can simply sign up for a travel credit card and receive complimentary Priority Pass Select Membership like American consumers. 

    With that being said, here are the current discounts for Priority Pass Membership:

    Free Priority Pass Membership With A Credit Card

    Priority Pass Membership requires membership fees to join; however, the membership fee is so much that you are better off getting a travel credit card that offers Priority Pass benefits. You are taking advantage of the complimentary Priority Pass Select Membership and other travel benefits that the credit card provides. 

    Don't get too hung up on the credit card's annual fee. Remember that each travel credit card gives you more travel benefits other than just the free Priority Pass Membership based on your traveling frequency and lifestyle.

    For example, if you travel a little in a year, the American Express Hilton Honors Surpass Card is only a $95 annual fee card. The card comes with the benefit of receiving 10 free Priority Passes each card membership year. 

    See the table below for the comparison of each personal and business credit card that offers Priority Pass Membership, along with the guest policy and the card's authorized users. 


    Priority Pass Membership and Guest Policy For Each Credit Card

    Credit Card Annual Fee Annual Passes - Airport Lounges Access Guest Policy Airport Restaurants Access Airport Spas Access Card's A.U. Annual Fee & Access
    Personal Cards that offer Complimentary Priority Pass Membership
    American Express Platinum Card  Unlimited 2 guests free, $32 per additional guest No No $175 Same access privilege as the primary cardholder. 
    Capital One Venture X Credit Card Unlimited Unlimited No Yes $0 Same access privilege as the primary cardholder. 
    Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Unlimited 2 guests free, $27 per additional guest Yes Yes $75 Same access privilege as the primary cardholder. 
    Citi Prestige Credit Card Unlimited Entire immediate family and 2 guests free, $27 per additional guest.  Yes Yes $50 Same access privilege as the primary cardholder. 
    American Express Hilton Aspire Card Unlimited 2 guests free, $32 per additional guest No No No 
    American Express Hilton Honors Surpass Card 10 free passes, $32 per person access afterward No free guests, but you can gift out of the 10 annual free passes  No No No
    American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Unlimited 2 guests free, $32 per additional guest No No No
    Mastercard Black Card $495 Unlimited Unlimited Yes Yes $175 Same unlimited access privilege as the primary cardholder. 
    Mastercard Gold Card $995 Unlimited Unlimited Yes Yes $295 Same unlimited access privilege as the primary cardholder.
    U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card $400 4 free passes, $27 per person access afterward 4 guests free, $27 per additional guest afterward Yes Yes $75 no access to Priority Pass 
    The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Card
    (not available to new applicants. Available for product change.)    		 $450 Unlimited Unlimited Yes Yes Free and same unlimited access privilege as the primary cardholder. 
    Business Cards that offer Complimentary Priority Pass Membership
    American Express Business Platinum Card Unlimited 2 guests free, $32 per additional guest No No $300 Same access privilege as the primary cardholder. 
    American Express Hilton Honors Business Card 10 free passes, $32 per person access afterward No free guests, but you can gift out of the 10 annual free passes No No $300 Same access privilege as the primary cardholder. 


    How to Add an Authorized User to Priority Pass Membership?

    When you go through the table chart above, you can see that you can add an Authorized User (AU) to a bank card that allows an A.U. person to also have the Priority Pass benefit.

    The process of adding an authorized user to the Priority Pass Membership is quite simple:
    • If you have not done this, you must first request to add an authorized user (AU) to your eligible bank card. 
    • Once completed, you can ask the bank's customer service agent to help activate the Priority Pass Membership for the A.U. The agent will process that request for you. 
    • The A.U. will receive their own full Priority Pass membership card, the same as the primary cardholder. 

    Is Priority Pass Worth It?

    Priority Pass offers airport experiences that range from lounges to restaurants and spas. There are currently over 1,300 plus airport lounges in the Priority Pass network. However, not every lounge was created equally. This means that you may sometimes find a Priority Pass airport lounge that is too small and offers little refreshments, such as the IASS Hawaii Lounge at Honolulu International Airport (HNL), or you may find a nice Priority Pass airport lounge, such as the Turkish Airlines Lounge at Dulles International Airport (IAD).

    If you find yourself in an airport that does not have a nice airport lounge, you can always look for Priority Pass restaurants to use your Priority Pass credits, that range from $28-$30 per person, depending on the restaurant. 

    The gist is that if you often travel, leveraging your travel experiences with lounge access is one way to make the journey more pleasant than just the destination. Besides the comfort and relaxation that the airport lounge generally offers, some lounges have a conference room where you can make calls without disrupting the airport noises and crowds. 

    It is a no-brainer to get a complimentary Priority Pass Select Membership benefit through a credit card. Not only do you receive all the Priority Pass perks, but you also enjoy all the other benefits that your card offers.

    Credit cards that offer complimentary Priority Pass Membership: