To deal with the problem, AmEx changed the Centurion Lounge guest policy. As of February 2023, guests are charged $50 per visit (kids two and under are $30, with proof of age); previously, cardholders were allowed to bring in two friends or family members for free. The only way to avoid those guest fees is to spend at least $75,000 on your card annually.
Platinum cardholders also have access to Delta Sky Clubs and thousands of other airport lounges through Priority Pass Select (enrollment required, terms apply). Additionally, the Platinum card comes with a raft of generous travel credits, including a $200 Uber credit (enrollment required, terms apply) and TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership credit.
Airline credit cards are another solid option for lounge access. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card, for instance, has similar benefits to the Platinum card, plus complimentary access to Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (though it doesn’t offer Priority Pass membership). However, keep in mind that early in 2023, Delta made a slew of changes to its Sky Club access that also can affect cardholders; more on that below.
Several other premium credit cards, including the Citi Prestige and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express cards (both have an annual fee: $495 and $650, respectively), come with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership.
Buy a Priority Pass membership
If a premium travel card isn’t an option, consider buying a lounge membership directly with Priority Pass, which opens the door to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide that you can access through Priority Pass’s mobile app. In the US, most participating lounges are independently operated. A handful of top business class airline lounges participate at select airports. Airlines with Priority Pass–accessible lounges in US airports include Korean Air, Air France, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and British Airways.
There are three tiers of membership, and at the entry level (Priority Pass Standard) you’ll pay a $99 annual membership and then $35 per lounge visit (members can also bring a guest for $35). If you visit 10 or more lounges per year, then your sweet spot is Priority Pass Standard Plus, which has a $329 annual membership fee that includes 10 free lounge visits—translating to about $33 a pop. Beyond 10 visits, you pay $35 for each visit and $35 per guest, too. The top tier is Priority Pass Prestige, with a $469 annual fee that gets you unlimited lounge visits per year (but you’ll need to pay $35 for guest passes). This becomes a better deal than Standard Plus when you hit 14 or more lounge visits in one year.
One caveat: When lounges get very crowded, Priority Pass members can be turned away—which is a more common occurrence these days.
Day passes
If you’re not flying in first or business class—two cabins that usually come with complimentary access to an airline’s lounge—don’t fret. You can still buy your way into a wide array of lounges. Virtually every large airport has multiple spaces offering day passes.
One example? Escape Lounges, which have 23 locations across the US and UK, offer day passes that cost $40 when booked 24 hours in advance, or $45 at the door. Entry fees cover food selections like Thai shrimp salad or braised short ribs with polenta, plus local craft brews, wine, and handcrafted cocktails. Expect plenty of seating and free Wi-Fi, too. AmEx Platinum and Centurion cardholders also get free entry to Escape Lounges (plus two guests), while AmEx Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card members get free access.
