These are the best cards for getting airport lounge access through PriorityPass (PP). Lounge access through PP does not require flying with any particular airline or holding airline status. However, navigating this landscape is tricky because cards differ in the number of free entries, whether you’re allow to bring guests, book access in advance.
Surprisingly, access through a card is cheaper than buying a subscription directly from PriorityPass
| Card | Price | Free Entries | Max Guests per Visit | Pre-booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Platinum | £650/year Free supplemental | Unlimited | 1 guest per card, 4 people in total with the supplemental card. | 8 entries/year |
| Amex Gold | £195/year | 4 | n/a (limited by free entries) | No |
| Lloyds World Elite Mastercard | £15/month Free supplemental | Unlimited | No guests, 2 people in total with the supplemental card | No |
| HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard | £290/year +£60/year supplemental card | Unlimited | No guests, 2 people in total with the supplemental card | No |
| HSBC Premier Credit Card | Free | No free entries. £24/entry | 0 | No |
Beyond the free visits, you typically pay £24 for each additional person/visit.
How to Choose
Choosing the right card depends on a few factors: how often you travel, how early you typically arrive at the airport, how big is your group, whether you want additional travel perks. The free HSBC Premier card offers a great entry point. However, a couple traveling just twice a year would get better value from the Lloyds World Elite.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Amex Platinum offers unlimited free access for a family of 4 or two couples and gives you free pre-booking for 8 entries, which can cost up to £120 otherwise. It also offers access to the Amex Centurion lounges, which are arguably higher quality than many PP lounges but are are very scarce outside the US. Amex Platinum offers a plethora of other benefits.
Pre-booking Matters?
I’ve never used pre-booking and virtually always found lounge availability, although I occasionally I had to get on the waiting list or go to my second option lounge. It’s a nice-to-have perk if you have clear plans to get early at the aiport.
Alternatives
Besides access through credit cards, you can get a subscription directly from PriorityPass. There are three subscription level, which differ in the number of included visits. They are all lower value than the offers provided by credit cards but require no credit check.
Other alternatives to lounge access, beyond PriorityPass, are LoungeKey and DragonPass. They are available through other cards, like Revolut Ultra for LK and Natwest and Barclaycard for DragonPass. PP would be my first choice unless you already have an connection to a bank that offers different benefits.
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