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Free airport lounge entry has change into an more and more uncommon and elusive perk. As of late, it feels such as you both want diamond-level standing with the airline, a bank card with a sky-high annual payment or A-list movie star standing to breeze via the entryway and seize a cabernet earlier than your flight.
Or do you?
To search out out, Fortune Recommends carried out analysis to seek out what–if any–bank cards nonetheless embrace airport lounge entry for an inexpensive annual payment in 2024. The excellent news is that there are a number of, and every of them has way more to supply frequent flyers than only a pair of lounge coupons. From free checked luggage to welcome bonuses value $750 or extra, listed below are the most effective bank cards for reasonably priced lounge entry in 2024.
The very best bank cards for reasonable lounge entry in April 2024
Greatest general: U.S. Financial institution Altitude Join
The U.S. Financial institution Altitude Join Visa Signature Card features a complimentary Precedence Cross Choose membership with 4 free passes annually to over 1,500 lounge areas worldwide. That–mixed with a 50,000-point welcome bonus value $500 and no annual payment for the primary yr–made it a simple choose for the most effective general card for reasonably priced lounge entry in 2024.
U.S. Financial institution Altitude Join
Intro bonus
Earn 50,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 within the first 120 days value $500 in direction of journey and extra.
| Annual payment | $0 first yr, then $95 |
| Common APR | 21.24% to 29.24% |
Why we like this card: Much like how Pepsi challenges Coke, the U.S. Financial institution Altitude Join Visa Signature Card appears poised to maintain the reigning Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card on its toes. The latter provides a staggering array of journey advantages for its modest $95 annual payment, together with a 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, complimentary Precedence Cross Choose membership with 4 free passes annually and as much as $100 in assertion credit score in direction of TSA PreCheck or World Entry.
However the buck doesn’t cease there–you’ll additionally get free journey insurance coverage (Journey Cancelation/Interruption, Journey Delay Reimbursement and SmartDelay), no overseas transaction charges and as much as 5X on pay as you go resorts/automotive leases and 4X on journey/fuel. Did we point out that it costs no annual payment for the primary yr, both?
So if free PreCheck and lounge entry with a $0 upfront dedication sounds good to you, try the U.S. Financial institution Altitude Join card.
Greatest for checked luggage: UnitedSM Explorer Card
The UnitedSM Explorer Card card could solely supply two United Membership passes per yr, but it surely greater than makes up for it with a free checked bag for you and a companion, precedence boarding, a $100 World Entry/PreCheck/NEXUS payment credit score and a 50,000-point welcome bonus. Plus, it even waives its $95 annual payment for the primary yr.
UnitedSM Explorer Card
Intro bonus
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months your account is open
| Annual payment | $0 introductory annual payment for the primary yr (then $95) |
| Common APR | 21.99%–28.99% variable APR |
Why we like this card
Whereas the United Explorer card by Chase solely provides two lounge passes per yr, we thought it deserved an area on this record given how less expensive–and smoother–it makes just about each different step of your flight expertise.
Beginning at check-in, you’ll get a free checked bag for your self and one companion. Then, you’ll scoot via safety a little bit quicker due to the $100 assertion credit score for World Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS. After cashing in your lounge passes, you’ll be capable to board a little bit early due to precedence boarding. Lastly, even after takeoff you’ll get pleasure from 25% off all in-flight meals, drinks and Wi-Fi packages.
The caveat, after all, is most of those perks solely apply to United flights so that you’ll want to point out some model loyalty to maximise the United Explorer card’s advantages. However in the event you’re already a fan of United–and also you’d lastly wish to expertise the United Membership in your subsequent journey–it’s an apparent selection.
Greatest for CLEAR Plus: American Specific Inexperienced
For a modest $150 annual payment, the American Specific® Inexperienced Card consists of as much as $100 LoungeBuddy assertion credit score, as much as $189 credit score towards value of CLEAR® Plus per calendar yr and 3X on journey/transit/eating. All issues thought of, it’s a strong and well-rounded journey companion.
American Specific® Inexperienced Card
Intro Bonus
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Factors after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your new card in your first 6 months of card membership.
| Annual payment | $150 |
| Common APR | See Pay Over Time APR |
Why we like this card
Should you like the thought of flying via safety shortly and arriving on the lounge mere minutes after you enter the airport, the American Specific Inexperienced card could also be your ticket to that fantasy.
That’s as a result of the Amex Inexperienced comes with a useful pair of credit for each CLEAR Plus and LoungeBuddy. For the uninitiated, CLEAR Plus lets you transfer quicker via safety by scanning your eyes and/or fingerprints in a devoted CLEAR Lane, and LoungeBuddy lets you pre-book lounge entry worldwide beginning at $25 per go to.
The Amex Inexperienced additionally provides a 40,000-point welcome bonus value as much as $400 in journey or reward playing cards (earned after spending $3,000 inside six months) plus 3X on journey/transit eating, making it a rewarding card to tackle the go. Even higher, these factors are Membership Rewards factors which might have much more worth when transferred to companions.
All details about the American Specific® Inexperienced Card has been collected independently by Fortune Recommends™ .
Greatest worth premium card: Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card
The Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card shortly justifies its $395 annual payment by providing a $300 journey credit score, $100 TSA PreCheck/World Entry credit score, 75,000-mile welcome bonus and maybe better of all, limitless airport lounge entry for you and as much as two friends. Not solely that, approved customers are free and might every get their very own memberships. So whereas the Enterprise X definitely isn’t low cost, the worth proposition earns it a spot on the record.
Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card
Intro bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases inside the first 3 months from account opening
| Annual Price | $395 |
| Buy APR | 19.99%–29.99% variable |
| International Transaction Price | None |
Why we like this card
Whereas it could be a stretch to say {that a} card charging $395 a yr offers “reasonably priced” something, think about this: the Capital One Enterprise X additionally comes with a 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases inside the first 3 months from account opening, an annual $300 again yearly for bookings made via Capital One Journey and a ten,000-mile Anniversary Bonus. Which means that whilst you’re technically paying a $395 payment annually, you’re getting $400 in journey credit score proper again.
That’s to not point out the cardboard’s marquis profit for frequent flyers: limitless airport lounge entry for you and as much as two friends at any Capital One, Precedence Cross or Plaza Premium Group location. The pampering doesn’t finish there, both, because you’ll even be handled to immediate Hertz President’s Circle standing (till Jan. 1, 2025), a $100 expertise credit score on the Premier Assortment of resorts and extra.
So in the event you’re on the lookout for a premium journey card with easy-to-use advantages and limitless lounge entry, your search could finish with the Capital One Enterprise X.
Regularly Requested Questions
Which card provides free lounge entry for no annual payment?
On the time of this writing, there aren’t any rewards playing cards providing airport lounge entry for a $0 annual payment. Nonetheless, each the U.S. Financial institution Altitude Join and the United Explorer card supply airport lounge entry for a $0 annual payment for the primary yr and $95 per yr thereafter.
What’s the most effective card providing airport lounge entry for an annual payment beneath $100?
Our choose for the most effective card providing airport lounge entry below $100 is the U.S. Financial institution Altitude Join card. The cardboard comes with a welcome bonus value $500, complimentary Precedence Cross Choose membership with 4 lounge passes per yr and costs no annual payment for the primary yr ($95 thereafter).
Is lounge entry free on AmEx Rewards playing cards?
Complimentary lounge entry is a perk of the Amex Inexperienced (as much as $100 per yr) and Platinum playing cards.
Which airline rewards playing cards embrace lounge entry for below $100?
The United Explorer card, Miles & Extra World Elite Mastercard (Lufthansa), and SKYPASS Visa Signature playing cards (Korean Air) all embrace two complimentary lounge passes per yr for an annual payment below $100.
Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our protection of bank card merchandise. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings could obtain a fee from card issuers.
Please word that card particulars are correct as of the publish date, however are topic to vary at any time on the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the cardboard issuer to confirm charges, charges, and advantages earlier than making use of.
Eligibility and Profit degree varies by Card. Phrases, Circumstances, and Limitations Apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/advantages information for extra particulars. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Firm.
