I pay $550 a year for unlimited airport lounge access. They're sometimes crowded, but it's still an incredible value.
25.01.2025 - 12:47
/ insider.com
As a frequent flyer who isn't loyal to any one airline — I typically just book the cheapest economy ticket — I've focused on making my airport experience as enjoyable as possible.
The best investment I've made to that end is getting Priority Pass airport lounge access through my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card.
The card costs me $550 a year and gives me unlimited visits to more than 1,700 airport lounges worldwide. American Express and Capital One also offer access to the network through their respective credit cards.
I've used the pass dozens of times a year in more than 20 countries since 2018. I always enjoy free food and drinks — alcohol included — and many have access to showers and private spaces to work or relax away from the busy airport terminal.
Some even have sleep pods and spas, like the airport transit lounge at Singapore's Changi Airport. The one in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, has a pool.
Some lounges have lackluster amenities, others are restricted due to crowds, and a handful of major US airports don't have Priority Pass options at all.
Christopher Evans, the CEO of Collinson International, which owns Priority Pass, told Business Insider that many people don't want to give up the perk, and the company is constantly investing in the customer experience to make it worthwhile.
"We've surveyed people asking if you lost your lounge access benefit, what would happen?" he said. "94% of consumers in the Asia-Pacific region said they were likely to change card provider. That was 62% in the Americas."
While my biggest worry is capacity and lounges cutting some access, I think Priority Pass — even with the crowds — is easily worth the hefty annual fee for frequent travelers.
I've been increasingly concerned about Priority Pass crowds — especially as airlines make it more difficult to access their own lounges.
In 2023, Delta Air Lines changed who could access their SkyClubs and made earning status based on dollars spent instead of miles flown. British Airways recently followed suit with its own sweep of changes.
As a result, Evans said people who can no longer reach the upper echelons of airline loyalty are looking at memberships like Priority Pass as an alternative.
I've noticed the increased crowds in the US and some European airports, which were already on the rise amid the post-COVID travel boom. I've found myself on waitlists that reach up to an hour or fighting for a seat with a power outlet available.
Meanwhile, airline lounges like Lufthansa and Air France at New York-JFK, both of which are in the Priority Pass network, limit access to those using Priority Pass due to capacity.
Evans said Priority Pass has seen a spike in the number of people accessing its network and is working to