You can enjoy more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with this pass

For those looking to make the most of their pre-flight experience, airport lounges are a top choice. These exclusive areas provide a serene atmosphere with plush seating, complimentary refreshments, and spacious restrooms, which can help travelers unwind before their journey. Priority Pass is an option worth exploring if you want access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide, but need an airline or credit card with lounge access. You may not even have to pay for it because it’s a bonus offered with many premium travel credit cards.

Priority Pass is a global network of airport lounges and affiliated restaurants that operates on a membership basis. Members of the program gain access to these lounges irrespective of the airline or class of service they are flying. With a presence in approximately 600 airports worldwide, the network boasts over 1,300 locations, notes Travel + Leisure.

You can join Priority Pass by paying for a membership or signing up for a free trial membership with your credit card. While both approaches are helpful, they each offer slightly different benefits.

Direct membership purchases can be made on the Priority Pass website. Three membership levels are available: Standard, Standard Plus, and Prestige. Members must pay $35 for every visit and an additional $35 for each guest who is not a member, in addition to the $99 annual fee for standard memberships. A Standard Plus membership costs $329 per year, including ten visits; additional visits are $35 apiece. In either scenario, visitors must pay $35 for every visit. All visits are included in Prestige memberships, which cost $469 annually; however, visitors are still charged $35 per visit.

Priority Pass Select is a unique form of Priority Pass provided by some credit cards and accessible to cardholders. Each credit card company determines the limits of Priority Pass Select. At the same time, they all offer at least ten free trips to Priority Pass lounges, but only a few permit unlimited free visits. While some places regulate the number of free guests at two and others charge for visitors, certain places let you bring a limitless number of guests for no charge.

You should contact your credit card company for specific details regarding your Priority Pass Select membership. It’s also advisable to activate it online well before your travel dates, as the process can take a few weeks.

Credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, The Platinum Card from American Express, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card all come with complimentary Priority Pass Select memberships.

More than 600 airports worldwide have Priority Pass lounges; some have several. Since Priority Pass does not have lounges but rather collaborates with other lounges, the facilities are generally an assortment. In some situations, Priority Pass provides access to airline lounges. In contrast, Priority Pass lounges are run by separate businesses. The lounges’ quality also differs widely. While some are vast areas with full-service bars, private phone booths, and hot food, others are modest rooms with complimentary coffee.

If you want to know more about the airport lounges you may access with your Priority Pass, including their hours of operation and the amenities they offer, downloading the app is strongly suggested.

Know that access to Priority Pass lounges is only assured after you purchase a subscription. Since each lounge is responsible for its schedule, Priority Pass holders may only be granted entry during non-peak hours. They can only accept access to Priority Pass members if the lounge is close to or at capacity. The time you can spend in a lounge may also be limited, typically between three and five hours.

You’ll need to show your card at the reception counter to gain access to a lounge that welcomes Priority Pass members. This pass could be the plastic card you receive in the mail after signing up or making a payment or a digital card stored in your phone’s wallet or the accompanying mobile app.

Priority Pass lounges often have admittance limitations during peak traffic, and even if you’re allowed in, they’re usually full. Unfortunately, your lounge visit will depend on your flight timing. You can estimate crowd size based on the number of aircraft leaving your airport around your visit. Since several U.S. hub airports have international red-eye flights, Priority Pass lounges are often packed in the evenings. You may have to wait or be denied.

Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of its developments. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all. Evie can be reached at evieblanco@detourxp.com

This story was originally published June 7, 2023 at 1:00 PM with the headline "You can enjoy more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with this pass."