Priority Pass is a program that provides access to airport lounges and business suites and gives credits you can use at airport restaurants. While you can purchase a membership in the program, most people from the United States have a Priority Pass Select card from a credit card that provides membership as a perk. That’s where things get interesting. While lounges may limit access to the club due to capacity issues, the cardholder will get in by showing their Priority Pass card (or a digital card if available). If you want to bring in a guest, each card has rules that are worded slightly differently, and those minor differences may cost you an additional $35 for each extra guest.
I want to bring to your attention a potential issue when bringing guests into a Priority Pass lounge. The desk agent who checks you in may not inform you if your guests require additional payment. This means that you may be charged without being aware of it, as the fee for the guest is automatically charged to the credit card linked to the membership. To avoid any unexpected charges, I highly recommend researching ahead of time. Please take this into account before inviting guests to the lounge.
Here’s a list of the cards that provide Priority Pass Select membership and the guest policies they each have:
The No. 1 Lounge at Gatwick Airport is part of the Priority Pass network
American Express Platinum and Business Platinum
The American Express (AMEX) cards on this list no longer provide a $28 credit when visiting airport restaurant locations like Bobby Van’s at JFK. However, they still include other airport experiences like the Minute Suites at Charlotte Airport.
American Express allows the cardholder and two guests to enter a lounge with the Priority Pass card at no charge. For additional guests, you will have to pay the guest visit fee of the Priority Pass Standard program, currently $35. for each additional guest.
A workaround to this fee is adding additional cardholders to your Platinum card. While it’s not cheap, $195 entitles you to add additional cardholders, each getting their own Priority Pass card. This is a good workaround if you frequently have to pay to get extra people into the lounges.
Capital One Venture X and Venture X Business
Capital One Venture X’s Priority Pass membership provides access to the cardholder and two free guests. One significant difference is that the Venture X personal card allows you to have up to four complimentary authorized users, each of whom can apply for a Priority Pass card. This is handy if you’re a large family or traveling with a group.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve used to have a very liberal guesting policy that allowed you to bring in as many guests as you wanted. Apparently, some people took that as a challenge and invited everyone they saw in the airport (and you wonder why we can’t have nice things?). The new policy is similar to the Amex Platinum, where the cardholder and two guests can get in for free. Additional guests are allowed at a discounted $27 rate.
Citi Prestige
The Citi Prestige card offers a Priority Pass membership, which allows admission for the cardholder, two additional guests AND their immediate family (spouse, domestic partner and children under 18). This is an excellent benefit if you’re a traveling family with more than one child. Many Priority Pass lounges have kids’ rooms, like The Club at MCO, where they had a video game set up to play Harry Potter LEGO. Additional guests are $27.
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite
The City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite card previously offered the most generous Priority Pass membership. When CNB slashed the card’s benefits in 2020, the unlimited guest Priority Pass benefit was one of the casualties. The current policy is that each card provides two Priority Pass memberships. However, each membership includes entry only to the cardholder. Guests are charged $32 per person. You could also add cardholders who will get their own card, which will cost an extra $95 per year.
Ritz-Carlton Card
This card, no longer available to new applicants, has a very generous guest policy for Priority Pass lounges. At the discretion of the lounge and as per capacity restraints, you’re allowed to bring in as many people as are in your travel party.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AMEX
This American Express-issued card has the same rules as the other AMEX luxury cards. Access is included for the cardholder plus two guests; additional guests are charged the guest visit fee of the Priority Pass Standard program, currently $35
U.S Bank Altitude Reserve
The Altitude Reserve is a premium travel card issued by U.S. Bank. The Priority Pass membership is restrictive for a premium card since it limits the cardholder to eight free visits. After those visits, you’ll be charged $35 per person.
Mastercard Black Card
The card is best known for being the heaviest credit card on the market but also provides access to Priority Pass lounges. According to the card’s website, for your $495 annual fee, the primary card member and authorized user(s) get unlimited visits for themselves and guests.
Final Thoughts
The two cards offering the best guest policies are the no longer available Ritz-Carlton card and the hard-to-justify annual fee Black Card. After them, the Citi Prestige’s flexibility makes it the next best on the list, but that only matters if you’re traveling with a family.
A few final things to remember. With almost all of these credit cards, signing up for Priority Pass is an extra step required after getting your card, usually by requesting a card from the bank’s website. An exception is Black Card, which automatically enrolls cardholders into Priority Pass.
You must show the Priority Pass card at the airport’s club lounge or restaurant, not your credit card. Finally, if you bring additional guests, the charge will automatically go to the card associated with the Priority Pass membership.
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