Priority Pass Select: What You Need to Know

Airport lounges are often seen as a luxurious escape from the crowded, hectic environment of the terminals. Reclining in a comfy armchair with complimentary snacks and a glass of wine sounds ideal, especially if you’re not paying extra for it. The Priority Pass Select membership, which is available through some premium credit cards, is one way to get access to airport lounges.

But lately, overcrowding at many of these lounges (particularly in the U.S.) has led to longer wait times, mediocre food, restricted entry, dirty tables or a generally less-than-relaxing experience.

» Learn more: How to choose a travel credit card

Priority Pass Select is a membership perk that comes with many premium travel credit cards, often those with annual fees of $400 or more. While you can purchase a Priority Pass membership directly via various tiers (Standard, Standard Plus, and Prestige), many travel credit cards include a version called Priority Pass Select.

Apply for your Priority Pass membership

No, you can’t just flash your credit card to get into a Priority Pass lounge for free. You’ll need to flash an actual Priority Pass card.

Some credit cards give you the option of adding a digital membership card, which you can access by downloading the Priority Pass app through Google Play or the Apple App Store and logging into your Priority Pass account. Today, most lounges accept digital membership cards.

Typically, you’ll have to apply for a Priority Pass card through a separate benefits page on your bank’s website. It can sometimes take a week or so after you apply for your card to arrive in the mail, so if you’re applying for a credit card specifically to get lounge access, leave enough time between your next trip so you can first receive the credit card, be able to access your card’s portal and then also apply for and receive your Priority Pass in the mail.

Having trouble? Call the number on the back of your card for help.

Every lounge varies in quality. In general, expect lounges to include benefits such as:

• Free Wi-Fi.

• Complimentary food.

• Alcoholic beverages.

• Newspapers.

• Magazines.

• TVs.

• Air conditioning.

• Flight information.

• Some lounges even have conference rooms, fax machines, free spa treatments, private rooms to sleep, and showers.

Considering airport food costs (and often long lines to order), dining in a Priority Pass lounge can save money on travel.

Priority Pass lounges are typically quieter than the rest of the airport, with boarding announcements blaring over the loudspeaker. It’s also generally acceptable to leave your bags at your seat (at your own risk, of course), whereas TSA announcements in the main airport warn against leaving bags unattended.

Wi-Fi tends to be faster (and at the very least, you won’t have to watch an advertisement to access free Wi-Fi). Most lounges offer greater power outlet availability than what you’ll find in the main terminal, too.

And some lounges come with benefits that go far beyond those basics. In one St. Paul, Minnesota, lounge, you can test out the indoor putting green. At the Gameway lounge at Los Angeles International Airport, your Priority Pass unlocks one hour of gaming plus a complimentary snack and drink.

Other lounges have been known to have sleep pods, massages and even manicure services (though sometimes those incur an extra cost).

The growing number of Priority Pass members, combined with limited lounge spaces, has led to one common problem: overcrowding.

During peak travel times, you might find yourself waiting in line just to get into a lounge.

The Club SFO is not just the best Priority Pass lounge at San Francisco International Airport, but it’s one of the best you’ll find in the nation. But on one NerdWallet staffer’s past 3 visits, there was a queue just to register with the front desk (about five to 15 minutes each time). Upon arriving at the front of the line, travelers had to give a phone number, upon which they’d receive a text telling them when they could enter the lounge (which took another five to 15 minutes each time).

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

That lounge can be worth the wait given its ample seating, thoughtful design and fresh food. But that’s hardly the case at other lounges.

Lounges that don’t limit guest access strictly sometimes end up leaving you searching for an available seat. You might be left settling for a table with the last person’s crumbs still strewn about. If you're traveling with high hopes of lounging in comfort, be prepared for potential disappointment.

The Wingtips Lounge STL is one example. During one NerdWallet staffer’s past four visits, the soda fountain was either broken or removed entirely (leaving a gaping hole in the wall where it once was). Meanwhile, the desserts were dry and flavorless.

And food quality can vary. Some lounges offer hot meals local to the region. Others offer mediocre cold sandwiches, and sometimes only prepackaged snacks.

The Plumeria Lounge Honolulu, for example, is a mixed bag. Its main course consists of small, cold sandwiches and soup.

Meanwhile, its snacks are quite delightful. They include cookie jars with Hawaiian desserts, such as Honolulu Cookie Company shortbread and Mele Macs macadamia nuts.

To truly benefit from your Priority Pass Select membership, be strategic:

Check lounge availability in advance: Not all airports have Priority Pass lounges, and those that do may have restrictions or limited hours. Use the Priority Pass app to confirm lounge availability and amenities at your airport.

Priority Pass lounges change frequently, as existing lounges tend to come and go off the Priority Pass network. Generally speaking, though, these airports typically have Priority Pass lounges:

Arrive early: If you want a better chance of actually enjoying the lounge experience, arrive early. Showing up with just enough time to board your flight might mean you don’t even get in — especially if the lounge is at capacity and there’s a line.

Look beyond basic lounges: Some Priority Pass locations offer unique amenities like showers, private suites (for an extra fee), or even spa treatments. For example, Dallas-Fort Worth’s Minute Suites offer an hour of complimentary private space, which is ideal if you need to rest or work in silence.

Just don’t come too early: Most lounges have a time limit on how early you can arrive. Typically, lounges won’t let you in more than three hours before your scheduled departure. But many make exceptions if you’re visiting as part of a layover.

Know how to navigate the airport: Some airports, like San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, are fully connected post-security. This makes for a convenient way to access lounges in different terminals without having to clear the security screening again.

But not every airport is so convenient. Know where your desired lounge is in relation to your gate.

Travel rewards credit cards offer a lot of perks and Priority Pass access is a big draw for frequent flyers. Chase, American Express, U.S. Bank, Citi and Barclays are some of the financial institutions issuing these cards.

Depending on the card issuer, authorized users may also receive complimentary access to lounges. As with general membership access, lounge visits beyond any free allowances provided as a part of a Priority Pass credit card benefit cost $35 per person, per visit.

Here are some of the best cards that off Priority Pass membership, which can include unlimited visits for the cardmember and a guest policy that offers a varying number of free guest visits:

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Business

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Business include access to Priority Pass Select, Capital One lounges (three lounges open so far) and more than 100 Plaza Premium lounges (including select Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses). That's more access to airport lounges for a lower cost than most other premium travel cards.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has an annual fee of $395 (see rates and fees) and the following welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

The Capital One Venture X Business has an annual fee of $395 (see rates and fees) and the following welcome offer: Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.

» Learn more: Is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card worth its annual fee?

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has an annual fee of $550, but its $300 travel credit offsets the cost, effectively reducing its fee to $250.

Besides Priority Pass membership, other Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits include a credit every four years toward your TSA PreCheck/Global Entry/NEXUS application, no foreign transaction fees and bonus points on certain spending categories. That includes earning 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points per dollar spent on travel and dining worldwide, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. If you book through Chase, you can earn even more: You'll get 10 points per dollar on Chase Dining, hotel stays and car rentals and 5 points on air travel.

This solid travel card has the following welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is great choice for Marriott loyalists. It includes up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, which help offset the $650 annual fee down to $350 (see rates and fees).

After the two complimentary guest visits, each additional guest is charged the same as the guest fee on the Standard Plus membership (currently $35).

Again, this is another perfect example that the Priority Pass membership included surpasses the Standard, Standard Plus or Prestige paid plans. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Despite the hefty annual fees on The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, both cards include several offsetting credits that effectively reduce the fee.

Although both cards offer access to their own network of lounges, their Priority Pass Select membership doesn’t include any complimentary guest visits or provide access to Priority Pass airport restaurants. Enrollment required.

The cards include the American Express Global Lounge Collection which, in addition to Priority Pass, provides access to AmEx’s Centurion Lounges, International American Express Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs. Terms apply. Enrollment required.

The Platinum Card® from American Express has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees) and the current offer is: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees) and the current offer is: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

» Learn more: 5 different types of airport lounges you can access with an Amex Platinum card

Purchasing a Priority Pass membership directly — rather than getting it through a credit card — is generally a poor value. These are the current prices for U.S. residents:

You’d be better off purchasing day passes to lounges. And in the cases of some lounges, the day pass rate is far higher than any value the lounge would actually deliver. In those cases, find a good airport restaurant and spend your money there instead.

If your local airport’s Priority Pass lounges are overcrowded or underwhelming, your airport might have other lounge alternatives — and they’re generally (though not always) better than the Priority Pass lounges.

Some of the most popular Priority Pass alternatives include:

Centurion Lounges

Access to Centurion Lounges is generally only open to cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. To enter, cardholders must present their Amex Platinum card, a same-day boarding pass, and government-issued ID.

These lounges tend to be among the best of the best, offering complimentary showers and chef-curated meals. For example, the AmEx Centurion Lounge at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has a robust buffet designed by Ravi Kapur, the chef behind Liholiho Yacht Club, a popular restaurant in San Francisco.

These lounges have strict entry policies, including limited access only within three hours of departure at the airport. Additionally, cardholders must pay $50 per guest unless they have spent $75,000 or more on the card within a calendar year, in which case complimentary guest access is available. Terms apply.

Those restrictions have significantly cut down on overcrowding at Centurion Lounges (though even NerdWallet staffers have still found queues to get into some Centurion Lounges). Much like Priority Pass, experience varies by specific lounge.

The Platinum Card® from American Express has a hefty annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees), but can be worth it given that card membership unlocks access to all sorts of airport lounges, including access to Escape Lounges and Lufthansa Lounges (when flying with a confirmed seat on a same-day Lufthansa Group boarding pass).

Capital One Lounges

A newer player in the lounge space, Capital One Lounges have quickly gained a reputation for offering a high-end lounge experience that competes well with AmEx’s Centurion Lounges.

These lounges provide a more modern, sleek atmosphere with features like craft cocktails, grab-and-go food stations, workspaces, and even wellness rooms for activities like meditation and yoga. The Capital One outpost at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport has a room with Peloton bikes.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card provides complimentary access to Capital One lounges for the cardholder and up to two guests per visit. Though it has an annual fee of $395, it also includes Priority Pass Select membership.

Airline-branded lounges

Many airlines also operate their own lounge networks, such as Delta Sky Club and American Airlines Admirals Club. These lounges also tend to be far more exclusive than Priority Pass lounges, often limited to people flying in premium fare classes or who hold top-tier, airline-branded credit cards. But, the quest to unlock access can make sense for some travelers, especially those close to reaching airline elite status.

These lounges tend to be more luxurious than Priority Pass lounges. The Delta Sky Club in LAX has an outdoor sky deck featuring a bar that rivals any trendy rooftop bar.

While Priority Pass Select membership can enhance your airport experience, overcrowding means it’s not always the sanctuary it once was. Make the most of your Priority Pass Select membership by being strategic, planning ahead and understanding the limitations.

Because lounge quality varies so dramatically by airport, check reviews of your home airport’s lounge to see how it stacks up — and to help decide if pursuing Priority Pass membership is a worthwhile endeavor.