The best credit cards to enter airport lounges

A variety of benefits are available with credit and debit cards, some of which grant access to airport lounges

The best credit cards for free or reduced admission to airport lounges are listed here.

When making large purchases, using a credit or debit card can provide you with more protection than using cash, such as chargeback and section 75 for credit card users. However, some of these cards also have additional benefits like rewards points or cashback.

It's crucial to first think about which benefits you are likely to use when selecting a new rewards credit card or looking to switch existing accounts.

For example, if you frequently travel overseas, an airline credit card or a travel credit card with fee-free overseas spending will be more appealing, but it might not be as helpful if you spend most of your time in the UK.

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Start your trial. Similarly, even though packaged bank accounts with a lot of perks may be alluring, you must determine whether you would have otherwise paid for them and whether the monthly account fee is greater than the individual cost.

The comfort and free refreshments offered in airport lounges may be valuable to frequent travelers, and certain credit cards and packaged bank accounts come with free or reduced access as a perk.

The best credit cards for entering airport lounges are listed below. Instead of selecting the card just for the airport lounge benefits, it's a good idea to compare these cards with other options and think about whether the majority of benefits are worth it to you. There are other ways to enter airport lounges for less money.

Keep in mind that these cards are only beneficial if you can pay off your credit card debt in full each month to avoid paying exorbitant interest.

The best credit cards to enter airport lounges.

Gold Preferred Rewards Credit Card from American Express.

The APR variable is 85.8 percent.

Fee: £195 annually (free for the first year).

Access to airport lounges is free for four Priority Pass visits annually.

Here are some advantages.

Spend £5,000 during the first six months of Cardmembership to receive 40,000 Membership Rewards bonus points. On May 26, 2026, this offer expires. After that, the offer of welcome bonus points will return to 20,000. (Only available if you dont have a personal American Express card and havent had one in the past 24 months) Earn one point for every 1 spent and two points for airline purchases Get four complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge visits per year Get 5 Deliveroo statement credit twice per month BFIA top tip A BFIA journalist tested this card in 2023/24. They experienced a waiting list for Priority Pass airport lounge access on multiple occasions at two major airports, so you might want to leave plenty of time at the airport. However, as a frequent traveler, they found the free airport lounge access to be very enjoyable.

"The demand for premium airport experiences is at an all-time high, with visits to Priority Pass lounges breaking all previous records in 2025 and continuing to grow further in 2026," stated Christopher Evans, CEO of Collinson International. The airport and airline industry as a whole has found it difficult to keep up with the rapid growth, especially in the busiest airports where demand occasionally exceeds supply. We are putting a lot of effort into addressing it.

"For this reason, we are making rapid investments and expanding our global network, which now includes over 1,800 lounges and travel experiences spread across 841 airports in 146 countries. We have added over 100 lounges and travel experiences in the last year. To help members plan ahead and secure their space with confidence, we have implemented services like pre-booking, which is available in more than 200 lounges worldwide. In order to meet the increasing demand for lounge experiences, we are committed to ensuring that every traveler has access to experiences that are smooth, fulfilling, and truly worth their time. We plan to continue investing to ensure that this is consistently delivered. The "

Platinum American Express Card.

The APR variable is representative of 685.3%.

650 is the annual fee.

Access to airport lounges is free and unlimited for one guest.

Here are some advantages.

Get 250 in travel credit and 75,000 membership rewards bonus points when you spend £10,000 during the first six months of your card membership. After this promotion expires on May 26, 2026, the welcome points offer will return to 50,000. This offer is only available if you don't currently have a personal American Express card that earns membership rewards points and you haven't had one in the last 24 months. You can earn one point for every dollar spent and two points for every dollar spent with Amex Travel. You can also get free access to more than 1,550 airport lounges in more than 140 countries worldwide, including American Express lounges. This includes free breakfast, a guaranteed 4 p.m. late check-out, and room upgrades when available. Additionally, The Hotel Collection offers benefits like late checkout and US £100 hotel credit. In a separate piece, we examine the best American Express credit cards.

Santander Mastercard World Elite.

Customers of Santander Select and Private Banking are the only ones eligible for this card.

Representative APR is 49.8%.

The monthly fee is £15, or £180 annually.

Access to airport lounges: LoungeKey airport lounges are free and unlimited. Children and visitors may join for 24 per person per visit.

Here are some advantages.

40% off Santander Travel Insurance when you apply online; free access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide with LoungeKey for cardholders; 0% interest on purchases and balance transfers for 18 months with no balance transfer fee; and 0.5% cashback (up to 15 per month) on all purchases. It costs £24 per person per visit for guests and kids to join you in the lounge.

Avios Plus Card from Barclaycard.

Eighty-one percent APR (variable) is representative.

Monthly fee: £20 (or £240 annually).

Airport lounge access: Each lounge pass is discounted to £20.50 per person.

Here are some advantages.

New Barclaycard customers can earn 25,000 bonus Avios points if they spend 3,000 in the first three months; earn 1.5 Avios for every 1 spent on eligible purchases; choose between a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on an Avios Reward Flight booking or 7,000 bonus Avios if they spend 10,000 on your card within a year; and take advantage of Mastercard Airport Security Fast Track through Mastercard Travel Experiences.

HSBC World Elite Premier Mastercard.

HSBC Premier customers are the only ones who can use this card.

100.2 percent APR is the representative (variable).

Price: £290.

Access to airport lounges is free and unlimited for both the primary cardholder and any other cardholders.

There are several advantages.

Spend £3,000 on your card during the first ninety days of card membership to earn 60,000 reward points. The offer expires on May 28, 2026. For each eligible purchase made in sterling, you will receive three reward points; for each eligible purchase made in another currency, you will receive four reward points (fees apply). Get unlimited access to more than 1,700 airport lounges worldwide with Priority Pass Airport security fast track at participating airports worldwide via Mastercard Travel Experiences powered by DragonPass. Reward points can be exchanged for use at participating hotels, retailers (including M&S and Amazon), and charitable donations.

HSBC Credit Card Premier.

Only HSBC Premier customers are eligible for this card.

APR of 29.9 percent (variable).

No annual fee is required.

Airport lounge access is £24 per person per visit, subject to availability, for Priority Pass members.

These are some advantages.

Spend £2,000 on your card within the first ninety days of your membership to earn 20,000 reward points; earn one point five reward points for each dollar spent in sterling; earn two reward points for each dollar spent in a currency other than sterling (a two-point ninety-nine percent transaction fee will apply). Reward points can be exchanged for hotel stays, shopping coupons, airline miles, and more. Priority Pass allows access to more than 1,700 airport lounges worldwide for 24 per person per visit, subject to availability.