What are the 10 Best Credit Cards for Airline and Lounge Access in 2022 for your upcoming holidays

The best credit cards for airline and lounge access can be hard to find. Thankfully, we’ve got your back. We researched the top 10 credit cards for this year, and here are our findings. We looked at different credit cards that offer rewards you can use for travel or other expenses. Some of these cards were more flexible than others, but they all had points you could exchange for flights, hotels, car rentals, or customer service credits.

Airlines are constantly in a battle to find new ways to keep their customers happy. One of the easiest ways to do that is by offering credit cards that give access to their lounges when flying with them.

Credit card signup bonuses are also a common thing for airlines. It’s an easy way for them to get people hooked on using their cards, leading to more spending in-flight and in-lounge at both the airline and its partners.

One of the challenges with finding the best airline credit card is knowing what criteria you should be looking at. Here are some of our top picks for this year, including annual fee information if applicable.

How to find the best airline credit card?

Airline credit cards can be a great way to get free access to some of the world’s best lounges, as well as other bonus perks. But how do you know which one is best for you?

Several different factors will go into making that decision for you, but here are a few of the most important ones to consider:

1. Which airline would you fly the most with?
2. Does the card have a good signup bonus?
3. What kind of annual fee does it have?
4. Do you want a card with airport lounge access or a card with travel benefits?
5. Do you want a card with a good rewards program or a card with no annual fee?
6. Between all those factors, there is bound to be an airline credit card perfect for you!
7. When deciding which credit card you should get, there are a few factors you should consider.

First, you should know if your airline of choice offers a credit card. If it does, it’s essential to compare the credit card benefits to the other cards you’re considering. This will help you understand if the card is worth the annual fee.

Next, you’ll want to take a look at your airline’s reward system. This can be tricky because there are a lot of variations in how airlines reward their customers. Some offer miles, while others offer points for spending money. It will be up to you to decide if the perks of one particular credit card match up with the rewards system your airline uses.

Finally, you’ll want to consider what the card will cost you in interest fees. Airlines often offer introductory rates on their cards, but this is not always so with other credit cards. You will want to factor in how much you spend and how quickly you pay off your balance so that you can see if the introductory rate and potential rewards outweigh the interest rate and fees associated with the card.

The 10 Best Credit Cards for Airline and Lounge Access in 2022

1. The Platinum Card from American Express 

The Platinum Card from American Express provides airport access with a Priority Pass Select membership. This gets you access to more than 1200 airport lounges in over 400 cities around the world.

If you can maintain a good credit score and pay off the entire balance every month, you should be fine. The fact that this card offers $200 airline credits each calendar year, 25% airline and hotel discounts, and other perks is a plus and may make this card one of the best business credit cards out there.

The Platinum Card from American Express is a simple card that allows you to pass through airport security faster. You can use the lounge with two guests. They also get a fourth bag checked for free. There is a $200 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck. If you’re a frequent traveler who likes airport lounges, this is a great card. However, the airport lounge access is not a reason for getting this card.

2. Miles & More World Elite Mastercard 

Miles & More World Elite Mastercard is a credit card from Lufthansa which rewards customers with miles. This card is a great one for airports. It is a common belief that a credit card is a bad idea if you travel frequently. But if you choose the right credit card for airports, you can benefit from an excellent rewards program and have a few perks for being a frequent flier.

Miles & More World Elite Mastercard is a great airport card since it gives you free access to Lufthansa lounges. In addition to that, this card will earn you one point for every dollar you spend.

You can redeem your earned miles for instant travel awards. You can also get a companion ticket once you reach 60,000 earned miles. All profits from this card go to a charity of your choice. Lufthansa, a German airline, is a part of the Miles & More program. Therefore, if you fly with this airline, you can earn miles. The most appealing part about this card is that you can earn miles even if you don’t fly Lufthansa.

3. United Club Infinite Card 

United Club membership can indeed be used in United Airlines airport lounges. However, this service is available only for specific airport lounges, including domestic or international lounges. Moreover, if you are a United club member, make sure to carry your membership card with you.

United Club membership is free for everybody, but you have to have a regular credit card to have it. If you have United Club membership, you can use the United Club lounge (there are over 900 lounges worldwide) anytime you fly United or one of their partner airlines.

You can use it on more than 150 airlines. It is a more valuable card than a card from a specific company. You can also use your club card to access a restaurant in a hotel.

The lounge is free, even if you use it for something other than air travel (for example, you are traveling to another city for business, but you use your time at the airport to rest and use the Internet).

4. Citi Prestige Card 

Citi Prestige is a great choice for anyone who travels a lot. You will get 4th night free at any hotel, two free rounds of golf, 1 Airport club lounge access, Citi concierge, Citi Private Pass.

The annual fee is $450, but it’s waived for the first year. If you are a Citigold member, then it’s free. So the benefits are great for frequent fliers. Prestige is the best credit card for air travel. It has the most generous lounge access package in the industry. It has access to 600+ lounges all over the world. It’s the only card that gives you unlimited access to the American Airlines Admirals Clubs.

It has access to Delta Sky Clubs, Air France-KLM lounges, Priority Pass lounges, BA lounges, Etihad lounges, Alitalia lounges, Swiss lounges, Turkish lounges, etc. You can access these lounges even if you’re traveling with another airline. No other card in the world offers such excellent benefits.

Read: Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

5. SkyPass Visa Signature Card 

US Bank issues the SkyPass Visa Signature and the Select Visa Signature cards. It is impossible to get these cards online, but you can start by calling the call center at 1-800-448-7829. Five SkyPass Visa Signature benefits are potentially valuable for travelers.

• Free first checked bag
• No enrollment fee
• Free one-time companion ticket
• Free change fee for itinerary changes
• Free gate-side check-in The Companion Airfare Benefit allows the cardholder to buy a one-time companion airfare. The companion must be booked within 24-hours of booking the cardholder’s flight. The cardholder will pay the appropriate fare for the companion ticket.

SkyPass Visa Signature is a pretty helpful card for airports. Because of its signup bonus of 30,000 miles. It will take you anywhere from 0.5-0.75 cents per mile for flights.

The card does not have an annual fee. The downside of this card is that it is a Visa Signature and not a Visa Platinum. If you want to go to Asia and the Far East, Visa Platinum is the way to go. You can use either card for flying, and they both have airline credits and no foreign transaction fees. However, if you want to go to Asia and the Far East, you need to visit a Chase bank and get a platinum Visa card. I hope this helps.

6. Mastercard Black Card 

The MasterCard Black card is a limited edition credit card program created by MasterCard. It is considered one of the most exclusive credit cards in the world. The number of Black cards offered to consumers is limited, and the card may be up for renewal at any time. To obtain a MasterCard Black card, you must qualify for membership to the program by either being a current cardholder or a high-level business executive.

If you meet these two requirements, you will be considered for the card at the end of your first year as a cardholder. American Express issues Mastercard Black Cards. They are one of the most exclusive credit cards. These cards are only offered to high net-worth individuals.

These cards offer complete airline upgrades, complimentary hotel stays, purchase protection, and extended warranties.

7. The Business Platinum Card from American Express 

The Business Platinum Card from American Express will allow you to check into the airport using the mobile app. You will then be able to select your seat, or you can choose to check your bags with it. If you are traveling with someone else, the card will link them to your account. This will allow them to see your itinerary and will enable them to partake in your benefits.

The American Express Business Platinum Card gives you three airport lounge passes every year, which can be used at any airport lounge around the world. If you are traveling on business, the card will allow you to bypass the lines at the airport with priority check-in. These things will make your life easier at the airport and help you make your flight on time.

Read: Best Credit Cards for walmart shopping

8. Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card 

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card from American Express is fantastic. It considers that you are a frequent Delta flyer and therefore offers perks tailored to frequent fliers. That includes airport lounge access, priority boarding, and other benefits. The card also comes with a hefty annual fee of $450. It also offers generous rewards packages, two miles for every dollar spent on Delta tickets, hotel stays, rental cars, and gas stations.

Skymiles Reserve American Express card is one of the highly coveted and highly awarded credit Cards in today’s market. It is a premium credit card meant for frequent American Express Cardholders and billions of frequent travelers. The Skymiles Reserve is an advantage for frequent travelers, frequent flyers, and frequent shoppers who love to travel and shop. It is a must-have for anybody spending a lot of their time on the road.

9. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card 

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is one of the best credit cards for travelers. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express

The airports offer American Express lounge access with Platinum cards. Access to these lounges can be purchased for $50 per person using the airport lounge coupon ticket. While this is not available at every airport, you can always access the Delta Sky Club at participating airports for $29. It has no foreign transaction fees, at least 1.5 points for every dollar spent at Marriott Bonvoy, and double points on air travel and hotels. It has no annual fee.

The card also comes with complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver status for the first year (which is excellent for Marriott Bonvoy Diamond status if you spend enough on Marriott Bonvoy) and a free night every year after the first year. The card comes with great features like 4 points per dollar spent at over 6,500 Marriott Bonvoy properties worldwide, 2 points per dollar spent on airfare, restaurants, and car rental, and one point per dollar everywhere else. Also, there is no annual fee for the first year and $95 for each year after that.

Read: Best reward credit cards 2022

10. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card 

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a zero-fee travel rewards card from Capital One. It gives 2X miles each time you purchase travel-related services, which can be redeemed for travel-related expenses. Capital One’s Venture credit card is a strong contender if you’re looking for a solid rewards card that doesn’t have a significant annual fee.

If you’re a frequent traveler who spends a lot on gas, then it’s a must because it has a reasonable rewards rate on gas purchases.

Suppose you’re a typical credit card user and don’t do a lot of traveling. Other cards might make more sense for you. It has a signup bonus of 20K Venture Rewards points when you spend at least $1,000 in three months. There is no annual fee. If you travel quite often and use it for all your travel expenses, you can accumulate a significant number of miles over time and redeem the rewards for free travel.

Read: Best Credit Cards for Students in 2022

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no “best” airline card because it all depends on the person. The best thing you can do is look at the cards in this list and determine which card’s benefits best align with your needs. However, you can also use a bit of a shortcut if you want. Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum are good options if you wish an airline credit card with lounge access and a signup bonus.

It’s important to note that these cards have an annual fee. That is something to keep in mind before you apply for one of these cards. In general, the annual fee will be worth it if the benefits are worth more than that. For example, Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a $300 annual travel credit, more than making up for many people’s $450 annual fee.

What are the 10 Best Credit Cards for Airline and Lounge Access in 2022 for your upcoming holidays

The best credit cards for airline and lounge access can be hard to find. Thankfully, we’ve got your back. We researched the top 10 credit cards for this year, and here are our findings. We looked at different credit cards that offer rewards you can use for travel or other expenses. Some of these cards were more flexible than others, but they all had points you could exchange for flights, hotels, car rentals, or customer service credits.

Airlines are constantly in a battle to find new ways to keep their customers happy. One of the easiest ways to do that is by offering credit cards that give access to their lounges when flying with them.

Credit card signup bonuses are also a common thing for airlines. It’s an easy way for them to get people hooked on using their cards, leading to more spending in-flight and in-lounge at both the airline and its partners.

One of the challenges with finding the best airline credit card is knowing what criteria you should be looking at. Here are some of our top picks for this year, including annual fee information if applicable.

How to find the best airline credit card?

Airline credit cards can be a great way to get free access to some of the world’s best lounges, as well as other bonus perks. But how do you know which one is best for you?

Several different factors will go into making that decision for you, but here are a few of the most important ones to consider:

1. Which airline would you fly the most with?
2. Does the card have a good signup bonus?
3. What kind of annual fee does it have?
4. Do you want a card with airport lounge access or a card with travel benefits?
5. Do you want a card with a good rewards program or a card with no annual fee?
6. Between all those factors, there is bound to be an airline credit card perfect for you!
7. When deciding which credit card you should get, there are a few factors you should consider.

First, you should know if your airline of choice offers a credit card. If it does, it’s essential to compare the credit card benefits to the other cards you’re considering. This will help you understand if the card is worth the annual fee.

Next, you’ll want to take a look at your airline’s reward system. This can be tricky because there are a lot of variations in how airlines reward their customers. Some offer miles, while others offer points for spending money. It will be up to you to decide if the perks of one particular credit card match up with the rewards system your airline uses.

Finally, you’ll want to consider what the card will cost you in interest fees. Airlines often offer introductory rates on their cards, but this is not always so with other credit cards. You will want to factor in how much you spend and how quickly you pay off your balance so that you can see if the introductory rate and potential rewards outweigh the interest rate and fees associated with the card.

The 10 Best Credit Cards for Airline and Lounge Access in 2022

1. The Platinum Card from American Express 

The Platinum Card from American Express provides airport access with a Priority Pass Select membership. This gets you access to more than 1200 airport lounges in over 400 cities around the world.

If you can maintain a good credit score and pay off the entire balance every month, you should be fine. The fact that this card offers $200 airline credits each calendar year, 25% airline and hotel discounts, and other perks is a plus and may make this card one of the best business credit cards out there.

The Platinum Card from American Express is a simple card that allows you to pass through airport security faster. You can use the lounge with two guests. They also get a fourth bag checked for free. There is a $200 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck. If you’re a frequent traveler who likes airport lounges, this is a great card. However, the airport lounge access is not a reason for getting this card.

2. Miles & More World Elite Mastercard 

Miles & More World Elite Mastercard is a credit card from Lufthansa which rewards customers with miles. This card is a great one for airports. It is a common belief that a credit card is a bad idea if you travel frequently. But if you choose the right credit card for airports, you can benefit from an excellent rewards program and have a few perks for being a frequent flier.

Miles & More World Elite Mastercard is a great airport card since it gives you free access to Lufthansa lounges. In addition to that, this card will earn you one point for every dollar you spend.

You can redeem your earned miles for instant travel awards. You can also get a companion ticket once you reach 60,000 earned miles. All profits from this card go to a charity of your choice. Lufthansa, a German airline, is a part of the Miles & More program. Therefore, if you fly with this airline, you can earn miles. The most appealing part about this card is that you can earn miles even if you don’t fly Lufthansa.

3. United Club Infinite Card 

United Club membership can indeed be used in United Airlines airport lounges. However, this service is available only for specific airport lounges, including domestic or international lounges. Moreover, if you are a United club member, make sure to carry your membership card with you.

United Club membership is free for everybody, but you have to have a regular credit card to have it. If you have United Club membership, you can use the United Club lounge (there are over 900 lounges worldwide) anytime you fly United or one of their partner airlines.

You can use it on more than 150 airlines. It is a more valuable card than a card from a specific company. You can also use your club card to access a restaurant in a hotel.

The lounge is free, even if you use it for something other than air travel (for example, you are traveling to another city for business, but you use your time at the airport to rest and use the Internet).

4. Citi Prestige Card 

Citi Prestige is a great choice for anyone who travels a lot. You will get 4th night free at any hotel, two free rounds of golf, 1 Airport club lounge access, Citi concierge, Citi Private Pass.

The annual fee is $450, but it’s waived for the first year. If you are a Citigold member, then it’s free. So the benefits are great for frequent fliers. Prestige is the best credit card for air travel. It has the most generous lounge access package in the industry. It has access to 600+ lounges all over the world. It’s the only card that gives you unlimited access to the American Airlines Admirals Clubs.

It has access to Delta Sky Clubs, Air France-KLM lounges, Priority Pass lounges, BA lounges, Etihad lounges, Alitalia lounges, Swiss lounges, Turkish lounges, etc. You can access these lounges even if you’re traveling with another airline. No other card in the world offers such excellent benefits.

Read: Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

5. SkyPass Visa Signature Card 

US Bank issues the SkyPass Visa Signature and the Select Visa Signature cards. It is impossible to get these cards online, but you can start by calling the call center at 1-800-448-7829. Five SkyPass Visa Signature benefits are potentially valuable for travelers.

• Free first checked bag
• No enrollment fee
• Free one-time companion ticket
• Free change fee for itinerary changes
• Free gate-side check-in The Companion Airfare Benefit allows the cardholder to buy a one-time companion airfare. The companion must be booked within 24-hours of booking the cardholder’s flight. The cardholder will pay the appropriate fare for the companion ticket.

SkyPass Visa Signature is a pretty helpful card for airports. Because of its signup bonus of 30,000 miles. It will take you anywhere from 0.5-0.75 cents per mile for flights.

The card does not have an annual fee. The downside of this card is that it is a Visa Signature and not a Visa Platinum. If you want to go to Asia and the Far East, Visa Platinum is the way to go. You can use either card for flying, and they both have airline credits and no foreign transaction fees. However, if you want to go to Asia and the Far East, you need to visit a Chase bank and get a platinum Visa card. I hope this helps.

6. Mastercard Black Card 

The MasterCard Black card is a limited edition credit card program created by MasterCard. It is considered one of the most exclusive credit cards in the world. The number of Black cards offered to consumers is limited, and the card may be up for renewal at any time. To obtain a MasterCard Black card, you must qualify for membership to the program by either being a current cardholder or a high-level business executive.

If you meet these two requirements, you will be considered for the card at the end of your first year as a cardholder. American Express issues Mastercard Black Cards. They are one of the most exclusive credit cards. These cards are only offered to high net-worth individuals.

These cards offer complete airline upgrades, complimentary hotel stays, purchase protection, and extended warranties.

7. The Business Platinum Card from American Express 

The Business Platinum Card from American Express will allow you to check into the airport using the mobile app. You will then be able to select your seat, or you can choose to check your bags with it. If you are traveling with someone else, the card will link them to your account. This will allow them to see your itinerary and will enable them to partake in your benefits.

The American Express Business Platinum Card gives you three airport lounge passes every year, which can be used at any airport lounge around the world. If you are traveling on business, the card will allow you to bypass the lines at the airport with priority check-in. These things will make your life easier at the airport and help you make your flight on time.

Read: Best Credit Cards for walmart shopping

8. Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card 

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card from American Express is fantastic. It considers that you are a frequent Delta flyer and therefore offers perks tailored to frequent fliers. That includes airport lounge access, priority boarding, and other benefits. The card also comes with a hefty annual fee of $450. It also offers generous rewards packages, two miles for every dollar spent on Delta tickets, hotel stays, rental cars, and gas stations.

Skymiles Reserve American Express card is one of the highly coveted and highly awarded credit Cards in today’s market. It is a premium credit card meant for frequent American Express Cardholders and billions of frequent travelers. The Skymiles Reserve is an advantage for frequent travelers, frequent flyers, and frequent shoppers who love to travel and shop. It is a must-have for anybody spending a lot of their time on the road.

9. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card 

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is one of the best credit cards for travelers. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express

The airports offer American Express lounge access with Platinum cards. Access to these lounges can be purchased for $50 per person using the airport lounge coupon ticket. While this is not available at every airport, you can always access the Delta Sky Club at participating airports for $29. It has no foreign transaction fees, at least 1.5 points for every dollar spent at Marriott Bonvoy, and double points on air travel and hotels. It has no annual fee.

The card also comes with complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver status for the first year (which is excellent for Marriott Bonvoy Diamond status if you spend enough on Marriott Bonvoy) and a free night every year after the first year. The card comes with great features like 4 points per dollar spent at over 6,500 Marriott Bonvoy properties worldwide, 2 points per dollar spent on airfare, restaurants, and car rental, and one point per dollar everywhere else. Also, there is no annual fee for the first year and $95 for each year after that.

Read: Best reward credit cards 2022

10. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card 

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a zero-fee travel rewards card from Capital One. It gives 2X miles each time you purchase travel-related services, which can be redeemed for travel-related expenses. Capital One’s Venture credit card is a strong contender if you’re looking for a solid rewards card that doesn’t have a significant annual fee.

If you’re a frequent traveler who spends a lot on gas, then it’s a must because it has a reasonable rewards rate on gas purchases.

Suppose you’re a typical credit card user and don’t do a lot of traveling. Other cards might make more sense for you. It has a signup bonus of 20K Venture Rewards points when you spend at least $1,000 in three months. There is no annual fee. If you travel quite often and use it for all your travel expenses, you can accumulate a significant number of miles over time and redeem the rewards for free travel.

Read: Best Credit Cards for Students in 2022

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no “best” airline card because it all depends on the person. The best thing you can do is look at the cards in this list and determine which card’s benefits best align with your needs. However, you can also use a bit of a shortcut if you want. Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum are good options if you wish an airline credit card with lounge access and a signup bonus.

It’s important to note that these cards have an annual fee. That is something to keep in mind before you apply for one of these cards. In general, the annual fee will be worth it if the benefits are worth more than that. For example, Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a $300 annual travel credit, more than making up for many people’s $450 annual fee.