A information to visitor insurance policies for airport lounges

Metro Loud
25 Min Read


There isn’t any denying that airport lounges may be the very best a part of the on-ground expertise when flying. You may discover fascinating facilities, comparable to complimentary food and drinks, bathe amenities and seating areas to chill and loosen up earlier than your flight takes off.

However with extra methods than ever to achieve lounge entry, the lounges can get fairly crowded. All of those lounge entry strategies can even create confusion relating to who can enter and what number of visitors you’ll be able to (or cannot) deliver into the lounge along with your bank card perks.

Let us take a look at bank cards that provide lounge entry and the visitor insurance policies of every card, so you’ll be able to keep away from surprises when getting into a lounge earlier than your subsequent flight.

Alaska Lounges

Most individuals acquire entry to Alaska lounges by having elite standing with Mileage Plan or a Oneworld accomplice loyalty program.

Entry Visitor coverage
Alaska Airways lounge member Instant household (accomplice and kids beneath the age of 21) or two visitors; further visitors $35 every.
American Airways Admirals Membership member when departing or arriving on flights with American Airways or Alaska Airways Instant household (accomplice and kids beneath the age of 21) or two visitors; further visitors $30 every.
Alaska MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K members touring on Oneworld airways past the U.S., Canada or Mexico Instant household (accomplice and kids beneath the age of 21) or two visitors; further visitors value $30 every.
Citi/AAdvantage Govt major cardholders Major cardholders who current their bodily card, rapid household (accomplice and kids beneath the age of 21) or two visitors.
Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members

(excludes members w/standing by American Airways)

One visitor flying on a Oneworld airline; further visitors value $30 every.
Energetic responsibility navy touring in uniform and on orders No visitors are listed within the coverage.

In the event you maintain an Alaska Airways lounge membership, you’ll be able to deliver rapid members of the family (thought of companions and kids beneath 21 years outdated) or as much as two visitors when getting into an Alaska lounge (of which there are eight). Notice that your visitors should stick with you always.

Members could buy visitor passes at a lowered price of $30 per individual for all different visitors. Notice that members don’t should be touring with their visitor to buy a visitor go, so you’ll be able to snag this discounted price pretty simply for any of your family and friends touring quickly. Kids beneath 2 years outdated can enter freed from cost when accompanying an grownup.

ALASKA AIRLINES

Associated: Is that this new area the very best Alaska Airways lounge within the nation?

American Airways Admirals Membership

There are lots of other ways to entry Admirals Golf equipment, however maybe the best technique to acquire membership is by opening a Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and costs).

Though the cardboard comes with a $595 annual price, the Admirals Membership membership worth by itself prices $850 a yr — a substantial deal for loyal AA flyers. With an Admirals Membership membership, your rapid household (partner, home accomplice and kids as much as 18) or as much as two visitors could entry the lounge with you (with a same-day boarding go for an eligible flight).

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Opening an airline card could also be definitely worth the annual price for frequent lounge guests.

Associated: Three explanation why that is the very best card for Admirals Membership lounge entry as journey returns

Entry sort Visitor coverage
Admirals Membership members Instant household (partner, home accomplice and / or kids beneath 18) or as much as two visitors.
Citi/AAdvantage Govt cardholders and approved customers Instant household (partner, home accomplice and / or kids beneath 18) or as much as two visitors.
Energetic U.S. navy touring on orders and in uniform Instant household (partner, home accomplice and / or kids beneath 18) or as much as two visitors.
First-class passengers on qualifying worldwide flights One visitor (kids over 2 depend as a visitor); no visitors for business-class passengers.
AAdvantage Platinum members and better flying on qualifying worldwide flights (no matter class) One visitor (kids over 2 depend as a visitor).
Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members on all American and Oneworld flights One visitor (kids over 2 depend as a visitor).
Admirals Membership day go holders As much as three kids beneath 18.

Notice which you can add as much as three approved customers to the Citi / AAdvantage Govt card for an extra $175 annual price and $175 for every approved person thereafter. Thus, they’ll deliver rapid household or as much as two visitors on their very own once they have a same-day boarding go for an eligible flight.

Associated: Bank card overview: The Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard

Admirals Club DCA
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

In any other case, first-class passengers or AAdvantage Platinum members (or greater) on qualifying worldwide flights, and Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members can deliver one visitor every. In the event you pay $79 for a day go, you’ll be able to deliver as much as three kids beneath 18 with you to the Admirals Membership as nicely.

American Categorical Centurion Lounges

These playing cards grant you entry to American Categorical Centurion Lounges, and the visitor insurance policies depend upon the cardboard you might have.

The knowledge for the Amex Company Platinum has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Amex Platinum and Enterprise Platinum cardholders

The Amex Platinum Card and the Amex Enterprise Platinum Card are two well-liked luxurious journey playing cards that grant complimentary entry to the Centurion Lounges (enrollment required).

Amex’s coverage for lounge entry modified and went into impact in February 2023. Except you spend $75,000 or extra in purchases per calendar yr in your card, you will be charged $50 per grownup visitor. This modification would not influence Company Platinum cardholders.

In the event you’re touring with kids, perceive that anybody over 2 years outdated counts as a visitor. Kids beneath 2 years outdated can enter at no further value, whereas these aged 2-17 are charged a $30 visitor price.

airport lounge
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Associated: Solo vacationers rejoice: Why I am in favor of latest Amex Centurion Lounge visitor guidelines

Delta Reserve and Enterprise Reserve cardholders

When flying on Delta, Reserve and Enterprise Reserve cardholders can entry each Delta Sky Golf equipment and the Centurion lounges. In the event you select to go to the Centurion Lounge as a substitute, you’ll be able to pay to deliver as much as two visitors on the per-visit price of $50 per individual.

Capital One Lounges

Capital One at the moment has lounges at Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport (DFW), Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD), Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN), and Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport (DCA) referred to as a Capital One Touchdown.

Associated: An entire information to Capital One’s airport lounges

Entry sort Visitor coverage
Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card cardholders and approved customers* Two visitors in Lounges and one in Landings; $45 per further grownup visitor and $25 for extra kids 17 and beneath. Beginning Feb 1, 2026, it’s going to value $45 per grownup visitor and $25 for youngsters beneath 17, otherwise you’ll should spend $75,000 or extra in your card to herald two complementary visitors.
Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise Two visitors in Lounges and one in Landings; $45 per further grownup visitor and $25 for extra kids 17 and beneath. Beginning Feb 1, 2026, it’s going to value $45 per grownup visitor and $25 for youngsters beneath 17, otherwise you’ll should spend $75,000 or extra in your card to herald two complementary visitors.
airport lounge
KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY

* Beginning Feb 1, 2026 major cardholders should pay $125 for approved customers to obtain lounge entry.

Capital One lately introduced lounge entry modifications to the Enterprise X and the Enterprise X Enterprise that may require spending $75,000 or extra in a calendar yr to unlock complimentary visitor entry. Enterprise X cardholders can add quite a few free approved customers to the cardboard. Every individual can deliver two visitors into the lounge.

Associated: Why it’s best to add approved customers on the Capital One Enterprise X

Chase Sapphire Lounges

The next playing cards present you entry to Chase Sapphire Lounges. Entry is granted to cardholders and approved customers as nicely. Take note you’ll be able to solely entry lounges after you activate the complimentary Precedence Cross membership.

Entry sort Visitor coverage
Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) Major cardholders and approved customers can deliver two visitors per go to totally free, with further visitors costing $27 an individual.
Chase Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise℠ (see charges and costs) Major cardholders can deliver two visitors per go to totally free, with further visitors costing $27 an individual.
J.P. Morgan Reserve® Major cardholders and approved customers can deliver two visitors per go to totally free, with further visitors costing $27 an individual.
Ritz-Carlton™ Credit score Card (Notice: This card shouldn’t be open to new candidates) Limitless visitors with no further fees.

Chase’s lounge presence is slowly increasing throughout the U.S. and the world. At present, there are seven lounges worldwide — together with 4 lounges and one terrace within the U.S.

Since two of the three playing cards that present entry to Chase Sapphire Lounges are usually not open to new candidates, your finest wager for entry is to be a Sapphire Reserve cardholder.

Associated: Chase unveils opening particulars for two new lounges, extra updates

The knowledge for the J.P. Morgan Reserve and Ritz-Carlton playing cards has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Delta Sky Membership

There are a number of methods to enter a Delta Sky Membership, whether or not you maintain a Delta Sky Membership govt membership or are an eligible Delta Medallion. Like different airline lounges, the visitor insurance policies rely in your entry sort.

Entry sort Visitor coverage
Delta Sky Membership Govt and Lifetime membership Two visitors or your rapid household (your partner/home accomplice and kids beneath 21); $50 per go to for extra visitors.
Delta Sky Membership Particular person member Two visitors or your rapid household (your partner/home accomplice and kids beneath 21) at a per-visit price of $50 per visitor for 2 visitors or rapid household.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Categorical Card or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Enterprise American Categorical Card Obtain 4 one-time visitor passes per yr. After visitor passes have been used, two visitors or your rapid household (your partner/home accomplice and kids beneath 21) at a per-visit price of $50 per visitor.
Delta SkyMiles Diners Membership, TRUST Membership Platinum and TRUST Membership Gold cardholders Two visitors (kids over 2 depend as a visitor).
Delta Gold Medallion standing or greater (SkyTeam Elite Plus standing) One visitor.
Delta One or Delta SkyTeam premium cabin passenger No visitors allowed.
The Platinum Card from American Categorical* or The Enterprise Platinum Card from American Categorical* Two visitors or your rapid household (your partner/home accomplice and kids beneath 21) at a per-visit price of $50 per visitor for 2 visitors or rapid household.
Single-visit go No visitors allowed.

*Eligible Platinum Card Members will obtain 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per yr to the Delta Sky Membership or to Seize and Go when touring on a same-day Delta-operated flight.

The knowledge for the Delta Diners Membership, Delta TRUST Membership Platinum and the Delta TRUST Membership Gold Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

airport lounge
DELTA AIRLINES

Typically, the one technique to acquire complimentary visitor entry is to buy a Delta Sky Membership Govt membership. One other technique to entry Delta Sky Golf equipment is to be a Delta Gold Medallion member (or greater), however solely when flying Delta Premium Choose or Delta One internationally (or its equal on a accomplice). Delta elite members can entry SkyTeam lounges when flying in top quality to Mexico, Canada or Central America (one visitor allowed), however flights to the Caribbean are usually not included.

These with SkyTeam Elite Plus standing from one other airline can entry Sky Membership lounges with one visitor, however solely when touring on a SkyTeam worldwide flight (no matter cabin) or on a home flight that may join onward internationally.

In the event you’re a Reserve cardholder, you’ll be able to deliver as much as two visitors or rapid members of the family, and you could pay $50 per visitor.

Delta considers anybody over age 2 to be a visitor. Kids beneath 2 obtain complimentary entry. On the opposite finish of the spectrum, kids as much as age 21 can acquire entry as members of the family on classes of admission that enable for visitor entry for rapid members of the family.

Plaza Premium lounges

airport lounge
EMILY MCNUTT/THE POINTS GUY

Costs to enter Plaza Premium lounges differ enormously. What you may pay for a day go or to deliver an additional visitor ranges from $35 to $65.

Associated: Below new administration: Plaza Premium now operating most Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses

Precedence Cross lounges

Premium journey playing cards just like the Amex Platinum and the Chase Sapphire Reserve supply cardholders complimentary Precedence Cross Choose memberships — providing you with entry to over 1,600 lounges worldwide. The visitor coverage is dependent upon the kind of card you might have, so we have outlined the variations for our high card picks for Precedence Cross lounge entry under (enrollment is required):

Enrollment is required for choose advantages.

The knowledge for the Citi Status Card and Ritz-Carlton Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Associated: 10 bank cards that provide Precedence Cross airport lounge entry

airport lounge
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Most playing cards that grant you Precedence Cross Choose membership enable lounge entry for you and as much as two visitors. There’s an extra visitor price that ranges between $27 and $35, relying on the cardboard you might have. Staff can restrict the variety of visitors for capability controls, so that you might not be assured to deliver a number of visitors if a sure lounge is very crowded.

Associated: Can I take advantage of a number of Precedence Cross memberships to herald further visitors?

United Membership

United makes use of a tiered approached to visitor entry for its United Golf equipment with a normal membership and an All-Entry membership. If you need complimentary entry, the United Membership℠ Card (see charges and costs) provides a complimentary United Membership membership — as much as a $750 worth.

Associated: Greatest for loyal flyers: United Membership Card overview

Entry sort Visitor coverage
United Membership particular person membership Should purchase one-time visitor passes at $59.
United Membership membership through bank cards One visitor and dependents beneath 18.
United Membership All-access membership Two grownup visitors or one grownup and dependents beneath 18.
United Premier Gold standing or greater (or Star Alliance Gold member) One visitor; the visitor have to be on the identical flight.
Star Alliance first-class passenger One visitor.
Energetic U.S. navy personnel Members of the family touring on the identical flight because the navy member.
United or Star Alliance business-class passenger No visitors allowed.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Membership Worldwide members One visitor.
Virgin Australia Velocity elite members with Gold, Platinum or VIP standing when flying on a global United or Virgin Australia flight One visitor (inclusive of youngsters) provided that the member is flying on a United-operated flight.
United Membership one-time go No visitors allowed.
airport lounge
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Members with United Premier Gold standing or greater can deliver one visitor, however your visitor have to be on the identical flight as you. These with United Gold standing can solely entry U.S. lounges with a global same-day boarding go, however not when flying domestically. In the meantime, Star Alliance Gold standing with an airline apart from United provides you entry to United Golf equipment you probably have a same-day departure boarding go on a Star Alliance-operated flight, together with United. Star Alliance first-class passengers might also deliver one visitor into United Golf equipment.

As a United Enterprise-class passenger, you’ll be able to entry the United Membership when departing, connecting or arriving with a same-day ticket to or from Canada. Star Alliance first-class passengers might also entry United Membership or Polaris lounges on the departure airport solely with a same-day boarding go for a global flight. For instance, should you’re flying from San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) to Munich Worldwide Airport (MUC) in Lufthansa’s top quality, you’ll be able to entry the Polaris Lounge at SFO. Nevertheless, should you’re flying into SFO on Lufthansa’s top quality, you can not entry the Polaris Lounge.

These with a United Membership membership can solely entry the lounge with a same-day boarding go for journey on a United, Star Alliance or different partner-operated flight.

In the event you’re a one-time United Membership passholder or a business-class passenger on a United or Star Alliance flight, you are not allowed to deliver any visitors with you — except you might have a toddler beneath 2 years outdated.

It is also value noting that these entry insurance policies don’t apply to United’s Polaris lounges. These are accessible solely by passengers flying in long-haul Polaris enterprise class with United or flying in long-haul enterprise or top quality with a Star Alliance accomplice airline.

Associated: One of the best bank cards for United Airways flyers

Backside line

The visitor tips will differ enormously you probably have lounge entry by your bank card or airline elite standing. Some lounges assist you to deliver free visitors, whereas others cost charges as excessive as $65 per individual. As a normal rule of thumb, you’ll be able to deliver kids age 2 or youthful at no further cost. As irritating as it could appear, you will want privileges totally free visitors over this age, or you’ll have to pay to deliver your youngster into the lounge with you.

Associated: One of the best bank cards for lounge entry

For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum Card, click on right here
For charges and costs of the Amex Enterprise Platinum Card, click on right here
For charges and costs of the Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, click on right here
For charges and costs of the Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve Enterprise Card, click on right here
For charges and costs of the Amex Bonvoy Good, click on right here

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