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Priority Pass: Can you Get it for Free?

Put the days of crowded airports and long lines behind you by purchasing a Priority Pass membership and enjoy some relaxation between flights.

Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®
Samantha Hawrylack
By Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®
and Samantha Hawrylack
Jess Ullrich
Edited by Jess Ullrich
Updated Nov. 11, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

If you’re interested in leveling up your airport experience, you may want to consider a Priority Pass membership. Priority Pass members can enjoy complimentary food, drinks, and superior comfort in more than a thousand airport lounges and restaurants around the world.

The best part? You can get Priority Pass for free as a built-in benefit with many different credit cards. For travelers, it’s an invaluable perk to have when going through airports. Use this guide to see how the Priority Pass program works and which membership tier would be the right fit for you.

What is Priority Pass?

Priority Pass is a network of airport lounges with 1,600 locations and experiences located across 145 countries worldwide. The experiences include quieter areas to sit, refreshments, and mini-suites where you can rest and recharge. Some also include mini-spa treatments, gaming experiences, or pools.

You typically won’t see the same offerings at every airport as each Priority Pass lounge is unique. The lounge is only available to members and their guests and you can find them in the United States and abroad.

Just as each lounge is different, they each have different guidelines. For example, you may have to wait until a certain number of hours before your flight or only be able to stay in the lounge for a specific amount of time. You can easily determine the rules and even check if you can pre-book your lounge using the Priority Pass app.

The good news is that anyone can become a member of the Priority Pass network by buying a membership that you pay for annually plus a potential per-visit fee, depending on the membership tier you purchase.

Warning
Be sure to check the rules of a lounge you want to visit via the Priority Pass website or mobile app before planning your visit. There may be entry restrictions on additional guests and/or children. In most cases, you can pay for additional guests if there’s a limit on how many your membership allows at a particular lounge. The guest policy may vary from lounge to lounge.

Priority Pass vs Priority Pass Select

If you have certain premium credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or The Platinum Card® from American Express, you may automatically receive a Priority Pass Select membership. Each credit card has different Priority Pass Select limitations including the number of guests you can bring with you and whether your authorized users can access the lounge. Alternatively, a Priority Pass membership can be purchased by anyone. Both memberships provide access to lounges worldwide, but the Priority Pass Select membership provided through a credit card will have more stipulations so be sure to read the rules that apply to your membership before you travel. 

Priority Pass membership tiers

Priority Pass offers different membership tiers you can purchase. Each type of membership has different sets of guidelines, but they can all get you into a Priority Pass lounge.

  • Priority Pass Standard membership: For $99 per year, members and guests can enter Priority Pass lounges for $35 each. If you travel occasionally, the standard membership tier may make the most sense for you.
  • Priority Pass Standard Plus membership: For $329 per year, members get 10 free Priority Pass lounge visits. Each subsequent visit (after the 10th) costs members $35 per visit. Guest visits are $35 per guest. If you travel regularly and can take advantage of the free airport lounge visits, this tier may make the most sense for you.
  • Priority Pass Prestige membership: For $469 per year, members can enter Priority Pass lounges for free without any limits on how many lounges they can enter throughout the year. Guest visits are $35 per guest. If you’re a frequent traveler and plan to visit more than 10 Priority Pass lounges throughout the year, this tier would make the most sense.

How to get Priority Pass for free

If you have certain travel rewards credit cards, you may be able to get Priority pass for free as a perk of having the card. Keep in mind that the membership isn’t automatic. If it’s a perk that comes with your credit card, you must activate the membership.

Here are three of the best credit cards that include Priority Pass:

  • Chase Sapphire Reserve®
  • The Platinum Card® from American Express
  • Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

As Chase’s premium travel card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is an excellent choice if you travel often enough to take advantage of its perks and benefits. Cardholders get up to $300 in annual travel credits, up to $120 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit every four years, and access to Chase Travel℠. In Chase’s travel portal, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to more than a dozen travel partners. Chase transfer partners include companies such as Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, IHG, and Hyatt.

Check out our Chase Sapphire Reserve review.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the most popular travel cards available. Amex Platinum cardmembers receive up to $200 in annual airline fee credits, up to $200 in annual Uber Cash, a fee credit of up to $120 every four years for Global Entry or up to $85 every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck (five-year membership), Centurion lounge access, and much more. You also receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status. (Some of these perks require enrollment to take full advantage of them.)

For flexible award travel, you can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to more than a dozen Amex transfer partners. These travel partners include both hotels and airlines, including Delta Air Lines, Emirates, and Marriott. Just make sure to set up those loyalty program accounts so you can transfer your Amex points.

Check out our Amex Platinum Card review.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

If you prefer Marriott Bonvoy hotels and points, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card could be an ideal choice for you. This card offers up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in annual dining statement credits, an annual free night award worth up to 85,000 points, complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, and a fee credit of up to $120 every 4 years for Global Entry or up to $85 every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck (five-year membership). It’s a no-brainer for frequent travelers who like to stay at Marriott hotels.

Check out our Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card review.

Priority Pass lounges and restaurants: How they work and where they’re located

In general, you can expect Priority Pass lounges to offer comfortable seating, Wi-Fi connection, and some form of food and beverage options. This may include a self-serve buffet of food choices, along with water, soda, juices, and/or alcoholic drinks. If it’s a Priority Pass restaurant, you can expect a full-service restaurant experience. This includes seating and a restaurant menu where you can typically spend up to $28 in credit on food and drink.

Warning
If your Priority Pass Select membership was issued through an American Express card, you won’t receive any Priority Pass restaurant benefits. In general, most cards with Priority Pass benefits no longer provide Priority Pass restaurant credits.

Here are some of the most popular U.S. airports with selections for top Priority Pass lounges and restaurants. You can access the full list on PriorityPass.com.

Priority Pass Los Angeles (LAX)

  • Be Relax Spa (Terminal 1 and Tom Bradley International Terminal )
  • Gameway (Terminal 3 and 6)

Priority Pass San Francisco (SFO):

  • China Airlines Lounge (International Terminal A)
  • Golden Gate Lounge (International Terminal A)
  • Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse (International Terminal)
  • San Francisco Giants Clubhouse (Terminal 3)
  • Lark Creek Grill (Terminal 2)

Priority Pass New York (JFK):

  • Air France Lounge (Terminal 1)
  • KAL Business Class Lounge (Terminal 1)
  • Primeclass Lounge (Terminal 1)
  • Turkish Airlines Lounge (Terminal 1)
  • Be Relax Spa (Terminal 1 and 5)
  • Air India Maharaja Lounge (Terminal 4)
  • Primeclass Lounge (Terminal 4)
  • Chase Sapphire Lounge (Terminal 4)
  • Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse (Terminal 4)
  • Bobby Van’s Steakhouse (Terminal 8)

Priority Pass Newark (EWR):

  • Be Relax Spa (Terminal A)

Priority Pass Miami (MIA):

  • Turkish Airlines Lounge (Central Terminal Concourse D/E and H/J)

Priority Pass Atlanta (ATL):

  • Samuel Adams Brew House (Concourse B)
  • Minute Suites (Concourse E)
  • The Club ATL (International Terminal/Concourse F)

Priority Pass Washington, D.C. (IAD)

  • Air France - KLM Lounge (Concourse A)
  • Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse (Concourse A)
  • The Etihad Lounge (Concourse A)
  • Lufthansa Business Lounge (Concourse B)
  • Turkish Airlines Lounge (Concourse B)
  • Chef Geoff’s (Concourse C)

Priority Pass Seattle (SEA)

  • British Airways Lounge (South Satellite)
  • The Club SEA (Concourse A)

Although these lounges are available at the time of writing, Priority Pass lounges change often, so be sure to check the Priority Pass website or mobile app for the most up-to-date information.

Warning
With the increasing popularity of airport lounges, it’s possible that the Priority Pass lounge you want to visit is full. If you’re traveling during peak time, see if the lounge allows pre-booking to secure your spot to avoid disappointment.

FAQs

How does Priority Pass work?

You can buy a Priority Pass membership through the Priority Pass website or receive a Priority Pass membership through certain credit cards from Chase, American Express, and Citi. Once you’re a member, you can access more than 1,600 airport lounges and experiences in countries all over the world.

Is Priority Pass worth it?

If you’re a frequent traveler, it can be well worth it to get a Priority Pass membership. Priority Pass lounges offer a welcome reprieve from busy airports and offer complimentary food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and a comfortable area to rest in.

How can I get a free Priority Pass?

Certain rewards credit cards from Chase, American Express, and Citi offer a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership as an added benefit for cardholders. With these credit cards, you can get free visits to Priority Pass lounges:

Is food free in Priority Pass lounges?

Yes, there is typically free food available for Priority Pass members and their guests in Priority Pass lounges. This can range from self-serve buffets to finger foods to snacks. There will generally be complimentary drinks as well.

Can I use Priority Pass twice in one day?

There’s no limit on how many Priority Pass lounges and restaurants you can visit in a day. So if there are three Priority Pass lounges in an airport, you can visit all three in one day at the airport.

If you want to go back to the same Priority Pass lounge or restaurant during one airport trip, you may have to check the rules of the specific lounge or restaurant on the Priority Pass website or mobile app. Some lounges and restaurants may not allow another visit on the same Priority Pass membership for a certain amount of time.

Can a family member use my Priority Pass?

A family member cannot use your Priority Pass card to get into a Priority Pass lounge, as they would need their own membership card. If your family member wants to get into Priority Pass lounges, they could do any of the following:

  • Purchase their own Priority Pass membership
  • Open a credit card with Priority Pass benefits
  • Be added as an authorized user on a family member’s card that has Priority Pass benefits
  • Enter a Priority Pass lounge as the guest of a friend or family member who has a Priority Pass membership

Does Priority Pass automatically renew?

Priority Pass membership will automatically renew if the membership was purchased directly from Priority Pass and the customer agreed to automatic billing at the time of purchase.

If you have a Priority Pass membership through a financial institution, they’re set to automatically renew. You can request to have this changed by reaching out to Priority Pass directly.

How to maximize your travel rewards

The right travel card for you is the one that matches your interests and spending habits, allowing you to earn valuable rewards and travel the way you like — for less. Learn more about these top cards and choose the one that's best for you:

Bottom line

Priority Pass lounges and restaurants can provide program members with a welcome break while traveling. Whether you’re on a layover in a foreign country or waiting to board a flight at your home airport, you can utilize Priority Pass lounges for its complimentary (for members and their guests) services.

Grab a meal or snack and relax with a drink in hand, making use of the free Wi-Fi in the lounge. If you travel on a regular basis, it’s essential to unwind a bit between connecting flights, long hauls, and stopovers. Remember, you can either buy a Priority Pass membership or receive a free membership when you qualify through certain credit cards.

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