Credit card for airport lounge

[tparvaiz]

I am planning to travel a few trips this summer and wondering if it's worth getting a credit card that offers free airport lounges.

please share your suggestions and which might be a good credit card for my requirement 

[Horseshoez]

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@tparvaiz wrote:

I am planning to travel a few trips this summer and wondering if it's worth getting a credit card that offers free airport lounges.

please share your suggestions and which might be a good credit card for my requirement 

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We'll need way more information to offer you any solid advice.

• What airlines?
• What airports/destinations?
• How much are you willing to spend?
• What is your credit rating like?

Those are just a few we'll need to help you out.

[tparvaiz]

Hi

We'll need way more information to offer you any solid advice.

• What airlines?   Emirates
• What airports/destinations?   Dubai, Toronto, Jeddah.
• How much are you willing to spend? Open
• What is your credit rating like? 700

i belive there are credit cards that offer free leanings across multiple countries. 

[ptatohed]

This seems like a pretty good write-up by The Points Guys.

https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/how-to-choose-credit-card-airport-lounge-access/

[BFDZ1218]

Depends on how often you travel, your home airport and what airline you like to fly. I would also argue anual fee is something to consider strongly.

[Gregory1776]

Also ask the question why you need it. If your not traveling now but anticipate doing so how is it beneficial to you now. You don't even know why you need it.

It is a question I'm asking myself, as I have been wanting a CSR.

[Aim_High]

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@tparvaiz wrote:

Hi

We'll need way more information to offer you any solid advice.

• What airlines?   Emirates
• What airports/destinations?   Dubai, Toronto, Jeddah.
• How much are you willing to spend? Open
• What is your credit rating like? 700

i belive there are credit cards that offer free leanings across multiple countries. 

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If price is no object, the AMEX Platinum card offers the largest global airport lounge access program.  They offer lounge access at all three of those airport - DBX, YYZ, and JED.    See <THIS LINK> for details.   Of course, whether the steep $695 AF makes sense for you depends on your spending habits (in particular airfare), ability to use the credits against the AF, and the amount of lounge usage since that could effectively offset much or all of the fee alone versus the cost of paying ala carte per visit for lounge access. 

Emirates has their own lounge access at 30 worldwide airports including those at DBX and JED but not YYZ.  If you always travel on them and earn an elite status or if you fly Business or First Class, you're entitled to either automatic admission to those lounges or the ability to pay for access at a reduced price.  See <THIS LINK> for details about Emirates lounge program.   

The Barclays Emirates Skyward World Elite Mastercard (see <THIS LINK>)  gives you automatic Gold tier membership in year one with the ability to retain it with $40K annual spending, plus 3 Skywards miles per dollar on Emirates purchase, a 25% savings on buying or gifting Skywards miles, a 10K mile anniversary bonus for $30K annual spend,  TSA Global Entry or Precheck reimbursement, and Priority Pass Lounge Access.  (See <THIS LINK> for Priority Pass Lounges.)   It appears to me that the Gold status should give you automatic Emirates business lounge access worldwide and includes one guest admission.  So if you do always fly Emirates and normally to those cities, the Barclays card might be well worth the $499 AF.

[Horseshoez]

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@Gregory1776 wrote:

Also ask the question why you need it. If your not traveling now but anticipate doing so how is it beneficial to you now. You don't even know why you need it.

It is a question I'm asking myself, as I have been wanting a CSR.

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Exactly why I have yet to spring for (most likely) the United Club card; I'm interviewing for a new job (a bizarre thing to say for someone turning 68 in a few weeks), and if I get it I'll be doing a fair amout of travel. 

[dfwxjer]

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@tparvaiz wrote:

I am planning to travel a few trips this summer and wondering if it's worth getting a credit card that offers free airport lounges.

please share your suggestions and which might be a good credit card for my requirement 

---

If you qualify for the SUB for the Amex Platinum, and are okay with the AF, then it's a hard card to beat for travel. This card is very specific to your individual needs and as it was stated above, make sure you can make use of the various credits offered since the points earning is not great past the SUB. This card has a lot of hotel statuses that will help with international travel, the Priority Pass lounge network, and of course the Centurion Lounge. If you're traveling with friends/family just make note that unless you spend $75k annually on the Platinum then you will get charged $50 for each guest you bring in. Priority Pass will allow up to 2 guests free of charge, although the PP lounges aren't usually on par with the CL. Every year I run the numbers to ensure I'm getting value exceeding the AF and every year I come out way ahead with almost no spend on the card. 

Several other cards also have Priority Pass memberships and most of them have lower AFs. The CSR would be my second choice since they also include their Sapphire Lounge access. The SLs from my experience are on par with the CL

Also, most of these cards also offer the Global Entry credit which is invaluable for international travel.