A Complete Guide To Priority Pass (Beginners Guide)

by Daniel | Last Updated April 2nd, 2024

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What if I told you that it is possible to get access over 1500 different airports lounges from all over the world literally for free? 

Well with a Priority Pass Membership it is possible, and best of all there are even more perks available such as free massages and restaurant credits at specific airports all across the word.

So this might sounds to good to be true, but as you will see in this article I will show you exactly how it is possible to to get these benefits for free.

Now there are a couple of different ways to acquire a Priority Pass membership, the first way would be by applying directly through their website.

Alternatively it is actually possible to receive a complimentary Priority Pass membership via a select number of different credit cards.

Now both of these options offer different levels of membership access, as you can see in the picture below there are 3 levels to choose from when you pay for Priority Pass membership.

And then depending on what credit card you use to get a complimentary Priority Pass Membership will affect what type of access and benefits you will receive.

Generally speaking, more affordable credit cards that have a lower annual fee will have somewhat limited access to lounges and less benefits.

Whereas some more expensive and exclusive credit cards actually offer unlimited lounge access, free massages and restaurant credits at select airports.

So in this article, I’m going to walk you through everything there is to know about Priority Pass.
This includes how to sign-up, how use it, which credit cards actually offer Priority Pass, and then finally which credit cards have the most exclusive benefits and offers through Priority Pass.

What exactly is Priority Pass, and how does it work?

Now assuming you are totally new to Priority Pass let’s go over some of the basics about what it is and how it actually works.

So simply put, Priority Pass is the largest airport lounge access program in the world.
And this past year was their 30th year in business, so they have been around for quite a while.

Now one of the benefits of being the largest operator in the business is the fact that they offer access to over 1,500 different airport lounges in over 148 different countries around the world. 

So if you do decide to get a Priority Pass Membership, it’s more than likely that you will be able to find an airport lounge when you travel.

How Do You Get a Priority Pass Membership?

Now if you’re wondering how to get a Priority Pass membership there are 2 different ways to do this. 

The first and easiest way would be to go to their website https://www.prioritypass.com/
And once you are on their website you will see that there are 3 different levels of membership to choose from, which are:

• Standard
• Standard Plus
• Prestige

Standard Membership

So the cheapest option is a Standard membership, and this will cost you $99.
Now this will provide you with access to Priority Pass lounges for $35 per visit per person, so if you bring along a friend into the lounge with you it will cost you $70.

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Standard Plus Membership

Now in the middle is the Standard Plus membership which has an annual fee of $329.
This provides you with 10 free passes each year which is worth $350, and if you manage to use all of the passes within a year it will then cost you the same $35 per visit per person.
So if you know you will make a total of 10 airport lounge visits over the course of a year, this is much better value than the entry level Standard membership.

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Prestige Membership

Now the best value option in my onion is the Prestige membership, and this will cost you $469.

And with this you will have unlimited free access to all lounges, then any guest you wish to bring in with you will cost the same $35 per person.

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Save up to 20%

Now if you are thinking about getting a Priority Pass membership and would like to save some money on the first year of membership, you can use this link that will give you:

• 20% off a Standard membership which will save you $20
• 15% off a Standard Plus membership which will save you $38
• 10% off a Prestige membership, which will save you $40

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Credit Cards That Offer Free Priority Pass Membership

Now the second way you can get a Priority Pass membership, which also happens to be the most cost effective way is to get a credit card that offers Priority Pass membership as a perk.

And currently there are 12 different credit cards in the United Stated that offer a Priority Pass membership as a free perk.

Now it’s worth noting that the level of membership offered from these credit cards will vary quite a bit.

Currently there are 6 different companies that offer credit cards with a Priority Pass membership.

And right at the top of this list is Chase that currently has 2 different credit cards that offer all of the benefits available from Priority Pass.

Chase Cards

The first credit card is the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, and I actually have this credit card and really like it.
Now with this card you will receive a Priority Pass Select membership that provides you with unlimited lounge visits for the card holder and the ability to bring 2 additional guests in to the lounge free of charge.
After this, any additional guests will cost $27 each.

Now one thing that you will get with this card that you only get with two other bank credit card is the Priority Pass restaurant credit.
And with this it is possible to receive a credit of up to $28, and best of all if you have a friend traveling with you it its also possible to get a credit of $28 for them as well, so a total of $56 to spend at participating restaurants.

As of July 1, 2024, The Chase Sapphire Reserve card will no longer provide restaurant privileges.

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Now this credit card is actually not openly available to new applicants, but it is possible to get it if you follow the right steps.
And I have a full review here on how to do this.

Now just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve you get the same unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges and the restaurant credit at participating restaurants.
But the one thing this card offers over all other Priority Pass memberships is the ability to bring in unlimited guests to airport lounges free of charge.
So if you have a large family or are traveling with a few friends, this can be a really nice option to have.

As of July 1, 2024, The Chase Ritz Carlton card will no longer provide restaurant privileges.

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American Express Cards 

Next up is American Express, and currently they have 4 different cards that come with a Priority Pass membership.

The first and most expensive card is the Amex Platinum personal card.
And this is another card that I currently have and really enjoy using.
Now this card offers unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges just like the previous two credit cards but unfortunately it doest offer the restaurant credit.

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The second card from Amex is the Amex Platinum Business card, and this offers exactly the same level of access to Priority Pass lounges as the personal card does
The only real difference is the fact that it is a Business card that comes with different benefits and perks to what the person Platinum card offers. 

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The third card from Amex is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card.
And this is a fantastic hotel credit card that comes with a ton of benefits and perks.
When it comes to its Priority Pass membership, it offers exactly the same level of access as the Amex Platinum cards.

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*Update: Both the Hilton Honors Aspire and Surpass cards have ceased offering Priority Pass as of October 19th, 2023

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Then the final card from Amex is the Hilton Honors Business card which also costs just $95 per year and for this you will receive a Priority Pass membership that provides you 10 free lounges visits each year.

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Capital One

The next company to offer a Priority Pass membership is Capital One with the Venture X card.
This a fantastic credit card that comes with a decent range of benefits and perks all for under $400 a year.
When it comes to Priority Pass access this card will allow for unlimited lounge access for the card holder and the ability to bring 2 guests in free of charge.
Unfortunately there is no restaurant credit available with this card.

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Now Capital One also offers the Venture X Business card which has the same unlimited lounge access and ability to bring 2 guests along free of charge.
One difference is that you actually get the restaurant credit with this card, so it’s something worth considering if you are interested in getting the Venture X card.

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Bank of America

Next up is the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite credit card.
This another great credit card that comes with a decent variety of benefits and perks, one of which is a Priority Pass membership.

This provides you with the same unlimited lounge access and ability to bring 2 guests along free of charge.
But unfortunately, it doesn’t have the restaurant credit. 

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UBS

There is then the UBS Visa Infinite credit card which also offers unlimited lounge access for the card holder and the ability to bring 2 guests along free of change. 
And there is also the restaurant credit offered with this card.

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US Bank

And finally there are two different credit cards from US Bank that offer a Priority Pass membership.

The first card is the US Bank Altitude Reserve Card which comes with a $400 annual fee.
This Priority Pass membership will allow you 4 visits as a card hold and 4 guest visits, so 8 visits in total.

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Then finally the last card on this list is the US Bank Altitude Connect Signature card.
This card is free for the first year of card ownership and then $95 per year thereafter.
The Priority Pass membership offered with this card allows for 4 free lounge visits each year.

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So out of the 12 different credit cards I just talked about that come with a Priority Pass membership, just four of them offer the Restaurant credit.

And generally speaking the lower annual fee credit cards only offer a limited amount of visits each year.

How To Get Your Priority Pass Card

Ok so now that I’ve covered the basics about what Priority Pass is, how it works and where you can use it, let’s look at how you can get your physical Priority Pass card.

If you have one of the credit cards that I just talked about earlier there is the option to either enroll for your Priority Pass card through the specific credit card online portal. 

Alternatively, if this proves to be confusing you can just call the helpline that is listed on the back of your credit card where you will be able to talk to a representative that should be able to help complete the process for you.

Now once you have completed this step, your physical Priority Pass card will be sent to you via mail, and this will generally take between 1 to 2 weeks.

Ok so when your card is finally delivered you will need to head over to the Priority Pass website to activate your card.

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Once you are on the activation page, it will ask you to input your Priority Pass membership number.
So do this and then hit continue.

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Now you may well be asked to also input the last 4 digits of your payment card, which you can see here.
So put that number in and then click continue.

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Now once you have done this, it will bring you to the next page which is where you can actually ‘create your account’

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So simply input all of your personal details on this page and once you have done this click ‘create account’ and your account should then be ready to go!

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Now on the next page it is possible to view all of the lounges you have visited in the past, your details and it is actually possible to rate the lounges you have previously visited.

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Where and When Can You Use Your Priority Pass?

So once you have gone through all of the steps I have just mentioned and you have your physical card, I highly recommend that you download the Priority Pass app.
This will make it a lot easier for you to see what lounges and restaurants are currently available to you at the airport you are traveling through.

Another super useful benefit the app will provide you with is a detailed list of specific conditions that some lounges and restaurants have in place.
This can potentially save you a lot of stress and hassle at the airport.

Seeing that airport lounges are run as separate business, they tend to have slightly different rules and restrictions in place, so its defiantly worth understanding what there rules are before you turn up.

So as an example most Priority Pass lounges have a time limit of approximately 3 hours, they also generally allow kids in for free, but with that being said the age limit cut-off can vary from between 2 – 6 years of age.

Also, some lounges only allow for a maximum of 2 kids per family, so again, it’s impotent information to know before turning up at the lounge.

Now one thing that you should know is that from time to time some lounges may restrict entry to Priority Pass members due to overcrowding.
This is a more common occurrence at larger international airports during busier times of the travel season.

Now there are ways to help you get around these restrictions, the first option that some lounges will offer you is to be put on a waitlist, and depending on how busy they are it could take anywhere from 5 minutes to a couple of hours to gain entry.

Another option that some lounges offer is the ability to pre book the lounge at least 24 hours before you fly.
This is something I have done a few time now at London Heathrow because it can get very busy there during the summer period.

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And when pre bookings are available, they can usually be made through the Priority Pass website or app.
For me to pre book the Club Aspire Lounge at London Heathrow, Terminal 3 this year it cost me £6, which is not to bad in my opinion.

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And this is an good example of why it is quite valuable to have the Priority Pass app, as knowing what the conditions of entry of the lounge you are visiting can save you a lot of time and stress.

Additional Benefits of Priority Pass Membership 

So besides having lounge access to over 1,500 different airport lounges around the world, select Priority Pass memberships offer a few other nice benefits that can make your travel a lot more enjoyable.

Restaurants and Cafe Credit

As I mentioned earlier in the article, there are 4 different credit cards that offer access to 31 different airport restaurants and cafes in the United States, and many more around the world.

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In the US you can receive a restaurant credit of up to $28 on the same day as your flight.
And best of all you can usually bring along 1 guest with you that will also receive the same $28 credit, so that means you will receive a credit of $56 that will be taken off your total bill.

Be Relax Spas

Now another nice perk that is available with select Priority Pass memberships is a free treatment at Be Relax Spas.

I recently made use of this benefit in LA at the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
Here you have a choice of the following treatments:

• Be Back 15-minute Massage plus O2 (a US$38 value)
• Be Back 30-minute Massage (a US$38 value)
• Polish Change plus Hand Massage (a US$38 value)
• Be Feet on lounger 10-minute plus O2 (a US$44 value)

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I opted for the 30 minute Be Back massage, and with this they just put you in an electric massage chair for 30 minutes.
And I must say it’s pretty nice and relaxing, and best of all it’s free!

So currently there are 13 different Be Relax Spa locations in the US and 3 in Toronto Canada. 
Now it’s worth noting that this service can quite often have a waitlist as it is pretty popular.

So as I mentioned earlier in the article, try to make an appointment before you arrive at the airport, and if this isn’t possible, try to get to the Be Relax Location as soon as you get through security at the airport and make a booking.
I did this whilst I was in LA at Tom Bradley International Terminal, and the wait time for me was about 20 minutes.

It’s also worth noting that you will only receive 1 visit per card holder on the day of your flight, also, it is not possible to book in for a guest using your Priority Pass membership. 

Minute Suites

So finally the last benefit that is available to select Priority Pass memberships is access to approximately 14 different Minute Suites locations across the US. 

Minutes Suites generally come with a daybed sofa that can sleep 2 people, pillows and blankets, a workstation, WiFi, Smart TV and luggage storage.

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Here you will receive 1 hour of access for free with the option to extend your stay at a discounted rate of approximately $34 per hour.
The base rate is usually $48 per hour, so it’s a pretty good deal, and it gives you the ability to get some much need rest.

And just like the Be Relax Spa benefit, it is worth making an appointment as soon as possible as it does tend to get booked out.

What to Expect Inside A Priority Pass Lounge 

Ok so now that’s I’ve gone over most of the basics of how and where you can use your Priority Pass to access airport lounges, restaurants and Be Relax Spas, lets talk about what you can expect when you get in to one of the lounges.

Now depending on where you are traveling and what airport you go to, some lounges will be better than others, but you can rest assure that they will provide similar amenities. 

Most lounges offer areas where you can sit and work comfortably with free WiFi and changing outlets for your electric devices.

And from my experience over the years visiting countless lounges you can expect to have a reasonable range of complementary food and refreshments, and this includes alcoholic beverages.

Now if you’re lucky enough to visit a really nice lounge you may well find that they offer showers, spa treatments and sleeping areas.
And if they do, make sure to check if you need to make an appointment when you check-in, as from my experience these types of benefits are quite popular. 

Final Thoughts 

Ok so there you have it, that covers pretty much everything you need to know about Priority Pass membership. 

And as you can see, it can offer you quite a decent range of benefits that that can be used all over the world.

I’ve been using my Priority Pass membership now for the past 6 years and really like it.
As you can see on my Property Pass dashboard here I make pretty good use of the lounges when I travel.

Also don’t forget that you can save up to 20% on a Priority Pass membership by using my link.

Now if your looking for a good hotel credit card, check out my review where I compare two of the best hotel credit cards on the market today.