Priority Pass is a membership program that gives you access to over 1,500 airport lounges around the world. It usually has a yearly membership fee, as well as individual lounge entry fees.
But there are some credit cards in Australia that offer free Priority Pass membership and lounge access when you're travelling.
Depending on the credit card, you could get complimentary Priority Pass membership, a set number of Priority Pass invitations you can use each year, or both of these benefits.
To give you an idea of the potential value, here's a look at the standard Priority Pass membership fees and lounge visit fees.
As well as helping you save on Priority Pass fees, this credit card perk can also help justify the cost of the card's annual fee.
It's different for every card but usually you'll need to enrol in Priority Pass using your credit card details.
For example, with a Westpac Altitude Black Credit Card, you need to visit prioritypass.com/westpacblack and follow the prompts to enrol.
Or, with American Express Platinum and Platinum Business cards, you can just call the number of the back of your card.
Once your Priority Pass account is activated, you'll be sent a plastic membership card and can activate a digital one. You need to show one of these cards to visit a lounge or get other Priority Pass benefits at the airport.
There are Priority Pass lounges at airports all around the world – including airports in London, Los Angeles, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.
In Australia, there are Priority Pass locations at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Adelaide airports. The Priority Pass website has a search tool you can use to find lounges for your travel plans.
There are over 1,500 Priority Pass lounges around the world, each with different features and perks. But some of the most common include:
Unlike the busy and stressful public waiting areas at airports, Priority Pass lounges typically offer plenty of comfortable seating and spaces to dine, drink, work or rest. There are also limits on the number of guests that can visit a lounge to help keep it peaceful. Some lounges also offer shower facilities.
Plane food isn’t always appetising, so you can fill up on complimentary meals and snacks before your next flight. You may find that the meals on offer also reflect the local culture and flavours of your location. You can usually enjoy a variety of beverages such as barista-made coffee, tea, wine, beer and soft drinks.
If you want to get some work done before you jump on the plane, you can often take advantage of high-speed Wi-Fi and charging stations. Some lounges also have designated meeting rooms you can book for a fee or use for free.
Sometimes, Priority Pass members can also get access to exclusive offers at partnered airport restaurants and bars. You can use the find a lounge tool on the Priority Pass website to find which offers you can take advantage of depending on the airport you're visiting.
Pictures: Priority Pass and Shutterstock
Back to top
Discover exactly how the average Australian uses their credit card.
Available to firefighters and other emergency service workers, the Firefighters Mutual Bank credit card offers low-cost features.
A limited number of payment platforms give you a way to pay rent with a credit card, but are the costs worth it?
Compare the surcharges that you can expect when you pay with a credit card and pick up tips to avoid these extra fees.
While there isn't one best credit card, you can find a card that suits your needs by comparing the features, deals and offers that are trending here.
When you apply for a credit card online, you could receive a response within 60 seconds. Find out how you to find a card that you're eligible for and increase your chances of approval.
Find out how much you need to earn each year to apply for a credit card and compare low income credit cards in this guide.
While a credit card is linked with a line of credit, a debit card is connected to your own money. Compare the differences between the card types in this guide.
Calculate how much you're paying in interest based on your current credit card repayments and discover how much you should pay each month to meet your financial goal.
Find out how you can keep your overseas spending costs down by comparing credit cards with no foreign transaction fees and no currency conversion fees.
Can I still use my Priority Pass card if my American Express card has expired, never used & has been lost? My digital membership card shows expiry in 2018. Is it possible to receive an updated physical Priority Pass card with expiry Dec 2020?
Hi Janine,
If you have an active American Express account that offers Priority Pass benefits, you can contact the Amex team on 1300 132 639 to discuss the account and its features. If you have a separate Priority Pass membership, or want one, you can send an enquiry through the Priority Pass website.
Regards,
Amy
We are flying to London in June 2020 and would like to use our mastercard points to purchase a priority pass. Can this be done?
Hi David,
Thank you for your comment.
Priority pass cannot be purchased using points, unfortunately. You can purchase a Priority Pass membership directly or receive Priority Pass Select membership as a benefit on a travel rewards credit card. You can see the list of the credit cards with Priority Pass above.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
My wife and I will be departing from Los Angeles airport, flying Qantas on the 30th March 2019. We would like to visit an airport lounge prior to departure. How can we obtain tickets now and how much will they cost?
Hello John,
Thank you for your comment.
The cost for International Business Class lounges is $69. The passes are sold only online, and will not be available at the lounge itself on the day of travel.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
Which frequent flyer credit cards offer free supplementary cards to spouse etc
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Some Qantas credit cards let you request a supplementary card for a partner or family member, which means they can use the card to make purchases and earn rewards. Just make sure you factor this into your repayments and check whether or not there is a fee for getting additional cards.
You can check our list of frequent flyer credit cards to compare your options. On the page, is a comparison table you can use to see which card suits you. Once you have chosen a particular card, you may then click on the “Go to site” button and you will be redirected to the bank’s website where you can proceed with your application or get in touch with their representatives for further assistance.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions.
Hope this information helps
Cheers,
Arnold