Priority Pass review

Priority Pass is the default choice if you want lounge access without opening a credit card. Its site lists 1,900+ airport lounges and experiences, and three membership plans: Standard for the occasional traveler with a fee for each member visit, Standard Plus with 10 free visits and then a member visit fee, and Prestige with all member visits free. Guest visits are paid on every plan, and access is subject to space availability, with pre-booking at select locations for a small fee. The same network is bundled with Venture X, Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card, so first check whether a card you already hold, or one you would get anyway, includes it. Buying direct makes the most sense for people who travel abroad often, do not want a premium card fee, or cannot get approved for one. The page we fetched from our location showed prices in euros, so we did not record a USD price; check the US price on the join page before choosing a plan.

Who it is for

Travelers who do not want a premium credit card but want lounge access across airlines.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Access to 1,900+ airport lounges and experiences
• Standard plan for occasional travelers with a fee per member visit
• Standard Plus with 10 free visits, then a member visit fee
• Prestige with all member visits free
• Pre-booking at select locations for a small fee

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: No credit check or card application needed
• Strength: Largest network on this list
• Strength: Plans scale from a few trips a year to unlimited visits
• Weakness: Guest visits cost extra on every plan
• Weakness: Access is subject to space availability
• Weakness: Prices shown here were not in USD, so check the US price before buying

Key facts

• Network: 1,900+ airport lounges and experiences
• Plans: Standard, Standard Plus, Prestige
• Free member visits: None on Standard, 10 on Standard Plus, all on Prestige
• Guest visits: Paid on every plan
• Pre-booking: Select locations, small fee

Where it ranks

Priority Pass is No. 4 in our Best Airport Lounge Memberships verdict.