Subscribe Today !
Login

Free Priority Pass

Eating in airports is expensive – an unfortunate necessity when you have a long layover. If you’re traveling Business or First class, or if you have elite status with an airline program, you are afforded the luxury of airport lounges. These lounges come with unlimited food and beverages, and provide you a more comfortable place to work or relax while waiting for your flight

So how do you get access to airport lounges if you are flying Economy and don’t have elite status?

Priority Pass

Priority Pass is the largest network of lounges in the world with over 1700 lounges and experiences. With a membership, it’s easy to search for lounge locations in any airport using the Priority Pass website or mobile phone app

Experiences

Priority Pass Experiences are pretty cool! These ‘experiences’ are airport restaurants and spas where you’ll get free meals and other services. Airports that include these are limited, but if you happen to travel through one of these airports frequently this is a major benefit

Singapore International Airport has over 10 lounges and 18 experiences to enjoy. Most of the restaurants have set meals or specific menu items you can choose for free, while others give you credit to use for anything on the menu. The menu options and credit are surprisingly generous. Heck, they even have a spa where you can get a massage, haircut, shower, or manicure & pedicure

Honestly, I don’t see the point of the Standard or Standard Plus memberships – I’d only consider the Prestige membership, but to make that worthwhile I’d have to be traveling more than I am. A far better way to get a Priority Pass membership is through credit cards

Paid Memberships

Paid Memberships

  • Standard

With a $99 annual fee, you will be able to enter lounges for $35 per visit. The guess fee is an additional $35 per person

  • Standard Plus

With a $329 annual fee, you will be entitled to 10 free visits. Subsequent visits cost $35, and the guess fee is $35 per person

  • Prestige

The $469 annual fee comes with unlimited lounge access and experiences. The guest fee remains at $35 per person

Free Priority Pass Through Credit Cards

Free Priority Pass Through Credit Cards

Three of the most popular credit cards that include free Priority Pass recently nerfed benefits or increased fees. The Capital One Venture X, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Amex Platinum have all announced changes that limit the number of free guest and/or increased fees for the primary cardholder and authorized users

The information below is updated to reflect these changes (although not all changes are in effect yet).

Capital One Venture X and Business Venture X

American Express Platinum and Business Platinum

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express

Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite

Barclays JetBlue Premier

U.S. Bank Altitude Connect

The Ritz-Carlton

How to Get The Ritz-Carlton Card

How To Get The Ritz-Carlton Card

Although the Ritz-Carlton card is not available to new applicants, you can product-change from either the Chase Marriott Bold or Boundless after holding either card for a minimum of 12 months. As the Ritz-Carlton card is a Visa Infinite, you must have a $10,000+ credit limit on your current Marriott card. You product-change by calling Chase or using their secured messaging feature

This card is the only card that offers unlimited visits for the primary cardholder and an unlimited number of free guests. It’s unknown if this benefit will get nerfed in the future, but there is reason to believe that it won’t. It is the only premium Marriott card that Chase has rights to – Amex and Chase share the privilege of offering Marriott cards, and Amex gets the premium cards. The Ritz-Carlton card was offered by Chase before this agreement, and it allows Chase to keep a segment of card users that it wouldn’t otherwise

The Ritz-Carlton Key Benefits

  • Priority Pass and Chase Sapphire Lounge access

  • Anniversary Free Night Award (85k value)

  • $300 Annual travel credit

  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold status (elevated free room upgrade)

  • 3 Ritz-Carlton club level upgrade certificates

  • Access to top-tier Chase Customer Service for all your Chase cards

My Take

My Take

I value lounge access in airports quite highly. Traveling with a family of 4 becomes considerably more expensive if we’re paying for food and drinks in airports. Up till now I’ve relied on my Venture X for lounge access. With the changes taking effect on Feb 1, 2026, I’ll most likely be product-changing my Marriott Bonvoy Boundless to the Ritz-Carlton card. I can use the $300 travel credit and the 85k Free Night Award to offset the annual fee, which makes the generous lounge access basically free. Everyone’s situation is different though, and below are a few personal situations to consider

Note that I am only taking into consideration the annual fees, easy ways to offset these fees, and the lounge access included. Other cards may be better for you if you’re able to make use of other benefits

Solo Traveler – Venture X is going to be your best option. The card comes with $300 travel credit and 10,000 anniversary points, which is worth $400 minimum. This completely offsets the annual fee

Rare Traveler – U.S. Bank Altitude Connect will work if you don’t plan to visit lounges more than 4 times annually, which could easily be used up during a single round trip holiday. Having access to ‘experiences’ is great, as lounge food is often subpar

Married Travelers – The Venture X is again your best option. Get one card for each of you, and don’t forget to refer your significant other for 25,000 bonus points

Family Travel – The Ritz-Carlton card is the clear winner. Unlimited access, unlimited guests, free authorized users. Need I say more?

Subscribe
Request Concierge