If you have ever found yourself exhausted, bored and uncomfortable in a crowded airport terminal or eagerly looking for an electrical outlet near the gate, you may also imagine you would relax in the airport lounge.
Priority to pass membership Give you more access 1,700 airport lounges and experiences around the world. These lounges offer free food, drinks, Wi-Fi and quiet space to charge yourself and your device.
But is it actually worth paying for membership or applying for a credit card?
Let’s break it down.
What is priority?
Priority Pass is a separate lounge access program that brings its members into airport lounges around the world – whether they are flying economics or Business Class Regardless of the airline or elite status. Some of these lounges are operated by airlines, while others are operated by third-party operators.
Turkish Airlines lounge Dulles International Airport (IAD) For example, near Washington, DC, senior passengers and members of Turkish Airlines are welcomed. These airline-operated lounges often offer premium experiences and offer hot food, showers and plenty of seating.
However, many priority Plaza Superior Lounge. Unfortunately, the quality of your experience in a third-party lounge can be very different – for every gem like this Vienna lounge At Vienna Airport (Life),,,,, You will also find other people at the Vincenzo Bellini Catania Airport (CTA) in Italy, such as the Bellini VIP lounge It might be more like a quiet waiting room with free snacks.
Related: Visiting the airport lounge
How to access priority through the lounge
There are two main ways to access priority access lounges.
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Use Advanced Travel Credit Card Permit
Several types of credit card quotations Free priority by selecting membershipinclude:
Some of these cards even allow access to guests at no extra cost, usually with a maximum of two guests.
Related: Provide priority access to the airport lounge with 10 credit cards
Buy membership directly
You can also directly from Priority to the websitewith the following pricing tiers (accurate as of April 2025):
| Membership level | Annual fee | Lounge access fee | Guest fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| standard | $99 | $35 per visit | $35 |
| Standard plus | $329 | The first 10 visits are free, then $35 | $35 |
| prestige | $469 | Unlimited access | $35 |
Is it worth it to pass a membership first?
The value you will be able to get from any priority passing membership really depends on how often you travel and how you get membership.
Many priority access lounges will be sold to entrances for anyone without access, and usually costs around $30 to $50. The quality of the lounge varies greatly, but I’ll value each visit (in terms of the food, drinks and facilities offered) is about $15 to $25 per visit.
To understand your rewards, it is worth breaking down the cost based on the number of lounge visits that can be made every year.
Visit 5 lounges per year
With standard membership, if you visit five times a year, you will pay $99 for each visit, $35 for each visit; for five visits, that’s $274.
Nearly $55 per visit, so it doesn’t offer huge value. You may spend money (or better) at airport restaurants.
10 lounge visits per year
If you visit 10 times a year, the best option is to pay $329 for Standard Plus Membership, which gives you 10 free visits per year.
Each visit is $32.90, which may be reasonable, but it still depends on the quality of the lounge you visit. For example, if your home airport does not offer high-quality priority lounges, it may not be worth it.
20 lounge visits per year
For access at this level, you need to consider prestige membership for $469 per year. This will cover all your visits without additional charges and reduce your cost per visit to $23.45. We think this is better with the value of free food and drinks and the comfort you can take advantage of.
Visit more than 30 lounges every year
Likewise, prestige membership will provide the best value here. If you visit at least 30 lounges throughout the year, the fee per visit drops below $16 – if you use it consistently and really enjoy the lounge, it’s a solid deal.
If you travel regularly with your companions, it may also make sense for them to have their own membership. Guests sell for $35 each, so it can add up quickly and can damage the value you get from membership fees as a solo traveler.
Related: 9 Best Priority Pass Lounges in the United States
What if you get a priority membership through a credit card?
If the advanced card is provided Free priority accessconsider how many times you use it each year.
For example, the estimated value of 10 visits per year is $20 per visit equals $200.
If your card has an annual fee of $395 or more and you will be given priority through membership as a privilege (such as travel credit, insurance, or earning points potential), you are more likely to justify the fee as you will get more benefits for accessing the Priority Pass Lounge.
What else could affect the value of my priority pass membership?
While the above breakdown provides you with a good guide on ROI for priority through membership, there are some other key points worth considering.
For example, not only do you fight with different lounge quality, but access may not always be available. Priority access to lounges often limit access during busy periods. This can be a special burden if you cross busy hubs like London Heathrow Airport (LHR) or New York City’s John Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Depending on the lounge you wish to visit, especially those run by an airline, you may also find it only available for a specific time.
Due to the preferred nature of access, which essentially provides access to all easily accessible members, you may find that some lounges quickly reach capacity during peak trips. This doesn’t seem like a problem if you’re still able to enter, but going to a busy lounge doesn’t always have a meaningful experience. Food choices may run out, seating and work space are full, and you may only be more comfortable than waiting at the gate.
With all of the above in mind, we always recommend checking Priority through the application or website Confirm availability and hours before arrival, if possible, even book your slot. The service is not available in all lounges, but some do book for a small fee (usually less than $10 per person).
Long time, time must be made when trying to access the Priority Pass Lounge. Early morning or ongoing flights may not give you plenty of rest or get full service. If you just stop for coffee or charge your phone, the value of access can be low. The best lounge value is that you have at least an hour of relaxation, enjoy a meal or a drink or two, and take advantage of a quiet workspace if you are on a business trip.
Bottom line
Priority pass membership is definitely worth it – if you travel a lot and are strategic about using it. For most travelers, the best value comes from credit cards, which include membership, not out of pocket.
Before registering, please ask yourself:
- How many lounge visits will I make this year?
- Will I use membership frequently to justify the fee?
- Do I sometimes travel or walk through an airport where the lounge is available and unsatisfied with it?
Set your expectations accordingly. Want to learn more or register? You can join Priority Pass here.