The 6 credit cards that will get you complimentary access to airport lounges

What’s the big deal about airport lounges?

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Airport lounges offer a range of complimentary facilities like wifi, reading or sleeping pods, shower rooms, charging power outlets and of course, food, snacks and drinks, which can include a wide range of alcohol, juices and soft drinks. Airport lounges are a great pitstop for every kind of traveller. If you’re travelling for work or about to go on a long-haul flight, a great place to freshen up, recharge and do some work or reading.

If you’re on a holiday, a great place to review travel plans over food and drinks and start your holiday on the right note. If you’re in transit and between flights, it’s also a great place to spend a few hours in comfort, catching up on some sleep or just resting.

Do I flash my credit card to enter the airport lounge?

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This depends on the type of airport lounge and the credit card. For example, with the HSBC Visa Infinite Credit Card, you are required to present your primary or supplementary card and boarding pass to the lounge operator.

Some credit cards partner with airport lounge programmes, who each run their own chain of lounges. Common ones are Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, SATS lounge and Dragon Pass. For most of these lounges, you will be invited to join the particular airport lounge programme a few days or weeks after you sign up for a participating credit card.

It might take a few weeks to process your membership so don’t apply for a credit card the night before you fly off. Membership is usually on an annual basis. In other cases, such as the SIA KrisFlyer Ascend, you will receive airport lounge vouchers which you present at the front desk of the lounge before entry. You might also be asked to present your credit card and boarding pass.

Remember that each bank will issue you a separate Priority Pass, and your free visits are tied to an individual card – so don’t mix them up! Label your cards carefully and note down how many visits you have used on each.

Also, check if your free visit entitlement is renewed each membership year (i.e. the anniversary on which your lounge pass was issued) or each calendar year (i.e. 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021). The majority of banks award free lounge visits by membership year, although Citibank’s PremierMiles cards award free visits based on calendar year.

Can I bring a guest?

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Yes, but every accompanying guest will be considered as 1 visit. For example, bringing a guest with you on your Citi PremierMiles Priority Pass would use a total of 2 visits.

Higher-end cards like the OCBC VOYAGE allow you to bring a guest for free, and cards like the HSBC Visa Infinite issue a Priority Pass for supplementary cardholders that carries the same unlimited visits.

It’s standard policy to count any child above the age of two as an additional visit, but there is no hard and fast rule about enforcement. Some places will close one eye, others will insist on sticking to the letter of the law.

Do I have to pay the annual fee?

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For most cards, yes, you will have to pay the annual credit card fee to enjoy the privilege of complimentary airport lounge access. Some credit cards waive the annual fee for the first year (and you still receive the complimentary airport lounge vouchers or complimentary annual membership ) but from the second year onwards, you will have to pay the annual fee in order to receive the same airport lounge privileges again.

1. DBS Altitude Visa Credit Card

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The DBS Altitude Visa Card is a great entry-level air miles card, with an annual income requirement of just $30,000. It comes with 2 free airport lounge visits per year but you have to apply for your Priority Pass lounge membership the moment you receive your credit card in the mail. With Priority Pass membership, you will have access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide.

From 1 January 2021, new Priority Pass applications and renewals will only receive a Digital Priority Pass™ membership which enables access to Priority Pass airport lounges with your Priority Pass account.

Welcome Gift: Receive $150 cashback when you key in the promo code 150CASH upon application and make a minimum spend of $800 within 60 days of card approval. Valid till 30 June 2022. T&Cs apply.

2. Citi PremierMiles Card

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Cardholders get a complimentary Priority Pass membership that lets you access Priority Pass airport lounges twice a year. You can use the two complimentary visits on separate occasions or on a single visit with a guest.

Additional visits will cost US$32 per person and will be charged to your Citi PremierMiles Card. The Citi PremierMiles card may also be the most useful air miles card because it has the most transfer partners of any bank in Singapore.

3. American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card

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The Ascend is the American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Card’s sophisticated older sister. Besides getting a higher earn rate for KrisFlyer miles, cardmembers get 4 complimentary vouchers to participating SATS Premier Lounges in Singapore and Plaza Premium Lounges worldwide. You also enjoy a complimentary one night stay at participating Hilton Properties each year.

If you spend more than $15,000 on eligible purchases at singaporeair.com on the card within the first 12 months, you’re automatically upgraded to the KrisFlyer Elite Gold Membership tier. This unlocks KrisFlyer Gold Lounge access at Changi Airport and access to more than 900 Star Alliance Gold Lounges worldwide. You also get an additional 20kg check-in allowance.

4. Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Credit Card

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The Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Credit Card is one of the most exclusive air miles credit cards in Singapore. Similar to the DBS Altitude Cards and the Citi PremierMiles Visa Card, you get a complimentary Priority Pass membership. But because this is a Visa Infinite Card, members get 6 (instead of 2) free visits to airport lounges a year. Lounge visit fees of US$32 per person, per visit, will be chargeable for every subsequent visit after the the 6 Priority Pass Free Visits.

Unless you are a Priority/Private Banking customer with Standard Chartered, you have to earn a minimum annual income of $150,000 to apply for this card.

Welcome offer: Enjoy a 6-month Disney+ subscription upon card activation. Valid till 31 May 2022. T&Cs apply. Apply for the Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Credit Card now!

5. HSBC Visa Infinite Card

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It’s easy to see why the HSBC Visa Infinite Card is the crème de la crème of travel credit cards. Both primary and supplementary cardholders get complimentary unlimited access to any of the participating airport lounges. This gives cardholders unlimited access to over 1,100 VIP airport lounges worldwide while guest charges cost just US$32 per person, per visit. Other additional perks include expedited immigration clearance and airport limousine transfers.

To apply for this card, you have to earn a minimum annual income of $120,000.

6. OCBC Voyage Card

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With an annual income requirement of at least $120,000, the OCBC Voyage Card offers unlimited airport lounge access all year round. Cardholders will receive a complimentary Plaza Premium membership that grants access to 80 airport lounges across the globe. But don’t be dismayed by the low number — these are all VIP lounges, so you can be assured of the highest luxury.

This article was first published in SingSaver.

SingSaver is a personal finance comparison platform that allows users to easily compare credit cards, personal loans, and insurance for free, while helping empower people to lead healthier financial lives through increased financial literacy.