I’m not much of a drinker. So when I visit an airport lounge, I’m not there for a bottomless bar or pre-flight cocktails. Honestly, the idea of being tipsy at 30,000 feet sounds awful. What I do want is a clean, comfortable space with good coffee, decent food, and a little peace and quiet.

A lot of articles about lounge access focus on finding “the best travel credit card” or chasing the most luxurious perks. But let’s be honest, luxury means different things to different people. A “relaxing massage” might sound amazing to you or like a nightmare if you’re not into being touched by strangers.

Rather than tell you what the best card is, this guide will help you figure out how to choose the right lounge setup based on your travel style. The goal? Help you define what your version of travel comfort looks like and how to access it.

Step 1: Know Your Travel Habits

Start by understanding your travel patterns. This will shape where lounge access matters most to you.

Ask yourself:

• Your home airport
• The airports where you regularly connect or lay over
• Are your flights mostly domestic or international?

These will be the places where lounge access can really improve your travel experience.

✈️ Example: If you frequently connect through San Francisco (SFO), find out which lounges are in the terminals you use most often.

Step 2: Understand the Types of Lounges

There are three main types of airport lounges:

1. Airline Lounges (e.g., Delta Sky Club, United Club): Usually tied to a specific airline and often located near that airline’s gates.
2. Credit Card Lounges (e.g., Amex Centurion Lounge, Chase Sapphire Lounge, Capital One Lounge): These tend to offer higher-end experiences and are accessible with certain premium cards.
3. Third-Party Lounges (e.g., Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, The Club): Independent lounges with more varied quality, but widely accessible with memberships or credit card perks.

Each has its own vibe and benefits. Even within the same brand, lounge experiences can vary widely depending on the airport.

Step 3: Define What You Want from a Lounge

Everyone uses lounges differently. Here are some common priorities:

🧘‍♂️ Quiet + Productivity

If you’re trying to catch up on work or need to make calls, look for lounges with:

• Quiet zones
• Private phone booths
• Fast and stable Wi-Fi
• Outlets at every seat

🍴 Food and drinks

If you’re trying to avoid overpriced snacks or soggy sandwiches:

• Most lounges offer buffet-style meals that rotate on a set schedule
• Some offer a full menu or specialty bars

Examples:

• The Centurion Lounge in Seattle (SEA) has a full coffee bar serving handcrafted lattes and smoothies
• The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Dulles (IAD) offers made-to-order meals

✨ Unique Amenities

Some lounges go the extra mile and have unique amenities. Some examples of this are the following:

• Showers – Very common in international and premium lounges
• Spa treatments – Like complimentary back massages at the Centurion Lounge at LAX
• Nap rooms – Found in places like the SWISS Arrivals Lounge in Zurich
• Saunas – Offered in the Finnair Platinum Wing Lounge in Helsinki
• Peloton bikes – Yes, really! Available at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in London Heathrow

🛁 Tip: Showers often require a reservation at the front desk, so check in early if you want to freshen up.

Step 4: Choose the Right Credit Card

Paying for lounge access out of pocket rarely makes sense, standalone memberships can cost over $600 a year. Most travelers are better off getting a premium travel credit card that includes lounge access as a perk.

Here are a few of the top options:

• Amex Platinum – Access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, and Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve – Access to Priority Pass lounges and Chase Sapphire Lounges
• Capital One Venture X – Access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass

Pick a card that aligns with the airports you use most. If your home airport doesn’t have a Centurion Lounge, Amex Platinum might not be the best fit. You can search a few website to see which lounges are available to you before applying:

• Global Lounge Collection – offered by Amex Platinum
• Priority Pass – offered by all three cards
• Capital One Lounges – offered by Capital One Venture X
• Sapphire Lounge locations – offered by Chase Sapphire Reserve

Other Tips and Considerations

⚠️ Overcrowding Is a Thing

Lounges have become a victim of their own popularity. Long lines and full seating areas are more common now.

• Some lounges use virtual waitlists (like Centurion Lounges via the Amex app)
• Others require in-person check-in and waiting

ℹ️ Pro tip: For Amex Centurion Lounges, join the waitlist in the app while you’re still in the TSA line.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Bringing Guests Isn’t What It Used to Be

Many cards are scaling back guest access to reduce overcrowding.

• If you’re traveling with a partner or older kids, free access might not be included
• In many cases, your partner will need to be added as an authorized user (which usually costs extra) to gain their own access

Final Thoughts

Instead of chasing the flashiest lounge or the fanciest card, focus on what you actually value when traveling.

Maybe it is:

• A quiet corner to answer emails
• A strong latte before boarding
• A clean bathroom without a long line

Whatever it is, you can build a lounge access strategy that fits your version of comfort and convenience.

Need help figuring out your setup? Drop a comment and I’ll happily offer some personalized tips.

Safe travels ✈️ May your lounge always have open seating, solid Wi-Fi, and strong coffee ☕