Best Cards for Lounge Access: Guide for Australian Residents 2026

This costs €60 for the Schengen Lounge 50 or €75 for Intercontinental Lounge 52. The Business Class lounges in Abu Dhabi are charged at AED490 (about $130) for up to 4 hours. This costs $150 (Skywards members) or $175 (non-members) for access to Business Class lounge or Emirates Lounge at Dubai. The cost to access independent lounges is normally $30-$80 with standard access normally set at 3 hours. Access is granted to holders of various Capital One Venture cards or buy an access pass which costs $45-$90. Membership Lounge visits Cost (USD) Cost (GBP) Cost (EUR) CLASSIC 1 included $99 £68 €96 PREFERENTIAL 8 included $259 £168 €249 Membership Lounge visits Cost (USD) Cost (GBP) Cost (EUR) STANDARD Pay-as-you-go $99 £69 €89 STANDARD PLUS 10 included $329 £229 €289 PRESTIGE Unlimited $469 £419 €459
It’s rare to find credit cards that offer lounge access and no annual fee. Analysis by Money.com.au found that credit cards with lounge access have an average annual fee of $426, while the average fee on all credit cards is around $149 (in fact, many have no card fee). Depending on the credit card, this might include passes to specific lounges, unlimited access to a particular lounge network, or entry to premium airline lounges. A credit card with lounge access is a card that gives you entry to airport lounges as part of its perks.
Compare credit cards in Australia that offer complimentary lounge access to cardholders. New customers approved by 31 July 2026 also receive $260 bonus Latitude Rewards points when you spend $2.2k+ each month on eligible purchases in the first 3 months. Pay $0 annual fee in your first year when you apply and are approved by 31 July 2026, and meet the minimum spend within 90 days (T&Cs apply). Lounge access guide written by Sean Callery and fact checked by Jared Mullane. Benefit and rules subject to change without notice. Guest access and fees subject to terms and conditions of participating airport clubs.​ For the most current Delta Sky Club access and pricing policy, please visit delta.com/skyclubaccess.
With the cost to access a lounge increasing, it can be a good deal even if the card has an annual fee – but you’re going to want to weigh the overall costs. Priority Pass → A network of airport lounges providing access to members and some premium-cardholders, often requiring enrollment. Verify guest allowances and fees on your pass or card to avoid unexpected charges at check-in.
In addition to credit cards, travel money cards like the Cash Passport Platinum can also provide access to airport lounges. While many credit cards offer airport lounge access, you don’t necessarily need one to enjoy the perk. While the American Express Platinum Card and the Citi Prestige Card offer unlimited airport lounge access globally, they are expensive. Get into 1,400+ airport lounges globally for up to 30% less with Wise. Cards, like the American Express Platinum Card and the Citi Prestige Card, offer some amazing travel perks, including family travel insurance and free access to airport lounges.
These offer stylish lounge facilities and include the No1 Lounges, Club Aspire, Clubrooms and MyLounge brands. Plaza Premium Group operates the world’s largest network of international airport lounges – over 250 lounge locations at 80+ international airports in 30 countries. The following includes the principal operators with independent lounge networks. You must have a valid VA boarding pass and entry is valid from 2 hours before departure. Virgin Australia – It is possible for flyers to purchase a single entry lounge pass for A$65 (or A$45 for children 2-17) at the lounge reception – credit card payments only. The cost is QAR350 ($96) online or QAR450 ($124) at the door. KLM – KLM Economy passengers flying from Amsterdam can elect to pay to enter the KLM Crown Lounges.
Most of these are third-party and contract lounges, rather than airline-specific lounges – although some airline lounges are also included. Product information, such as interest rates, fees and charges, is subject to change without notice. While we make every effort to ensure all credit cards available in Australia are shown in our comparison tables, we cannot guarantee that all products are included.
If you travel regularly, a credit card with travel insurance included could represent better value. But the same card could end up costing you multiples of that if it has a high annual fee and interest rate, and comes with hefty international transaction fees and a low number of interest-free days. If you fly several times a year, the value of lounge visits can quickly outweigh the extra cost, but if you rarely travel, you may be paying for a perk you won’t use. It’s described as ‘complimentary’ (as opposed to ‘free’) by credit card providers because the cost is bundled into your card’s annual fee. Terms and conditions are subject to change without prior notice.
Chase Sapphire is opening a network of premium airport luxury casino lounges for high rollers in collaboration with Airport Dimension’s The Club. The lounges have opened to rave reviews and include the likes of a la carte menu, barista coffee, workout rooms, grab & go food options, relaxation pods and shower suites. Otherwise adult guests are charged at $50, children 2-17 at $30. International locations include Buenos Aires, Delhi, London Heathrow T3, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Mexico City, Monterrey, Mumbai, Sao Paulo, Stockholm and Sydney. There are quite a number of high-end credit cards and bank accounts around the world which offer various forms of airport lounge access as a perk.