Thought it would be a worthwhile exercise to focus specifically on airport lounges for families to access given the recent changes for many programs.

Let’s go through our options one-by-one for airport lounges for families and rank them. For this exercise, we’ll also include Priority Pass lounge access. This list will focus on access earned via credit cards and the annual fee paid for that access.

1. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

Application link: https://creditcards.aa.com/credit-cards/citi-executive-card-american-airlines-direct/ (not sponsored)

Main appeal: Access for the whole family into Admirals Club and Alaska lounges with just one credit card.

The details:

• Primary cardholder and 2 guests or immediate family get access to AA Admirals Club lounges when traveling on American (marketed or operated), oneworld (marketed and operated), or Alaska (marketed and operated) flight. The primary cardholder earns full membership access to Admirals Club lounges, which includes other lounges where AA may have reciprocity. This includes Alaska Lounges in the United States.
• The cost for the first 3 Authorized Users is $175, and $175 for each thereafter. Club access is extended for each Authorized User 18 years of age and older. Authorized Users do not have full membership access.
• Access is available on departure, connection, or arrival.
• No Priority Pass.
• Annual fee is $595.

Comments: This is as simple as it gets these days for access to airport lounges for families. Not only is the whole immediate family allowed access without any spend requirement, but Authorized Users get similar benefits. Sure, Admirals Clubs aren’t the nicest, but we’d still rather have access to them than not. Plus, American is supposed to be in the middle of refreshing these lounges, making it gradually better.

2. The New United Club^SM Card

Application link: https://creditcards.chase.com/travel-credit-cards/united/club-infinite (not sponsored)

Main appeal: Access for the whole family into United Club lounges with just one credit card.

The details:

• Primary cardholder and 1 guest or immediate family get access to United Club lounges when traveling on a United, Star Alliance, or eligible partner flight.
• Authorized Users do not get lounge access.
• Spending $50,000 in a calendar year (or just having Premier Gold status or higher) unlocks All Access Membership, allowing 2 guests or 1 guest and immediate family.
  • If the spend threshold is met and there is an Authorized User on the account, 4 one-time use United Club passes will be deposited into the primary’s account. These passes are transferable to others.
• Access is available on departure, connection, or arrival.
• No Priority Pass.
• Annual fee is $695.

Comments: We’ve already talked about the refreshed lounge access rules. But the reality is that even despite these changes, this is one of the better credit cards available for airport lounges for families. That’s because if the goal is to just get your immediate family into the lounge, there’s no spend requirement. If you’re looking to bring unrelated guests or adults 18 years and older, you’ll need to spend. And in that sense, it’s refreshing that United still welcomes families where other cards have penalized families.

3. The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card from J.P. Morgan

Application link: not directly available to new cardholders, but you can product change to this card from another Marriott credit card.

Main appeal: Access to Priority Pass (including unlimited use of Chase Sapphire Lounges) for 3 people.

The details:

• Primary cardholder plus 2 guests get access to Sapphire Lounges. Additional guests are $27 each.
• Authorized Users get similar access as primary cardholders. There is no fee for Authorized Users. Some report the fee is now $75 but we’ve never been charged a fee.
• Access is available only on departure or connection, not on arrival.
• Priority Pass version:
  • Unlimited access for primary cardholders and 2 guests
  • Unlimited access for Authorized Users and their 2 guests
• Annual fee is $450.

Comments: Surprised to see this card so high up the list? It’s sneaky good for families. While the card itself doesn’t actually confer airport lounge access directly, it does hand out Priority Pass cards like candy. And it’s awesome that it allows unlimited access to Sapphire Lounges just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The only “catch” is that you can’t apply for the card directly. You need to apply for a different Chase Marriott card and then upgrade it after a year. It’s worth the effort.

You might wonder why we rate this card higher than the Chase Sapphire Reserve. If all you care about is lounge access against the annual fee, this card is almost half the price of the Reserve and only gives up Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access. We consider that a win.

4. Chase Sapphire Reserve^® Credit Card

Application link: https://creditcards.chase.com/rewards-credit-cards/sapphire/reserve (not sponsored)

Main appeal: Access to Priority Pass (including unlimited use of Chase Sapphire Lounges) for 3 persons, and Air Canada lounges for 2 persons.

The details:

• Primary cardholder plus 2 guests get access to Sapphire Lounges. Additional guests are $27 each.
• Primary cardholder plus 1 guest get access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges (except in YUL) when traveling on a Star Alliance carrier. Additional guests are $59 US each.
• Authorized Users get similar access as primary cardholders. Each Authorized User costs $195.
• Access is available only on departure or connection, not on arrival.
• Priority pass version:
  • Unlimited access for primary cardholders and 2 guests
  • Unlimited access for Authorized Users and their 2 guests
• Annual fee is $795.

Comments: The Sapphire Lounge access is actually provided via Priority Pass. But the good news is that you’ll get unlimited access to Sapphire Lounges, unlike most other credit cards with a Priority Pass. The Air Canada lounge access is a nice add-on, especially if you end up traveling to Canada a lot or you pass through US airports that have one (EWR, JFK, LAX, SFO). At $195 per year, adding an Authorized User strictly for lounge access is a bit of a stretch.

5. The Platinum Card^® by American Express

Application link: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/platinum/ (not sponsored)

Main appeal: Access to Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and Priority Pass for 3; Centurion Lounges for 1 (can unlock access for 2 more for $75,000 spend); and Delta Sky Clubs for 1 up to 10 visits per year.

The details:

• Primary cardholder gets access to Centurion Lounges. Guests cost $50/adult or $30/child.
• Primary cardholder gets access to Delta Sky Clubs, up to 10 “visits” per year, when traveling on Delta-operated flight or a Delta-marketed, WestJet-operated flight. Each “visit” is defined as a 24-hour period. The primary cardholder cannot be traveling in Basic Economy. Lounge guests cost $50 each.
• Primary cardholder and two guests get access to Escape Lounges.
• Ending October 1, 2026: Primary cardholder gets access to Lufthansa lounges as follows:
  • Select Lufthansa Business Lounges when flying any class of service on Lufthansa, SWISS, or Austrian.
  • Select Lufthansa Senator Lounges when flying business class on Lufthansa, SWISS, or Austrian.
• Primary cardholder and two guests get access to Plaza Premium Lounges.
• Authorized Users with lounge access cost $195 each.
• Spending $75,000 in a calendar year unlocks the following for the primary and eligible Authorized Users:
  • Two guests when visiting Centurion Lounges
  • Unlimited visits for the primary cardholder to Delta Sky Clubs
• Access is available only on departure or connection, not on arrival for most all lounges above except Delta Sky Clubs. Access is available on departure, connection, or arrival for Delta Sky Clubs.
• Priority Pass version:
  • Unlimited access for primary cardholder and 2 guests
  • Unlimited access for Authorized Users with lounge access and their 2 guests
• Annual fee is $895.

Comments: Some might be surprised to see the Amex Platinum card so low on the list. But this list is emphasizing access to airport lounges for families. The Platinum gives great lounge access, but their focus has primarily been on individual travel for the primary cardholder. Thus, it’s only a middling card for families. Not to mention that each lounge network has its own set of rules, and it can get confusing on what you’re eligible for.

Between the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the American Express Platinum, we give the nod slightly to the Reserve for its lower annual fee. But it’s close. We don’t think spending $75,000 for lounge access is worth the effort as there are far more rewarding cards out there.

6. Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card

Application links:
Personal version: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/delta-skymiles-reserve-american-express-card/ (not sponsored)
Business version: https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/delta-skymiles-reserve?ref=CHRISWc1tN&xl=cp10lg (refer-a-friend link)

Main appeal: Access to Delta Sky Clubs for 1 for 15 visits per year (can unlock unlimited visits for 1 for $75,000 spend), 4 guest passes per year

The details:

• Primary cardholder gets access to Delta Sky Clubs, up to 15 “visits” per year when traveling on Delta-operated flight or a Delta-marketed, WestJet-operated flight. Each “visit” is defined as a 24-hour period. The primary cardholder cannot be traveling in Basic Economy. Lounge guests cost $50 each.
• Primary cardholder gets access to Centurion Lounges when traveling on a Delta flight (marketed or operated). Guests cost $50/adult or $30/child.
• Primary cardholders get 4 guest passes per year.
• Authorized Users with lounge access cost $175 each.
• Access is available on departure, connection, or arrival for Delta Sky Clubs. Access is available only on departure or connection, not arrival for Centurion Lounges.
• Spending $75,000 in a calendar year unlocks unlimited lounge visits for the primary cardholder.
• No Priority Pass.
• Annual fee is $650.

Comments: Generally speaking, Delta Sky Clubs are nicer than what American or United offer. But the downside is that Delta tends to favor the individual traveler with their cards instead of families. And that pushes this card down the list. Only allowing 4 free visits for guests in a year–with no ability to spend your way to include them–is rather stingy compared to other cards on this list.

7. Venture X by Capital One

Application link: https://i.capitalone.com/JFuS8boHH (refer-a-friend link)

Main appeal: Access to Capital One Lounges for 1 (can unlock 2 more for $75,000 spend) and Priority Pass for 1.

The details:

• Primary cardholder gets access to Capital One Lounges. Guests cost $45/adult or $25/child.
• Authorized Users with lounge access cost $125 each. Up to 4 Authorized Users are allowed per account.
• Spending $75,000 in a calendar year unlocks access for 2 guests to Capital One Lounges.
• Access is available on departure or connection, not on arrival.
• Priority Pass version:
  • Unlimited access for primary and Authorized Users with lounge access
  • No free access for guests; guests cost $35 each
• Annual fee is $395.

Comments: While Capital One Lounges are awesome, the 2026 changes to access were particularly brutal for families. Gone are the free guests and free Authorized Users that get lounge access. Now you have to spend your way to access. Points aficionados might argue it’s far more efficient to spend $75,000 on the Venture X than the Amex Platinum–and we agree–but committing to $75,000 spend one on card is going to be tough for most families. This card would be much higher on the list if we weren’t emphasizing family travel.

8. The JetBlue Premier Card

Application link: https://cards.barclaycardus.com/banking/cards/jetblue-premier-card/ (not sponsored)

Main appeal: Access to Bluehouse lounges for 2, Priority Pass for 2 includes restaurants.

The details:

• Primary cardholders and 1 guest get access to JetBlue Bluehouse lounges. Additional guests cost $39 each.
• Authorized users and 1 guest each get access to JetBlue Bluehouse lounges. Additional guests cost $39 each.
• Priority Pass version:
  • Unlimited access for primary cardholder and 1 guest
  • Unlimited access for Authorized Users and 1 guest
  • Includes restaurants!
• Authorized users cost $150.
• Annual fee is $499.

Comments: The best feature of this card isn’t the access to Bluehouse lounges, oddly enough. That’s because they’re still building out a lounge network (only 2 lounges expected to be open by the end of 2026). No, what appeals on this card is the Priority Pass that includes restaurants. There’s a debate as to whether a restaurant should count as a lounge for the purposes of this list. I’m tempted to say no, but imagine paying $499 upfront just to get a $28 credit ($56 with a guest) for each airport restaurant you visit. That’s a hefty fee to pay.

9. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

Application link: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/marriott-bonvoy-brilliant/ (not sponsored)

Main appeal: Access to Priority Pass for 3 persons.

The details:

• Priority Pass version:
  • Unlimited access for primary cardholder and 2 guests
• Authorized Users are not eligible to get a Priority Pass.
• Annual fee is $650.

Comments: The Bonvoy Brilliant card is materially worse than its Ritz-Carlton counterpart. Not only do you not get unlimited access to Sapphire Lounges, but Authorized Users are not eligible to get a card. Thus for a family of four, it won’t be possible to get everyone in an airport lounge with just one card. Plus the annual fee is painful if lounge access is all you care about. And that’s really the reason it’s so low on the list.

10. Alaska Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite^® Credit Card

Application link: https://secure.bankofamerica.com/apply-credit-cards/public/icai-single/#/info/ (not sponsored)

Main appeal: Two passes for Alaska Lounges per quarter (can be gifted).

The details:

• Primary cardholder gets 2 Alaska Lounge passes per quarter (8 per year).
• Annual fee is $395.

Comments: Only getting 2 passes per quarter is pretty unappealing if you’re specifically looking for lounge access for families. That means a family of four would need both parents to be a primary cardholder and then you would only get in their lounges once per quarter. If Alaska Lounges is what you’re after, you’re far better off getting the AA Executive at the top of this list.

11. The New United^SM Explorer Card

Application link: https://creditcards.chase.com/travel-credit-cards/united/united-explorer (not sponsored)

Main appeal: Two passes for United Club lounges (can be gifted).

The details:

• Primary cardholder gets 2 United Club passes.
• Passes are valid on departure, connection, or arrival.
• No Priority Pass.
• Annual fee is $150 (potentially no fee the first year depending on offer).

Comments: This is pretty much the bottom of the barrel in terms of lounge access. Most will not necessarily think of this credit card as one that confers lounge access. But if you are an occasional United flyer and a card that will assist with covering bags, then maybe this one can make sense. The only way to make this one work as airport lounges for families is for each parent to be a primary cardholder.

What cards do you use for airport lounges for families?

Suggested reading:

• Keep or Cancel: How to Handle Too Many Credit Cards
• Pro Tip: Keeping Your Credit Cards Open With Five Simple Tasks
• Quick Hit: Earning Amex Resy Credits