For a few years, membership to airport lounge networks like Precedence Move has been one of many golden tickets for luxurious air journey.
Attracted by the beautiful seating, peaceable environment and the appeal of free meals and drinks, frequent flyers hoped to reach early on the airport, take pleasure in a blitz by way of safety and revel in a quiet shelter within the airport lounge earlier than flying.
However as vacationers change into an increasing number of conversant in insider perks like precedence passes, this world community of airport lounges has additionally been supplied because the benefit of signing up for well-liked journey bank cards, however has just lately misplaced a few of its brilliance.
“Precedence Move is lifeless,” shouted one indignant traveler on Reddit after posting a photograph of the airport lounge entrance signal saying, “We’re presently not accepting precedence passes because of house constraints.” A fast on-line seek for “Is a precedence cross nonetheless value it?” Reveals the moody emotions from different dissatisfied members.
These disappointments have led many bank card holders to take a position whether or not precedence passes have handed.
Is the precedence cross actually “lifeless”?
With over 2 million customers and over 1,700 places all over the world, precedence passes are in no way “lifeless.” Nonetheless, US vacationers who’ve a bank card cross preferentially profit much less from their free membership than they did up to now.
US vacationers overwhelmingly hyperlink precedence passes with bank card possession, together with half a dozen journey bank cards (together with well-liked choices comparable to Amex Platinum, Capital One Enterprise X, Chase Sapphire Reserve and Marriott Bonvoy Brillion). In distinction, few worldwide bank cards provide entry to PERK, so non-US vacationers independently buy most well-liked cross membership or day cross to take pleasure in lounge entry.
Social media additionally teaches vacationers easy methods to maximize the perks of high-priced journey bank cards and justifies excessive annual charges by selling facilities comparable to lounge entry and computerized elite standing. The beneficiant bank card welcome bonus has additional sweetened the appeal of the flashy journey playing cards, making it seem to be you’ve gotten a bank card with entry to the airport lounge.
As extra folks than ever flaunt their honorable bank cards, overcrowding and capability restrictions make airport lounges much less pleasurable. It assumes you may enter too: members are more and more reporting that they are going to be added to an extended ready record or utterly depart on the entrance because of capability points.
To deal with these points, bank card issuers regularly alter the phrases of their most well-liked cross and partnership with different advantages suppliers in a number of methods.
The US has a comparatively small community of most well-liked cross lounges in comparison with Europe and Asia. If conventional lounge entry was not out there at small airports, the popular cross created a artistic answer. We are going to provide $28 foods and drinks credit at collaborating airport eating places (not out there to friends with a most well-liked cross membership through bank card).
For a few years, the advantages of US Precedence Move Eating places have been one of the crucial dependable methods to get worth from Precedence Move membership. (Screams to Bobby Van’s Shrimp Scampi at Terminal 8 at JFK Airport in New York.)
This profit was notably interesting to households with younger kids and people who solely chew a bit. As a result of every visitor at a celebration can declare beneficiant credit score for something on the menu.
Nonetheless, bank card issuers are dropping this perk one after the other, as extra precedence cross diners try to get extra creditable airport eating places than capability, particularly throughout journey delays and peak seasons.
In the summertime of 2024, Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Holder realized that memberships will not embody entry to precedence cross eating credit at airport eating places and cafes. Membership by way of Capital One and Amex has already misplaced Capital One in 2023 and Amex in 2019.
Alternative routes to get lounge advantages
Simply 10 years in the past, the concept of paying $450 a yr for a bank card appeared ridiculous to most People. Nonetheless, as of June 2025, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is $795 a yr, a second worth enhance because it was launched in 2016 at its first $450 worth. Its high rival, the favored Amex Platinum, is predicted to boost its present annual membership price of $695 through the imminent refreshment within the fall of 2025.
The world of bank card income is continually evolving. Should you’re apprehensive about not getting sufficient worth from a premium journey bank card, listed here are three alternative routes to take pleasure in a most well-liked cross like a most well-liked cross with out paying for an annual price.
Typically the perfect annual fee-free bank card for vacationers
Should you hardly ever journey to an airport with a precedence cross lounge, yearly US Financial institution Superior Connection could be the good journey bank card for you.
Along with providing travel-friendly perks together with a Comped International Entry or TSA Precheck registration price, the US financial institution Altitude Join comes with a model of most well-liked cross membership, together with a four-day cross every year. Should you do not journey incessantly, you can also make 4 visits a yr (free, to begin) comfy to journey.
Use the Credit score Card (Development) Lounge Community
Should you’re bored with your most well-liked cross, Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Capital One Enterprise X bank cards all provide their very own airport lounge community.
Amex has the most important attain and probably the most established footprint, with dozens of places within the US and about as many because the world. Chase has nearly 12 places all over the world, largely scattered all through the US, with Capital 1 rapidly catching as much as half a dozen all through the US, with extra places ongoing.
As a normal rule, bank card issuer lounges are considerably higher than most well-liked cross lounges, particularly inside the US.
These refined areas are more and more giving conventional airline lounges a run for his or her cash. The publisher-run lounge presents loads of meals choices, together with a child-friendly playroom, customized cocktails, chef-designed menus, and premium amenities comparable to complimentary spa remedies.
Some locations, just like the small Chase Sapphire Lounge at Phoenix Worldwide Airport (PHX), inevitably cope with overcrowding throughout peak journey occasions and vacation seasons. Nonetheless, many of those lounges are new and leading edge, with most seats with charging stations and semi-private seats all through. You continue to often sit shoulder to shoulder with different vacationers, however you do not have to struggle in a single outlet.
Get artistic with Day Move
If you’re a uncommon traveler, the Primary Layer Precedence Move Normal Membership prices solely $99 a yr. Upon getting a regular membership, you should purchase a one-day cross with $35 per member or a certified visitor. Higher but, paying with a bank card that earns extra rewards on journey bills will often earn you bonus factors.
Different non-credit card memberships or subscriptions might also embody the advantages of a most well-liked cross. For instance, premium members of the Pet Sitting Hows Share service get two free single-use pre-murpass passes every year, whereas customers of the FinTech Revolut Banking app should purchase DragonPass Day Move through the app (DragonPass is a most well-liked cross competitor).
Conclusion
On the finish of the day, your bank card perks can disappear simply as rapidly as you see them. Advantages like precedence cross entry proceed to evolve, and approaches to journey perks ought to change with them. Do not depart your playing cards trustworthy only for that flashy metallic exterior or sharing historical past. As a substitute, deal with what makes probably the most sense to your funds and journey habits.