TLDR
-
Airport lounges offer comfy seating, refreshments and reliable WiFi while you’re waiting for your flight.
-
Some travel credit cards offer lounge access as a reward, including membership, an allotment of passes and the option to purchase more passes at a discount.
-
Before you apply for a travel credit card, review the details of card travel rewards programs to find a card that offers the lounge access you want.
There are plenty of perks to travel—new experiences, locales, people and sights—but waiting around at the airport generally isn’t one of them.
Your time waiting for a flight doesn’t have to be unpleasant: If your credit card offers airport lounge passes, they can give your trip a serious upgrade. Here, we’ll share how lounge passes work with credit cards—and how to make your next trip feel more luxurious.
What are airport lounge passes?
Airport lounges turn one of the most tedious facets of travel—waiting at the airport—into an upgraded experience.
While lounges differ, they generally offer better seating than at the gate (comfy couches rather than hard plastic seats), along with tables and chairs, so you and your companions can relax between flights. Lounges also offer reliable WiFi, and may even have workspaces to plug into work.
Most lounges also offer refreshments, from snacks to full meals—a more convenient way to grab a bite than trekking around with your suitcase looking for a restaurant.
How can you access airport lounges?
Many airlines sell lounge passes, but they’re pricey: upwards of $50. Since each person needs a pass to enter the lounge, the cost for a family or a group can quickly climb into the hundreds of dollars.
Plus, most lounges are linked to a lounge program. To use them, you need to have a membership and a pass. This means you may have to pay membership costs on top of the pass fee to access the lounge.
Here’s how credit cards can make lounge access easy
One of the most convenient ways to add lounge access to your itinerary is to have a credit card that includes it in its travel rewards. While each card comes with its own set of perks, your credit card may offer:
-
Lounge membership
-
Access to the lounge a set number of times per year, as part of your card benefits
-
The option to purchase additional passes at a discount once you’ve exceeded your allotment.
Your credit card may have additional benefits that enhance lounge access. For example, some cards allow the holder to bypass long security lines and use the fast-track lane—which means more time to relax in the lounge.
Compare Travel Credit Cards
Browse and compare a variety of different travel credit cards.
RBC luxury travel credit cards offer lounge access through DragonPass
If you have a luxury travel credit card from RBC with travel rewards, you may have flexible options to access airport lounges with DragonPass.
With DragonPass, you can:
-
Use more than 1,200 global airport lounges, including 21 lounges in Canada and Plaza Premium Lounges
-
Enjoy a lounge membership, with up to six lounge passes per year
-
Purchase additional passes for a discounted fee.
How to access your lounge benefits
While credit cards may offer access to DragonPass, you’ll still need to enroll in the program online or via the DragonPass app. We recommend enrolling as soon as you get your card so you’re equipped with lounge access from the start.
Once you’re enrolled, entering the lounge is easy: Simply present your membership card, the QR code for your pass (either printed or on your device) and your rewards credit card at the lounge.
If you have a Mastercard, DragonPass is available through Mastercard Travel Pass; with Visa, you can find it under the Visa Airport Companion Program.
How to compare credit cards with lounge access
Each credit card offers a unique combination of rewards, so it’s important to shop around to find one with the kind of benefits you want. As you evaluate your options, ask yourself these questions:
Does the card support the amount of lounge access I want?
Tip: Look into whether the credit card offers lounge access in the destinations you travel to most often. Here’s the list of lounges available through DragonPass.
Which other travel rewards does the card offer?
Lounge access is just one part of a larger suite of potential travel rewards. Look for a card that offers the mix of perks you want—whether that’s airport security fast track, dedicated airport parking or travel insurance.
Are there non-travel rewards associated with the card?
Many credit cards offer rewards far beyond travel—such as mobile device insurance, purchase protection on purchases made using the card and redeemable points.
Find the RBC travel rewards card for you
If you’re looking for a travel credit card to suit your needs and budget, RBC has plenty of options to choose from. Use our Travel Rewards Credit Card Comparison tool to explore and find the right card for you, then start your application online.
