YouTrip’s complete guide to scoring free access to airport lounges all over the world. How much does it cost, what to expect, and the best ways to gain complimentary entry.
Airport lounges are somehow always marketed as an unattainable form of nirvana. Shrouded in mystery, they wear exclusivity like a scene kid in the know; the luxurious services provided a question mark to the average unsavvy traveller. Yet it doesn’t have to be that way. I had my first brush with airport lounges back in university during a trip to Spain that included a tiresome seven-hour layover in Doha. Thankfully, one of my travel companions happened to have a credit card that allowed us to access airport lounges for free.
Walking in was like entering another dimension. A dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind — ease of mind that is. Instead of screaming babies and crowded cafes, we were greeted by instrumental music, line-less 24-hour buffets, and rain showers complete with fluffy bath towels and perfumed soaps. That began my quest for more. If you, too, would like to travel in comfort, scroll down for the 4-1-1 on how to access airport lounges for free.
You Can Pay To Access Airport Lounges
Image credits: Changi Airport
First off, you can pay to access airport lounges. They are no longer just for premium passengers. For example, here are the Changi Airport rates (complimentary access for children below 2):
| 3 Hours | 5 Hours | 10 Hours | Shower Facilities | |
| Terminal 1 (Plaza Premium Lounge) | S$38 | S$58 | S$105 | S$16 |
| Terminal 2 (Ambassador Transit Lounge) | – | S$58.85 | – | – |
| Terminal 3 (Ambassador Transit Lounge) | – | S$58.85 | – | S$20 |
| Terminal 3(The Haven By Jetquay) | From S$37.70 | From S$55.30 | From S$73 | From S$18.80 |
| Terminal 4 (Blossom) | – | – | From S$58 | – |
| Jewel (Changi Lounge) | From S$15 | From S$24 | From S$44 | – |
We recommend checking out the airport where you’ll be going beforehand to ensure that there are airport lounges available there — and booking online before you arrive to ensure you snag a spot because walking in may not guarantee you entry. Otherwise, there are also membership plans such as the Priority Pass that allow you multiple visits based on an annual fee.
However, that’s obviously not why you’re here.
Best Debit & Credit Cards To Access Airport Lounges For Free
| What To Do | Minimum Income Requirement (per annum) | How Many Free Entries (per annum) | |
| American Express KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card | ✅ Get card approval ✅ Pay for renewal of card membership | S$50,000 | Four |
| American Express Platinum Charge | ✅ Apply for complimentary Priority Pass membership | S$120,000 | Unlimited + 2 guests |
| CIMB Visa Infinite | ✅ Apply for complimentary DragonPass membership | S$120,000 | Three |
| Citi PremierMiles Card | ✅ Apply for complimentary Priority Pass membership | S$30,000 | Two |
| Citi Prestige | ✅ Apply for complimentary Priority Pass membership | S$120,000 | Unlimited + 1 guest |
| DBS Altitude Visa Credit Card | ✅ Apply for complimentary Priority Pass membership | S$30,000 | Two |
| HSBC Visa Infinite Credit Card | ✅ Present card and boarding pass to the lounge operator | S$120,000 | Unlimited |
| Maybank Horizon Platinum | ✅ Spend S$1,000 in a single transaction within three months prior to your trip | S$30,000 | – |
| Maybank Visa Infinite | ✅ Apply for complimentary Priority Pass membership | S$120,000 | Unlimited |
| OCBC Voyage | ✅ Get card approval ✅ Pay for renewal of card membership | S$120,000 | Unlimited |
| Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Credit Card | ✅ Apply for complimentary Priority Pass membership | S$150,000 | Six |
| UOB Lady’s Solitaire Metal Card | ✅ Apply for complimentary LoungeKey membership | S$120,000 | Six |
| UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card | ✅ Apply for complimentary DragonPass membership | S$120,000 | Four |
| YouTrip | For delays that exceed two hours: ✅ Enter your YouTrip 16-digit pan number here to register your flight and contact details ✅ Mastercard will issue lounge passes ✅ Flash passes to the lounge operator and you’re good to go! | – | Unlimited + 1 guest |
Travel In Style With YouTrip
Now that you’re up-to-date on how to access airport lounges for free, you are all set for your next adventure. While booking your flight tickets and planning your trip, don’t forget to check out with your YouTrip card to make full use of our Wholesale Exchange Rates and skip those pesky bank fees.
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