Not only does the airline have a vast route network with significant hubs in large U.S. cities, but there are many different ways to earn Delta miles that you can redeem for SkyTeam flights. Sometimes, Delta even runs award sales that allow you to snag cheap flights, starting at 5,000 SkyMiles round-trip.

Delta miles are fairly easy to accrue — and they never expire — so we’ll show you ways to add to your SkyMiles balance, including flying on Delta and its partners, spending on travel rewards credit cards and transferring miles from other programs.

Earn Delta SkyMiles by flying

Earning Delta SkyMiles by flying may seem self-explanatory, but the number of miles earned depends on several factors. You’ll earn miles differently on Delta and partner flights — here’s everything you need to know.

Earn miles when flying with Delta

When flying on Delta-marketed and -operated flights, you earn miles based on your ticket’s base price (which doesn’t include government-imposed taxes). Flyers without elite status earn 5 miles per dollar on airfare, not including taxes and fees.

This means a one-way Delta ticket from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) with a base fare of $1,100 (before taxes) would earn 5,500 SkyMiles, assuming the flyer has no Delta elite status.

While this revenue-based scheme is used for earning purposes, remember that Delta Medallion status is still partially earned based on distance flown, not just dollars spent. Any flight eligible for Medallion Qualification Miles will earn a minimum of 500 MQMs.

For example, if you’re flying from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) in economy class, you’ll earn 500 MQMs, even though the flight only covers 488 miles.

Elite status bonuses

Additionally, those with Delta Medallion elite status will earn at a higher rate than those without it — the higher your status, the more miles you’ll earn.

Here’s how many miles Medallion members earn for every dollar spent:

• Silver Medallion: 7 miles
• Gold Medallion: 8 miles
• Platinum Medallion: 9 miles
• Diamond Medallion: 11 miles

This means a Diamond Medallion would earn 12,100 miles on the same $1,100 ticket we discussed earlier.

Related: 5 things you need to know about Delta SkyMiles

Earn Delta SkyMiles when flying with airline partners

Things get confusing when earning miles with Delta’s partner airlines. These flights sometimes earn miles differently from those operated by Delta, depending on how the ticket is booked.

The simplest example applies to flights booked on Delta ticket stock, which generally happens when you book on delta.com. Even though the flight is operated by another airline, it’s marketed by Delta. So you’ll earn miles the same as with a standard Delta flight.

But what happens if you book a partner flight on a partner airline’s website and add your Delta SkyMiles number? In this case, you’ll earn miles based on the distance flown. However, the exact number of SkyMiles you’ll earn varies based on the partner, fare class and elite status.

Once you’ve found your booking class, head over to Delta’s list of partner airlines, find your partner and locate your fare class. Multiply the number in the “Total Miles Earned” column by the distance of your flight(s); the easiest way to figure out this final number is to use Great Circle Mapper.

For example, a one-way flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Mexico City International Airport (MEX) clocks in at 2,090 miles flown. An H-fare economy ticket earns 100% of that mileage, so you’d earn 2,090 SkyMiles for this ticket.

Related: Delta’s loyalty changes are even worse than originally announced

Earn Delta SkyMiles with credit card

One of the easiest ways to earn lots of Delta SkyMiles is through cobranded credit cards — including welcome bonuses and earning on everyday spending. Currently, American Express issues four personal Delta cards and three business cards.

Each one has a different suite of perks and benefits. Some are geared toward the frequent Delta flyer, and others are more suited for everyday consumers who want the occasional free Delta flight.

Here’s a look at the full suite of Delta SkyMiles credit cards from American Express (terms apply):

Personal Delta cards

• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
  

Business Delta cards

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership.
  
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership.
  

If you’re a casual Delta flyer, we recommend the Delta SkyMiles Gold card. It earns SkyMiles on all purchases and has a 40,000-mile welcome bonus worth $480 at our valuation.

If you’re considering applying for one of these cards, keep Amex’s once-per-lifetime rule in mind. This rule limits you to one card welcome bonus per lifetime. If you’ve received a welcome bonus for the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card before, you won’t be eligible to receive it again if you reapply for the card. That’s why holding out for a high welcome bonus is so important — you’ll only receive it once.

Related: Choosing the best credit card for Delta flyers

Earn Delta SkyMiles by buying gift cards

As a limited-time offer, Delta is running the following holiday promotion: Buy $400 or more in Delta gift cards and earn miles (terms apply).

• SkyMiles general members earn 3 miles per dollar
• Silver Medallions earn 4 miles per dollar
• Gold Medallions earn 5 miles per dollar
• Platinum Medallions earn 6 miles per dollar
• Diamond Medallions earn 7 miles per dollar

This promotion is only running from Nov. 20 – 29, and no enrollment is required. Whether you want to gift the special someone in your life with a Delta gift card or purchase the gift card for yourself and use it to book your own flight, you can earn extra miles.

Transfer points and miles to Delta SkyMiles

If you need SkyMiles quickly or don’t want to add another credit card to your wallet, you may be able to transfer points or miles from another reward program. Delta partners with American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, making it easy to top off your balance when needed.

Transfer Membership Rewards points to SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles has one credit card transfer partner: American Express Membership Rewards.

You can transfer Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio. However, you will pay a fee of $0.0006 per mile (up to a maximum of $99) to offset the federal excise tax, so the transaction will carry an additional cost.

Often, putting purchases on a card that earns Membership Rewards points will yield more SkyMiles per dollar spent than using one of Delta’s cobranded American Express cards. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express earns 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with any airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year).

Here are some popular options for earning Amex points that can then be transferred directly to your SkyMiles account:

• The Platinum Card from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. However, some readers have been targeted for an even higher welcome offer using the CardMatch tool (offer subject to change at any time). Terms apply.
• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases with your new card within the first six months of account opening. However, some readers have been targeted for an even higher welcome offer using the CardMatch tool (offer subject to change at any time). Terms apply.
• American Express® Green Card: Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership. Terms apply.

The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: The best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points

Transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to SkyMiles

You can also transfer hotel points from various programs to your Delta SkyMiles account. In my experience, the only potentially appealing transfer is from Marriott Bonvoy. These points transfer to Delta at a 3:1 ratio, but you’ll get a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.

That said, we generally recommend using Marriott points to book hotel stays, as you’ll typically get better value.

Chase and American Express issue several Marriott cobranded credit cards if you’re short on Marriott points.

Related: The award travelers guide to Marriott Bonvoy

Transfer Delta SkyMiles between accounts

While you can transfer SkyMiles between accounts, we don’t recommend it. Delta charges $0.01 per mile transferred plus a $30 transaction fee. This isn’t a great deal, as you’d lose most of the value of your miles after paying the applicable fees, and you can only transfer a maximum of 30,000 miles per transaction.

If you decide to go this route, both accounts must have been open for at least 10 days and earned at least 1 mile. Miles earned through the Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal do not fulfill this requirement. You can receive a maximum of 300,000 SkyMiles per year and transfer out up to 150,000 SkyMiles per year.

Related: Your ultimate guide to family points pooling

Earn Delta SkyMiles by shopping and dining

You can also earn Delta SkyMiles through several everyday Delta partners. These methods make it easier than ever to earn miles based on things you already do, like eating out and shopping online.

Earn with the SkyMiles Shopping portal

Like most airlines, Delta has its online shopping portal: SkyMiles Shopping. This site lets you earn extra SkyMiles when you shop online, in addition to rewards earned with your credit card. To use the portal, sign up for a SkyMiles Shopping account, find your merchant on the site and click through the link. Each merchant offers a different number of SkyMiles per dollar spent, and these rates fluctuate — especially around the holidays.

Check the portal frequently for spending and merchant bonuses. In the past, we’ve seen promotions from merchants like Nike, Under Armour, AT&T and others. If you’re going to make a purchase anyway, shopping through Delta’s portal can mean serious bonus miles.

Related: Your guide to maximizing shopping portals for your online purchases

Earn while you eat with SkyMiles Dining

The Delta SkyMiles Dining program is a way to earn extra miles when dining out. Sign up for an account, link a credit card and dine at a participating restaurant, cafe or bar. When you swipe your registered card at these establishments, you’ll earn extra SkyMiles. This is in addition to the miles you already earn with your credit card. Make sure to link a card that earns bonus points at restaurants to watch the rewards add up.

The number of miles you earn through SkyMiles Dining depends on your status in the program, which is entirely separate from your Medallion status. There are three tiers: member, select member and VIP. You’ll become a select member by signing up for email alerts, and you can get VIP status after making 11 transactions within 12 months.

If you don’t give the program a valid email address and sign up for email alerts, you’re a standard member and will only earn 1 mile for every $2 spent. Select members will earn 3 miles per dollar spent, while VIP members will take home 5 miles per dollar.

Related: The best hotel rewards programs in the world

Earn Delta SkyMiles for your business

SkyMiles for Business is open to all companies, regardless of size and annual revenue. However, earning miles is still restricted to companies with at least five unique employee travelers and that spend at least $5,000 in eligible flight revenue every calendar year. Here’s a closer look at the SkyMiles for Business tiers:

• Member: Open to any business, with no minimum traveler or spending requirements
• Plus: Accounts with at least five employee travelers and $5,000 in annual travel spending
• Elite: Accounts with at least five employee travelers and $300,000 in annual travel spending

Related: Airline loyalty programs for small businesses

Earn Delta SkyMiles with travel partners

You can also earn bonus miles when you book other types of travel, like rental cars, Lyft rides and hotel stays. Here’s a quick look at all your travel earning options.

Book a ride with Lyft

You can earn Delta miles when you link your Delta and Lyft accounts. When you take a ride through the platform, you’ll earn 1 mile per dollar spent on everyday rides and 2 miles per dollar spent on airport rides. Business travelers can rack up huge amounts of points with this promotion.

Best of all, once you’re linked, you don’t need to click through a link to earn SkyMiles on Lyft rides. They’ll be automatically credited to your account.

Just note that Lyft also partners with other programs — including Alaska Airlines MileagePlan and Bilt Rewards. Since you can only have one program set as your active loyalty rewards partner in your Lyft account, you’ll want to select the one that makes the most sense for your needs.

Related: Triple stack these offers to maximize your next Lyft ride

Earn with Delta Vacations

Delta Vacations recently made several customer-friendly changes to its program. Here’s what you can earn on travel packages with Delta Vacations:

• 1,000 SkyMiles per person on bookings of up to $4,999
• 5,000 SkyMiles per person on bookings of $5,000 to $9,999
• 10,000 SkyMiles per person on bookings of $10,000 or more

You’ll also now earn additional miles from the flight portion of your vacation packages.

Earn SkyMiles on cruises

Through Delta Cruises, you can earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on your next sailing. However, the platform does offer limited-time bonuses during certain times of the year, allowing to to take home even more miles.

To earn SkyMiles on your next cruise, book on cruises.delta.com or call 800-820-3244 with your SkyMiles number.

Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles

Earn SkyMiles on Airbnb stays

Similar to Delta’s partnership with Lyft, you can earn SkyMiles on eligible Airbnb stays. Just head over to Airbnb’s Delta website, enter your SkyMiles number and click through the link before you make a booking. You’ll earn 1 mile per dollar on Airbnb purchases with no limit, so more expensive trips can rack up a nice haul of SkyMiles.

Related: 15 tips that will help you score the perfect Airbnb every time

Earn SkyMiles when you book hotels

In addition to Airbnb, you can earn SkyMiles with Delta’s hotel booking portal. The portal awards 2 miles per dollar spent on hotels, with frequent bonus promotions. The prices on this portal should match booking directly, but it’s in your best interest to double-check.

One word of caution: You won’t earn hotel points or get to use elite status benefits when booking through this portal. Unfortunately, these are generally reserved for those booking directly with the hotel company. Research and see if earning Delta miles or hotel points is best for your hotel stay.

Read more: 9 things to consider when choosing to book via a portal vs. booking directly

You can also earn SkyMiles when you book directly with Delta’s hotel partners. The number of miles you’ll earn depends on the hotel group you book with — here’s a look at how many miles you can earn:

Earn SkyMiles when you rent a car with one of these partners

You can also earn SkyMiles when you rent a car with one of Delta’s partners. Similar to hotels, you won’t earn rental car points when you elect to earn SkyMiles. Here’s a look at how many SkyMiles you can earn:

Delta elite members are eligible for a free status match with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. Gold Medallion members receive a match to Hertz Five Star status, while Platinum and Diamond Medallions are eligible for President’s Circle status. You can enroll in this status match on Delta’s website.

You can also read about Delta’s partnership with Turo.

Related: How to never pay full price for a rental car

Buy Delta SkyMiles

If you need SkyMiles in a pinch, you can buy them directly from Delta. The airline charges a whopping $0.035 per mile, more than TPG’s valuation of 1.2 cents per mile. You must buy miles in increments of 2,000, and you can purchase a maximum of 60,000 SkyMiles per account per year.

Delta frequently discounts SkyMiles by offering bonus miles or a bonus on the number of miles purchased. Buying SkyMiles is only worth doing if you have an immediate use for them. Otherwise, purchasing miles speculatively is usually a bad idea, as they can be devalued anytime.

Related: Book a pricey suite or flight for a fraction of the cost: Current points promotions to save you money

Bottom line

There are plenty of ways to earn Delta SkyMiles, whether through flights, credit cards, transferring points or using one of Delta’s many other partners.

Even better? SkyMiles is one of the few loyalty currencies that never expire. And with the myriad earning opportunities outlined above, you’ll hopefully have no shortage of SkyMiles the next time you plan a trip.

For details on the redemption process, check out our guide on redeeming miles with the Delta SkyMiles program.

Accessing an airport lounge can make traveling much more enjoyable by providing a quiet space to work, free Wi-Fi, complimentary food and drinks and sometimes even top-tier amenities like showers, kids’ areas and quiet rooms.

While you typically have to pay for access to airport lounges, several of the best travel rewards credit cards include airport lounge access among their many benefits.

Some airline credit cards, such as the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) and the United Club℠ Infinite Card, only get you into their own carriers’ lounges.

Others, however, including The Platinum Card® from American Express, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, allow cardholders to register for Priority Pass Select memberships and enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide that participate in Priority Pass (enrollment is required). Unfortunately, those with Priority Pass Select membership through an Amex or personal Capital One card do not enjoy benefits, such as statement credits toward food and drink purchases, at restaurant locations that participate in Priority Pass.

With all that in mind, here are the best credit cards for Priority Pass lounge access at airports across the globe and how you can use them to make your upcoming travels even better.

What is Priority Pass?

Priority Pass is a network of over 1,400 lounges, Minute Suites, Be Relax Spas and even some restaurants. You can find them at over 600 airports in more than 150 countries. Many of Priority Pass’s participating locations are outside the U.S., though you can find outposts in major airports like Atlanta (ATL), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), New York-JFK and San Francisco (SFO), among many others.

Some lounges, specifically, that are part of Priority Pass are actually airline-specific lounges belonging to carriers like Air France-KLM, British Airways, Lufthansa or Turkish Airlines, while others are not associated with a specific carrier. If in doubt, check the airports where you’ll be flying ahead of time on the Priority Pass site to see which options might be available to you and what amenities they have.

Which are the best credit cards for Priority Pass lounge access?

The following cards offer Priority Pass lounge access, though the number of visits included and guest policies can vary widely:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture X Business
• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Citi Prestige® Card
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card

The information for  Citi Prestige, U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature, U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa, and Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Related: The best Priority Pass lounges in the world

Comparing benefits of credit cards with Priority Pass access

Here are the details on each card, along with current welcome bonuses, annual fees and other notable perks:

Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access

Credit cards with Priority Pass memberships

Now that we’ve gone over the Priority Pass-specific perks of each card, here are some of the other compelling benefits each offers.

Capital One Venture X

Capital One’s premium travel credit card packs a punch. First, it offers $300 in annual credits toward bookings made through Capital One Travel. Then, you also get 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary (worth even more toward free travel). Both of these perks help offset the card’s $395 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Add in extensive airport lounge access (including Capital One’s own lounges and Priority Pass Select), plus excellent travel protections and rental car insurance, and we’re talking about one of the best premium cards out there. It is worth noting, however, that Priority Pass membership from Venture X does not include Priority Pass restaurants and spa services.

On a more positive note, cardholders get unlimited Priority Pass lounge guest access (subject to capacity constraints).

Related: Capital One Venture X Card review.

Capital One Venture X Business

The Venture X Business card offers many of the same benefits as the Venture X card, including $300 in annual credits for bookings made with Capital One Travel, 10,000-anniversary bonus miles and access to Capital One lounges. You’ll also receive unlimited visits to Priority Pass lounges — plus a benefit the Venture X card doesn’t offer: access to Priority Pass restaurants.

Related: Capital One Venture X Business review.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the most popular premium travel rewards credit cards, thanks to its impressive list of benefits. Notably, cardholders receive up to $300 in annual statement credits for a wide range of travel purchases.

The card earns 3 points per dollar on travel and dining and also earns bonuses in the following categories:

• 10 points per dollar on Chase Dining booked through Ultimate Rewards
• 10 points per dollar on hotel and car rental purchases made through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards travel portal
• 10 points per dollar on qualifying Lyft rides (through March 2025)
• 10 points per dollar on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through March 2025, up to 50,000 points)
• 5 points per dollar on airline travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal

Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to 11 airlines and three hotel partners. Points may also be redeemed at a rate of 1.5 cents apiece through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.

The card reimburses members up to $100 once every four years for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application and waives foreign transaction fees.

Official application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve with 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. 

The Platinum Card from American Express

In addition to Priority Pass lounges, cardholders have access to Amex’s own Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Escape, Airspace, Plaza Premium and certain Lufthansa lounges. However, Amex Priority Pass memberships cannot be used for non-lounge Priority Pass experiences such as restaurants. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

The card earns 5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) and prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Cardholders can transfer Membership Rewards points to 20 airline and hotel partners.

The card also comes with a laundry list of perks, including an annual up to $200 statement credit on incidental fees charged by an airline you select each calendar year and up to $200 in annual Uber Cash toward U.S. Uber rides and U.S. Uber Eats orders, among other credits that provide more than $1,500 in potential value each year.

Cardholders qualify for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee refund of up to $100 once every four years (4½ years for PreCheck). Booking stays through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts includes plenty of value-added benefits, and cardholders can register for both Gold status with Hilton Honors and Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. Bookings made through Amex’s International Airline Program can secure deep discounts on premium economy, business- and first-class tickets on over a dozen airlines, too. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Official application link: The Platinum Card from American Express with 80,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express

The Business Platinum Amex offers a host of annual statement credits, including up to $400 for Dell technology U.S. purchases, an up-to-$120 annual wireless telephone credit and much more. Enrollment required for select benefits.

Cardholders earn 1.5 points per dollar on up to $2 million in eligible purchases in the U.S. per calendar year with:

• Electronic goods retailers
• Software
• Cloud service providers
• Construction materials and hardware supplies
• Shipping providers
• Other purchases of $5,000 or more

They also receive a 35% rebate when redeeming points through Amex Pay with Points for airfare on their designated airline (enrollment is required) or specifically for business- or first-class tickets on select qualifying airlines booked on Amex Travel, up to 1 million points back per calendar year.

The Business Platinum Card offers the same lounge benefits as the Amex Platinum Card above, including the same limitation on not visiting Priority Pass restaurants.

Official application link: The Business Platinum Card from American Express with 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership.

Citi Prestige

Unfortunately, the Citi Prestige is no longer available to new applicants. However, it earns a phenomenal 5 points per dollar at restaurants and on air travel, 3 points per dollar at hotels and cruise lines, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Cardholders are eligible for up to $250 worth of annual statement credits each calendar year toward travel purchases.

Citi ThankYou Rewards points can be transferred to over a dozen airline and three hotel partner programs and are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed directly for travel through the Citi portal. Cardholders can book a fourth night free on up to two hotel stays per year when reserving through the Citi concierge. They’re also eligible for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement once every five years.

Related: Citi Prestige card review

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

This card accrues 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 points per dollar at worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Cardholders get up to $300 in statement credits each year of card membership for purchases at restaurants worldwide. They also receive automatic Marriott Platinum Elite status plus 25 elite night credits per year toward reaching a higher tier. Each cardmember anniversary after renewal gets a free night award worth up to 85,000 points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program (certain hotels have resort fees). Special cardmember rates on stays of two nights or more at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties are eligible for up to $100 in credit for qualifying charges.

Finally, this card offers a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application reimbursement worth up to $100 once every four years (4½ years for PreCheck).

Official application link: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express with 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points each after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card in your first six months.

U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card

This card earns 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center, 3 points per dollar on travel and mobile wallet purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Cardholders can redeem points for 1.5 cents apiece on airfare, hotels and car rentals (or lower values for other purchases). They can also count on reimbursement for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application once every four years (up to $100).

Finally, this card comes with up to $325 in statement credits per cardmember year for purchases made directly from airlines, hotels, car rental companies, taxis, limousines, passenger trains and cruise lines, as well as takeout, food delivery and dining.

Related: The best U.S. Bank credit cards

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Earn 12 Hilton Honors points per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio; 6 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, on U.S. shipping purchases, at U.S. restaurants, on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel and on car rentals booked directly from rental agencies; and 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases. That’s a lot of earning potential.

Cardholders get automatic Hilton Honors Gold status (Diamond status with $40,000 in spending per calendar year), a free night reward after spending $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year and a second free night reward after hitting $60,000 in spending on purchases in a calendar year.

Official application link: Hilton Honors American Express Business Card with 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business card within the first three months of card membership.

U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card

The Altitude Connect Visa added Priority Pass benefits in February 2023. It’s rare to see a card with a sub-$100 annual fee offering lounge perks, but note that you’ll only get four complimentary visits per year. Each visit after that costs $35.

You’ll earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked in the Altitude Rewards Center; 4 points per dollar on travel, gas stations and EV charging stations; 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining and streaming services; and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. Cardholders also get up to $30 in annual credits toward eligible streaming subscriptions.

Additional cardholder benefits include reimbursement for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee (once every four years) and cellphone protection of up to $600 for theft or damage. To activate this benefit, the phone must be on a plan you pay for each month with your card.

Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card

With Bank of America’s Premium Rewards Elite card, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining and 1.5 points per dollar on other purchases. However, you can earn up to 75% more on each purchase as a member of Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program.

Cardholders can take advantage of up to four complimentary visits to Priority Pass lounges each year, plus other benefits like up to $300 in airline incidental fee credits per year, up to $150 in annual lifestyle credits for things like streaming services and food delivery and reimbursement for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four years. You’ll also receive a 20% discount when paying for flights with points using this card.

Bottom line

Accessing an airport lounge before your flight can be a great perk. Rather than paying for each visit, you can use popular travel credit cards to unlock access ahead of your trips regularly — and in many cases, this includes guest privileges, too.

Priority Pass is a great option for frequent travelers, thanks to its vast worldwide network of airport lounges and other facilities such as restaurants. Carrying a credit card that enables you to enroll in Priority Pass Select membership for free and enjoy lounge visits can be a great way to save money and make your travel experience that much better. If that sounds like you, consider adding one of the cards above to your wallet.

Additional reporting by: Emily Thompson, Ryan Wilcox and Chris Dong.

Related credit card guides:

• Best credit cards for airport lounge access
• Best airline credit cards
• Best rewards credit cards

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Business Amex, click here.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.