Complimentary membership in Priority Pass, the largest independent airport lounge program in the world, is a core benefit to nearly every top-tier credit card. And similar to its competitors in the ultra-luxury credit card market, the two premiere Luxury Cards, Mastercard® Black Card™, Mastercard® Gold Card™, offer complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (valued at $429). However, these two credit cards have traditionally gone above and beyond others in allowing an unlimited number of guests—for free (and valued at $32 per guest)—when accessing airport lounges in the Priority Pass network.
In a time when credit cards are putting limits on Priority Pass access, it’s refreshing to see that Mastercard Black Card and Mastercard Gold Card will continue their generous unlimited guest policy. New Priority Pass cards, valid until February 28, 2021, were mailed to cardmembers in late January 2020 with a note that membership can now be accessed digitally and that the much-loved guest policy remains. The benefit of bringing so many guests complimentary comes in handy for those traveling with large families, convention groups, tour groups, or with a glam squad.
Last summer, American Express put the brakes on one of its top airport lounge benefits when they stopped cardholders from using their Priority Pass card at “lounge alternatives.” Recall these alternatives are select restaurants and bars found within airports worldwide at which members receive approximately $28-$30 per person off the bill and an “alternative” to traditional airport lounges. The year prior Chase Sapphire Reserve did away with its unlimited guest policy and changed its guest policy to: two guests for no charge and $32 for any additional guests.
On the heels of this good news from Mastercard Black Card and Mastercard Gold Card, here is a summary of the Priority Pass membership and guest policies to expect from our core cards.
Citi Prestige® Card
Primary cardholder: Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (value $429)
Authorized users: Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (value $429)
Guest policy: Entire immediate family or two guests for no charge (and $32 for any additional guests)
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Primary cardholder: Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (value $429)
Authorized users: Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (value $429)
Guest policy: Two guests for no charge (and $32 for any additional guests)
Mastercard Black Card, Mastercard Gold Card
Primary cardholder: Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (value $429)
Authorized users: Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (value $429)
Guest policy: Unlimited guests
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Primary cardholder: Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (value $429)
Authorized users: Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (value $429)
Guest policy: Two guests for no charge (and $27 for any additional guests, a discounted rate from the regular $32)
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Primary cardholder: Complimentary Priority Pass Standard membership (valued at $99) for either primary cardholder OR one authorized user
Authorized users: Complimentary Priority Pass Standard membership (valued at $99) for either primary cardholder OR one authorized user
Guest policy: First four visits and four individual accompanying guest visits are waived each Priority Pass Select membership year (not Cardmember year). Following this, it is $32 per person per visit (including visit of cardholder).
