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Flying for travel is notoriously stressful, even for the most prepared travelers. Thankfully, there are a few ways to make your next trip to the airport a little bit easier, especially if you have the right credit card.
If you want to make your upcoming flight less of a headache, these travel credit cards are worth considering, as they each include complimentary lounge access and statement credits toward expedited security programs, like Global Entry and TSA PreCheck.
Best credit cards for airport lounges
- American Express Platinum Card®
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
- United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees)
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
American Express Platinum Card
Who's this for? The American Express Platinum Card® is a great fit for anyone who wants elite status benefits with hotels and rental cars, valuable travel rewards and lucrative statement credit offers.
Lounge benefits: You can enjoy access to the following airport lounges (enrollment required):
- Priority Pass lounges (Requires enrollment for Priority Pass™ Select)
- American Express Centurion℠ lounges
- *Delta Sky Club® lounges
- Escape Lounges
- Plaza Premium Lounges
- Lufthansa lounges
Security benefits: You can receive up to $209 CLEAR+ credit in the form of statement credits (subject to auto-renewal) every year. In addition, you can receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Platinum Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
*With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from Feb. 1 until Jan. 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
Who's this for? The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a solid choice if you're seeking lounge access and regularly fly with Delta.
Lounge benefits: You'll receive access to American Express Centurion℠ lounges when you book Delta flights with your Reserve Card, as well as access to Delta Sky Club® lounges. Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you'll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
Security benefits: The card provides a statement credit of $120 every four years for Global Entry or up to $85 every four years for TSA PreCheck (through an official enrollment provider when you pay the application fee with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card).
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card's array of premium benefits make it a perfect fit for the most loyal Delta flyers, including elite status boosts, rideshare credits (enrollment required) and airport lounge access.
- Access to airport lounges, including Amex Centurion lounges
- Up to $560 in annual statement credits (Enrollment may be required)
- 15% discount for eligible Delta award flights (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.)
- High annual fee
- No bonus spending categories outside of Delta purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you'll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is another great option if you're looking to escape the airport terminal without breaking the bank.
Lounge benefits: You can enroll in a Priority Pass™ membership and enjoy unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and Capital One Landing locations.
Security benefits: The card provides a statement credit of up to $120 every four years when you use it to pay for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
- Annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus miles after every card anniversary
- Unlimited complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations
- Long list of valuable travel and shopping protections, including return protection, rental car coverage and trip delay reimbursement (Benefit(s) only available to accounts approved for the Visa Infinite card. Terms apply.)
- Limited bonus spending categories compared to other premium credit cards
- High annual fee
- High credit score requirement (excellent credit)
Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
Who's this for? The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card is a strong luxury credit card that earns transferable Citi ThankYou® Points and provides $700 in annual credits.
Lounge benefits: You can enroll to receive a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which grants you and up to two guests unlimited visits to Priority Pass airport lounges (additional guests cost $35 each). You'll also receive four Admirals Club single-visit passes per calendar year.
Security benefits: You'll receive a statement credit of up to $120 every four years for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees.
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card aims to brings premium restaurant rewards and travel benefits to users, including an annual hotel benefit of $300.
- High rewards rate on travel
- 6X on restaurants
- Can transfer points to American Airlines at a 1:1 rate
- Up to $200 annual splurge credit
- High annual fee
- Limited rewards categories
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
- Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Balance transfer fee
Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
United Club Card
Who's this for? If you fly with United Airlines, the United Club℠ Card is one of the best options for getting unlimited United Club lounge access.
Lounge benefits: This gives you and up to two guests access to United Club and affiliated Star Alliance lounges worldwide when traveling with United or an eligible partner airline.
Security benefits: The card provides a statement credit of up to $120 every four years to cover your membership with Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best travel credit cards with an array of insurance benefits to complement the valuable travel rewards it earns.
Lounge benefits: You'll have unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required) and Sapphire Lounge by the Club locations.
Security benefits: The Chase Sapphire Reserve provides a statement credit of up to $120 every four years to reimburse you for your Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $288 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Who's this for? The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard is ideal for American Airlines flyers as it comes with a full Admirals Club membership, worth up to $850 per year.
Lounge benefits: You can bring immediate family or up to two guests for free into any Admirals Club lounge. You can add up to three authorized users to the card for $175, then $175 for each additional authorized user. Each authorized user can also access Admirals Club lounges when traveling with American Airlines.
Security benefits: The card provides a statement credit of up to $120 every four years to cover your application fee with Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is one of the best ways to get access to American Airlines' network of Admirals Club® airport lounges.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $7,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
Balance transfer fee
5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
Who's this for? The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a rare no-annual-fee card that offers airport lounge access and a trusted traveler program credit.
Lounge benefits: You can enroll for a Priority Pass membership with four free visits per year. These visits include airport experiences and restaurants within the Priority Pass network.
Security benefits: You can receive up to $100 in statement credits once every four years for your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
- Intro APR for balance transfers
- Global Entry and TSA PreCheck® application fee credit
- Limited to four free lounge visits per year
- You cannot transfer points to travel programs
Compare the best credit cards for airport lounge and expedited security access
Best credit cards for airport lounge access
| Annual fee | Travel rewards | Airport lounge access | Expedited security access | |
| American Express Platinum Card® | $895* | 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel®, on up to $500,000 per calendar year; 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on American Express Travel | Priority Pass lounges; Centurion Lounges; Delta Sky Clubs; Escape Lounges; Plaza Premium Lounges; Lufthansa lounges | CLEAR+ Global Entry or TSA PreCheck |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card | $650* | 3X miles on Delta purchases | Delta Sky Clubs; Centurion Lounges; Escape Lounges | Global Entry or TSA PreCheck |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | $395 | 10X miles on hotels and rental cards booked through Capital One Travel; 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel; 2X miles on all other purchases | Capital One Lounges; Priority Pass lounges | Global Entry or TSA PreCheck |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ Card | $595 | 12X points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on cititravel.com; 6X points on air travel booked on cititravel.com; 6X points at restaurants on CitiNights℠ purchases (Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, 3X points any other time); 1.5X points on all other purchases | Priority Pass lounges, Admirals Club lougnes | Global Entry or TSA PreCheck |
| United Club℠ Card | $695 | 11X total miles on United flights; 5X miles on all other eligible United purchases; 2X miles on all other travel | United Clubs; Affiliated Star Alliance lounges | Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $795 | 8X points on Chase Travel purchases; 4X points on flights and hotels booked directly | Priority Pass lounges; Sapphire Lounges by The Club | Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS |
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® | $595 | 10X AAdvantage miles on eligible hotels and car rentals; 4X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases | Admirals Club lounges | Global Entry or TSA PreCheck |
| U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card | $0 | 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Center; 4X points on travel | Priority Pass lounges (four free visits per year) | Global Entry or TSA PreCheck |
*For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
*For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
What are the expedited airport security programs?
Before you can visit the lounge, you'll need to get through a potentially long security line. While wait times are completely out of your control, there are a few expedited security clearance programs you can enroll in to hopefully shorten your time in line.
- TSA PreCheck®: This is the cheapest option and lets you use faster security lines at U.S. airports. A five-year membership starts at roughly $77.
- Global Entry: Global Entry is a good option for most travelers since it comes with TSA PreCheck benefits. You can also clear customs much quicker when arriving in the U.S. It costs $120 for a five-year membership.
- NEXUS: With a NEXUS membership, you can use dedicated lanes and kiosks at U.S. and Canadian border crossings. You can also take advantage of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry lanes when applicable. A five-year membership costs $120.
- CLEAR: CLEAR provides quicker clearance through security thanks to biometric technology. By simply scanning your boarding pass and either using your eyes or fingerprints as your method of personal identification, you will be escorted to the front of the general security line (or the front of the TSA PreCheck line if you're also enrolled in the program). CLEAR+ membership costs $209 per year.
Using credit cards to access airport lounge access
Airport lounges aren't only for travelers who fly in business or first class. Many rewards credit cards offer airport lounge access.
Lounges provide many benefits to travelers, and they're especially worthwhile if you hope to avoid large crowds in the airport terminal while waiting to board your flight. Many lounges also offer complimentary food and beverages to their guests, so visiting one is an easy way to save money instead of having to purchase expensive airport food. Some even offer unique amenities like cycling rooms, showers and complimentary massages.
The most common airport lounge benefit is a Priority Pass membership, which grants access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide. Many card issuers also offer access to proprietary lounges, such as Capital One Lounges, Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club locations and Amex Centurion Lounges.
Co-branded airline credit cards can be a great way to access that airline's lounge network and are typically cheaper than paying for an airline lounge membership. The biggest airlines have co-branded premium credit cards that come with airport lounge access, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines.
FAQs
Which card is best for airport lounge access?
The best option for airport lounge access can depend on what airports you visit the most and which airlines you fly. That said, the American Express Platinum Card gets you access to one of the most extensive lounge networks (enrollment required).
Is Global Entry or TSA PreCheck better?
TSA PreCheck allows you to use expedited security lanes (when available) at U.S. airports, while Global entry lets you skip the customs lane upon returning to the U.S. Global Entry also comes with TSA PreCheck, but it's more expensive and requires a more extensive interview for approval. TSA PreCheck is better for anyone who doesn't have international travel plans.
Can I use my TSA PreCheck credit for someone else?
You can use your TSA PreCheck application fee credit for another person. However, you may need to be present at the in-person interview to pay with your card.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards for airport lounge and expedited security access.
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Our methodology
To determine which cards offer the best value for airport lounge access and trusted traveler programs, CNBC Select analyzed major credit cards issued by U.S. banks and credit unions. We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees.
When selecting the best cards for airport lounge access and expedited security benefits, we focused on those offering trusted traveler program credits and benefits that grant access to airport lounges. To further differentiate our choices, we also gave higher importance to travel rewards and travel-related benefits that complement lounge access and airport security perks.
We considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X to stay up to date.
Read more
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
Information about the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
