As a teenager, I used to think that airport lounges with their chio (Hokkien: Pretty) interiors, luxurious lounge chairs, and free-flow food were only reserved for the wealthy…
But boy was I wrong!
Thanks to my dad who was a savvy credit card user, I had the chance to enter one of these lounges that had me feeling like I was the one ballin (Slang: Leading a ridiculously wealthy lifestyle).
The one I visited had a buffet breakfast, lots of magazines to read, free WiFi and even shower facilities.
So long as you had the right credit cards, commoners like you and I could get access to these airport lounges for the perfect travel pitstop to relax and recharge.
Intrigued?
Here are the best credit cards for complimentary access to airport lounges!
TL;DR: Best Credit Cards for Free Airport Lounge Access
| Credit Card | Airport Lounges | Complimentary Lounge Access | Annual Income Requirement | Redemption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card Apply Now | Priority Pass | 2 per year | $30,000 | Apply for a complimentary Digital Priority Pass™ membership |
| Citi PremierMiles Card | Priority Pass | 2 per year | $30,000 | Apply for a complimentary Digital Priority Pass™ membership |
| Diners Club Cards | Diners Network | 1 per year | $30,000 | Present your card, boarding pass and passport for complimentary access |
| Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card | Ambassador Transit Lounge (SG), Plaza Premium Lounge (SG, KL, HK) | 1 per month (regardless of the number of transactions with the minimum amount charged within 3 months prior to the date of lounge access) | $30,000 | Charge S$1,000 in a single retail transaction within 3 months prior to the travel date |
| AMEX Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card | SATS Premier Lounge (Singapore) / Plaza Premium | 4 per year | $50,000 | Complimentary access passes given upon card approval and fully paid renewal of card membership |
| Standard Chartered Visa Infinite X Metal Credit Card | Priority Pass | 2 per year | $80,000 | Apply for a complimentary Priority Pass™ membership |
| CIMB Visa Infinite Credit Card | Dragon Pass | 3 per year | $120,000 | Apply for a complimentary Dragon Pass membership |
| HSBC Visa Infinite Credit Card | LoungeKey | Unlimited | $120,000 | Present your card, boarding pass and quote 'LoungeKey' for complimentary access |
| OCBC Voyage Card | Plaza Premium | Unlimited | $120,000 | Present your card and boarding pass for complimentary access |
| Citi Prestige Card | Priority Pass | Unlimited + 1 guest | $120,000 | Apply for a complimentary Priority Pass™ membership |
| Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Credit Card | Priority Pass | 6 per year | $150,000 | Apply for a complimentary Priority Pass™ membership |
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a high-income earner to enjoy complimentary airport lounge access!
The DBS Altitude Visa Signature, Citi PremierMiles, Diners Club, and Maybank Horizon Visa Signature credit cards only require a minimum annual income of $30,000.
That said, remember that there are annual fees involved if you want to enjoy these privileges and make sure to stay out of credit card debt!
Lounge Passes and Memberships
When it comes to lounge passes and memberships, here are the major players:
- Priority Pass – 1,300+ lounges
- LoungeKey – 1,100+ lounges
- Dragon Pass – 1,300+ lounges
- Diners Club – 1,000+ lounges
If your card has a complimentary membership with any one of these lounge passes, you’ll most likely have access to a variety of lounges currently opened at Changi Airport’s Terminal 1, 3 and Jewel.
Changi Airport Lounge Access
| Lounge Pass | Changi Airport Terminal | Changi Airport Lounge |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Pass | T1 | SATS Premier Lounge |
| Marhaba Lounge | ||
| T3 | SATS Premier Lounge | |
| Marhaba Lounge | ||
| Ambassador Transit Lounge | ||
| Jewel | Changi Lounge | |
| Lounge Key | T1 | SATS Premier Lounge |
| Marhaba Lounge | ||
| T3 | SATS Premier Lounge | |
| Marhaba Lounge | ||
| Ambassador Transit Lounge | ||
| Jewel | Changi Lounge | |
| Dragon Pass | T1 | SATS Premier Lounge |
| Marhaba Lounge | ||
| Plaza Premium Lounge | ||
| T3 | SATS Premier Lounge | |
| Marhaba Lounge | ||
| Ambassador Transit Lounge | ||
| Jewel | Changi Lounge | |
| Diners Club | T1 | Marhaba Lounge |
| T3 | Marhaba Lounge | |
| Ambassador Transit Lounge |
Do note that T2 and T4 lounges are temporarily closed.
Annual Fees
As with most credit cards, you’ll have to pay an annual fee in order to enjoy the complimentary lounge access.
However, some cards like the DBS Altitude VISA card do offer an annual fee waiver for the first year. But you’ll have to pay subsequent annual fees to retain the same privileges tied to your card.
Conclusion
When picking a travel credit card, you don’t have to base your decision on which lounge pass the credit card offers as the differences here are negligible.
Instead, look out for a card which best suits your lifestyle and maximises your spending.
For those who already have one of the above cards, make sure you don’t miss out on your airport lounge benefits!
