Best Cards with Airport Lounge Access for Australians (2025 Guide)

Aditya Shrivastava

The lounge is one of the most coveted spots in an airport. Whether on a long journey or wanting to kick off a great trip, an airport lounge can help you relax, recharge and grab a drink as you wait for your next flight.

Many banks and credit card companies offer airport lounge access as a perk for being an account holder. With the cost to access a lounge increasing, it can be a good deal even if the card has an annual fee - but you’re going to want to weigh the overall costs. Want to know the best card to have for airport lounge access? Read on to learn how you can travel in style.

Table of contents


Why Airport Lounges?

Airport lounges can feel like an oasis from the bustle of the airport terminal. Instead of pushing through crowded gates and overpriced airport cafes, you can enjoy a more peaceful and comfortable experience in one of the many lounges an airport has to offer. All large airports have at least one airport lounge or more, but it may be harder to come by in a smaller or regional airport.

Lounges typically provide free drinks, snacks, comfortable seating areas and some even have showers or nap rooms. These perks let you recharge before the next flight while also saving you money by avoiding expensive airport food and drink prices.

Generally, lounges have a cost to enter which is posted on their website or at the front desk. However, many banks and credit card providers offer complimentary or discounted access to airport lounges as a benefit for premium cardholders. In this way, the banks and companies can incentivize card usage while also providing a perk.

Despite how nice it can be to have a snack and a nice glass of wine before a flight, it's important to remember that these card benefits come with costs elsewhere. Before signing up for a card primarily for lounge access, carefully consider the overall price tag by adding up costs like annual fees, foreign transaction fees, and interest rates. Using the card for international transactions might cost more than the airport lounge benefits.

The True Cost of Using a Card for International Travels

International usage fees can eat into your budget quickly when you use a credit card or bank card abroad. Here are the top ones to watch out for:

  • ATM Fees: You may get hit with fees for withdrawing cash from ATMs, especially those operated by third-party providers. So even if your bank says there are no international ATM fees, it doesn’t mean it's completely fee-free.
  • International Transaction Fees: Many banks charge a service fee for processing an international transaction. It’s often a percentage of the amount, or could be a flat fee.
  • Currency Conversion Markups: Many provides often add a markup to the mid-market exchange rate you usually see on Google. This markup cuts into every dollar that’s converted and can easily increase the overall cost of your purchases.
  • Cash Advance Fees: Withdrawing cash using your credit card is called a cash advance, which often has a high fee and interest rate on the amount you withdraw. It’s best to avoid taking a cash advance from a credit card unless absolutely necessary.

Something else to watch out for are scams when using your card overseas. Take a look at our guide to preventing scams while using your card abroad 👉

Best Card for Lounge Access

While picking a card solely for lounge access may not always be the best idea, there are credit cards that offer unlimited access to lounges globally or entrance to exclusive clubs more than others.

Mastercard and Visa have multiple programs, such as the Mastercard Privilege Pass or Visa Airport Lounge Access programs, which let travellers get complimentary or discounted airport lounge access. American Express is the only card that allows you to enter the American Express-specific lounges. Banks and credit card service providers also partner with airline and hospitality companies to offer co-branded credit cards with airport lounge access.

Some credit card companies also offer lounge membership programs such as Priority Pass. You need to create a separate account with Priority Pass and show your account number or QR code at the qualifying lounge’s front desk.

Guide to Priority Pass Memberships

How do you decide the best card among all the choices? The most important thing is to look at the whole picture and consider overall costs. Here's a look at popular cards in Australia.

Premium Credit Cards with Unlimited Access

Premium credit cards, like the American Express Platinum Card and the Citi Prestige Card, offer a range of benefits that can boost your travel. One main benefit is that they both offer unlimited access to lounges, but differ when it comes to annual fees and rewards. Let's compare these cards to understand key features and determine which might be the best fit for how you travel and your wallet.

FeeAmerican Express Platinum Card1Citi Prestige Card2
Annual fee$1,450 AUD$700 AUD
Interest-free periodUp to 44 daysUp to 44 days
Sign up offer275,000 bonus membership reward points250,000 bonus Citi rewards points on spending $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months
Airport lounge accessAccess to over 1400 airport lounges in 140+ countriesComplimentary airport lounge access to over 1,500 Priority Pass lounges globally
Additional benefits$450 AUD in travel credit and up to $400 AUD in dining credits annually; Rewards points, shopping and entertainment rewards3 Citi Rewards points for every dollar spent on eligible overseas purchases; Complimentary mobile phone insurance, cashback offers, and Uber vouchers
Perks
  • Comprehensive travel insurance
  • Complimentary Accor Plus membership valued at $399 AUD
  • Complimentary accommodation benefits at over 1600 properties worldwide
  • Discounted airfares on first and business-class tickets
  • Complimentary travel insurance
  • Concierge services
  • Luxury escapes: Discounts on hotel bookings
Exchange rate on international transactionsSet by the provider (may include a markup on mid-market rates)Set by the provider (may include a markup on the mid-market rates)

Cards, like the American Express Platinum Card and the Citi Prestige Card, offer some amazing travel perks, including family travel insurance and free access to airport lounges. But these cards come with a pretty hefty annual fee. So they're really only worth it if you travel frequently enough to take advantage of all the perks.

Credit Cards with Limited Lounge Passes

While the American Express Platinum Card and the Citi Prestige Card offer unlimited airport lounge access globally, they are expensive. Let’s look at some alternatives with lower annual fees but limited airport lounge access.

ANZ Frequent Flyer Black3Australia Velocity High Flyer4Qantas Premier Platinum5
Annual fee$425 AUD$329 AUD$349 AUD for the first year and $399 AUD after
Lounge accessTwo complimentary Qantas Club lounge invitations annuallyTwo single-entry airport lounge passes each yearTwo complimentary single-entry lounge invitations to Qantas lounges
Signup offer90,000 Qantas points plus $200 AUD cashback on spending $5,000 AUD on eligible purchases in the first three monthsUp to 80,000 bonus Velocity Points and 100 Bonus Status CreditsUp to 80,000 Qantas points on spending up to $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months
DiscountsDiscounts on domestic and international air tickets$129 AUD Virgin Australia gift voucher each yearUp to 20% discount on domestic flight tickets for you and eight friends once a year
Other perksComplimentary Qantas Frequent Flyer membership worth $99.50Visa Platinum benefits, purchase protection insurance, and extended warranty insuranceConcierge benefits
PointsAdditional 40,000 bonus Qantas points

Earn 1 Qantas Point for every eligible purchase of $1 AUD up to $7,500 AUD and 0.5 Qantas points afterwards.

Earn 100 Velocity Frequent Flyer Points on spending $100 AUD up to $8,000 monthly;

Two extra Velocity Points for every $1 AUD spent with Virgin Australia.

1.5 Qantas points on spending $1 AUD internationally;

1 Qantas point on spending $1 AUD inside Australia and

1 additional Qantas point on spending $1 AUD on selected Qantas products and services

Travel insuranceComplimentary travel insuranceComplimentary domestic and international travel insuranceComplimentary travel insurance
Exchange rate on international transactionsSet by the provider (may include a markup on the mid-market rates)Set by the provider (may include a markup on the mid-market rates)Set by the provider (may include a markup on the mid-market rates)

Airport Lounge Access with Revolut

While many credit cards offer airport lounge access, you don't necessarily need one to enjoy the perk. Revolut Australia, a digital banking platform, offers a range of products, including travel cards and international money transfers. Some of Revolut’s premium plans include discounted access to airport lounges. If you’re a frequent traveller, here are how the plans stack up at Revolut:6

FeaturesStandardPremiumMetal
Monthly Plan FeeNo fees$9.99 AUD$24.99 AUD
Free ATM withdrawals$350 AUD per month$700 AUD per month$1,400 AUD per month
Revolut Metal CardNoNoYes
Discount on international paymentsNo60%80%
International spendingYesYesYes
Currency exchange in 30+ currencies$2,000 AUD per month$20,000 AUD per monthUnlimited
Discounted airport lounge accessNoYesYes
Cashback on card paymentsNoNoYes

Revolut Premium and Metal plan holders can use the Revolut app to search for and purchase discounted airport lounge passes. Each pass allows entry for one person and can be purchased in advance or at the lounge entrance.

Things to keep in mind:

  • Lounge Pass Validity: Lounge passes can’t be transferred and are one-time use.
  • Pricing and Availability: Lounge pass prices may change and is generally first come, first serve. So if the lounge is busy, you may not be allowed entry even with a pass.
  • Usage Restrictions: Typically, you can’t access more than one airport lounge within two hours.
  • ID requirements: You may be asked to present an ID, such as a passport and boarding pass, to get entry to the lounge.

Complete Guide to Revolut in Australia 👉

Revolut can be a good idea if you use the service already and want discounted access to lounges. That being said, the plan is not a credit line like a credit card.

Travel Money Cards

In addition to credit cards, travel money cards like the Cash Passport Platinum can also provide access to airport lounges. This card offers a "Flight Delay Pass" that offers complimentary access to over 1,000 LoungeKey airport lounges worldwide if your flight is delayed by two hours or more.

To be eligible, you must register your flight details before you leave. Mastercard will notify you via email or SMS if your flight is delayed and provide your lounge pass details. You can then use the lounge pass to access the qualifying lounge.8

Meet Wise Travel Card

While many credit cards offer airport lounge access, they often come with high annual fees and potential hidden costs in the exchange rate, making your purchases more expensive. To save money on international transactions, and pay like a local around the world, check out the Wise Travel Card.

foreign-transaction-fee-wise

While the Wise Travel Card doesn't offer complimentary airport lounge access, it offers transparent conversion fees and the mid-market exchange rate when you load your wallet, saving you from hidden fees that eat into your travel budget.

Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Conclusion: Which Card to Get for Lounge Access

Choosing the best credit card for lounge access depends completely on how you like to travel and your budget. Let’s take a look at what may be good fits depending on your travel style:

  • Frequent Travellers: Premium cards like the American Express Platinum Card and the Citi Prestige Card may be worth considering. While they come with a higher annual fee, they often offer a ton of benefits, including unlimited or generous lounge access, which can bring a lot of ease if you’re in the airport regularly.
  • Occasional Travelers: Cards like the ANZ Frequent Flyer Black, the Australia Velocity High Flyer, and the Qantas Premier Platinum offer limited lounge access, which may be good enough for occasional travellers. These cards often include other valuable travel perks, such as travel insurance and points programs.
  • Budget-Conscious Travelers: The Revolut Metal and Premium plans offer discounted lounge access, but you'll need to purchase passes separately. This can be a more affordable option for travellers who want to spend on a lounge once in a while.
  • Travel Money Cards: While not all travel money cards offer lounge access, some, like the Cash Passport Platinum, provide complimentary lounge access if your flight is delayed.

Ultimately, the best choice will depend on your individual travel patterns, budget, and priorities. Keep in mind that credit cards can cost you a lot when you finally reach your destination and start spending locally. Evaluate your needs and compare the features and costs of each option to find the card that best suits how you travel.

Consider Combining!

Combining two cards, such as one that offers complimentary lounge access and another that saves you money on international transactions, is a great option to consider. You can combine the credit cards offering lounge access for domestic benefits, with the Wise travel card which saves you money on international transactions to get the best of both worlds.

Get Your Wise Card 🚀


Sources used for this article:

  1. American Express Platinum Card: Features
  2. Citi Prestige Card: Features
  3. ANZ Frequent Flyer Black card
  4. Australia Velocity High Flyer card
  5. Qantas Premier Platinum card
  6. Revolut Australia Plans
  7. Revolut Australia Lounge Pass conditions
  8. Cash Passport Flight Delay Pass

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

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