Complete Guide to Dragon Pass Membership

If you’re heading off on a long trip, or if you travel frequently for work or pleasure, you may be thinking of getting airport lounge membership to make your journeys a little bit easier. You’ll find Dragon Pass¹ lounges in hundreds of airports around the world, and can sign up to access lounge services, spa and wellness perks, fast track security clearance and more.

This Dragon Pass guide walks through how to get a Dragon Pass for yourself, including the fees you’ll pay. Plus to make sure your trip goes well, we'll also introduce Wise - the perfect way to pay for things when you're overseas. Hold and exchange 40+ currencies, spend and withdraw in 150+ countries, and get the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.33% whenever you need to switch from AUD to another currency².

What is Dragon Pass Lounge Membership?

The Dragon pass gets you access to airport lounges around the world. The pass is often offered as part of a Mastercard benefit, but you can also sign up if you don’t have an eligible Mastercard, by paying a fee. Once you’re a member you can get the following perks:

• Access to hundreds of airport lounges globally
• Complimentary food and drinks in the lounge
• Spa and wellness services
• Fast track through security in 75+ select locations
• Partner discounts and offers though the Dragon Pass app
• Airport transfer services
• Multilingual app and support team

Before you sign up, it’s worth taking a look at some recent Dragon Pass reviews online, to make sure the service will suit your needs. Dragon pass is not active on Trustpilot, and the number of reviews posted there is very low. However, getting a feel for what previous customers are saying about the service can still be useful if you’re in two minds about whether or not it’ll work for you.

How Dragon Pass Lounge Membership Works

Dragon Pass lounge membership offers pass holders entry to airport lounges when they travel. This means you can spend time in the lounge before boarding, or if you have a layover as part of your trip. In the lounge you’ll find free food and drink, wifi and charging points as well as entertainment options to keep you busy while you’re waiting for your plane.

Dragon Pass membership is available as a standalone package or offered in some cases as part of a credit card membership benefit. You’ll often still need to pay per entry, with a small charge every time you go into the lounge on top of the annual fees you pay. Once you’re signed up you can either drop into lounges on demand, or pre book the lounge if you know you’ll need it. Pre Booking means you should not have to wait for entry - lounges can get busy in peak periods which may result in delays if you’re not booked in.

Membership Options and Fees

You can sign up for a Dragon Pass on an annual basis, or you might find you can get access as part of your credit card package if you’re with Commbank. If you're paying for membership yourself you can choose from 3 different account plans which all have their own annual costs. You may also need to pay a per entry fee, depending on the plan you select.

Here’s a quick look at the Dragon Pass membership plans you might want to consider³:

If you’re weighing up Dragon Pass against alternative options, you may also be looking at the Priority Pass⁴. Priority Pass membership works on a similar basis, with 3 annual pass options which have their own per entry fees. The costs are relatively similar - the Priority Pass Standard membership, which then has a pay as you go fee of 35 USD per entry, is 99 USD annually. There’s then a Standard Plus package at 329 USD, with 10 free lounge entries annually, and a Prestige package which waives all lounge costs but which has a 469 USD annual charge. If you’re not sure which lounge pass to get, it’s worth weighing up both options based on the airports you’re in frequently to see which works best for you.

Dragon Pass Lounge Network

The Dragon Pass lounge network is made up of over 850 lounges around the world. There are over 150 in Europe, and 500+ in Asia, as well as over 100 in the Americas⁵.

In Australia, you’ll find Dragon Pass lounges in the following airport locations:

• Adelaide
• Brisbane
• Launceston
• Melbourne
• Perth
• Sydney

Different lounges have their own features and benefits, but the Dragon Pass website has full details of which lounges are in the network, and what you can expect there. Use the details online to plan your trip, and to pre book lounge entry if you’d like to.

How to Sign Up for Dragon Pass Membership

You can buy the Dragon Pass instantly online with your credit card, and you’ll get a digital pass which offers entry to the lounge you’re heading to. Here’s how to sign up for a Dragon pass:

1. Visit the Dragon Pass website and select Sign Up
2. Pick the Dragon Pass membership plan you would like to buy
3. Follow the prompts to enter your personal and contact details
4. Pay using your debit or credit card
5. You’ll receive a QR code and digital membership card
6. Use the QR code when entering the lounge - this is your proof of payment

If you’re a Commbank customer you may also be able to get Dragon Pass lounge access with an Ultimate Awards Credit Card⁶. Eligible card holders can get entry to lounges twice annually as part of the card benefits package.

Introducing Wise for International Spending

While you’re sorting out the details of your trip, check out Wise to see if you can save on your international spending.

Open a Wise account online or in the Wise app, to hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and order your Wise card for low cost cash withdrawals and international spending. Top up your account in AUD from your bank or with a card, and spend and withdraw wherever you travel, with great exchange rates and low fees.

Sign up for Wise today

Wise doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, and all currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate with no markup or hidden charges. Instead you’ll just pay low transparent conversion fees, from 0.33%. Plus, you’ll get 2 ATM withdrawals up to 350 AUD in value every month for free, for those times when only cash will do.

Conclusion

Getting Dragon Pass lounge membership may allow you to visit airport lounges in Australia and many other countries and regions, to start off your travel in style. Instead of fighting for a seat at the gate, wait for your flight in comfort at the lounge, with space to relax or work, and free food and drink.

Dragon Pass isn’t the only lounge option, so comparing a few before you hand over your hard earned cash makes sense. Use this guide to decide if Dragon Pass might be the right option for you - and before you hop on a plane, check out Wise as well. With your Wise card in your wallet you can spend and withdraw in 150+ countries around the world with no foreign transaction fees and the mid-market exchange rate.