Dragon Pass vs Priority Pass: Side by Side Comparison

Getting access to an airport lounge can give you space to work or relax while you travel, and make the experience much more enjoyable. Most major airports have many lounges to choose from, including options which can be used by pass holders, regardless of the airline they’re travelling with.

If you’re thinking of signing up for airport lounge membership you may be weighing up the difference between Dragon pass¹ and Priority Pass² This guide walks through the features, benefits and fees of each, so you can decide if either is right for you. We’ll also touch on 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 currency³.

What is Dragon Pass?

Dragon Pass offers members lounge access in its network of 850+ airports globally. Dragon Pass lounges offer complimentary food and drink, wifi, and space to work. Some locations also have extras like spa and wellness services. The exact features of the lounges can vary depending on the location, but there’s lots of information online and in the Dragon Pass app to help you plan your trip and make the most of your lounge services.

One other nice benefit of Dragon Pass is that in some locations you can get fast track security clearance as part of your membership. This can make it quicker to get through security, and speed up your passage through the airport.

You can sign up to Dragon Pass on an annual basis, and may then also need to pay a per-entry fee when you go into a lounge. Here’s a look at the Dragon Pass membership plans⁴:

If you have a Commbank credit card⁵, you may find you get some Dragon Pass membership benefits for free as part of your card package. In this case you don’t need to pay the annual pass fee.

Learn more in our complete guide to Dragon Pass 👉.

What is Priority Pass?

The Priority Pass network includes 1,600+ locations and experiences. Lounges are available in 8 locations in Australia, and also in many other countries and regions. You’ll be able to sign up for Priority Pass yourself, but it’s also a benefit offered by several major Australian banks and credit card issuers, as part of the annual card fee. If you have a credit card from a provider like Citibank or Westpac for example, check if you get any lounge options included.

Priority Pass has lots of great member benefits, including airport assistance if you need help finding your way to the gate. There are also bookable workspaces and meeting rooms in many locations which makes this an attractive option for business travellers⁶.

If you’re buying Priority Pass membership for yourself, you’ll pay an annual and/or per entry fee, as follows:

Learn more in our complete guide to Priority Pass lounge membership 👉.

Dragon Pass vs Priority Pass: Side-by-side comparison

On the face of it, the services offered by Priority Pass vs Dragon Pass are fairly similar. Both have lounges in many locations which will cater to travellers looking for a place to rest and recharge. Both offer free food, drink and alcohol, as well as charging points for your devices, wifi access and entertainment.

Whether or not one appeals more to you than the other may well come down to the destinations you travel to and from regularly, and also your personal preferences. Here's a head to head comparison of Dragon Pass vs Priority Pass on a few key features you might want to consider:

Which Program is Right for You?

There’s not a clear winner between Dragon Pass and Priority Pass, so you’ll need to look at the details to help decide which is better for your needs.

Within Australia, their coverage isn’t exactly the same. Both have lounges in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. Dragon Pass also has a lounge in Launceston, while Priority Pass covers locations in Canberra, Coolangatta and Townsville. If your local airport is only served by one provider, that may well be the deciding factor for you.

Outside of Australia, Priority Pass has more locations overall, but Dragon Pass is particularly well represented in Asia, with 500+ lounge locations available. It’s worth taking a look at coverage for both providers based on the places you travel to frequently to make sure you can make the most of your pass.

On costs, both Dragon Pass and Priority Pass are fairly similar, although Dragon Pass offers fewer free lounge entries for the standard package - 8 versus Priority Pass at 10. Both offer promotional pricing from time to time, and both have some tie-ups with credit card issuers and banks. This might mean you get free lounge access as part of your credit card package for example so it’s well worth looking at your options before you sign up.

Looking at the other features and benefits of both, Priority pass has some office and workspace options available in select locations. This could be a benefit if you’re travelling for work and need a quiet space to take a call or meet someone. Dragon pass on the other hand offers some security fast track clearance options - which can help you get through the airport more quickly. Ultimately, which is best for you will depend on what’s important to you and the type of trip you’re taking.

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Conclusion

Having lounge access when you travel can mean your journey is more relaxing, with some downtime before you get onto the plane and a convenient place to wait for connecting flights. While many lounges are only available to business class passengers who are flying with a specific airline, both Dragon Pass and Priority Pass open up this option to members who can get into the lounge for a small fee.

There’s not a clear winner in the Dragon Pass vs Priority Pass debate - both offer fairly similar services with around the same costs. If you get free access to one provider or the other as part of your credit card package, the decision on which to use may be easy. However, if you’re paying for a membership yourself, the decision might just come down to the specific lounge available in the airports you fly to and from regularly. Use this Dragon Pass and Priority Pass review to decide which will best meet your needs - and remember to sign up for the Wise card at the same time, to cut the costs of spending in foreign currencies.