Complete Guide to Lounge Key Membership

If your bank offers you airport lounge access through Lounge Key¹ you may be wondering how the service works. Starting your journey with complimentary food and drinks in the lounge can be a relaxing treat - and getting lounge access for free as part of your credit card package is an extra bonus.

Read our Lounge Key guide to learn all you need to know about how the service works, and how to use it. Plus we’ll take a brief look at Wise - the perfect way to pay for things when you're overseas with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.33%².

What is Lounge Key Lounge Membership?

Lounge Key is a benefit offered to eligible customers of certain banks. Lounge Key members can get into airport lounges in various locations in Australia and globally, where they’ll find a relaxing space to rest before or during a journey. Lounges offer free food, drinks and alcohol, wifi, places to charge your electronics and entertainment like TV, newspapers and magazines. Depending on the deal you have from your card issuer, you may be able to get into the lounge for free, or you may need to pay a fee for entry.

All in all, getting into an airport lounge before you jump on a plane can make the whole airport experience much smoother. While many airport lounges are for business class travelers only, and can only be used by customers of a certain airline, Lounge Key offers access to members no matter who they’re flying with or where they’re going.

Lounge Key features vary depending on the specific location, but can include:

• Access to hundreds of airport lounges globally
• Complimentary food and drinks in the lounge
• Spa and wellness services
• Partner discounts and offers
• Duty free shopping
• Airport transfer and car hire services

It’s worth looking at some Lounge Key reviews if you’re thinking of using the service. On Trustpilot³, which aggregates user experiences, Lounge Key has a 1.5 star rating out of 5. There weren’t many reviews listed at the time of research, but Lounge Key does respond to comments and reviews.

How Lounge Key Lounge Membership Works

Lounge Key lounge membership is offered as a card benefit for some bank debit or credit card holders⁴. In Australia you could get Lounge Key access for 10 visits annually if you have an eligible card from BankWest⁵, or 2 visits with eligible cards from HSBC⁶. Other banks and card networks may also offer this service - and the providers may change from time to time, so it’s always worth checking if your card has Lounge Key included as part of the package.

If you’re eligible for Lounge Key membership you'll be able to download the Lounge Key app to see which lounges are available to you. You are then able to enter the lounges by showing the bank card which gives you membership. You’re advised to carry the physical card with you as it may have to be swiped on entry, although you can also create a digital membership card in the Lounge Key app if you choose to.

Membership Options and Fees

You can get Lounge Key in Australia if your bank card offers the perk. Different banks have their own benefits and rewards, so you’ll need to read through the card and account terms and conditions to check what the deal is. You may find you can access a lounge a certain number of times annually for free, or you may qualify for discounted access with lower fees compared to standard entry.

To give an example, HSBC Australia offers 2 annual Lounge Key entries with eligible cards. This means you can visit twice, or the card holder can take a guest for one visit. If you have additional guests or go to the lounge without your card with you, you’ll be charged 32 USD for entry.

If your card does not offer Lounge Key access, there are other options out there, such as the Priority Pass⁷ or the Dragon Pass⁸. These pass types may be offered as a card benefit through banks, but you can also sign up directly for a membership which allows you to enter lounges when you travel.

Both Priority Pass and Dragon Pass have annual fees, which either give you limited free entries to the lounge, or allow you to get in free every time. Plans run from 99 USD through to 469 USD for the Priority Pass, with Dragon Pass priced at 99 USD to 429 USD depending on the specific package selected. There’s then a fee of 35 USD per member visit (about 50 AUD) once free entry entitlements have been used up.

Dragon Pass offers members lounge access in its network of 850+ airports globally, including 6 locations in Australia. The Priority Pass network includes 1,600+ locations and experiences, with 8 lounge locations in Australia

Lounge Key Lounge Network

You can find which lounge options are available in the Lounge Key lounge network by downloading the Lounge Key app. In total there are over 1,100 lounges globally, in over 700 airports. The features and services available can vary depending on the specific lounge you choose, but the Lounge Key app has all the information you’ll need to be able to pick the right lounge for your needs.

How to Sign Up for Lounge Key Membership

You don’t need to sign up for Lounge Key membership if you’ve got an eligible bank debit or credit card. Going back to HSBC Australia as our example, you’ll simply find that your card details are passed to Lounge Key and they can automatically activate your membership. You’ll need to download the Lounge Key app and sign in, and your membership should be ready within 30 days.

When you visit a lounge you’ll need to swipe the physical card which offers the Lounge Key benefits. This is done to check you’re eligible for entry - and if you’re taking guests or need to pay a fee, this will be deducted at the same time. Lounge Key also recommend that you upload a digital card to your account so that you can skip this step in future, but it’s worth having the physical card with you in case you’re asked to manually swipe.

Introducing Wise for International Spending

Check out the Wise account as a great way to save money when you spend and withdraw in foreign currencies.

Open your Wise account online or in the Wise app, and order your Wise card for a low, one time charge. Top up in AUD from your bank, and use your card to spend and withdraw wherever you travel, with the mid-market exchange rate with no markup and low costs for conversion, from 0.33%. There’s no minimum balance to worry about, no ongoing fees and no surprise charges. Plus, you can use your account to hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and to receive convenient payments from others in a selection of major currencies too.

Pack a Wise card the next time you travel, to cut the costs of currency exchange when you’re away from home.

Conclusion

Lounge Key is only available to eligible cardholders - in Australia this includes BankWest and HSBC credit cards, although other cards and banks may also offer this benefit from time to time. If you’ve got Lounge Key you can simply download the app and head into the lounge next time you travel - just swipe your eligible bank card to get access.

Use the lounge to get your trip off to a good start and before you leave, 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.

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1. Lounge Key
2. Pricing/fees: Please seeTerms of Use for your region or visit WiseFees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
3. Trustpilot Lounge Key
4. Lounge Key FAQ
5. BankWest Mastercard
6. HSBC rewards
7. Priority Pass
8. Dragon Pass