Which UK Credit Cards Give Airport Lounge Access?

By QuidRadar Team · Updated 30 October 2026

A handful of UK credit cards include airport lounge access as a card benefit. They're almost always premium cards with an annual or monthly fee. The perk varies a lot between them: some give unlimited free visits, some a few free passes a year, and some only a membership that knocks the price down.

This guide explains the different types and what to check. For the full, up-to-date list with fees and APRs side by side, see Credit cards with airport lounge access.

The three types of lounge benefit

Free, unlimited access

A few cards give the cardholder free entry every time, as long as the lounge has space. When we checked the issuers' pages on 30 October 2026, these included:

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard: unlimited Priority Pass access for the main and any additional cardholders. It needs an HSBC Premier current account and has a £290 annual fee.
Santander World Elite Mastercard: free LoungeKey access for you and additional cardholders, with a £15 monthly fee. Guests pay £24 each per visit.
American Express Platinum Card: complimentary access to more than 1,550 lounges, with a £650 annual fee.
Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard: Priority Pass membership, with a £15 monthly fee. A fee is payable for extra guests.

A set number of free visits

Some cards give a fixed number of passes each year:

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold: 4 free Priority Pass visits a year.
Monzo Aura: 2 lounge passes and 2 fast track passes a year. It needs a Monzo current account.

Membership, but you pay per visit

These cards give you a lounge membership, but every visit costs money:

HSBC Premier Credit Card: Priority Pass access at £24 per person per visit.
Barclaycard Avios Plus: DragonPass Airport Lounge Membership at a discounted £24 per pass, per person.

What to check before you choose

The fee. Lounge cards carry annual or monthly fees. Work out roughly how many visits you'd use in a year and whether the card still makes sense.
Guests. Many cards charge for guests (often £24 per person) or don't cover them at all. If you travel as a family, this matters.
Account requirements. Some cards are only open to customers with a premium current account at the same bank.
Which lounges. Priority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass have different lounges at each airport. Check your usual airports before you apply.
The APR. Lounge cards often have high representative APRs because they include the fee. If you might carry a balance, the interest can cost more than the perks are worth.

Is it worth it?

Lounge access is good value if you fly several times a year, clear your balance in full every month, and would otherwise pay for lounge entry. If you fly once a year, a fee-free card and a one-off lounge booking is usually cheaper.

Benefits change, so always check the issuer's terms and the lounge programme's conditions before you apply.

Frequently asked questions

Which UK credit card gives unlimited lounge access?

When we checked, the HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard listed unlimited Priority Pass access for the main and additional cardholders. Santander's World Elite Mastercard also listed free LoungeKey access for cardholders. See Credit cards with airport lounge access for the current list.

Are there free credit cards with airport lounge access?

We didn't find a fee-free UK credit card that includes free lounge visits. The cards with lounge benefits charge an annual or monthly fee, or need a paid-for current account.

Does Priority Pass let me bring a guest?

It depends on your card. Some card issuers charge a fee per guest per visit, so check your card's terms.

Will I always get in?

No. Lounge access is subject to space, and busy lounges can turn people away at peak times.