Best Credit Cards with Airport Lounge Access in 2024
updated: Nov 04, 2024
written_by SingSaver Team
Many people think that access to airport lounges is a privilege reserved for regular business travellers, frequent flyers and the wealthy. That is not true! With the right air miles credit card, you too can get complimentary access to airport lounges at Changi Airport and around the world, even if you’re not pulling a six-figure salary or a VVIP.
If airport lounge access is one of the main features you look for in a credit card, look no further. Below, we’ve curated the most popular and best air miles credit cards that offer complimentary access and global entry to airport lounges worldwide.
Besides providing a place to relax before your flight, you'll also get to enjoy other lounge benefits such as free Wi-Fi, free refreshments, hot showers, and much more! Besides the cardholders, they too can bring guests to enjoy these privileges as well!
Pro tip: Remember to use the correct miles credit cards to earn bonus miles on your daily spend, and do maximise your air miles once you’ve earned them!
Table of contents
- Summary of the best credit cards with lounge access
- Best air miles cards in Singapore with free airport lounge access
- Citi PremierMiles Card
- Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card (Annual Fee Paying)
- CIMB Visa Infinite Card
- American Express Platinum Card
- HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
- Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Credit Card
- DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card
- HSBC Visa Infinite Credit Card
- OCBC Voyage Card
- Citi Prestige Card
- Compare and apply for the best air miles credit cards on SingSaver
- Frequently Asked Questions about Airport Lounge Access
Summary of the best credit cards with lounge access
Best air miles cards in Singapore with free airport lounge access
Citi PremierMiles Card
With the Citi PremierMiles card, cardholders will enjoy a complimentary Priority Pass membership that lets them gain global entry to Priority Pass airport lounges (over 1,400+ airport lounges worldwide) twice a year.
You can use the two complimentary visits on separate occasions or a single visit with a guest. Additional visits and guest passes can be purchased at US$35 per person and will be charged to your Citi PremierMiles Card.
| Pros | Cons |
| Bonus miles earn rate on Kaligo (10 mpd) and Agoda (up to 7.2 mpd) bookings | Average miles earn rates for local (1.2 mpd) and overseas (2.2 mpd) spending |
| Citi Miles never expire | Annual fee of S$196.20 (waived for first-year only) |
| Up to $1 million travel insurance coverage when you charge your travel tickets to this card | |
| 2 airport lounge access per year with Priority Pass (over 1,400+ airport lounges around the world) | |
| Priority Pass lounges can be found in every terminal at Changi Airport. Examples: Changi Lounge (Jewel), SATS Premier Lounge (T1 to T3), Plaza Premium Lounge (T1 & T2), Marhaba Lounge (T1 & T3) and Blossom Lounge (T4), Ambassador Transit Lounge (T2 & T3) |
Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card (Annual Fee Paying)
Love a versatile miles card that lets you earn accelerated miles at home and abroad? Well, the newly-rebranded Standard Journey Credit Card (previously known as Standard Chartered X) rewards 1.2 miles per dollar on local spend, 2 miles per dollar on overseas spend, and a boosted 3 miles per dollar on selected local everyday spend.
It also comes with 2x complimentary visits to Priority Pass lounges around the world and up to S$500,000 complimentary travel insurance coverage, so that's nice.
Similar to the Citi PremierMiles card, additional visits and guest passes can be purchased at US$32 per person and will be charged to your SCB Journey Card.
Unlike its predecessor, you only have to pay S$196.20 in annual fees.
| Pros | Cons |
| Bonus miles earn rate (3 mpd) on online groceries, food delivery and transport (capped at S$1,000 per statement month) | Average miles earn rates for local (1.2 mpd) and overseas (2 mpd) spending |
| Up to $500,000 travel insurance coverage when you charge your travel tickets to this card | Annual fee of S$196.20 (waived for first-year only) |
| 360° Rewards Points never expire | |
| S$10 off Grab rides to or from Changi Airport | |
| 2 airport lounge access per year with Priority Pass (over 1,400 airport lounges around the world) | |
| Priority Pass lounges can be found in every terminal at Changi Airport. Examples: Changi Lounge (Jewel), SATS Premier Lounge (T1 to T3), Plaza Premium Lounge (T1), Marhaba Lounge (T1 and T3) and Blossom Lounge (T3 & T4). |
CIMB Visa Infinite Card
Unlike the other cards on this page, the CIMB Visa Infinite Card is the only credit card that offers cashback instead of miles.
With the CIMB Visa Infinite Card, cardholders will get to enjoy three complimentary airport lounge visits yearly, courtesy of DragonPass. However, do note that only the principal cardholder will enjoy the complimentary visits - supplementary members and additional guest passes will be charged USD28 per lounge access.
Despite having no annual fees for life, the minimum annual income requirement is rather steep, at S$120,000. However, if you're constantly travelling due to work, you should consider picking this up as it offers 2% unlimited cashback on travel, overseas, and online spend in foreign currencies, as long as you spend S$2,000 monthly.
| Pros | Cons |
| 2% unlimited cashback for travel and overseas transactions, 1% unlimited cashback for all other retail transactions | Minimum spend of S$2,000 to earn 2% unlimited cashback |
| Up to S$1 million complimentary travel insurance for principal cardholder and their family | Minimum annual income: S$120,000 |
| 3 airport lounge access per year with DragonPass (over 1,000 airport lounges around the world) | Airport lounge access is not transferable to guests. |
| DragonPass lounges can be found in every terminal at Changi Airport. Examples: Changi Lounge (Jewel), SATS Premier Lounge (T1 to T3), Plaza Premium Lounge (T1), Marhaba Lounge (T1 & T3) and Ambassador Transit Lounge (T2 & T3). |
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| Complimentary 24/7 travel concierge service | |
| No annual fees for life |
American Express Platinum Card
The AMEX Platinum Charge Card offers several attractive perks for frequent travelers, particularly in terms of complimentary airport lounge access and airmiles. Cardholders can enjoy unlimited access to over 1,300 airport lounges globally, providing a comfortable space to unwind during travel.
The card also offers up to 20 Membership Rewards (MR) points per S$1.60 spent on transactions with select Platinum 10Xcelerator Partners, translating into 7.81 miles per dollar (mpd), and 5 MR points per S$1.60 on Singapore Airlines and Scoot transactions (1.95 mpd).
However, the base earn rate for general spending is comparatively low, with only 2 MR points per S$1.60 (0.78 mpd), which may not appeal to those looking for high rewards across all purchases.
In terms of airmiles, the card’s no-cap and no-expiry policy on MR points offers significant flexibility for users who want to accumulate miles over time. However, the S$1,744 annual fee, along with relatively stringent income requirements, may be a drawback for some potential applicants.
| Pros | Cons |
| 20 MR points per S$1.60 spend (7.81 mpd) on Platinum 10Xcelerator Partners for up to S$16,000 spend 10 MR points per S$1.60 spend (3.91 mpd) once spend limit is reached |
Relatively low base rewards points/miles earn rate (0.69 miles per S$1.60 spent) |
| Complimentary access for you, a supplementary cardholder and one guest each to 1,400 Lounges such as The Centurion Lounge, Priority Pass, International American Express Lounges. | Annual fee of S$ 1,744 |
| 5 MR points per S$1.60 spend (1.95 mpd) with Singapore Airlines and Scoot | Either high annual income or high net worth required, subject to AMEX's approval |
| Complimentary hotel loyalty programme upgrades | |
| Complimentary one-night stay at participating hotels | |
| Membership Rewards Points never expire | |
| Up to 50% savings at premium dining locations with Love Dining by Platinum. |
HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
The HSBC TravelOne card is a newly launched miles credit card by HSBC in the Singapore market. Requiring a minimum income of S$30,000, cardholders will be able to enjoy a generous 4x complimentary airport lounge visits yearly with DragonPass. However, do note that only the principal cardholder can enjoy the airport lounge visits.
The perks don't end there - cardholders will also gain complimentary access to ENTERTAINER with HSBC, which boasts over 1,000 amazing worldwide 1-for-1 deals and more, and free travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage (of up to USD 100,000) if they charge their air tickets to the card.
| Pros | Cons |
| No conversion fee for air miles and hotel points redemption until 31 January 2025 | Average miles earn rates for local (1.2 mpd) and overseas (2.4 mpd) spending |
| Instant point conversions; widest variety of transfer partners in Singapore | Airport lounge access is not transferable to guests. |
| 4 airport lounge access per year with DragonPass (over 1,000 airport lounges around the world) | Non-waivable first-year annual fee of S$196.20 |
| DragonPass lounges can be found in every terminal at Changi Airport. Examples: Changi Lounge (Jewel), SATS Premier Lounge (T1 to T3), Plaza Premium Lounge (T1), Marhaba Lounge (T1 & T3) and Ambassador Transit Lounge (T2 & T3). |
Have to charge a minimum of S$25,000 to your card each year to receive annual fee waiver for the following year |
| Free membership to ENTERTAINER with HSBC | |
| Up to USD 100,000 complimentary travel insurance for principal cardholder and their family |
Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Credit Card
The Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Credit Card is one of the most exclusive travel credit cards in Singapore. Similar to the DBS Altitude Cards and the Citi PremierMiles Visa Card, you get a complimentary Priority Pass membership. But because this is a Visa Infinite Card, members get 6 (instead of 2) free visits to airport lounges a year.
Additional guest passes can be purchased at US$32 per person, which will be chargeable for every subsequent visit after the the 6 Priority Pass Free Visits.
Unless you are a Priority/Private Banking customer with Standard Chartered, you have to earn a minimum annual income of S$150,000 to apply for this card.
| Pros | Cons |
| Decent miles earn rates for local (1.4 mpd) and overseas spending (3 mpd), with min. S$2,000 spend per month | Base earn rate of 1 mpd if min. monthly spend is not ment |
| 360º Rewards Points never expire | Non-waivable annual fee of S$599.50 |
| Up to $1 million travel insurance coverage when you charge your travel tickets to this card | Minimum annual income: S$120,000 |
| 6 airport lounge access per year with Priority Pass (over 1,400+ airport lounges around the world) | |
| Priority Pass lounges can be found in every terminal at Changi Airport. Examples: Changi Lounge (Jewel), SATS Premier Lounge (T1 to T3), Plaza Premium Lounge (T1), Marhaba Lounge (T1 & T3) and Blossom Lounge (T3 & T4). |
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| 24/7 Visa Concierge service | |
| Premium hotel benefits and privileges with Visa Luxury Hotel Collection* (Valid till 31 Dec 2023) | |
| S$20 member credits for Home-Based Health Screening Packages (from S$98) |
DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card
The DBS Altitude Visa Card is a great entry-level air miles card with an annual income requirement of just S$30,000. It comes with 2 free airport lounge visits per year but you have to apply for your Priority Pass lounge membership the moment you receive your credit card in the mail. With Priority Pass membership, you will have global entry to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.
From 1 January 2021, new Priority Pass applications and renewals will only receive a Digital Priority Pass™ membership which enables access to Priority Pass airport lounges with your Priority Pass account.
| Pros | Cons |
| Decent miles earn rates for local (1.3 mpd) and overseas spending (2.2 mpd), with min. S$2,000 spend per month | No more bonus miles earn rate on Kaligo (10 mpd) and Expedia (6 mpd) bookings |
| Up to 5 mpd rate on online travel bookings | Annual fee of S$196.20 (waived for first-year only) |
| DBS Points do not expire | Have to charge a minimum of S$25,000 to your card each year to receive annual fee waiver |
| 2 airport lounge access per year with Priority Pass (over 1,400+ airport lounges around the world) | |
| Priority Pass lounges can be found in every terminal at Changi Airport. Examples: Changi Lounge (Jewel), SATS Premier Lounge (T1 to T3), Plaza Premium Lounge (T1), Marhaba Lounge (T1 & T3) and Blossom Lounge (T3 & T4). |
HSBC Visa Infinite Credit Card
It’s easy to see why the HSBC Visa Infinite Card is the crème de la crème of travel credit cards. Both primary and supplementary cardholders get complimentary unlimited access to any of the participating airport lounges.
This gives cardmemberss unlimited access to over 1,100 VIP airport lounges worldwide via LoungeKey, while guest charges cost just US$32 per person per visit. Other additional perks include expedited immigration clearance and airport limousine transfers.
To apply for this card, you have to earn a minimum annual income of S$120,000.
| Pros | Cons |
| Unlimited airport lounge access to over 1,100 airport lounges worldwide for both primary and supplementary cardholders with LoungeKey | Average miles earn rates for local (1.25 mpd) and overseas (2.25 mpd) spending on Year 1 |
| LoungeKey Lounges can be found in every terminal at Changi Airport. | Annual fee of S$662.15 (S$492.56 for HSBC Premier customers) |
| Examples: Changi Lounge (Jewel), SATS Premier Lounge (T1 to T3), Plaza Premium Lounge (T1), Marhaba Lounge (T1 & T3) and Ambassador Transit Lounge (T2 & T3). | No annual fee waiver option available |
| Complimentary limousine transfer and expedited immigration clearance* *Must spend min. S$2,000 within calendar month to qualify for complimentary limousine service and expedited immigration clearance |
Minimum annual income: S$120,000 |
| Up to USD 2 million complimentary travel insurance for principal cardholder and their family | |
| Free membership to ENTERTAINER with HSBC |
OCBC Voyage Card
With an annual income requirement of at least S$120,000, the OCBC Voyage Card offers unlimited airport lounge access all year round. Cardholders will receive a complimentary Plaza Premium membership that grants access to 80 airport lounges across the globe.
But don’t be dismayed by the low number – these are all VIP lounges, which means you can be assured of the highest luxury.
| Pros | Cons |
| Decent miles earn rates for local (1.3 mpd) and overseas spending (2.2 mpd), with min. S$2,000 spend per month | Annual fee of S$497.06 |
| VOYAGE Miles do not expire | Have to charge a minimum of S$60,000 to your card each year to receive annual fee waiver |
| Unlimited airport lounge access to over 130 VIP Lounges worldwide for both primary and supplementary cardholders | Airport lounge access is limited to Plaza Premium lounges |
| VIP Lounges can be found in Terminals 1, 3 and 4 in Singapore Examples: Plaza Premium Lounge (T1 & T3), Blossom Lounge (T4), and SATS Premier Lounge (T3) |
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| Complimentary airport transfer service with min S$12,000 spend per calendar quarter | |
| 24/7 VOYAGE Exchange Concierge |
Citi Prestige Card
With an annual income requirement of at least S$120,000, the Citi Prestige Card offers unlimited airport lounge access all year round. Cardholders will receive a complimentary Priority pass membership, which grants access to hundreds of airport lounges across the globe.
Not only that, the Citi Prestige Card also offers an array of premium travel and lifestyle privileges such as a complimentary night stay at any hotel or resort (min. 5D4N stay), Four Hands dining perks, up to S$1 million complimentary travel insurance coverage, 6 complimentary golf games across Asia, and more!
The only downsides to these perks are the higher annual fee and lack of annual fee waiver.
| Pros | Cons |
| No minimum spend needed to start earning miles worldwide | Relatively lower miles earn rate for local (1.3 mpd) and overseas spending (2 mpd) |
| 1 complimentary night stay when you book a minimum consecutive four-night stay at any hotel or resort with no redemption limits | Annual fee of S$545 |
| Citi ThankYou Points do not expire | Airport lounge access is limited to Priority Pass membership |
| Exclusive Four Hands Dining privileges | No complimentary annual fee waiver |
| Unlimited airport lounge access to over 1,400 Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide for both primary cardholders and one guest | Airport limo transfers have high minimum spend requirement |
| Priority Pass lounges can be found in every terminal at Changi Airport. Examples: Changi Lounge (Jewel), SATS Premier Lounge (T1 to T3), Plaza Premium Lounge (T1 & T2), Marhaba Lounge (T1 & T3) and Blossom Lounge (T4), Ambassador Transit Lounge (T2 & T3) |
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Up to S$1 million complimentary travel insurance coverage when you charge full travel fare to card - Specifically covers personal accident, death & permanent disability, overseas medical expenses, and travel inconvenience benefits |
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2 complimentary airport limousine transfers per quarter with minimum S$12,000 spend within same quarter |
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| 6 complimentary golf games at top-notch golf courses across Asia: 3 games in Singapore and 3 games regionally (Malaysia, Indonesia, and China) | |
| 24/7 VOYAGE Exchange Concierge | |
| Complimentary Sands LifeStyle membership upgrade to Prestige tier when you present card at any Sands LifeStyle Counter at MBS | |
| Mastercard®️ World Elite travel and dining benefits |
Compare and apply for the best air miles credit cards on SingSaver
Now that you know which credit cards offer complimentary airport lounge access, why not get rewarded when you sign up for a credit card?
Comparing credit cards with the most generous air miles rates has never been simpler at SingSaver. In fact, when you apply with us, you'll enjoy the best rewards, prices, and offers, always!
Besides complimentary airport lounge visits, air miles cards can offer a lot more if you know how to turbocharge their use to travel further, faster and cheaper.
Still unsure of which credit cards to apply for? Compare the best credit cards in Singapore with our simple comparison tool and get rewarded with exclusive promotions and gifts today!
Before flying off to your next adventure, be sure to compare and get the best travel insurance for your trip!
Frequently Asked Questions about Airport Lounge Access
What's the big deal about airport lounges?
Airport lounges offer a range of complimentary facilities like WiFi, reading or sleeping pods, shower rooms, charging power outlets, and of course, food, snacks and drinks, which can include a wide range of alcohol, juices and soft drinks. Airport lounges are a great pitstop for every kind of traveller. If you’re travelling for work or about to go on a long-haul flight, it is a great place to freshen up, recharge and do some work or reading.
If you’re on holiday, you can review your travel plans over food and drinks and start your holiday on the right note. If you’re in transit and between flights, it’s also a great place to spend a few hours in comfort, catching up on some sleep or just resting.
Do I flash my credit card to enter the airport lounge?
This depends on the type of airport lounge and the credit card. For example, with the HSBC Visa Infinite Credit Card, you are required to present your primary or supplementary card and boarding pass to the lounge operator.
Some credit cards partner with airport lounge programmes, which each run their own chain of lounges. Common ones are Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, SATS lounge and Dragon Pass. For most of these lounges, you will be invited to join the particular airport lounge programme a few days or weeks after you sign up for a participating credit card.
It might take a few weeks to process your membership, so don’t apply for a credit card the night before you fly off. Membership is usually on an annual basis. In other cases, such as the SIA KrisFlyer Ascend, you will receive airport lounge vouchers which you present at the front desk of the lounge before entry. You might also be asked to present your credit card and boarding pass.
Remember that each bank will issue you a separate Priority Pass, and your free visits are tied to an individual card – so don’t mix them up! Label your cards carefully and note down how many visits you have used on each.
Also, check if your free visit entitlement is renewed each membership year (i.e. the anniversary on which your lounge pass was issued) or each calendar year (i.e. 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022). The majority of banks award free lounge visits by membership year, although Citibank’s PremierMiles cards award free visits based on the calendar year.
Can I bring a guest?
Yes, but every accompanying guest will be considered as one visit. For example, bringing a guest with you on your Citi PremierMiles Priority Pass would use a total of 2 visits.
Higher-end cards like the OCBC VOYAGE allow you to bring a guest for free, and cards like the HSBC Visa Infinite issue a Priority Pass for supplementary cardholders that carries the same unlimited visits.
It’s standard policy to count any child above the age of two as an additional visit, but there is no hard and fast rule about enforcement. Some places will close one eye; others will insist on sticking to the letter of the law.
Do I have to pay the annual fee?
For most cards, yes, you will have to pay the annual credit card fee to enjoy the privilege of complimentary airport lounge access. Some credit cards waive the annual fee for the first year (and you still receive the complimentary airport lounge vouchers or complimentary annual membership ), but from the second year onwards, you will have to pay the annual fee in order to receive the same airport lounge privileges again.
How much do I have to pay to enter a Priority Pass lounge?
If you have used up your complimentary Priority Pass access for the year, a one-time entry fee of US$27 will be payable to enter the lounge.
If I am flying Economy Class, can I still use the Priority Pass lounge?
Yes, you can! You may enter the lounge as long as you hold a credit card that offers complimentary Priority Pass access.
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SingSaver Team
At SingSaver, we make personal finance accessible with easy to understand personal finance reads, tools and money hacks that simplify all of life’s financial decisions for you.