Latest news with #loungeaccess
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Chase Sapphire Reserve For Business Vs. Amex Business Platinum
Both cards offer broad lounge access, but with some important differences in networks and guest policies. The Amex Business Platinum provides access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes over 1,400 lounges worldwide. This expansive network includes Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, Lufthansa Lounges and Priority Pass lounges (after enrolling in Priority Pass Select). Guest access varies by lounge. For example, cardholders can bring up to two guests for free when visiting Priority Pass, Plaza Premium or Escape lounges. However, unlocking complimentary guest access to Centurion Lounges requires spending $75,000 or more in eligible purchases per calendar year. Otherwise, they'll be charged $50 per adult guest and $30 per child (ages 2–17). The Sapphire Reserve for Business includes access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club network, Priority Pass Select lounges (1,300-plus locations) and over 20 Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Cafes when flying on a Star Alliance carrier. The primary cardholder can bring two guests per visit at no cost to Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club and Priority Pass lounges and one complimentary guest to the Maple Leaf Lounges. Travel Credits The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business comes with a few valuable travel credits, including. $300 annual travel credit. This is automatically applied toward a wide range of travel purchases paid with your card, including flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and more. This is automatically applied toward a wide range of travel purchases paid with your card, including flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and more. $500 credit for stays with The Edit by Chase Travel. Get up to $250 biannually for prepaid bookings at The Edit hotel collection. Plus, get perks like daily breakfast for two, a $100 property credit and room upgrades when available when you book a two-night minimum stay. Get up to $250 biannually for prepaid bookings at The Edit hotel collection. Plus, get perks like daily breakfast for two, a $100 property credit and room upgrades when available when you book a two-night minimum stay. Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Credit. Get a statement credit every four years for application fees charged to the card. Amex Business Platinum offers a different set of travel credits, including: Up to $200 annual Hilton statement credit. Get up to $50 quarterly in statement credits for purchases made directly with Hilton properties (enrollment in the Hilton for Business program is required). Get up to $50 quarterly in statement credits for purchases made directly with Hilton properties (enrollment in the Hilton for Business program is required). $199 CLEAR® Pluscredit. Receive up to $199 annually in statement credits for CLEAR® Plus membership fees. Receive up to $199 annually in statement credits for CLEAR® Plus membership fees. $200 annual airline fee statement credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 per calendar year in credits for incidental fees such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 per calendar year in credits for incidental fees such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments. Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit. Get a statement credit every four years for Global Entry or every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck for application fees charged to the card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. Chase's $300 annual travel credit stands out here as one of the easiest to use. It applies automatically to a broad range of travel purchases without requiring enrollment or specific vendors. By comparison, the Amex Business Platinum's credits for Hiton and airline fees take more effort to activate and use. Still, they can add up to meaningful savings for the right cardholder. Travel Protections The Amex Business Platinum and Business Sapphire Reserve both offer robust travel protections including auto rental coverage ¹ , lost luggage insurance ² , trip cancellation and interruption insurance and trip delay insurance ³ . However, the Sapphire Reserve for Business takes things to the next level by offering primary coverage for rental cars (while the Business Platinum's coverage is secondary) and adding baggage delay insurance, roadside assistance and emergency medical and dental coverage. The Sapphire Reserve for Business is the clear winner in this category. Hotel and Rental Car Perks The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business includes IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status through the end of 2027. It also offers special benefits with Avis, Hertz, National and Audi on Demand. With the Amex Business Platinum, cardholders can enroll to receive complimentary Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy . The card also offers premium status with Avis, Hertz and National.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
American Express Platinum Card Gets Major Refresh To Attract Younger Cardholders
American Express announced plans to overhaul its Platinum Card, targeting millennial and Gen Z consumers with expanded lounge access and enhanced dining benefits. The refresh will roll out in fall 2025. It represents Amex's largest-ever investment in updating a card product and comes at a critical time when younger generations already account for 35% of the company's total U.S. consumer spending. According to Howard Grosfield, Amex Group President of U.S. Consumer Services, the company aims to take the Platinum Card 'to a new level, not only in what they offer in travel, dining and lifestyle benefits but also in how they look and feel, to meet the evolving needs of our customers.' The move comes more than four years after Amex's last major Platinum Card update in 2021. This previous update added numerous benefits and raised the annual fee to $695. Airport lounge access remains a cornerstone of the Platinum Card value proposition, with Amex poised to open three new Centurion Lounge locations within the next year. This expansion will bring its premium lounge network to 32 locations worldwide, reinforcing Amex's first-mover advantage in the airport lounge space that began over four decades ago. Amex specifically highlighted dining programs as a key focus area for the refresh, likely aiming to appeal to younger cardholders who prioritize culinary experiences. While specific details remain under wraps until fall, industry observers expect enhanced restaurant reservation services, expanded dining credits, and potential new partnership with popular food delivery platforms that resonate with Gen Z spending habits. The timing of Amex's announcement appears deliberately calculated to counter Chase's heavily promoted upcoming Sapphire Reserve refresh. With Capital One's Venture X card also recently updated, 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for premium credit card competition. Beyond digital benefits, Amex specifically mentioned changing how the Platinum Card 'looks and feels,' suggesting a physical redesign is coming. This aesthetic update could appeal particularly to image-conscious Gen Z members who view their payment methods as status symbols and extensions of personal brand identity. The exact details of the refreshed benefits package remain confidential until the official fall announcement. Still, the company's emphasis on capturing younger premium cardholders signals a strategic pivot as American Express works to ensure its flagship product remains relevant to evolving consumer post American Express Platinum Card Gets Major Refresh To Attract Younger Cardholders appeared first on Travel Noire. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Capital One to Curb Lounge Access for Some Cardholders
Capital One is tightening access to its exclusive airport lounges, no longer allowing all premium credit cardholders to extend free entry to additional cardholders and guests. Starting early next year, Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders will no longer have this perk to offset the card's nearly $400 annual fee. In its email announcing the changes to customers on Tuesday, Capital One cited the popularity of its lounges — which feature chef-curated menus, specialty cocktails and relaxation amenities — and the ensuing long waits to enter. Lounge access for each additional cardholder will now cost $125 annually on a Venture X or Venture X Business account, and the cost for guests will hinge on how much credit card users spend. Cardholders and authorized users who spend more than $75,000 a year can continue to bring two guests to the lounges and one guest to the bank's Landings locations, which are a lounge-restaurant hybrid, for no additional fee. Those who don't meet this threshold will pay $45 per adult guest and $25 for each guest 17 years old and under. Children under 2 will remain free. 'We thought carefully about these changes, and we remain committed to delivering a differentiated premium travel card for our customers,' a bank spokesperson said in an emailed statement. While Venture X Business cardholders will still be allowed to bring two guests to Priority Pass lounges — a separate network of exclusive lounges in which Capital One participates — with no additional fees, Venture X cardholders will pay $35 per guest to get in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Daily Telegraph
What is a Priority Pass for lounge access at the airport and is it worth it?
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Rip off or the real deal? I'm travelling to Europe in a few months and don't have lounge access or status. I'd like to get into a lounge for my trip. Is Priority Pass worth it? If you're going to spend a bit of time in airports over a 12 month period, but don't have a ticket or status that gets you into a lounge, Priority Pass can be a good option. Even if you're only travelling a few times in a year, it can make sense if lounge access is non-negotiable for you. Let's break it down. What is Priority Pass? It's your ticket to 1,700 lounges in 600 cities and 145 countries including Australia. The program works as an annual membership which grants you lounge access over a 12-month period. Most Priority Pass lounges offer drinks, snacks, free Wi-Fi and somewhere comfortable to sit. Some offer hot buffets, complimentary spa services and even the ability to fast-track you through the immigration queue. If an airport doesn't have a lounge or you feel like something different, Priority Pass offers a $36 food and drink credit at selected restaurants and bars. For example, if you're killing time in Melbourne's domestic airport, you can have a pint at the Stomping Ground Brewery and Beer Hall, or pop into Luke Magnan's Luke's Bistro & Bar at Terminal 2 in Sydney. Lounge access can be a godsend during airport delays. How much does it cost? There are three membership tiers starting at US$99 ($154) all the way up to US$469 ($730). For the standard membership tier, every time you go into a lounge, you'll pay US$35 ($54) and an additional US$35 for a guest. As the tiers progress, you have more freebies into terms of member visits. Membership to Priority Pass can go on sale on occasion so sign up to the newsletter to stay in the loop. For those holding premium credit cards, Priority Pass often comes bundled as a benefit, which can offset the cost entirely. Cards like the American Express Platinum, Westpac Altitude Rewards Black or Amplify Signature offer complimentary Priority Pass membership. Certain credit cards include Priority One access. Cons It isn't without drawbacks. For one, not all lounges are created equal. Some are small and may have limited amenities or space, particularly during peak hours. Another issue is access restrictions. Even as a member, you might be turned away from a lounge that is at capacity. This can be frustrating particularly if you planned to rely on the lounge for a meal or to rest. If your travel is infrequent, the annual fee might not be justified. For casual travellers, the pay-per-visit costs may outweigh the benefits unless each trip is lengthy or includes significant wait times. Pros One of the biggest draws of Priority Pass is its global reach. Whether you're flying out of Sydney or transiting through Singapore, chances are there's a participating lounge nearby. For frequent international travellers, particularly business travellers or those with long layovers, this access can be a game-changer. It's all so much more civilised in the airport lounge. Is it worth it? Priority Pass can be a smart investment for those who travel often, especially internationally. The peace, comfort and convenience it offers can significantly improve the travel airport lounges internationally will generally cost more than a membership, Priority Pass offers a solid alternative. If your credit card includes it for free, it's a no-brainer. If you're paying out of pocket, assess how often you're planning to travel and whether you need lounge access on your trips. Ultimately, it comes down to your needs, budget and travel style. Have a question about points? Drop Sabine an email at escape@ Personal replies are unfortunately not possible. Originally published as What is a Priority Pass for lounge access at airports and is it worth it?
