Priority Pass members can access over 1,400 airport lounges
Priority Pass members can access over 1,400 airport lounges. Photo: Adobe Stock.

Access to airport lounges was traditionally an exclusive perk of flying Business Class or holding elite airline status. But even if you’re not a frequent flyer, you can enjoy access to airport lounges around the world with the right credit card or by buying a Priority Pass membership.

Great Credit Cards with Priority Pass Lounge Benefits

American Express Platinum Card
Earn
2.25

American Express Membership Rewards (Ascent Premium) Points on everyday purchases

Signup Bonus

200,000 bonus Membership Rewards points

Apply by 09th Apr 2024

Annual Fee
$1,450 p.a.
Read the guide
St.George Amplify Rewards Signature
Earn
1.5

Amplify Rewards Points on everyday purchases

Signup Bonus

150,000 Amplify Rewards Points

Apply by 31st Jul 2024

Annual Fee
$199 in the first year, $295 p.a. ongoing
Read the guide

Priority Pass members have access to more than 1,400 airport lounges in six continents. The real beauty is that you can use the lounge regardless of your class of travel or the airline you’re flying – you just need a same-day boarding pass to get into the lounge. (By comparison, Qantas Club or Virgin Lounge membership only gets you into their lounges when flying with certain airlines.)

Priority Pass lounge network

Priority Pass boasts an impressive network of over 1,400 airport lounges. For example, you’ll find lounges in Singapore, Bali, Auckland, Nadi, Dubai and London Heathrow, to name just a few airports. Most are third-party and contract lounges, rather than airline-specific lounges – although some airline lounges are also included.

At the time of writing, there are 14 Priority Pass lounges located in Australia. These include all three of the Rex domestic lounges, the Aspire Lounge in Perth’s domestic Terminal 2, and 10 international lounges. Note that “The House” lounges have a $20 surcharge for premium lounge services.

The Aspire Lounge in Brisbane recently opened in the previous location of Virgin Australia’s “My Lounge”, in the international terminal. On 20 June 2023, Australia’s Plaza Premium lounges also re-joined the Priority Pass network.

The Adelaide Plaza Premium Lounge
The Adelaide Plaza Premium Lounge. Photo: Matt Graham.

Here’s the full list of current Priority Pass lounges in Australia:

AirportLounge
AdelaideRex Lounge (domestic)
Plaza Premium Lounge (international)
BrisbanePlaza Premium Lounge (international)
Aspire Lounge (international)
MelbourneRex Lounge (Terminal 4)
Marhaba Lounge (Terminal 2)
The House (Terminal 2)
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 2)
PerthAspire Lounge (Terminal 1 – int’l)
Aspire Lounge (Terminal 2)
SydneyThe House (Terminal 1)
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1)
Rex Lounge (Terminal 2)
Plaza Premium arrivals lounge (Terminal 1 – landside)
Aspire Lounge at Perth T2
Aspire Lounge at Perth T2. Photo: Swissport.

Priority Pass restaurant vouchers

Priority Pass also partners with various airport restaurants, cafés and bars. In lieu of a lounge visit, members can claim an AUD36 credit at selected eateries in the domestic terminals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Canberra airports. Priority Pass has also just added Castle Hill Cafe in Townsville Airport.

Plus, there are restaurant locations in the international terminals in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. That means you could get a free meal every time you fly from one of these airports!

City Hill Coffee, Canberra Airport
City Hill Coffee at Canberra Airport participates in Priority Pass.

At the time of writing, Priority Pass members can access food and beverage credits at the following Australian airport locations:

AirportRestaurant
BrisbaneThe Common (domestic)
Merlo Caffe (domestic)
Graze Grill & Bar (domestic)
Mezza Za Za (domestic)
Corretto Cafe & Bar (international)
CanberraCapital Brewing Co Taphouse
City Hill Coffee
Noodles XO
Gold CoastWollumbin
MelbourneCafe Sol (Terminal 2)
Bar Pulpo by MoVida (Terminal 2)
Urban Provodore (Terminal 2)
Biggie Smalls (Terminal 3)
Quikshots (Terminal 4)
PerthCoffee Quarter (Terminal 4)
Hatchery Collective Bar & Grill (Terminal 4)
SydneyPeroni Bar (Terminal 1)
Mach 2 (Terminal 1)
Bistro Bar 2020 (Terminal 2)
The Fat Yak (Terminal 2)
Wok on Air (Terminal 3)
Bar Roma (Terminal 3)
TownsvilleCastle Hill Cafe

Please note that this list is subject to change at any time.

Unfortunately, this benefit is not available to Priority Pass members who received complimentary membership via an American Express credit card. But paid-up Priority Pass members and those with membership through a Citibank Prestige card continue to receive this benefit.

Membership levels

There are three Priority Pass membership options:

  • Standard
  • Standard Plus
  • Prestige

Standard membership (USD99/year) entitles you to access any affiliated lounge for a fee of USD35 per visit, while Standard Plus membership (USD329/year) includes 10 annual lounge visits.

Prestige members (USD469/year) receive unlimited Priority Pass lounge access for a whole year. This can be quite a good deal if you’re flying a lot.

By signing up through Australian Frequent Flyer, you can receive 20% off Standard membership or 10% off Standard Plus membership for the first year.

Priority Pass membership fees via AFF (2023)
Priority Pass membership fees via AFF.

All Priority Pass members can bring one guest with them into the lounge for an additional USD35 per visit.

Complimentary Priority Pass membership via credit cards

Rather than buying membership directly, some Australian credit cards offer complimentary Priority Pass membership as an included perk!

Amex Platinum, Amex Centurion and Citi Prestige cardholders enjoy complimentary Priority Pass Prestige membership. This comes with unlimited airport lounge access for the cardholder plus one free guest per visit! This is a great benefit, although note that Amex cardholders are not eligible for airport restaurant credits.

The following Australian credit cards also offer complimentary Standard Priority Pass membership plus two included annual lounge visits (subsequent visits are charged at USD35 each):

  • Westpac Altitude Rewards Black
  • St.George Amplify Rewards Signature
  • Bank of Melbourne Amplify Rewards Signature
  • Bank SA Amplify Rewards Signature
  • Citi Premier
  • Citi Premier Qantas

The BOQ Specialist Signature card, costing $400/year and available to certain industry professionals, comes with Standard Priority Pass membership and four included annual visits. BOQ Specialist Signature cardholders can also bring a guest for free into the lounge with each included visit.

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 70 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.
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