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The Best Credit Cards to Get You into the Top Airport Lounges All Over the World

Imagine this: you’re about to take a 17 hour flight across the world, and you’re too cheap to splurge on anything more than an economy class seat. Not to fret, there’s still a way to experience a life of luxury before the flight. Just imagine hours of relaxation with Wi-Fi access, refreshments, shower facilities, even a fish spa! And believe it or not, it won’t cost you anything extra. All you need is to have one of these credit cards.

Here are the best credit cards to get you into the best airport lounges in Singapore and across the globe.

1. Citibank PremierMiles Visa Signature

citi-premier-miles-card
citi-premier-miles-card

Citibanks’s best air-miles card gets you a complimentary Priority Pass membership worth US$99, along with 2 complimentary passes every 12 months worth US$54.

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As a Priority Pass member, you get access to over 700 VIP lounges in hundreds of cities worldwide. These include 11 lounges in Changi Airport alone, including The Haven by JetQuay and the SATS Premier Lounges in all three terminals. However, only two of those visits will be free each year. Your guest can use one of those two passes. All subsequent visits and guests will be charged at US$27 per guest, per visit.

Also, as a Visa cardholder, you get to purchase Priority Pass membership for others at a significant discount. It’s 35% off for the Standard Membership and 25% off the Standard Plus Membership (which gives you 10 visits free a year) and the Prestige Membership (which gives you unlimited access).

To be eligible for the Citibank PremierMiles Visa Signature, you need to earn at least $50,000 a year and the annual fee is $192.60. If you are interested, you can apply here.

2. DBS Altitude Visa Signature

dbs-altitude-visa-card
dbs-altitude-visa-card

Like the Citibank PremierMiles Visa Signature, gets you a complimentary Priority Pass membership worth US$99, along with 2 complimentary passes every 12 months worth US$54.

As a Priority Pass member, you get access to over 700 VIP lounges in hundreds of cities worldwide. These include 11 lounges in Changi Airport, including the Airport Wellness Oasis in Terminal 1 and the Ambassador Transit Lounges in T2 and T3. However, only two of those visits will be free each year. All subsequent visits will be charged at US$27 per visit.

Unfortunately, unlike the Citibank card, you won’t be able to share these complimentary passes with a guest. At least, that’s what the terms and conditions say. Here’s the next best thing – as a Visa cardholder, you can get to purchase Priority Pass membership at a significant discount. So share the love!

To be eligible for the DBS Altitude Visa Signature, you need to earn at least $50,000 a year and the annual fee is $192.60. If you are interested, you can apply here.

3. HSBC Visa Infinite

hsbc_visa_infinite
hsbc_visa_infinite

Like the Citibank PremierMiles Visa Signature, the HSBC Visa Infinite also gets you a complimentary Priority Pass membership. Unlike the Citibank card, this membership is the Prestige Membership worth US$399. It gives you unlimited free access to all the 700 VIP lounges under Priority Pass. Not only that, but all your supplementary cardholders get Priority Pass’ Prestige Membership too. That’s an insane amount of luxury.

Of course, it needs to be said that the HSBC Visa Infinite card is targeted at high rollers and thus is by invitation only. Unlike other exclusive credit cards in Singapore though, the relatively low annual fee of $488 means it’s actually worth your time, especially if you already do private banking with HSBC.

4. American Express KrisFlyer Ascend

amex-krisflyer-ascend-card copy
amex-krisflyer-ascend-card copy

Amex’s flagship air-miles credit card surprisingly isn’t on the Priority Pass programme. However, they do give you complimentary access to the very cushy SATS Premier Lounge, located in all three terminals at Changi Airport, as well as 11 Plaza Premium Lounges all over the world including China, India, Canada, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Of course, it must be said that you only get 4 complimentary passes each year. That’s twice the number of complimentary passes as Citibank or DBS’s card, but considering the limited number of lounges, it seems like an unbalanced trade-off.

To be eligible for the Amex Krisflyer Ascend, you have to be earning $50,000 a year and the annual fee is $256.80.

5. ANZ Travel Visa Signature

ANZ-TRAVEL-CARD
ANZ-TRAVEL-CARD

Last but definitely not least, the ANZ Travel Visa Signature gives you unlimited lounge access to all Style & Concierge – Veloce Lounges. There’s none of that complimentary pass nonsense. Just flash your ANZ Travel Visa Signature to enjoy the facilities.

In Singapore, you get access to the Airport Wellness Oasis in Terminal 1. That’s the one with the complimentary fish spa as well as other facilities to help you relax before and after a long haul flight. You also get access to the Ambassador Transit Lounge in Terminal 3, which provides bedrooms, a gym and a free-flow bar – if you’re willing to pay a little extra, of course.

To be eligible for the ANZ Travel Visa Signature, you have to be earning $60,000 a year and the annual fee is $200. If you are interested, you can apply here.

Have you been to any of the airport lounges mentioned in this article? Give us your feedback!

The post The Best Credit Cards to Get You into the Top Airport Lounges All Over the World appeared first on the MoneySmart blog.

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