One of the things I always look forward to when traveling is visiting airport lounges. As someone who frequently fly economy class, I can’t visit airline lounges. So, my only option is to visit contract lounges.
Over the years, I’ve been accumulating cards that give free visit to airport contract lounges. I decided to make this compilation for me to plan what card I should be getting.
If you also love airport lounges and don’t usually fly Biz/First, I hope this article can serve as a useful guide for your own travel hacking plan.
| CREDIT CARD | ENTITLEMENT | PARTICIPATING LOUNGE |
|---|---|---|
| Income: SGD 30,000/yr | ||
| 1. Citi PremierMiles | 2 per calendar year | Priority Pass lounges |
| 2. DBS Altitude Visa | 2 per membership year | Priority Pass lounges |
| 3. ANY Diners Club Cards | 1 per calendar year | Diners Club lounges |
| 4. Maybank Horizon Visa Signature | 1 per month if you spend 1k within 3 months before travel | Selected lounges |
| Income: SGD 50,000/yr | ||
| 5. American Express Singapore Airline KrisFlyer Ascend | 4 per membership year (upon paying annual fee) | SATS Premier Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges |
| Income: SGD 80,000/yr | ||
| 6. Standard Chartered Visa Infinite X | 2 per membership year | Priority Pass lounges |
| Income: SGD 120,000/yr | ||
| 7. CIMB Visa Infinite | 3 per membership year | DragonPass lounges |
| 8. OCBC VOYAGE | Unlimited | Plaza Premium |
| 9. HSBC Visa Infinite | Unlimited (main & supp cardholders) | LoungeKey |
| 10. Citi Prestige | Unlimited (main cardholder + 1 guest) | Priority Pass lounges |
| Income: SGD 150,000/yr | ||
| 11. UOB Visa Infinite Metal | 4 per membership year | DragonPass lounges |
| 12. Standard Chartered Visa Infinite | 6 per membership year | Priority Pass lounges |
| 13. Maybank Visa Infinite | Unlimited (upon paying annual fee) | Priority Pass lounges |
| 14. AMEX Platinum Charge | Unlimited (main & supp cardholders + 1 guest each) | Centurion Lounge, International Amex Lounges, Priority Pass, Delta SkyClub, Plaza Premium |
| For SME Business Owners (Income: SGD: 30,000/yr) | ||
| 15. AMEX SIA Business Credit Card | 2 per membership year | Priority Pass |
| By invitation only | ||
| 16. UOB Lady’s Solitaire | 6 per membership year | Lounge Key |
1. Citi PremierMiles Card
Income Requirement: S$30,000 (Singaporean/PR) or S$42,000 (Foreigner) a year
Annual fee: S$180+GST (You’ll get lounge access benefit regardless of whether your annual fee is paid or waived)
Entitlement: 2 visits per calendar year (1 January to 31 December, regardless of when you signed up for the card)
Participating Lounges: All lounges under Priority Pass Network
Bring guest: You can bring guest(s). Each guest visit will be counted as 1 visit.
Extra visit charges: US$32 per person per visit
How to redeem: Register for a Priority Pass account and you’ll get a digital membership card. Present this digital card when you check in to a lounge as well as your credit card and boarding pass.
My review: Citi PremierMiles Card Review
Welcome offer for Citi PremierMiles:
- Option 1: Get 8,000 Citi Miles when you spend S$800 within 2 full calendar months after the end of that first month of card approval, valid till 31 Jan 2024.
- Option 2: Get 30,000 Citi Miles when you spend S$800 within 2 full calendar months after the end of that first month of card approval, AND pay annual fee for the first year, which will be charged in the first month upon approval. Valid till 31 Jan 2024.
- Option 3: Get an Apple iPad 9th Gen 10.2″ Wifi 64GB (worth S$508.30), or Dyson Supersonic (worth S$699), or Dyson V8 Slim Fluffy (worth S$509), or S$300 cash upon activating and spending (min. S$500 spend) within 30 days of card approval. Valid till 18 Jan 2024.
2. DBS Altitude Visa Card
Income Requirement: S$30,000 (Singaporean/PR) or S$45,000 (Foreigner) a year
Annual fee: S$180+GST (You’ll get lounge access benefit regardless of whether your annual fee is paid or waived)
Entitlement: 2 visits per membership year
Participating Lounges: All lounges under Priority Pass Network
Bring guest: You can bring guest(s). Each guest visit will be counted as 1 visit.
Extra visit charges: US$32 per person per visit
How to redeem: Register for a Priority Pass account and you’ll get a digital membership card. Present this digital card when you check in to a lounge as well as your credit card and boarding pass.
Welcome offer for DBS Altitude:
- Option 1: Get S$150 cashback when you key in the promo code 150CASH during application and spend a minimum of S$800 within 60 days of card approval. Valid till 31 Jan 2024.
3. ANY Diners Club Cards
Income Requirement: S$30,000 (Singaporean/PR) or S$80,000 (Foreigner) a year
Annual fee: S$180+GST (You’ll get lounge access benefit regardless of whether your annual fee is paid or waived)
Entitlement: 1 visit per calendar year
Participating Lounges: All lounges listed on Diners Club Lounge page (you need to enter the airport name, you can’t see the entire list)
Bring guest: Guest will be charged the prevailing walk-in rate
Extra visit charges: S$34 plus tax per person per visit
How to redeem: Present your Diners Club credit card and boarding pass when you check in to a lounge. Remember, your card should not be charged when you redeem the lounge access, if a lounge asks you to sign for a transaction, that lounge is not following the correct procedure.
4. Maybank Horizon Visa Signature
Income Requirement: S$30,000 (Singaporean/PR), S$45,000 (Malaysian) or S$60,000 (Foreigner) a year
Annual fee: S$180+GST (You’ll get lounge access benefit regardless of whether your annual fee is paid or waived)
Entitlement: 1 visit per month if you spend at least 1k in a single transaction within 3 months before travel
Participating Lounges: Ambassador Transit Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport and
Plaza Premium Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Hong Kong
International Airport.
Bring guest: Free visits are not transferrable to guest. Guest will enjoys 20% off walk-in rates for lounge access at participating Plaza Premium Lounge outlets.
Extra visit charges: S$42 plus tax per person per visit. This price is also applicable for those without an Eligible Retail Spend Transaction
How to redeem: Present your credit card and boarding pass when you check in to a lounge
Full list of lounges and T&Cs
5. American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card
Income Requirement: S$50,000 (Singaporean/PR), S$60,000 (Foreigner) a year
Annual fee: S$340.20 inclusive of GST (You’ll only get lounge access benefit if you pay for annual fee)
Entitlement: 4 visits each membership year
Participating Lounges: Any participating SATS Premier Lounge in Singapore and Plaza Premium Lounge around the world.
Bring guest: You can bring guest(s). Each guest visit will be counted as 1 visit.
Extra visit charges: Prevailing rate
How to redeem: Present your lounge access voucher, credit card and boarding pass when you check in to a lounge
Full list of lounges and T&Cs
Read my review: AMEX SIA KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card (The Black Card)
Welcome offer (you will get ALL of the things listed below by applying here by 28 February 2024):
- Get 15,400 KrisFlyer miles upon annual fee payment AND spending S$3,000 in the first 2 months. If you’re new to Amex, you get additional 10,000 KrisFlyer miles. (In other words, new Amex customers get 20k miles while existing Amex customers get 10k miles.)
- Get a complimentary night stay each year at participating Hilton Properties in Asia Pacific
- 5,000 KrisFlyer miles the very first time you charge to your Card (for first-time Amex users)
- 1,000 KrisFlyer miles when you spend a minimum of S$1,000 in the first month of Card Membership if you sign up with my link (only for new sign-ups)
- 3,600 KrisFlyer Miles from your S$3,000 spending (1.2mpd * 3,000 spending = 3,600 miles)
6. Standard Chartered Visa Infinite X
Income Requirement: S$80,000 a year; Priority/Private Banking customers have lower income requirement
Annual fee: S$702 inclusive of GST (Annual fee is strictly NOT waivable)
Entitlement: 2 visits per membership year
Participating Lounges: All lounges under Priority Pass Network
Bring guest: You can bring guest(s). Each guest visit will be counted as 1 visit.
Extra visit charges: US$32 per person per visit
How to redeem: Register for a Priority Pass account and you’ll get a digital membership card. Present this digital card when you check in to a lounge as well as your credit card and boarding pass.
Welcome offer:
- 30,000 Miles upon card activation and paying of annual fee
7. CIMB Visa Infinite
Income Requirement: S$120,000 a year; Applicants with $50K Fixed Deposit collateral have lower income requirement
Annual fee: None
Entitlement: 3 visits per membership year
Participating Lounges: All lounges under Dragon Pass Network
Bring guest: Free visits are not transferrable to guest. Cardmember will have to pay directly to DragonPass by using the “Add Visits” function on the DragonPass’ Airport Companion app.
Extra visit charges: US$31 per person per visit
How to redeem: Register for DragonPass digital membership card via the DragonPass’ Airport Companion app. Present this digital card when you check in to a lounge as well as your credit card and boarding pass.
Welcome offer: Get a Flujo BEA Ergonomic Office Chair (worth S$509) or Fujifilm INSTAX mini Evo (worth S$309) or S$280 cash upon activating and spending min. S$988 for 60-day periods following card approval. Valid till 31 Jan 2024. Apply here.
8. OCBC VOYAGE
Income Requirement: S$120,000 a year
Annual fee: S$492.50 (inclusive of GST) with free 15,000 VOYAGE Miles; or S$3,240 (inclusive GST) with free 150,000 VOYAGE Miles
Entitlement: Unlimited
Participating Lounges: Any participating Plaza Premium Lounge around the world. List here.
Bring guest: Free visits are not transferrable to guest. Accompanying guests are charged at prevailing rate.
How to redeem: Present your credit card and boarding pass when you check in to a lounge.
9. HSBC Visa Infinite
Income Requirement: S$120,000 a year
Annual fee: S$656.08 (inclusive of GST); or S$492.56 for HSBC Premier customers
Entitlement: Unlimited visit for main cardholder and supplementary cardholder
Participating Lounges: All lounges under LoungeKey Network
Bring guest: Free visits are not transferrable to guest. Accompanying guests are charged at US$32 per person per visit.
How to redeem: Register for HSBC Visa Infinite LoungeKey account. Present your credit card and mention LoungeKey when you check in to a lounge as well as your boarding pass.
FAQ
10. Citi Prestige
Income Requirement: S$120,000 a year
Annual fee: S$540 (inclusive of GST). Annual fee is usually not waivable.
Entitlement: Unlimited (for main cardholder and 1 guest)
Participating Lounges: All lounges under Priority Pass Network
Bring guest: Only 1 guest can enjoy free visit. Additional guests are charged at prevailing rate.
How to redeem: Register for a Priority Pass account and you’ll get a digital membership card. Present this digital card when you check in to a lounge as well as your credit card and boarding pass.
11. UOB Visa Infinite Metal
Income Requirement: S$150,000 a year
Annual fee: S$600+GST
Entitlement: 4 visits per membership year
Participating Lounges: All lounges under Dragon Pass Network
Bring guest: You can bring guest(s). Each guest visit will be counted as 1 visit.
Extra visit charges: US$31 per person per visit
How to redeem: Register for DragonPass digital membership card via the DragonPass’ Airport Companion app. Present this digital card when you check in to a lounge as well as your credit card and boarding pass.
12. Standard Chartered Visa Infinite
Income Requirement: S$150,000 a year; Priority/Private Banking customers have lower income requirement
Annual fee: S$550+GST
Entitlement: 6 visits per membership year
Participating Lounges: All lounges under Priority Pass Network
Bring guest: You can bring guest(s). Each guest visit will be counted as 1 visit.
Extra visit charges: US$32 per person per visit
How to redeem: Register for a Priority Pass account and you’ll get a digital membership card. Present this digital card when you check in to a lounge as well as your credit card and boarding pass.
13. Maybank Visa Infinite
Income Requirement: S$150,000 a year
Annual fee: S$600 (inclusive of GST), first year free. Annual fee will be waived if spending is more than S$60K a year (From second year, you’ll only get lounge access benefit if you pay for annual fee or you meet the minimum spending of S$60K a year)
Entitlement: Unlimited
Participating Lounges: All lounges under Priority Pass Network
Bring guest: Free visits are not transferrable to guest. Accompanying guests are charged at US$27 per person per visit.
How to redeem: Register for a Priority Pass account and you’ll get a digital membership card. Present this digital card when you check in to a lounge as well as your credit card and boarding pass.
14. AMEX Platinum Charge
Income Requirement: S$200,000 a year
Annual fee: S$1,728 (inclusive of GST). Annual fee is usually not waivable.
Entitlement: Unlimited (for main cardholder, supplementary cardholder, and 1 guest each)
Participating Lounges: The Centurion Lounge, International American Express Lounges, Priority Pass (Enrolment required), Delta SkyClub, Plaza Premium The Airport Lounge
Bring guest: Main cardholder and supplementary card holder can bring 1 guest each to enjoy free visit. Additional guests are charged at prevailing rate.
How to redeem: To access Priority Pass lounges, you need to register for a Priority Pass account and you’ll get a digital membership card which you need to present during check-in. For other lounges, when you check in to a lounge, present your credit card and boarding pass.
15. Amex SIA Business Credit Card
Income Requirement: S$30,000 a year
Annual fee: S$301.79 (inclusive of GST)
Entitlement: 2 visits per membership year
Participating Lounges: All lounges under Priority Pass Network
Bring guest: You can bring guest(s). Each guest visit will be counted as 1 visit.
Extra visit charges: US$32 per person per visit
How to redeem: Register for a Priority Pass account and you’ll get a digital membership card. Present this digital card when you check in to a lounge as well as your credit card and boarding pass.
My review: Review: AMEX SIA Business Credit Card (AMEX HighFlyer)
16. UOB Lady’s Solitaire Metal
Income Requirement: undisclosed – by invitation only
Annual fee: S$593.50 (inclusive of GST)
Entitlement: 6 visits per membership year
Participating Lounges: All lounges under LoungeKey Network
Bring guest: Free visits are not transferrable to guest. Accompanying guests are charged at US$32 per person per visit.
Extra visit charges: US$32 per person per visit
How to redeem: Register for Mastercard Airport Experiences from LoungeKey website or app. Present your Mastercard and mention LoungeKey when you check in to a lounge as well as your boarding pass.
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