Here’s a positive development that will make the process of accessing Priority Pass lounges even easier.
In this post:
You no longer need a Priority Pass card
Priority Pass is the world’s largest network of airport lounges, with over 1,300 locations around the world. There are several premium credit cards that offer memberships as a perk, with registration being required for activation. Even though credit cards offer this as a perk, historically your credit card as such hasn’t gotten you access to Priority Pass lounges.
That’s to say that you needed to register for a Priority Pass membership, and then show your Priority Pass membership card (or the digital version in the Priority Pass app) to access a lounge. That’s no longer needed, at least for one card. Per an email from Priority Pass:
You can now enter locations in the world’s leading airport lounge program, Priority Pass, with your payment card!
How to activate your payment card as a means of access
Log in to your online account at prioritypass.com, and the payment card associated with your Priority Pass account will automatically be activated for you to use to enter lounges.
Activation of your payment card to access airport lounges and experiences is not currently available in the Priority Pass app.
Please allow 12 hours for the activation to take effect. Some locations are unable to accept payment cards for entry, see the full list here, and remember to have your Digital Membership Card or alternative means of access available.
In other words, you’ll now be able to access Priority Pass lounges by presenting your premium credit card at the entrance. The catch is that I’m told that for the time being this is only possible with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review) (Rates & Fees), and not with other cards.
I’m curious if Capital One is paying extra for this (so that people keep the card in their wallet), or why this is just limited to that card for now. Hopefully other cards get a similar option in the future.
Is this a significant development?
This seems like a positive, common sense development, though it’s also important to understand what this does and doesn’t mean.
You still need to register your premium credit card to be able to use it at Priority Pass lounges, so this doesn’t suddenly mean that you can use your credit card at a Priority Pass lounge without actually having registered it.
There are a few things I see as the primary benefit of this change:
- Some of us have a hard time keeping track of which Priority Pass card is from which credit card issuer, so that problem is solved if you’re using the credit card as such; this matters for credits at Priority Pass restaurants
- Personally I’ll keep traveling with some of my Priority Pass cards, since it’s noted that “some locations are unable to accept payment cards for entry,” and I also wonder how well lounge agents will be trained on this development
- Where I see the most value here is for family members and friends who don’t enjoy traveling with dozens of cards in their wallet (I know, what’s wrong with them?!), or who easily lose or misplace their Priority Pass cards; this solves that issue
Bottom line
Those with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card can now use their payment card to directly access Priority Pass lounges, rather than having to use the Priority Pass app or membership card. I’d say that’s a great development, because for many it will translate to one less card to carry around.
Anyone happy to see this improvement from Priority Pass?
Yeah I get a bunch of priority pass cards in the mail and I don’t know which credit card they go to/entry rules. I’ve asked at the lounge and they say they don’t know it depends on the card. Some get 2 visits a year, some unlimited. I pretty much just don’t go to those lounges as a result.
I haven't physically carried my PP card - ever. It's on my phone and has always worked. :)
I don’t know what logging in really accomplished. My cards on file in my details already. I found it funny that the bottom of the details page I your account has a check box to acknowledge that you must always present your PP card when accessing a lounge. LOL We have our physical card and it’s in our iPhone wallets so not really a plus for us.
Just add the PP card to your Apple Wallet and be done with all of this. You always have your phone handy to check in. Sorry Android users
Let's not fight about Android vs iPhones. The country already has enough fighting from Roe vs Wade. A problem that has no single correct answer.
By the way, people who already uses digital credentials doesn't really need to care much about the change.
Don't worry Ray we've had that option for about 7 years, we get everything about 3 years before you. 5g, 120Hz (oh right you still don't have that, lol)
Great news but I foresee a problem in international locations where there may be a communication problem because of not knowing that the card also gives the member access.
I have Priority Pass with multiple cards but have only activated one - is there a point to keeping track of multiple PP memberships?
I applied for this card one week before the 100k points were pulled. I registered for PP upon receipt of cc. The PP welcome package came in the mail two-three weeks later. I will continue to use the physical card until Capitol One discontinues the physical card usage and forces everyone to use the digital card. In event of power outage or computer glitch, a digital card will become useless. I always carry physical card...
I applied for this card one week before the 100k points were pulled. I registered for PP upon receipt of cc. The PP welcome package came in the mail two-three weeks later. I will continue to use the physical card until Capitol One discontinues the physical card usage and forces everyone to use the digital card. In event of power outage or computer glitch, a digital card will become useless. I always carry physical card or hard copies of all reservations if we happen to go back to the good old days unexpectedly. But I won't use cc for entry mainly because PP staff may accidentally charge me and it is a hassle for call in for a refund.
Figured I'd go ahead and register this while I have a minute. Lo and behold, creating an account on PP's website requires a validation code that was included in a letter when you got your welcome kit. Which in my case means it's prob in a drawer somewhere in one of three different locations, none of which I'll be near anytime soon. No other means of verification. LOL, ok then.
Anyways, I think PP...
Figured I'd go ahead and register this while I have a minute. Lo and behold, creating an account on PP's website requires a validation code that was included in a letter when you got your welcome kit. Which in my case means it's prob in a drawer somewhere in one of three different locations, none of which I'll be near anytime soon. No other means of verification. LOL, ok then.
Anyways, I think PP has helped me out maybe once in all my travels, when I used the Avianca lounge at BOG. Which wasn't that great, tbh. Hopefully more useful for others!
This introduces a significant risk of the credit card being mistakenly charged for entry.
This is great! At some point, can’t remember which city, I couldn’t figure out my Priority Pass login password, and it was a nightmare trying to reset it. I ended up just giving up, and not going to the lounge. This will be a huge relief for idiots like me!
When I log in to my accounts, the Capital One Venture X has this option, while the USB Reserve and AMEX Platinum don't. Guess it's card dependent? Anyway I feel digital card is much easier.
Ditto. Have PP via AMEX Platinum and I see nothing about this after logging into the PP site.
I'm afraid I'm not all that excited by this development -- it doesn't really matter which card I can use when the lounge is full and I can't enter:-(
No sign of this on the PP website that I can see. Maybe it's a US-only thing?
I’m one of the people who still carries the physical card because I’m concerned I’ll run into a lounge that doesn’t take the digital card!
Great news but I'm going to hold off for now. My concern especially when there's a language barrier is that the agent will think I want to pay for one-time access and charge my CC.
Wasn't this the distinguishing feature between Priority Pass and LoungeKey? (You don't need to create an account or carry a seperate card with Lounge Key, your Credit Card is enough)
I'm also surprised more people don't use the digital card that shows up in the Priority Pass/LoungeKey app, they just scan the QR code and let you in.
I wonder if this is also a move to introduce swipe card readers at the entrances to open the doors and thus saving a receptionist salary.
Ben, the business card impact on your score post link does not work.
I don't see this making much of a real impact.
Agreed. In theory, Priority Pass Select members will no longer need to carry their stand-alone PP cards to enter a lounge. In reality, most will anyway since they are unsure as to whether their credit card alone will actually work (to enter lounges). Maybe it will help in 2023 if/when there are enough data points and reports that vouch that this new method works.