Want to get inside the airport lounge? Use these
There’s a way to make travelling less tiring and hassle-free: A break at an airport lounge. Find out how you can gain access to these spaces – which provide solitude and a relaxing time before a long flight – even on an economy class ticket.
Let’s start with the Priority Pass: A Priority Pass membership lets you access more than 600 airport lounges in over 100 countries, regardless of the class of ticket or airline you’re travelling in. You can take one guest with you, and you’ll have full access to Wi-Fi, conference rooms, complimentary newspapers and magazines, drinks and snacks, entertainment facilities, showers and beds, and the comfort to catch up on work. But to purchase this alone would cost US$99 to $399 annually for travellers in Singapore.
Then again, you can still avail of these perks at airport lounges even if you’re an economy class passenger. You just have to check which cards offer them.
Citibank Premier Miles card
This gives you a personalised Priority Pass membership card, with complimentary access to the members-only lounges globally twice a year. The card also allows you to earn two Citi Miles with every overseas $1 spent, and 1.2 Citi Miles with every local $1 spent. Upon card renewal, you will be given an additional 10,000 bonus Citi Miles to redeem flights from over 50 airlines, among others.
DBS Altitude Visa Signature card
On top of a Priority Pass membership, cardholders can also choose from an array of 48 international airlines. For the first S$2,000 spent, you earn 1.2 miles per $1, and subsequently every 1.6 miles for every additional dollar spent in the month. You also get butler services to help you plan vacations, organise dinner reservations, and arrange car rentals in most countries. You can seek help finding lawyers, interpreters and medical assistance too.
HSBC Visa Infinite Card
Somewhat similar to DBS’s card, HSBC’s also provides lifestyle butlers for special requests, as well as one-way limousine transfers to the airport. It offers an expedited immigration clearance in major airports within Asia, plus private check-in at JetQuay Terminal (an elite airport terminal at Changi Airport). You also earn up to 2.5 miles for every dollar spent.
ANZ Travel Visa Signature Card
Talk about travelling in (wallet-conscious) style: Cardholders enjoy Priority Pass access to worldwide airport lounges, an additional two complimentary passes for the SATS Premium Club lounge and Rainforest lounge, as well as a complimentary airport limo departure transfer. You also earn 2.8 miles with every $1 spent overseas, and 1.4 miles spent locally.
Krisflyer Elite Gold card
Cardholders can gain access to Star Alliance Gold lounges worldwide, as well as Virgin Australia lounges in Australia where they can bring in one guest. They also have access to SilkAir lounges where available, regardless of the class in which one travels. Members also enjoy priority boarding and priority airport standby when flying with Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, Virgin Atlantic and Star Alliance airlines.
