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If you’re considering a new credit card, frequent travelers may benefit from using a credit card with Priority Pass. Depending on the airport you happen to be in, you may be able to access lounges in the Priority Pass network. That could give you a welcoming lounge to relax, work, game, or even sleep in, plus food, drink, and other perks when traveling.

However, since there are different levels of access with Priority Pass, it’s important to understand what exactly the program offered involves, and whether it may make sense to become a member. Finding the right credit card can involve considering a variety of factors, so arm yourself with this intel.

What Is Priority Pass?

Priority Pass is a company offering a network of over 1,400 airport lounges, restaurants, and other services in 148 countries. Different features at qualifying airport lounges include free drinks and food, wifi, spa treatments, showers, and sleeping areas.

You can join Priority Pass with an annual membership, with different access tiers based on how often you travel. Some credit cards — typically luxury travel ones — offer free Priority Pass membership just for being a cardholder. That can make your time preflight or during a layover feel like a posh experience.

Depending on your membership, you may be able to bring guests free of charge into lounges.

Benefits of Priority Pass

There are an array of credit card rewards, such as cash back vs. miles. Here, a closer look at what you’ll enjoy if you get Priority Pass with your credit card.

Airport lounges within the Priority Pass network are popular with travelers because there are no requirements to access them other than being a member vs. some lounges that require you to fly with a certain airline on a specific class to gain access. Other benefits include worldwide access, luxury amenities, and complimentary food and drink. Here’s a closer look.

Airport Lounges

There are over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, with many offering access within three hours of your flight. Though specific features differ between lounges, you can typically expect perks like complimentary food and beverages, wifi access, comfortable seating, workstations, and alcohol at select lounges. Some airport lounges may even allow you to pre-book or reserve lounge access so you’re guaranteed a spot when you arrive.

Restaurant Access

Priority Pass members also have access to a network of restaurants at select airport terminals. You will receive a credit to go towards a meal at participating restaurants, which can be a great way to save money on food. Depending on where you dine, there may also be promotional offers on occasion. Any amount you spend over the credited amount you will need to pay out of pocket. To receive the credit, you’ll typically present your Priority Pass card to a restaurant staff member and your boarding pass information.

Private Suites

How’s this for a perk? Select airports also offer private sleeping areas for you to rest, helpful if you’re between long haul flights. Most commonly, you’ll access through Minute Suites available at select locations. Members receive access to a private room which may include blankets, a workstation, white noise machine, and a daybed sofa if you want to take a nap.

Game Lounges

Some Priority Pass locations also offer lounges with gaming features. Called Game Space, these are locations where members can relax and play at various gaming stations with offerings for different ages. This might help time seem to pass a little more quickly before your flight.

Free Guests

Priority Pass members can take guests into lounges with them, often without an additional fee. Children are also allowed and may either count as an additional guest or be allowed in completely free of charge.

Recommended: How Do Credit Card Payments Work?

Why Get a Priority Pass Credit Card

Getting a credit card with Priority Pass access opens you up to a possible better travel experience than if you were to travel without lounge access. Many credit cards offer Priority Pass Select, a membership tier offering you access to certain airport lounges, restaurants and other experiences through the Priority Pass network.

You don’t need to pay an additional membership fee — your credit card’s annual fee typically should suffice. Priority Pass memberships can run up to several hundred dollars per year. If your credit card annual fee is around the same price, it may be worth it signing up for a card that offers Priority Pass as part of its rewards, especially if you can access other perks that more than offset the cost.

Examples of Credit Cards that Offer Priority Pass Membership

Credit card reward offers and perks can change quite often. Currently, these are among the credit cards that offer Priority Pass membership:

•   Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

•   Chase Sapphire Reserve

•   Citi Prestige Card

•   The Platinum Card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, both from American Express

•   Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Card

Recommended: Guide to Automated Credit Card Payments

Pros and Cons of Paying for Priority Pass vs as a Priority Pass Credit Card Perk

There are both benefits and drawbacks to paying for Priority Pass membership yourself or getting on through

Pros

First, consider the advantages of getting Priority Pass as a credit card benefit.

•   Squeeze value out of card: Getting a credit card with Priority Pass membership included can help you to maximize the value of your card. As you evaluate credit card rewards, you want the benefits to more than offset the fees you pay.

•   Save on travel costs: Even if you don’t spend much time in airports, you can save money when traveling with the free meals feature at select Priority Pass restaurants.

Cons

Next, consider the potential disadvantages of getting Priority Pass with your credit card.

•   Fees: No matter if you have a credit card with airport lounge access or pay for a Priority Pass membership out of pocket, you probably have to pay an annual fee one way or another to gain access.

•   Charged for guests: Depending on the membership tier (even for memberships attached to a credit card), you could be charged for each guest that enters with you. If you’re using your membership that’s included with your credit card, you may want to ask if guests are free, or else you may get a “surprise” charge on your next statement. This can be important when traveling on a budget as a family too.

•   Select benefits: Not all Priority Pass memberships are the same. Ones attached to credit cards may change at any time, so you’ll need to ask what is included and what’s not. For example, some restaurants may not offer perks or discounts if you hold a certain credit card.

Priority Pass Tips

There are several ways to get the most out of your Priority Pass membership, whether or not you pay for it out of pocket or get one through a credit card.

•   To enroll out of pocket, head to the Priority Pass website and select the membership tier you want, and pay for the annual fee. You will need to provide details such as your name and address. Once paid, Priority Pass will send your membership card in the mail — you can activate the card online.

•   If you signed up for a credit card with Priority Pass access, you will also need to activate it. Depending on your credit card, you may need to activate your membership by first logging into your credit card account and selecting the correct link to follow the appropriate prompts.

Other tips to get the most out of your Priority Pass membership include:

•   Look up lounges in advance: When planning your flight itinerary and comparing airfare options, it can be wise to look at what layovers are available to you. If flights with similar itineraries are around the same price, consider booking one with better lounge access during your layover. Also check what lounge access you may have when coming back on your return flight. Some airports may also have more than one lounge, so pick one that seems like the best fit.

•   Prebook when possible: Some locations allow you to reserve a spot at an airport lounge. If it’s during peak travel season or you want to guarantee a place, pre-booking can increase the chances you don’t have to wait.

•   Check to see what benefits you have: Priority Pass Select memberships can vary, so it’s better to check ahead to see what you get. Same goes even if you’re paying for a different membership tier out of pocket.

•   Check benefits for authorized users: Some credit cards with Priority Pass memberships don’t allow authorized users the same access, whereas some do.

The Takeaway

Getting a credit card with Priority Pass membership can be beneficial, but only if you use this perk. You may also pay a higher annual fee since luxury credit cards are typically the only ones offering this type of benefit. If you’re not a frequent traveler, you may be better off with another credit card. You could likely pay out of pocket for the occasional use of a lounge.

Whether you're looking to build credit, apply for a new credit card, or save money with the cards you have, it's important to understand the options that are best for you. Learn more about credit cards by exploring this credit card guide.

FAQ

What is the advantage of having a Priority Pass?

Priority Pass can make spending time in airports more comfortable and affordable. Having Priority Pass allows you access to over 1,400 airport lounges, restaurants, and services in over 148 countries.

Do you need your credit card with Priority Pass?

In most cases, you don’t need your credit card when accessing a Priority Pass lounge. You will need your membership card and your boarding pass.

Does Priority Pass give you free lounge access?

Yes, Priority Pass can give you free lounge access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally.

Photo credit: iStock/jacoblund

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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Women have more financial power than ever before — 45% of them earn more or as much as their husbands, they currently control more than $10 trillion of the total U.S. household financial assets, and they may control trillions more in the ongoing transfer of wealth between generations. In 2023, women’s purchasing power added billions to the economy — or “she-conomy,” as it was dubbed. Women ages 25 to 54 also made historic gains in the labor market in 2023, and they were primary contributors to its strength, according to research from the Brookings Institution.

Yet there’s one thing many women aren’t doing with all their monetary might: investing. An eye-opening 64% percent of women have never invested, SoFi’s 2024 Women and Finances Survey found. That’s 17% more than the number of men (47%) who have never invested.

This investment gender gap could have serious repercussions for women now and in the future. Investing can be an important tool to help build wealth. The sooner an individual begins investing, the more time their money has the potential to grow. Almost half (48%) of female investors say their biggest regret is not investing sooner, according to another 2024 survey by SoFi. And because women outlive men by about six years, their money needs to last longer.

So why aren’t women investing? And what can be done to reverse this troubling trend? Read on to learn about the obstacles holding women back, and ways they can break through and start investing (literally!) in their future.

Women’s Financial Priorities vs Financial Realities

*Priorities for next two-to-three months.

Source: SoFi 2024 Women and Finances Survey

First, let’s be clear: It’s not that women aren’t interested in investing. They are! In fact for 2024, their financial priorities are similar to men’s, per the Women and Finances Survey findings. The desire to save for retirement and invest more money is nearly equal between the two genders.

And when they do invest, women tend to employ longer-term strategies and therefore tend to get better returns.

Where the difference between the two genders comes into play is what men and women are actually doing with their money. In the short-term, women are focused on keeping up with their living expenses, while men are more likely to invest and save for retirement.

Source: SoFi 2024 Women and Finances Survey

There are a number of reasons women aren’t investing, no matter how much they might want to.

1. The Confidence Conundrum

For many women, uncertainty about investing, and how good they might be at it, is holding them back. Women worry they don’t know enough about investing to get started. Nor do they feel confident about making investments — 43% say they don’t have the confidence to do it “right.”

Source: SoFi Survey, March 2024

Even when women do take the plunge and start investing, they still feel unsure of themselves. Only 57% of female investors think of themselves as investors. The rest believe they don’t have the experience to be considered investors.

That may be because women have a very specific view of what an investor is — typically as finance professionals or individuals who are extremely experienced and savvy about the investing process and the stock market.

Women’s lack of confidence extends beyond investing. They also have doubts about how well they’re managing their money overall compared to men.

2. The Wage Gap Still Exists

Another investment obstacle for women: Having the money to invest. While their financial power has grown, especially in the last few years, women continue to earn less than men do. For every $1 men earn, women earn just 82 cents — and this number has barely budged in 20 years, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center.

Source: Pew Research Center

It stands to reason that when you’re not earning as much, you may not have extra money to invest. As noted above, in a March 2024 SoFi Survey, 53% of women said they aren’t investing because they don’t have the funds to do so.

3. Women Worry About the Future More, But Still Invest Less

Financial worries about the future weigh on women’s minds. For many, achieving their goals feels like a long-shot. For example, 58% of women worry their money won’t last through their retirement.

Yet women are less likely than men to understand how investing now could help them reach those goals, and they don’t invest as much in the stock market and for retirement as men do. For instance, while men invest 28% of their income for retirement, women invest just 19%.

Source: SoFi 2024 Women and Finances Survey

4. The Fear Factor

It’s tough to invest money if you’re worried you’re going to lose it, and that’s a very real financial fear women grapple with. Thirty-two percent say the reason they don’t invest is the concern that they’ll lose their money or make a bad investment.

That may explain why women are investing significantly less than men in the stock market — 38% of women have invested less than $2,000, compared to 27% of men. And 25% of men have $50,000 or more invested in the markets vs. 14% of women.

Source: SoFi 2024 Women and Finances Survey

When women do invest, they are typically more conservative in their investment choices, and their portfolios are not as diversified as men’s are.

Source: SoFi 2024 Women and Finances Survey

💡 Quick Tip: It’s smart to invest in a range of assets so that you’re not overly reliant on any one company or market to do well. For example, by investing in different sectors you can add diversification to your portfolio, which may help mitigate some risk factors over time.

Closing the Investment Gap

Now for the good news: Women have strengths and innate advantages that can be harnessed to work in their favor. We know that female investors are great investors. For instance, as noted above, women tend to get better returns on their investments as a result of leveraging longer-term strategies.

Plus, the fact that women are more conservative in their investing strategies than men is not necessarily a bad thing. It typically means they are less likely to act impulsively or to exceed their risk tolerance.

The trick is for them to get started with investing. And investing for women begins, of course, with money. Almost half of women say the biggest investment motivator is not wanting to live paycheck to paycheck, which is true of men, as well.

Source: SoFi 2024 Women and Finances Survey

How You Can Start Investing

Tapping into your personal motivation is key. Whether it’s building up your savings, putting together enough money for a house, or building your retirement nest egg, make that your North Star and begin working toward that goal. And remember, it’s never too late (or too early) to start. Here’s how to do it:

Make a plan.

Setting your financial goals can help you determine when you might need the money, which in turn can affect how you invest and what you invest in. This is the foundation of your plan: a goal, a timeline, and your initial questions about which investments are best for your situation.

Get smart.

Understanding how the market works can help women feel more confident about investing. But women can’t do it alone. One of the most important things in your investing journey is finding like-minded people who can have those “let’s figure it out” conversations with you. It’s also an easier way to learn the language around investing, and become familiar with how to buy stocks and other investment options. You can also talk to a financial advisor if you feel it would be helpful. Knowledge is power.

Save more.

Having enough money to invest is a major impediment for women. But know this: No amount is too small to invest. If your employer offers a 401(k), enroll in it and contribute as much as you can. Aim to contribute at least enough to get your employer’s matching contribution, which is, essentially, “free” or extra money. Many investment options will allow you to contribute smaller amounts if you set up an automatic transfer or contribution to the investment account.

Make your first investment.

Open a brokerage account and/or an IRA if you’re saving for retirement choose what to invest in, whether it’s stocks, mutual funds, or exchange-traded funds (ETF).

Commit to the plan.

Once you’ve started investing, keep at it. The more you do it, the more confident and capable you’re likely to feel. And you’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing you’re taking concrete steps to help secure your financial future.

Invest in what matters most to you with SoFi Active Invest. In a self-directed account provided by SoFi Securities, you can trade stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, options, and more — all while paying $0 commission on every trade. Other fees may apply. Whether you want to trade after-hours or manage your portfolio using real-time stock insights and analyst ratings, you can invest your way in SoFi's easy-to-use mobile app.

For the SoFi 2024 Women and Finances Survey we surveyed 636 SoFi paid product members across the U.S. A paid product member is anyone with an open account with SoFi. Gender was self-identified through the survey. 314 women, 280 men, 13 gender non-conforming, and 29 preferred not to identify.

For the March 2024 SoFi Survey, we surveyed 1,500 women with a household income of $100K+ and at least some college completed.

Photo credit: iStock/Hiraman

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.