Let’s face it, a trip to the airport isn’t always the most relaxing experience. But Citibank cards with lounge access have historically offered customers the chance to escape to plush lounges in airports around the world.

Who wouldn’t want to trade in the noisy crowds and uncomfortable seating for a chance to relax in luxurious lounges designed with comfort in mind? We’ll reveal how to find the best Citibank credit cards with Airport Lounge access and what each has to offer.

Does CitiBank have Credit Cards With Airport Lounge Access?

agent checking passport and boarding pass of a businessman

Unfortunately, they don't offer many at the moment, as Citi discontinued many of their travel perks during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, however, CitiBank has begun reintroducing a few select cards with premium travel perks.

But while it's no longer hard to find a Citibank credit card that offers bonus miles or in-flight savings, those that come with airport lounge access or Admiral’s Club membership are still incredibly rare.

Currently, only one U.S.-based Citibank card includes access to airport lounges in the form of a complimentary Admiral’s Club membership. But Citi does offer another program that grants access to non-airport-based Citi Lounges and business centers around the world.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that the company also offers cards with airport lounge access in select international countries. Let's take a look at the few Citi cards that come with the chance to enjoy lounge access during your travels.

Which CitiBank Cards have Airport Lounge Access?

girl standing in airport reading boarding pass

If you live in the U.S., then your options for Citibank cards with lounge access currently begin and end with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

The offers complimentary membership to the elite American Airlines Admiral's Club. With 50 lounge locations and partner lounges worldwide, an Admiral’s Club membership would usually run you up to $650.

In this respect, a free membership covers the card’s $450 annual fee with room to spare. Admiral’s Club lounges include perks such as free snacks and drinks, business centers, shower suites, and more.

It may come as no surprise that this card is only available to customers with very good to excellent credit. But if you travel with AA a great deal, then this may be worth looking into. The card also includes perks such as:

  • Up to 50,000 American Express bonus miles when you spend $5,000 within the first 3 months.
  • 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
  • 1 mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
  • Priority check-in, screening, and free first baggage check on domestic AA flights for cardholders and up to 8 travel companions
  • Complementary $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit every 5 years
  • Priority boarding on AA flights and 25% in-flight discounts
Pros
  • The free Admiral’s Club membership is a great value in itself
  • Many other travel benefits also apply to up to 8 travel companions
Cons
  • $99 annual fee
  • 20.99% - 29.99% variable APR
  • Rewards for everyday purchases are underwhelming
  • Very good or excellent credit score required

Citibank Non-Credit Cards With Lounge Access

Businesswoman using mobile phone
in airport lounge

While Citibank is not currently pushing airport lounge access as a feature for hardly any of their credit cards, they do have another interesting option for CitiGold members.

CitiGold is an integrated banking and wealth management service. It’s designed for customers who can maintain a combined average monthly balance of a minimum of $200,000 between their banking, investing, and retirement accounts.

With no monthly service fee, Citigold is not a bad way to go if you want to manage all your finances in one place. You can also earn a statement credit if you apply for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, which we broke down above.

CitiGold members enjoy a wide range of different perks, including access to 100 CitiGold lounges and Client Centers around the world. What’s important to note, however, is that these are not necessarily airport lounges.

They are more business centers that offer things like complimentary Wi-Fi, coffee, and refreshments. On the other hand, Citi Lounges are beautifully designed and offer access to meeting centers and other amenities that you can use throughout any trip.

CitiGold members also enjoy a number of other travel perks, as well as a CitiGold Culture Pass, which offers complimentary and discounted tickets to many museums and other cultural institutions.

Pros
  • Great solution for all-in-one banking, retirement, investing, and optional credit
  • No monthly fees
  • Access to Citi Lounges and Client Centers
  • Plenty of great travel and lifestyle perks
Cons
  • Must maintain a combined monthly balance of $200,000 across accounts
  • Citi Lounges are not necessarily located in airports and are more business centers

International CitiBank Cards With Airline Access

6
Visit site

Although CitiBank doesn’t currently offer many credit cards with airline access in the USA, it does offer a number of them in other countries. If you are located outside of the U.S. or enjoy dual citizenship, then here are some Citi cards worth looking into.

Credit Cards Available In Lounge Access Additional Perks
Citi PremierMiles Card  India Up to 8 visits per year to lounges across India Welcome bonus of up to 10,000 Miles. 20% dining at select restaurants. Earn rewards of 10 miles / Rs.100 on airline transactions. Earn 4 miles / Rs.100 on all other purchases
Citi Prestige Credit Card  India Unlimited access to over 1,300 Priority Pass lounges Welcome bonus of up to 2,500 points. 1 point/Rs 100 spent on local purchases, 2 for international purchases. 4 complimentary rounds of golf at India’s leading courses. 1 complimentary night during a 4-night hotel stay at any hotel across the world
Emirates-Citibank Credit Card Australia Free access to 1,000 + Lounge Key locations 3 different cards to choose from. Perks range from complimentary golf and valet parking to discounts on cinema tickets
Citi Rewards and Premier Cards  Bahrain Unlimited free access to 1,100 airport lounges Points are redeemable for flights, cash, or shopping vouchers. Discounts on partner restaurants throughout the Kingdom of Bahrain

How do you know which Lounge you can Access With your Credit Card?

Joyful girl in sunglasses with map leaning on cabriolet car while happily taking photos on cellphone with passport in hand

If you’ve managed to get lucky enough to find a Citibank credit card with complimentary lounge access, then you’ll want to see exactly which lounge the card is associated with. If you’re a U.S. customer, then this shouldn’t be difficult, as the only Citibank card with airport lounge access is currently linked to the Admiral’s Club.

Simply head over to the AA Admiral’s Club website for a full list of locations and information. You’ll also want to read over the fine print on the Citi website or get a more straightforward overview of benefits directly from the Admirals Club.

If you’re a CitiGold member, then you’ll want to check the CitiGold Lounge website for a list of locations around the world. Select your location from a drop-down menu or narrow things down by entering a city or neighborhood.

How to Use Citibank Airport Lounge?

Photo happy young couple buying online using laptop a computer and a credit card in their luxury home villa

What you’ll need to gain access to the lounge offered by your Citi card will also depend on its partner lounge. To gain access to the Admiral’s Club with your Citi / AAdvantage Executive credit card, you’ll need the following:

  • Your valid Citi / AAdvantage Executive credit card
  • A valid, government-issued photo ID
  • Your same-day boarding pass for an AA flight or any flight operated by Oneworld Airline or JetBlue (JetBlue flights to or from Europe excluded)
  • Immediate family members or up to 2 guests will also enjoy access. All guests must be accompanied by the authorized cardholder and present proof of same-day travel.

To gain access to CitiGold Lounges, you’ll also need to present a valid photo ID as well as your current CitiGold debit card or other proof of status.

For information on access to other lounges, visit:

Is it Worth Paying for Lounge Access?

photo portrait of female commuter with digital tablet sitting in waiting area

This will highly depend on how much you travel, as well as your preferred airline. If you are a U.S. customer who is considering a Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, then you may want to take a look at how many Admiral’s Club locations there are in the countries you travel to most frequently.

For instance, here’s a list of locations in the United States.

City and Airport Admiral’s Club Lounge
Anchorage, AL (ANC) Alaska Lounge
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Alaska Lounge
New York, NY (JFK) Alaska Lounge
Portland, OR (PDX) Alaska Lounge
San Diego, CA (SAN) Aspire Lounge
Seattle, WA (SEA) Alaska Lounge – Concourse C
Alaska Lounge – North Satellite
Alaska Lounge – Concourse D

Certain regions, such as the South Pacific and Europe, offer a much wider selection of Admiral's Club lounges. But you’ll also find locations in Asia, South America, and the Middle East. lean

If you are not a frequent flyer or don’t tend to lean toward American Airlines, then it’s definitely worth taking a look at Citi’s other credit card offerings. While a free Admiral’s Club membership is a great perk if you use it, Citi has other cards that offer much more generous travel rewards.

The Citi Premier® Card, for instance, comes with a much lower annual fee of $95 and a current welcome bonus of up to 60,000 points when you spend at least $4,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

Citi Premier® Card
Citi Premier® Card Visit site

APR: 20.99% - 28.99% (Variable)

You’ll earn 3 point for every dollar you spend at:

  • Restaurants
  • Supermarkets
  • Gas Stations
  • Air Travel
  • Other Hotels

CitiBank may not have a lot to offer in the way of free airline lounge access at the moment, but it’s always worth checking back for upcoming offers. Hopefully, as regular travel continues to resume, Citi will begin offering more cards that allow customers to escape the airport crowds during their next journey.

Post ID: 6z77gvlK1 Category ID: wA4qPBD

The responses below are not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any financial entity or advertiser. It is not the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Comments0 comments

Your comment was sent and will soon be posted.