I’m a sucker for a good travel rewards card. Over the years, I’ve collected a small handful of them — not because I love juggling annual fees, but because the right cards can save you a lot of money on flights, hotels, and travel perks you’d otherwise pay out of pocket for.

Not only do I have a bunch for my personal expenses but I have a couple for this business too. One of my favorite business credit cards is the Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card. It’s Capital One’s top-tier business product. I love it because there’s a big welcome offer, lounge access to over 1,300 airport lounges, annual travel credits, and a simple 2x reward on all spending (which ensures you are always earning multiples miles per dollar spent).

To help you decide if this card is for you, here’s my full review of the card and why I love it so much:

 

What is the Capital One Venture X Business Card?

The Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card is a travel rewards card issued by Capital One. It comes with a $395 annual fee that is way lower than the other premium business cards out there. And I think you can easily get way more value than the annual fee costs. Here’s a quick look at the main perks:

• 150,000 miles after spending $30,000 in the first 3 months
• 2 miles per $1 on all purchases, no category restrictions
• 5× miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• 10× miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• $300 annual travel credit (through Capital One Business Travel)
• Every year, you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date.
• Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass lounges, after enrollment
• Up to $120 statement credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry
• No foreign transaction fees

 

Using Your Capital One Miles

Capital One miles can be redeemed in a few ways. One is by booking travel directly through Capital One’s portal. While I usually don’t recommend booking through credit card portals, to fully benefit from the Venture X’s travel credit (and to get the 5x and 10x miles offers) you’ll need to use their portal.

Another option is to use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase. For 90 days after making such a purchase, you can reimburse yourself at a redemption rate of one cent per mile. After 90 days, and for all other purchases, you can use miles as cash back, at a redemption rate of 0.5 cents per mile (but avoid doing this, as it’s not a good value).

You can also use your Capital One miles in the Capital One Entertainment portal to book tickets for concerts, sports events, and more. Occasionally, Capital One offers cardholder-only events and presale opportunities too. While you’ll get just 0.8 cents per mile for tickets (not the best value), it’s still a fun and unique way to redeem miles.

However, you’ll get the most out of your miles by transferring them to Capital One’s 15+ airline and hotel partners. While the actual value varies based on what you book, you can usually find airline and hotel redemptions worth much more than the aforementioned one cent per mile. (The process is pretty straightforward and can be done through your Capital One account.)

Here are Capital One’s current travel partners:

• Accor Live Limitless
• Aeromexico Club Premier
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Choice Privileges
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Airways Guest
• EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
• Finnair Plus
• I Prefer Hotel Rewards
• Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• TAP Portugal Miles&Go
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
• Virgin Red
• Wyndham Rewards

 

Pros of the Venture X Business Card

As someone who travels constantly for work, I’m always looking for ways to earn miles faster and make airport life a little less painful. I like this card for the simple 2x miles on everything. I use a lot of other cards that can get you 3 or 4x on certain categories like advertising or non-portal travel spend like flights and hotels. But when it comes to dining, museums, transportation, etc, there’s not a lot of ways to get more than 2x per dollar spent on a business card. So, I use this Venture X for anything I can’t get more than 2x per dollar.

Here’s a deep dive into some of the main perks:

$300 Travel Credit
Each year, you get a $300 credit toward bookings made through Capital One Business Travel (flights, hotels, or car rentals). If you’re already booking travel regularly, this credit is basically free money — and it immediately drops your effective annual fee from $395 to $95.

The catch? You do have to book through Capital One’s travel portal. It’s powered by Hopper, so the interface is clean and prices are usually competitive. I’ve found some good deals there.

Lounge Access
You get access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass lounges. Capital One’s own lounges are actually great — spacious, modern, good food — though they’re still limited location. But they are expanding how many they have and I personally think they are way better than the other lounges competitor banks have. You also get Priority Pass access t o over 1,300 lounges globally, which is a common but really nice perk.

Anniversary Bonus
Every year on your account anniversary, you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles (worth about $100 toward travel). It’s a nice “thank you” that helps offset the annual fee even further.
 

Should You Get This Card?

The Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card is best for small- to medium-sized business owners who travel regularly and can put at least $30,000 to ensure they meet the welcome offer requirements.

Overall, I think the Capital One Venture X Business is one of the best-value premium business cards out there right now. It’s not as benefit-packed or as flashy as the Amex Business Platinum or the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but it’s easier to use, has a less expensive annual fee, gets you lounge access, and an easy to understand earning structure.

It’s one of the cards I use the most often for my business. I highly recommend getting it.

The Platinum Card® from American Express packs a lot of punch into its metal shell. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, given that it’s among the heaviest and most expensive of the publicly available premium cards.

While the current welcome offer alone is worth up to $3,500 (based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations) and the luxury perks — including travel credits, elite status and lounge access* — can add several hundred dollars or more a year to its long-term value, most people considering the Amex Platinum will fixate on one number: the $895 annual fee (see rates and fees).

It’s easy to make the case that the Amex Platinum can pay for itself over time, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right card for you. So, let’s look at who should — and shouldn’t — get the Amex Platinum.

*Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Key benefits

Right now, you can find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases on the card in your first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not bot be eligible for an offer.

According to TPG’s valuations, Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each, making that bonus worth up to $3,500. That’s an excellent return in and of itself.

No matter which bonus offer you get, all Platinum cardmembers enjoy the same valuable perks. To offset the annual fee, Amex offers several statement credits, with some notable ones including (enrollment is required for select benefits):

• Up to $600 hotel statement credit per calendar year on eligible Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection bookings (up to $300 semi-annually; minimum two-night stay required for The Hotel Collection)
• Up to $400 every calendar year (up to $100 each quarter) for purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. No reservation is required
• Up to $300 per calendar year (up to $25 monthly) in digital entertainment statement credits for eligible subscriptions
• Up to $200 statement credit each calendar year for airline incidental charges, such as seat assignment, lounge access and checked bag fees with a select qualifying airline
• Up to $200 in Uber Cash each calendar year in increments of up to $15 per month, plus an up to $20 bonus in December (for U.S. services). You can also use these credits to order food from Uber Eats. Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Platinum as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card
• Up to a $120 Uber One statement credit that fully covers an auto-renewing $96 annual or $9.99 monthly membership
• Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits (up to $50 semi-annually)
• Up to $120 for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: Either a $120 statement credit available every four years after you apply for Global Entry or an up to $85 statement credit available every 4½ years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck
• Up to $300 each calendar year (up to $75 quarterly) Lululemon statement credit for U.S. stores (excluding outlets) and online

The Amex Platinum also offers 5 points per dollar spent (or a 10% return based on TPG’s valuations) on airfare booked directly with the airline, as well as on airfare booked through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 per year, 1 point per dollar spent thereafter). You’ll also earn 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel (including prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings).

That’s the best return you’ll get anywhere on buying airline tickets, according to our valuations.

Frequent travelers will also appreciate that the Platinum offers the most comprehensive lounge access of any card, including a Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), Amex’s growing global collection of Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta (limited to 10 annual visits, unlimited visits can be unlocked by spending $75,000 or more on your card in a calendar year ), Aspire, Escape and select Lufthansa lounges. Enrollment may be required; access is limited to eligible cardmembers.

Rounding out the list of benefits are Gold elite status with Hilton and Marriott and Leaders Club Sterling status (enrollment is required), access to a premium concierge service, travel protections, car rental insurance*, baggage insurance** and a host of other lesser-known perks.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Who should get the Amex Platinum?

People who are over Chase’s 5/24 rule

When people come to me looking for starter card recommendations, I’ll almost always suggest either the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees).

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are slightly more valuable than Amex Membership Rewards points — TPG’s September 2025 valuations peg Ultimate Rewards at 2.05 cents and Membership Rewards points at 2 cents — and Chase’s “5/24 rule” gives me plenty of reason to recommend getting your Chase cards first.

If you aren’t familiar with this rule, it means that applicants who’ve opened five or more cards in the last 24 months across all issuers will be automatically rejected for most Chase cards. This is why you should usually prioritize Chase cards as you start building up your wallet with our best rewards credit cards.

However, after you max out your five Chase slots, what comes next? The Amex Platinum is a perfect answer, and it can even help you get more value out of your Chase points.

The other benefits of the Amex Platinum can also complement a rewards strategy that started with Chase. Unlike the Platinum card, Chase cards don’t offer Uber Cash or as many options for airport lounge access.

Related: 4 different flavors of Amex Platinum — which one is right for you?

People who will use the lounge access

If you can fully use the statement credits on the Amex Platinum each year, the out-of-pocket cost for the card goes down dramatically.

Instead of thinking about this as an annual fee you pay to Amex for the privilege of spending money on its hunk of metal, think about it as an annual lounge membership fee.

As a reminder, the Amex Platinum comes with a Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), access to Amex’s global Centurion Lounges and access to Delta Sky Clubs (but only when flying same-day Delta flights; limited to 10 annual visits, unless you spend $75,000 to unlock unlimited visits). Lounge access is limited to eligible cardmembers.

Amex currently operates Centurion lounges in more than twenty airports, making the card even more worth it if you live in or frequently transit through one of those locations.

People who stay at Hilton, Marriott or select luxury hotels

The Platinum Card provides Gold elite status with Hilton and Marriott to cardmembers, including authorized users (enrollment required).

If you don’t have Gold status or higher with these brands through other credit cards or organically through stays, Gold status with these brands provides useful benefits, including room upgrades, points bonuses, and welcome gifts.

You’ll also receive Leaders Club Sterling status from Leading Hotels of the World, a collection of luxurious independent hotels.

If you like to stay at luxury hotels, you’ll also have access to the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program as an Amex Platinum cardholder or authorized user. When you book an FHR stay, you’ll get elitelike benefits, including guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, daily breakfast for two and a unique property amenity valued at $100 or more.

Who shouldn’t get the Amex Platinum?

People under 5/24

Many people just starting in the points world underestimate the stringency of Chase’s 5/24 rule. I remember when I got my first credit card, I couldn’t imagine opening five or more cards in two years — yet I ended up opening 17 in that time frame. I estimate I lost well over $1,000 by not being eligible for an Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card during those early years.

However, once you get over 5/24, it may be hard to get back under, and there’s a massive opportunity cost in doing so. Having a plan and sticking to it will serve you well in the long term.

The information for the Ink Business Preferred has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

People who book airfare through online travel agencies

The Platinum Card provides 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 of spending each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent).

However, if you prefer to purchase airfare through online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Orbitz and Expedia, you’ll only earn 1 point per dollar spent with the Platinum Card. As a result, you’ll do better with a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees), which provides bonus earnings on air travel purchases with OTAs.

People who can’t maximize the Platinum’s statement credits

One of the main arguments in favor of keeping the Amex Platinum long-term is that its various statement credits drastically reduce the out-of-pocket cost you’re really paying.

If, for some reason, you can’t take full advantage of all of these statement credits, the math gets a little stickier. Uber Cash, for example, can only be used within the U.S., so expats like me mostly waste it. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Maybe you do not need an extra up to $200 in airline credits each calendar year — if you have elite status and all your travel is covered by points or your job, that extra money might be wasted on you, especially given the restrictions around the credits.

Carefully consider just how much these credits are worth to you; if they provide little to no value, another Amex card might be a better fit.

People who’d be better off with the Amex Business Platinum Card

Several versions of the Platinum card exist, including the personal card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Mostly, they share the same perks and benefits, but small differences might lead you to pick one or the other.

For example, the Business Platinum also has an annual fee of $895 (see rates and fees), but it doesn’t offer the same up to $200 Uber Cash each calendar year as the personal version.

It adds another bonus category, though — 2 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases in select business categories and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).

The Business Platinum also provides up to $1,150 in statement credits per calendar year for U.S. Dell purchases: up to $150 each calendar year and an additional $1,000 statement credit after spending $5,000 on Dell purchases with the same card each calendar year (enrollment required).

You can also access the Pay with Points redemption option on the Business Platinum card, which gets you a 35% bonus for eligible flights with your selected airline using your Amex points (up to 1 million points back per calendar year). This is notably not available on the personal Amex Platinum.

Bottom line

The Amex Platinum Card from American Express regularly makes the cut as one of TPG’s best travel card recommendations because of the outsize value it can provide, from the initial welcome offer to the ongoing luxury perks it offers.

However, even when a card is valuable, it might not be your best choice. You have to consider how this application factors into your long-term plans, especially as it relates to other issuers. You also have to ensure you can maximize the benefits in your life, at least enough to recoup the hefty annual fee.

The Amex Platinum can easily pay for itself through its valuable benefits and redemption options, but only if you’re able to easily and naturally use them.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.

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Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express

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For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card overview

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees) has the lowest annual fee of any Southwest Airlines credit card on the market, which is either a strength or a weakness, depending on how you look at it. While the $99 annual fee is affordable, the Southwest Plus card lacks the perks offered by its higher-priced counterparts to keep you interested past the initial welcome bonus. Card rating*:

* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

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In a hobby that feels dominated by ultrapremium credit cards with $550-plus annual fees and laundry lists of luxury perks, it’s hard to imagine that a cobranded airline credit card with a $99 annual fee might be valuable to loyal Southwest Airlines customers.

However, the Southwest Plus card does make sense for some flyers, in some cases.

This card, along with the other four cobranded Southwest cards, was recently refreshed. The Southwest Plus card refresh included expanded day-of-travel benefits and updated bonus category earnings. In addition to these changes, there was an approximate 44% annual fee increase to $99.

It’s also important to note that Southwest is in the middle of sweeping changes, including to its boarding process, bag fees and seat assignments.

We typically recommend that applicants have a credit score of 670 or above to increase their chances of approval.

Let’s look at how the Southwest Plus card and its perks measure up against its higher-end siblings.

Related: How to choose an airline credit card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Bonus points each year after your cardmember anniversary Baggage delay insurance Extended-warranty and purchase protection No foreign transaction fees	Fewer points on Southwest purchases compared to other Southwest personal cards Annual fee Limited flight redemptions

Related: Credit cards 101: The beginners guide

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card welcome offer

New Southwest Plus cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first five months from account opening.

According to TPG’s July 2025 valuations, the 100,000 points included in this welcome offer are worth $1,400. This is the highest points welcome offer we’ve seen on this card without a Companion Pass.

If you have someone who regularly travels with you, you may want to wait for an offer that includes the Companion Pass, as it can add significantly more value for you.

Keep in mind you may have the chance to earn the welcome bonus and a Companion Pass (depending on how much you spend) since you’d be 114,000* points closer to the 135,000 points needed to earn a Companion Pass.

*This total is based on the 100,000 points you’d earn from the welcome bonus, plus the additional 4,000 points you’d receive from the spending requirement and the boost of 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points you’d also earn.

Before you rush to apply for this card, there are two application rules to remember. First, the Southwest Plus card is subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened five or more new credit card accounts (from any bank, not just Chase) in the past 24 months, you likely won’t be approved for this card.

Another limitation applies specifically to Southwest credit cards. If you have any personal Southwest credit card — or earned a welcome bonus on a personal Southwest card in the last 24 months — you won’t be eligible for the bonus on this card.

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card benefits

The Southwest Plus card offers perks beyond the welcome bonus. It’s important to note that current cardholders will receive all their current benefits until Dec. 31.

You’ll enjoy the following ongoing benefits in exchange for the card’s $99 annual fee:

• Free checked bag: Receive the first checked bag for cardholders and up to eight passengers traveling on the same reservation.
• Standard seat selection: Cardholders receive complimentary standard seat selection within 48 hours of departure for you and up to eight passengers traveling on the same reservation. Given that seat selection now comes with a charge, this perk can be extremely valuable depending on how frequently you fly Southwest.
• Two annual EarlyBird Check-Ins: Receive two complimentary EarlyBird Check-Ins (for flights operating in 2025; ends Dec. 31). Given these check-ins can cost up to $99 each, using just one could potentially cover the card’s annual fee in 2025.
• Priority boarding: Cardholders receive Group 5 priority (for 2026 and beyond) for themselves and up to eight passengers traveling on the same reservation. If you have A-List status, you will be able to board with an earlier group.
• Anniversary bonus: Cardholders receive 3,000 bonus points each account anniversary year, worth $42 according to TPG’s July 2025 valuations.
• Boost of 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points annually: Cardholders receive a 10,000-point boost toward a Companion Pass each year.
• 25% inflight savings: Cardholders receive 25% back (as a statement credit) after using their card to purchase inflight drinks and Wi-Fi.
• Flight discount code: Cardholders receive one promotional 10% flight discount code each anniversary year (excluding Basic fares).

Southwest Plus cardholders will receive the following purchase and travel protections:

Earning points on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card

With the Southwest Plus card, you’ll earn:

• New: 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and grocery stores, on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per year (a 2.8% return, based on TPG’s July 2025 valuations)
• 2 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases (2.8% return)
• 2 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partners (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
• 2 points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including ride-hailing services (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
• 2 points per dollar spent on internet, cable and phone services; 2 points per dollar spent on select streaming services (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases (1.4% return)

It’s important to note that current cardholders will receive the current and new earning rates until Dec. 31.

This card now has no foreign transaction fees, so it’s a good option for making purchases abroad.

These are decent earning rates for a cobranded airline card, but the earning rate on Southwest purchases is lower than that of the other personal Southwest cards. If your main motivation for getting this card is to earn bonus points on your Southwest purchases, you’ll probably want to go with one of those instead.

Related: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?

Redeeming points on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card

Redeem the Rapid Rewards points you earn on the Southwest Plus card for Southwest flights to get the best value from them.

Rapid Rewards also offers other redemption options, including gift cards, merchandise, hotel stays, rental cars and travel experiences. However, the redemption values on these options are much lower than what you’ll get when using your points for Southwest flights.

Award pricing is tied to the cash price of the tickets. So, the number of points you need will go up or down depending on the cash price of the flight. The positive is that using your points for Southwest flights is almost always possible.

TPG Senior Director of Content Summer Hull redeemed 11,000 Rapid Rewards points to travel from Houston all the way to Lihue in Hawaii. Securing redemptions like these can make your points go even further.

Related: How to redeem points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards program

Which cards compete with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card?

The Southwest Plus card’s most obvious competitors are the other Southwest credit cards. However, it’s also worth considering whether a general travel credit card might fit better in your wallet.

• If you want more Southwest benefits with a modest fee: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has solid perks to justify its $99 annual fee. These include 6,000 anniversary bonus points, two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year (for flights operating in 2025; ends Dec. 31), 25% back on inflight purchases and tier qualifying points toward A-List status. To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Premier card.
• If you fly Southwest regularly and want the most perks: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees) is the most premium personal Southwest credit card and has a $229 annual fee. It offers perks like 7,500 anniversary bonus points and an annual $75 Southwest travel credit (ends Dec. 31). To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Priority card.
• If you want more points that can be used with Southwest and in other ways: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is a good choice for earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can redeem with Southwest and other airline and hotel partners. You’ll also get numerous travel protections, and the card has a $95 annual fee. To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.

The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

For more options, check out our full list of the best travel credit cards and best Chase credit cards.

Related: Comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, Premier and Plus credit cards

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card worth it?

The Southwest Plus card has the lowest annual fee of the Southwest credit cards at $99, so it’s a good option for those keeping annual fee costs low or just trying out Southwest. However, if you’re a loyal Southwest flyer, one of the other two personal cards will represent better value.

Bottom line

For only $99 per year, the Southwest Plus card allows you to earn enough points to make it well worth the annual fee. Plus, it comes with a handful of benefits, like standard seat selection within 48 hours of departure and a free first checked bag, that can justify keeping the card in your wallet every year.

However, if you fly with Southwest often, one of the other two Southwest cards will provide additional perks. Be sure to evaluate what’s best for you beyond simply looking at the annual fee.

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Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card

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Delta Air Lines is modernizing and expanding its Sky Club network. However, the airline enacted several changes in February to significantly reduce Delta Sky Club access for some travelers. So, here’s what you need to know about the various ways you can currently get Delta Sky Club access.

Delta Sky Club access via credit cards

One easy way to get Delta Sky Club access is to hold a card that grants access. Here’s a look at when you can get access with some of the best cards for Sky Club access:

If you’re interested in a card that offers Delta Sky Club access, the Delta Reserve Amex has a limited-time welcome offer of 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. If you prefer a business card, the Delta Reserve Business Amex has a limited-time welcome offer of 110,000 bonus miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. However, both limited-time offers end July 16.

Each visit includes all access for 24 hours from your first usage. As such, one visit can include access to Delta Sky Club locations and Grab and Go locations at multiple airports within 24 hours. However, if you use a Grab and Go location, you can’t use another Grab and Go location or Sky Club at the same airport for three hours.

If you run out of visits, you can buy additional Sky Club visits for $50 per visit or additional Grab and Go visits for $25 per visit. You can also earn unlimited Sky Club visits through the end of the following Medallion year (Jan. 31) if you spend $75,000 or more during a calendar year on one of the eligible cards. Once you meet the spending requirements, you can enjoy unlimited visits for the rest of the calendar year, the following year and the first month of the following year.

Related: Inside Delta’s brand-new Sky Club in Atlanta, its nicest one yet

There are some restrictions to be aware of. You cannot access Sky Clubs when traveling on a basic economy fare. Additionally, you won’t get access until within three hours of your flight’s scheduled departure time unless you are on an eligible arriving flight.

The above cards only provide Delta Sky Club access to the cardmember. However, you can pay $50 per person ($25 per person for Grab and Go locations), per visit to bring up to two guests or your immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and children under 21). Basic cardmembers of the Delta Reserve and the Delta Reserve Business also get four one-time guest passes each program year to bring guests to Delta Sky Clubs. (You can use up to two guest passes per visit.)

Finally, if you have the Delta Reserve or the Delta Reserve Business and travel on a Delta partner airline flight not marketed or operated by Delta, you can pay $50 per visit for Delta Sky Club access ($25 per visit for Grab and Go locations).

Related: Why the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card is still one of the best cards I’ve added to my wallet

Delta Sky Club membership

If you have Delta Medallion status, you can purchase a Sky Club membership with cash or Delta SkyMiles. There are two types of Delta Sky Club memberships:

• Individual membership: One-year rate of $695 or 69,500 SkyMiles
• Executive membership: One-year rate of $1,495 or 149,500 SkyMiles

These memberships provide Sky Club access when flying Delta or select partners, as long as you’re not flying on a basic economy ticket.

With an individual membership, only the member can enter the Sky Club. However, the member can pay $50 or 5,000 miles per guest, per visit ($25 or 2,500 miles per guest, per visit for Grab and Go locations) for up to two guests or immediate family members.

Meanwhile, an executive membership is handy for those who anticipate frequently bringing guests with them into the club. You can bring up to two guests or your immediate family for free. You can also bring up to two more guests for $50 or 5,000 miles per guest, per visit ($25 or 2,500 miles per guest, per visit for Grab and Go locations).

Related: 5 ways to ensure you have lounge access before your next flight

Delta Sky Club access via elite status

There are several ways you might get Delta Sky Club access as a benefit of your elite status. For example, Diamond and Platinum Medallion members get to select Choice Benefits each Medallion year.

Some of the Delta Choice Benefits can provide Delta Sky Club access as follows:

• Delta Sky Club individual membership: Diamond Medallion members can obtain this benefit with two Choice Benefit selections.
• Delta Sky Club executive membership: Diamond Medallion members can obtain this benefit with three Choice Benefit selections.

Delta Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion members and up to one guest traveling in the same cabin can also access Sky Club lounges when traveling in:

• Premium Select internationally (excluding the Caribbean)
• Delta First to Mexico, Canada or Central America (or an equivalent cabin on a flight operated by a Delta partner)
• Delta One (or an equivalent cabin on a flight operated by a Delta partner)

If you are a SkyTeam Elite Plus member from another airline, you can access Delta Sky Club lounges with up to one guest before you travel on an international SkyTeam flight (excluding between the U.S. and the Caribbean) or a domestic SkyTeam flight connecting to or from an international SkyTeam flight.

There are also a few airlines that give Delta Sky Club access as an elite status benefit, including:

• LATAM: Signature Black Emerald, Black Emerald and Platinum Sapphire members and up to one guest get Delta Sky Club access when traveling on or connecting to a same-day international flight operated by Delta or LATAM.
• WestJet: Gold and Platinum members and up to one guest get Delta Sky Club access when traveling on a same-day transborder flight between the U.S. and Canada operated by Delta or WestJet.

Related: Some of our favorite ways to use Delta SkyMiles

Delta Sky Club access on premium cabin tickets

Both domestic and international Delta One (which is different from first class on Delta) passengers get Sky Club lounge access regardless of elite status or membership. The same goes for anyone flying on a same-day international first-class or business-class ticket on another SkyTeam-operated flight (though you must be confirmed in business class or first class for every segment of your journey).

You can enter the club even if you’re on a domestic Delta flight connecting to or from a same-day international Delta One flight. However, flights between the U.S. and the Caribbean aren’t considered international for lounge-access purposes.

Additionally, Delta partners with two other airlines to provide Sky Club access to their premium cabin passengers:

• LATAM: Business-class passengers can access Sky Club lounges with same-day international travel or with a connection to or from an international flight operated by Delta or LATAM.
• WestJet: Business-class passengers can access Sky Club lounges with same-day international travel or with a connection to or from an international flight operated by Delta or WestJet.

Related: These are our favorite Delta Sky Clubs in the US — and a card we love that gets you access

Bottom line

If you regularly fly Delta or live in or travel to a hub city, Sky Club access can make your travel experience much more enjoyable.

While Delta has tightened Sky Club access rules, there are still some ways to gain access as long as you avoid booking basic economy fares. For example, top-tier Diamond Medallion members can redeem Choice Benefits for a Delta Sky Club membership. At the same time, anyone with Delta elite status can still pay cash or redeem miles for a Delta Sky Club membership.

Additionally, some premium credit cards still provide a set number of complimentary Delta Sky Club visits each program year. You can also earn unlimited visits by meeting specific spending thresholds each calendar year. Here’s a list of these cards, including links to apply: