Best Airport Lounge Credit Cards in Singapore (2024)

Owning a credit card that gives you airport lounge access changes the way you fly. Imagine sinking into a plush sofa while waiting for the boarding gate to open. You can pick up some magazines and snack on some fresh fruit, all in a quiet and relaxing ambience.

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Best Credit Cards For Airport Lounge Access in Singapore (2024)

With so many credit cards partnering up with airport lounge access programmes, it’ll be great to differentiate which card is linked to which chain of participating lounges across the globe, so that you’ll make sure you get the ideal place to refresh yourself during your journey.

Which Credit Cards Are Best for Airport Lounge Access?

Credit Cards 💳Type of complimentary lounge access ✅Minimum annual income required 💵Annual fee 💸
Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card1 free visit to Ambassador Transit Lounge in Singapore and Plaza Premium lounges in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong per month (require a minimum spend of $1,000 in one single receipt)$30,000S$181.67 (incl. of 9% GST)
DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card2 free visits to Priority Pass lounges at over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide per year$30,000S$196.20 (incl. of 9% GST)
Citibank PremierMiles Card2 free visits to Priority Pass lounges at over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide per year$30,000S$196.20 (incl. of 9% GST)
Amex SIA KrisFlyer Ascend Card4 free visits to SATS Premier lounges in Singapore and Plaza Premium lounges worldwide per year$50,000S$343.35 (incl. of 9% GST)
Standard Chartered Journey Card2 complimentary visits to Priority Pass lounges around the world each year$30,000S$196.20 (incl. of 9% GST)
HSBC Visa Infinite CardUnlimited access to over 1,100 airport lounges worldwide for you and your supplementary cardholders per year$120,000S$662.15 (incl. of 9% GST)
CIMB Visa Infinite Card3 complimentary global lounge access at over 1,000 airports$120,000None (No annual fees for as long as you’re a CIMB Visa Infinite cardholder with them)

Citi PremierMiles Card

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Citi PremierMiles Card

Local Spend
S$1 = 1.2 Miles
All Foreign Currency Spend including Retail and Online
S$1 = up to 2 Miles
Selected Online Hotel and Flight bookings
S$1 = Up to 10 Miles

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You can also earn 5,100 SmartPoints or S$300 cash when you apply and meet the minimum spend within 30 days from card approval date. T&Cs apply.
 
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Valid until 31 Mar 2024
Similarly, this card is really useful if you travel often and spend overseas as it gives you 2 free visits to Priority Pass lounges at over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide per year. Additionally, you’ll be covered with complimentary travel insurance, and will get to enjoy online booking promotions and even miles that do not expire. The miles earn rate for this card is 2 miles for every $1 spent on foreign currency spending and 1.2 miles for every $1 spent locally.

Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card

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Annual Fee Waived
MoneySmart Exclusive
Annual Fee Waived

Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card (No Annual Fee)

for every S$1 spend on Transportation, Food Delivery & Online Grocery merchants. Capped at 3,000 Miles in a statement cycle
S$1 = 3 Miles
for all Eligible Foreign Spends
S$1 = 2 Miles
for all Eligible Local Spends
S$1 = 1.2 Miles
Earn up to 25,000 Miles when you meet the eligible spends AND have your first year Annual Fee waived when you sign up for the Journey Credit Card. T&Cs apply.

OR, earn up to 45,000 Miles when you meet the eligible spends and pay your card's first year Annual Fee when you sign up. Click here to apply.
Valid until 31 Mar 2024

HSBC TravelOne Card

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Instant Rewards Redemption
MoneySmart Exclusive
Instant Rewards Redemption

HSBC TravelOne Card

on Local Spend
S$1 = 1.2 miles
on Foreign Currency Spend
S$1 = 2.4 Miles
Travel Insurance coverage, Airport Lounge visits
Complimentary

Get a Hinomi Q1 Ergonomic Chair (worth S$499) or a Samsung 27-inch Smart Monitor M5 (worth S$432) an Apple AirPods 3rd Gen + S$50 Cash (worth S$313.80) or a Lenovo Tab M10 Gen 3 (worth S$299.01) when you apply and spend a min. of S$500 from Card Account Opening Date to the end of the following calendar month. T&Cs apply.

Valid until 21 Mar 2024

CIMB VISA Infinite Card

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Unlimited 2% Cashback | FASTER GIFT REDEMPTION
MoneySmart Exclusive
Unlimited 2% Cashback | FASTER GIFT REDEMPTION

CIMB Visa Infinite

Unlimited cashback on Travel, Overseas & Online Spend in Foreign Currency
2%
Min. spend per month
S$2,000
Cash Rebate cap
Unlimited

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Valid until 21 Mar 2024
You’ll need to have a minimum annual income of $120,000 to qualify for this card, which is on the rather high side as compared to many other cards like the Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card, DBS Altitude Card and Citibank PremierMiles Card.

DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card

Online Promo
Earn Miles That Never Expire
Online Promo
Earn Miles That Never Expire

DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card

Local Spend
S$1 = 1.3 Miles
Overseas Spend (made in foreign currency)
S$1 = 2.2 Miles
On Travel Spend at Expedia & Kaligo
S$1 = Up to 10 Miles
Online Promo:
Get up to 53,000 miles when you apply, pay the card's annual fee and charge a min. spend of S$3,000 within 60 days from card approval date. T&Cs apply
Valid until 19 May 2024
With no minimum spend required, this card by DBS is a great miles cum lounge access card that has a pretty high mile per dollar spend ratio. Besides getting 6 miles for every $1 spent on flight bookings (on Expedia) and 2 miles for every $1 spent overseas in foreign currency, you’ll be entitled to 2 complimentary visits each year to Priority Pass lounges worldwide. What’s more, there’s an annual fee-waiver that you can enjoy.

AMEX SIA KrisFlyer Ascend Card

Online Promo
Convenience & Perks for Frequent Flyers
Online Promo
Convenience & Perks for Frequent Flyers

American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card

Local Spend
S$1 = 1.2 Miles
Overseas Spend
S$1 = 2 Miles
on Eligible Grab transaction, capped at $200 per month
S$1 = 3.2 Miles
Online Promo:
New American Express cardholder can get S$300 eCapitaVouchers AND up to 17,000 KrisFlyer miles (enough to redeem a Return Trip to Bali*) when you pay the card's annual fee and spend a min. of S$1,000 within the first month of card approval.

Existing cardholders can get S$150 eCapitaVouchers AND up to 17,000 KrisFlyer Miles (enough to redeem a Return Trip to Bali*) when you pay the card's annual fee and spend a min. of S$1,000 within the first month of card approval. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 31 Mar 2024
If you’re one who prefers to fly via Singapore Airlines, the American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card may be the card for you as it lets you earn 2 miles for every $1 spent abroad (in June and December) while giving you benefits such as 4 complimentary visits to SATS Premier lounges in Singapore and Plaza Premium lounges worldwide per year, a comprehensive complimentary travel insurance coverage of up to $1 million and more.

Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card

on Air Tickets and Foreign Currency Spend
S$1 = 8X Points
on Dining, Petrol, Groceries, Taxi, Hotel Bookings
S$1 = 3X Points
Rewards to Miles Conversion for Selected Airline Partners
1 Point = 0.4 Miles

One of the most attractive features about the Maybank Horizon Visa Signature card is that you can flash the credit card and get access to various participating lounges in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.

There is only 1 complimentary visit, however, and you will have to charge a minimum of $1,000 in a single retail transaction on the card in the past 3 months to get it. You need $50,000 in minimum annual income to apply.

The upside is that Maybank Horizon Visa Signature credit card’s annual fee is waived for 3 years, so it doesn't cost you anything to hold on to it.

HSBC Visa Infinite Card

Local Spend
S$1 = Up to 1.25 Miles
Overseas Spend
S$1 = Up to 2.25 Miles
for personalized assistance
Dedicated Concierge Service
This card is one of the few credit cards which entitles you to unlimited access to over 1,100 airport lounges worldwide per year. The great thing about this is you can share your free passes with your supplementary cardholders if you want – so you and your travel buddy can both use the lounge together.

Having this card also helps you earn 2.25 miles for every $1 spent abroad, gets you covered by a complimentary travel insurance of up to US$2,000,000 (annual value worth S$988), and even complimentary green fees and worldwide golfers' insurance of up to $500,000.

OCBC 90°N MasterCard

Earn Miles That Don't Expire
Earn Miles That Don't Expire

OCBC 90°N Card

on Agoda accommodations worldwide
S$1 = Up to 7 Miles
on Foreign Currency spend
S$1 = 2.1 Miles
on Local spend
S$1 = 1.3 Miles

Unlike the other cards which offers free airport lounge access, the OCBC 90°N MasterCard provides paid access to more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide, plus discounts during your visit. However, you’ll have to apply through the MasterCard Airport Experience App and pay a USD32 for each lounge access.

The miles earn rate for this card is up to 7 miles (in terms of Travel$), 2.1 miles for every $1 spent on foreign currency spending and 3 miles for every $1 spent on online entertainment. What’s more, there’s no expiry for your Travel$ accumulated, which can be converted to loyalty points and be used at airline and hotel programs.

Diners Club CASHBACK Card

Online Promo
Online Promo

DCS CASHBACK Card

on all eligible transactions
Up to 5% Cash Rebate
Airport Lounge Access and Insurance Coverage
Complimentary
Annual Principal Fee
S$196.20 (inclusive of GST)
Online Promo:
Receive a pair of GOTRIP luggage bags (worth S$500) when you apply for a minimum of any 2 eligible DCS cards and spend a minimum of $350 monthly for 2 consecutive months OR apply for an eligible DCS card and spend a minimum of S$450 monthly for 2 consecutive months. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 31 Mar 2024
Diners Club CASHBACK Card

Highlights of the DCS Cashback card include complimentary access to nearly 1,300 airport lounges across 600+ cities in 140 countries worldwide, including Changi Airport Terminal 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Additionally, you’ll enjoy 5% cash rebate for all eligible transactions with a minimum spending of S$400 (per month) on your DCS CASHBACK Regular Credit Card.

DBS Vantage Visa Infinite Card

Online Promo
Miles or Cashback – you decide
Online Promo
Miles or Cashback – you decide

DBS Vantage Visa Infinite Card

Local Spend
S$1 = 1.5 miles or 1.5% cashback
Overseas Spend
S$1 = 2.2 miles or 2.2% cashback
when you pay the Card's Annual Fee
25,000 Bonus Miles
Online Promo:
Get up to 85,000 miles (for New Cardmembers) or up to 40,000 Miles (Existing Cardmembers) when you sign up and make a min. spend of S$4,000 within 30 days of card approval and payable annual fee required. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 31 May 2024

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Types of Airport Lounge Access Programmes

There’s a diverse range of credit cards that can get you complimentary airport lounge access and the benefits of each card differs in its terms as well. To give you a quick overview, the more popular ones include Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and DragonPass. Priority Pass and DragonPass are by far the most prolific chains, with each chain having over 1,300 lounges across the world, while Plaza Premium has more than 1000 lounges globally.

Priority Pass Lounges Credit Cards

Cards like DBS Altitude Card and Citibank PremierMiles Card grant you free membership to the Priority Pass programme and 2 complimentary passes during the 1 year membership period. Priority Pass is actually a huge global lounge programme with over 1,300 lounges in hundreds of cities worldwide and being part of this programme will enable you to enjoy many perks including exclusive sleeping areas, complimentary refreshments, free Wi-Fi spa treatments, and more.

Priority Pass has gone digital since January 2021, so if you’re keen to apply for it, do note that your Priority Pass application and/or renewal have to be done via the Priority Pass app or website, and your Digital Priority Pass membership will also be issued online. For the full list of Priority Pass airport lounges and benefits, you may visit here. The application approval time will take around 2 to 3 weeks to process. So if you’re planning to use this perk for your upcoming trips, be sure to plan for it in advance, or you can consider forking out a one-time entry fee of US$27 if you really wish to try it out without signing up for any credit cards.

Plaza Premium and SATS Premier Lounges Credit Cards

Other cards like the American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card entitles you to access at the SATS Premier Lounge at Changi Airport and Plaza Premium Lounges, which has a smaller network of lounges when compared to Priority Pass. Regardless, you get 4 free visits a year to both types of lounges, and 4 times is definitely more than what Citibank, DBS and Standard Chartered X Card can offer.

DragonPass Lounges Credit Cards

DragonPass is another renowned premium airport service provider of airport lounges, as well as meet and greet and limousine services that compliments your airport lounge access. Its membership comprises three tiers — Classic, Preferential and Prestige, all of which include free visits to any DragonPass lounge, dining discounts with up to 25% off, preferential rates on premium airport transfers, access to global meet and greet services and more.

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About the Author

A mother of two who seeks to return to my Japan travel quest in search of the best matcha and smart travel hacks. Besides my love for matcha and wanderlust, I’m always looking for the best credit cards to optimise cashback perks and spreading the love for money-saving hacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which credit card gets you into airport lounges?

Entry-level cards that give you airport lounge access are: DBS Altitude Card, Citibank PremierMiles Card and Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card. If your income qualifies for higher thresholds, you can go for Standard Chartered X Card, AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend and HSBC Visa Infinite Card or CIMB Visa Infinite Card.

Can economy class use the lounge?

Yes, even if you are travelling on economy class, you can apply for credit cards that offer complimentary lounge access. Do take note that you need to sign up for the specific lounge memberships to qualify and the process may take 2 to 3 weeks.

How can I get a free Priority Pass?

For Priority Pass lounge access, you can apply for DBS Altitude, Citibank PremierMiles and Standard Chartered X Card. Make sure that the card suits your lifestyle before applying.

Which credit card offers free airport transfer?

If you are frequent traveller, head over to our article on the best credit cards with airport transfers to find out more!

How much does entry to a Priority Pass lounge cost?

You’ll be charged a one-time entry fee of US$27 if you do not have any complimentary Priority Pass membership access. There are 3 tiers to the Priority Pass membership which you can consider and check out at Priority Pass’ website.

Which card gives unlimited airport lounge access?

The HSBC Visa Infinite Card entitles you to unlimited access to over 1,100 airport lounges worldwide for cardholders and supplementary cardholders who qualify for this privilege.

Do I have to hit a minimum credit card spend amount to enjoy free airport lounge access?

Most credit cards do not require you to spend a minimum sum to qualify for the complimentary airport lounge access, but certain cards like the Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card requires a minimum spend of $1,000 in one single receipt in order to enjoy 1 free visit to Ambassador Transit Lounge in Singapore and Plaza Premium lounges in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong per month.

Are there waivers for credit card annual fees?

Yes, there are many credit cards that offer free waivers for your annual fees, but you’ll have to call in or email or log into your account with your credit card issuing bank to request for it.