Best Airport Lounge Credit Cards in Singapore (2022)
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.
Best Credit Cards For Airport Lounge Access in Singapore (2022)
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.
2 free visits to Priority Pass lounges
DBS Altitude Card
2 free visits to Priority Pass lounges
Citibank PremierMiles Card
3 free visits to DragonPass airport lounges worldwide
CIMB Visa Infinite Card
Attractive Promotion
Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card
4 free passes to SATS Premier Lounge & Plaza Premium Lounges
AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend Airport
2 free visits to Priority Pass lounges
Standard Chartered X Card
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 Card | 1 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) | $30,000 | $180 |
| DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card | 2 free visits to Priority Pass lounges at over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide per year | $30,000 | $192.60 |
| Citibank PremierMiles Card | 2 free visits to Priority Pass lounges at over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide per year | $30,000 | $192.60 |
| Amex SIA KrisFlyer Ascend Card | 4 free visits to SATS Premier lounges in Singapore and Plaza Premium lounges worldwide per year | $50,000 | $337 |
| Standard Chartered X Card | 2 free visits to Priority Pass lounges at over 1,300 airport lounges per year | $80,000 | $695.50 |
| HSBC Visa Infinite Card | Unlimited access to over 1,100 airport lounges worldwide for you and your supplementary cardholders per year | $120,000 | $650 |
| CIMB Visa Infinite Card | 3 free visits to DragonPass lounges worldwide per year | $120,000 | None (No annual fees for as long as you’re a CIMB Visa Infinite cardholder with them) |
DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card
DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card
- Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.2 Miles
- Overseas Spend
- S$1 = 2 Miles
- Staycation bookings
- S$1 = 10 Miles
Citi PremierMiles Card
Citi PremierMiles Card
- Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.2 Miles
- All Foreign Currency Spend including Retail and Online
- S$1 = 2 Miles
- Selected Online Hotel and Flight bookings
- S$1 = Up to 10 Miles
Apply and spend S$500 to get an Apple Watch Series 7 (worth $599) OR an Apple iPad Wi-Fi (worth S$499) OR a Nintendo Switch OLED (worth S$549) OR S$350 Cash via PayNow as soon as 6 weeks from Credit Card approval. T&Cs apply.
AMEX SIA KrisFlyer Ascend Card
American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card
- Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.2 Miles
- Overseas Spend
- S$1 = 2 Miles
- Grab Rides
- S$1 = 3.2 Miles
Apply and spend S$500 to get S$250 Cash via PayNow OR an Apple Watch SE (worth S$419). T&Cs apply.
Standard Chartered X Card
- on Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.2 Miles
- on Overseas Spend
- S$1 = 2 Miles
- Promotional Gift
- 30,000 Miles
The card’s minimum income requirement is $80,000, which means it’s definitely not an entry-level card, but its earn rate is actually similar to Citibank PremierMiles and DBS Altitude at $1 = 2 miles overseas.
With this card, you get 2 Priority Pass airport lounge visits a year. Signing up for a Priority Pass membership is required, but you only need to send an SMS to apply. Check Standard Chartered's website for detailed instructions.
Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card
- on Dining, Petrol, Taxi and Hotel Bookings at Agoda
- S$1 = 3.2 Miles
- on Air Tickets, Travel Packages and Foreign Currency Spend
- S$1 = 2 Miles
- Rewards to Miles Conversion for Selected Airline Partners
- 1 Point = 0.5 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
- Welcome Gift
- 35,000 Miles
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.
CIMB VISA Signature Card
- Cash Back on Beauty & Wellness, Online Shopping, Groceries
- 10%
- Min. spend per month
- S$800
- Cash Back Cap
- S$100
Sign up for a CIMB Credit Card and spend up to S$988 to receive a free Ogawa Mobile Shiatsu Lite Portable Back Massager (worth S$128)or an Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) (worth S$269) or up to $200 Cash via PayNow. T&Cs apply.
For travellers who have a bigger annual income, and love family cruise vacations, the CIMB VISA Signature card makes a suitable card that gives you 3 free visits to DragonPass lounges worldwide per year and also access to premium travel services for reservations, booking of tickets for entertainment and dining through its dedicated Visa Signature Concierge.
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.
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.
If you’re earning $120,000 or more per year, getting the CIMB VISA Signature card may be more worthwhile than paying for the DragonPass membership because you don’t have to pay any annual fees for this credit card, plus you get to enjoy 3 free visits to DragonPass lounges worldwide within a year.
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.