If you’re a frequent flyer, taking time out in an airport lounge can be a welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of the airport terminal. But frequent visits can quickly become expensive, which is why it can be worth considering a bank account that includes free or discounted access as one of its perks. Below is an overview of some of the best bank accounts that come with airport lounge access. You’ll need to pay a monthly fee for many of these accounts, so it’s important to compare all of their features carefully to see whether the fee is worth paying before you apply. We also have a guide on the LoungeKey airport programme that gives access to 1,250 lounges when you have a participating Mastercard credit card.
The Revolut Premium plan offers discounted airport lounge access in return for a monthly fee of £7.99. You can purchase your airport lounge access through the Revolut app, with the option of buying up to 10 passes so that you can take guests with you. The price of your pass will be shown in the app and each pass is valid for one visit. Guests must arrive with you, not separately. Further benefits of the account include earning 1 RevPoint per £4 spent which can be turned into travel perks such as air miles, and fee-free currency exchange on weekdays.
Pros
Fee-free spending in the UK and abroad
Purchase protection of up to £2,500 a year
Worldwide emergency medical and dental cover
RevPoints when booking through Revolut Stays
Option to earn interest on Savings Vaults
Cons
A monthly fee applies
Revolut isn’t covered the the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
Minimum opening balance
£0
Account fees
£7.99 per month
Overseas card transactions
0% Mon-Fri
Overseas cash withdrawals
0% Mon-Fri conversion fee plus cash fee of Free up to £400 per month
Open the Revolut Metal plan and you'll be able to buy discounted airport lounge passes through the app. You can have up to 10 passes at any time, with each pass valid for one visit. Guests must arrive at the lounge with you to be admitted. The Metal plan costs £14.99 a month, but you'll also earn 1 RevPoint for every £2 spent which can be turned into travel perks such as air miles. Plus, you'll benefit from fee-free currency exchange on weekdays, global medical insurance, delayed flight and lost luggage insurance, winter sports cover, car hire excess insurance and personal liability cover.
Pros
Fee-free withdrawals abroad
Purchase protection
Discounts on holiday accommodation
Travel insurance and airport lounge access
Cons
Monthly fee applies
No overdraft available
App-based account
Minimum opening balance
£0
Account fees
£14.99 per month
Overseas card transactions
0% Mon-Fri
Overseas cash withdrawals
0% Mon-Fri conversion fee plus cash fee of Free up to £800 per month
This account from NatWest can be upgraded to a Premier Reward Black account, which costs £36 a month. With it you can access more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide through DragonPass Premier+. You'll also be able to pre-book your spot for a fee of £5 and add guests for £24 per person. As well as that, the account includes worldwide family travel insurance, fee-free spending abroad, UK and European car breakdown cover, home emergency cover and mobile phone insurance. You'll be able to earn £9 a month back in Rewards if you have 2 direct debits on the account, and £1 a month for logging in to the NatWest app. A concierge service and cinema discounts are also included.
Pros
No monthly fee
Arranged overdraft available
No transaction fee on purchases abroad (local fees may apply and not available on ATM withdrawals)
Free 24/7 Emergency Cash Service to withdraw up to £300 for online and telephone banking customers or £60 if not.
You'll need to pay £36 a month to upgrade to a Premier Reward Black account from RBS, but you do get a host of travel rewards in return. Opening this account gives you access to over 1,000 international airport lounges with Dragon Pass Premier+. If you want to pre-book, you can do so for a fee of £5, and if you're taking a guest, you can buy an additional pass for £24. On top of this, the account offers worldwide family travel insurance, UK and European car breakdown cover, home emergency cover and mobile phone insurance. Plus, you can earn RBS Rewards if you set up 2 direct debits on your account and log in to your mobile app each month.
Pros
No monthly fee
Round-the-clock support, including a dedicated banking manager
Free overseas ATM cash withdrawals when using HSBC ATMs worldwide.
If you open the HSBC Premier bank account you can get the HSBC Premier credit card or Premier World Elite credit card that give you access to more than 1,600 airport lounges worldwide through Priority Pass. If you have the Priority credit card, you pay £24 per person, per visit, while Premier World Elite cardholders get in for free (this card has an annual fee). There's no fee for the HSBC Premier bank account, but you'll need to have an annual income of at least £100,000 and savings and investments of at least £100,000 with HSBC. Other benefits of the account include worldwide family travel insurance and access to HSBC's Global Money account.
Pros
Access to HSBC Children’s Premier Account and Premier reward credit cards
Worldwide travel insurance for you and your family
If you're a Barclays Premier account holder, you can apply for the Barclays Avios Plus credit card and enjoy discounted airport lounge access around the world. You'll pay £18.50 per lounge pass, per person, and the credit card costs £20 a month. There's no monthly fee for the Barclays Premier bank account, but you must pay in an annual salary of at least £75,000 or have at least £100,000 in savings or investments with Barclays. You'll get access to cashback rewards, enhanced savings rates, and exclusive mortgage options, as well as a 24/7 Premier banking support team.
Pros
Option to earn Avios points
Exclusive savings and mortgage rates
ATM withdrawals limits up to £2,000
Interest free overdraft
No monthly fee
Cons
Strict eligibility requirements
To apply for Avios Rewards you must pay a monthly fee
Airport lounge access can be a handy perk to have as part of your bank account if you use it regularly. However, as many of these accounts charge monthly fees or require you to sign up to a credit card to get access, you’ll need to weigh up whether this is worth it before you choose your account. Make sure you consider all the other features of the account and how beneficial they will be before you apply.
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Rachel Wait is a freelance journalist and has been writing about personal finance for more than a decade, covering everything from insurance to mortgages. She has written for a range of personal finance websites and national newspapers, including The Observer, The Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the Evening Standard. Rachel is a keen baker in her spare time. See full bio
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