Maximize the perks of your credit cards but before you can do that, you must know first what the benefits are. The best way to check is to visit the website of the issuing bank and check the perks of your credit card. Now, if free airport lounge access is included then yeyyyy! You can have a place to relax, eat free food, indulge in free drinks, enjoy fast wifi, while waiting for your next flight. This makes traveling more fun, comfortable, and hassle-free!
But hey, don’t expect instant access to lounges even if it’s a benefit of your card. The receptionist may ask you to wait for 30 minutes to hours before you can enter. There are times too that you will already be boarding but still you have not received a call or sms to notify you that there are vacancies and that you can now enter the lounge. Why is this?
Airport lounges accommodate guests based on priority / hierarchy:
- Business Class ticket holders
- Elite members of travel clubs, Silver / Gold / Platinum members of airline alliances like Star Alliance and Oneworld, or members of an airline’s frequent flyer programs like Emirates Skywards, Qantas Frequent Flyer, KrisFlyer to name a few
- Walk-in paying guests
- Holders of credit cards which are accredited with the lounge
So you see, credit card holders are usually at the bottom of the priority list for free lounge access. But it’s okay because it’s not every day that the lounge’s cc slots are fully-occupied.
Lounges have tie-ups with airlines and usually they have a list of the expected business class ticket holders for a particular flight or time block. Then they reserve seats for them as well as for elite members of airline alliances. That is the reason why someone,queueing after you, may be granted instant access to the lounge, while you were told to wait. Or you can clearly see vacant seats inside, but the receptionist says that they are full. Know that those seats are reserved for those of high priority. So, don’t get offended if this happens, just know that lounge access via credit card is a perk and not a right.
It is also worthy to note that for some credit cards, access to a lounge via a partner is free, but using the lounge comes with a fee. This is a bit confusing so we will simplify by giving an example:
Priority Pass membership has a fee but it is free for BPI Platinum Rewards card holders. However, holders of this credit card need to pay for access if they have used-up their earned complimentary passes for the year, which can be up to 4. So if you only earned 2 Priority Pass complimentary access for 2024, and then you will access the lounge again this year using your PP free membership, then you will need to pay the lounge’s walk-in fee.
The best option is applying for a credit card with unlimited free airport lounge access. Near the end of this post, we have a recommendation for such card. Check it out.
Requirements to Enter the Lounge in the Airport
Airport lounges usual entry requirements for credit card holders are your active credit card with available credit limit, an unused boarding pass bearing your name, and a valid government-issued photo-bearing ID (use your passport especially if you are flying international!). But there could be additional requirements depending on the bank which issued you the credit card or your type of membership like if it’s Priority Pass, LoungeKey, or DragonPass.
Now, there are credit cards with no direct free lounge access but can still access a lounge for free via membership with a partner. Example: Unionbank Miles+ Visa Signature cards can’t access PAGSS. But you can still use this card to enter PAGSS. How? Use the complimentary membership in DragonPass. You’ve got 2 complimentary access per year via DragonPass.
Your credit card has free lounge access, does your supplementary also have free access? This depends on the bank and the type of card. Best to contact customer service of your bank.
What are the usual lounge amenities?
Airport lounges differ on what they offer to guests. In general, you can find these amenities:
- Food
- Drinks
- Wifi
- Restroom
- Charging outlets
- Prayer Room
- Shower Room
How Long Can You Stay in the Lounge?
Most lounges allow guests to stay for 2 to 4 hours.
Can you bring the free food or drinks outside?
The general rule is free food and drinks to be consumed inside the lounge, but some lounges do not strictly enforce this. If you do bring food or drinks outside as ‘baon’, please bring only 1 or 2, don’t hoard it hehe.
Can you bring your companion inside the lounge?
This depends on your card. Like for example Unionbank Gold Visa credit card only allows entry for card holders, no plus one. RCBC World Mastercard, Visa Infinite, JCB Platinum among others allows you to bring 1 companion for free.
Reach out to the bank to find out the answer to this question for your specific card.
Say you have multiple cards with free lounge access, can you use them so all your companions, family and friends, can enter?
This depends on the receptionist and the lounge rules. You can always try; request nicely, who knows you will be accommodated on your request.
Can kids enter the lounge for free?
Some local lounges allow kids seven and under to enter for free but must be accompanied by the card holder. Others only allow free access for babies and toddlers 2 years old and below. Ask the lounge directly for this query.
About PAGSS
PAGSS or Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions, Inc is a lounge with several branches in the country. Here are the operating hours per branch:
PAGSS Premium Lounge NAIA Terminal 1 is open 2 AM to 12 AM daily.
PAGSS Premium Lounge NAIA Terminal 3 is open 5 AM to 12 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; and 6 AM to 12 AM on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
PAGSS Premium Lounge Clark International is open on the following times/days:
- 12 AM to 12 PM, 2 PM to 8:30 PM, and 10 PM to 12 AM for Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday.
- 12 AM to 3 AM, 7 AM to 12 PM., 2 PM to 8:30 PM., and 10 PM to 12 AM for Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday
PAGSS Premium Lounge Davao Francisco Bangoy International Airport is open from 9 AM to 6 PM daily.
PAGSS Lounge Puerto Princesa Palawan International Airport is open from 5 AM to 9 PM on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. For Tuesday and Wednesday, it is open from 11 AM to 8 PM.
About Marhaba Lounge
Marhaba is open 24 hours with maximum of 3 hours stay in the lounge. They allow kids 2 years old and below to stay for free. Find below the list of credit cards with Marhaba access benefit.
NAIA Terminal 1 & 3 International
Access for Cardholder + 1 Companion
- American Express Elite Card
Access for Cardholders only
- UnionBank Miles+ Visa
- UnionBank Platinum Mastercard
- UnionBank Go Rewards
- UnionBank Cebu Pacific
- UnionBank Gold Visa
- UnionBank Platinum Visa
- BDO Diners Club International (1 access per year)
- BDO Diamond Rewards (6 access per year; companion counts as 1 access)
- Security Bank Platinum Mastercard
- Security Bank World Mastercard
NAIA Terminal 3 International
Access for Cardholder + 1 Companion
- RCBC Diamond Platinum Mastercard
- RCBC Platinum Mastercard
- RCBC Platinum Visa
- RCBC Diamond UnionPay
- RCBC Preferred Airmiles
- RCBC Hexagon Club Platinum Mastercard
- RCBC Platinum JCB
- RCBC World Mastercard
Access for Cardholder Only
- Eastwest Priority Visa Infinite
About A Lounge
NAIA Terminal 1 & 3 International
There is an A Lounge in NAIA Terminal 1 and 3 International airports. Operating hours are from 5 AM to 11 PM. You may stay for a maximum of 4 hours.
They have free access for Security Bank Platinum World Mastercard and Security Bank Platinum Mastercard.
If you are a member of A Lounge partners you can also access it like Priority Pass, Lounge. Key, and DragonPass
Children 3 years old and below can access the lounge for free.
Walk-In Fees
- 25 USD or
- P1,200 for Terminal 1
- P1,500 for Terminal 3
PISOFARE PH RECOMMENDS
Get a Security Bank Platinum Mastercard or World
Our Pisofare PH Team recommends getting a Security Bank Platinum or World Mastercard, we think these 2 cards are two of the best when it comes to local and international lounge access among Philippine credit cards.
You will enjoy truly Unlimited Lounge Access to the following:
- Marhaba Lounge NAIA Terminal 1 & 3
- A Lounge NAIA Terminal 1 & 3
- PAGSS NAIA Terminal 1 & 3 (International)
- Davao’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport (International)
- Palawan ‘s Puerto Princesa International Airport
- Mactan-Cebu International Airport via Lounge Key Access (this will be charged against the 2 or 6 complimentary access given to you yearly, depending on your card. You will be charged USD 64, but this will be waived if you haven’t used your yearly complimentary yet)
- Two (2) Free international airport lounge access yearly for SBC Platinum and Six (6) access for SBC World (via DragonPass or Mastercard Travel Pass) – You can use this to bring-in a companion for free access.
And the best thing is your supplementary cardholder enjoys the same benefits. Awesome! Good job Security Bank!
Get a BPI Visa Signature
Another great card with unlimited free local lounge access is BPI Visa Signature. You can enjoy this benefit plus bring 1 companion. Unfortunately, no international lounge access as of this time. Maybe in the future?
You travel a whole lot but don’t have any of the cards mentioned on this post? Apply for a credit card with lounge access now! Relax and unwind as you wait to board your next flight. Whether you are travelling for business or leisure, travel more comfortably and less hassle with free airport lounge access.
The information on this post is correct as of publishing time. However, details may change so we suggest that you check the website of the respective banks and lounges for the latest info. Or call their customer service hotline numbers for updated details and for any concern or questions.