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Best Credit Cards for Atlanta Airport Lounge Access (2025)
February 6, 2025
Cards To Use At The Atlanta Airport Lounge
Airport lounge access can transform your travel experience – and at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the right credit card can get you into almost every lounge. In fact, one premium card can single-handedly unlock 11 out of 12 lounges at ATL! If you’re a frequent Atlanta traveler, choosing a credit card with lounge benefits is a smart move.
This guide will break down the top credit cards that grant access to ATL’s lounges, explain exactly which lounges each card gets you into, and help you decide which card is best for your needs.
Below are the best credit cards for Atlanta airport lounge access and the lounges they unlock:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express – Access to Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), the Centurion Lounge (Concourse E), and Priority Pass lounges (The Club at ATL, Minute Suites).
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card – Unlimited access to Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta (great for Delta regulars).
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Comes with Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you into The Club at ATL (Concourse F) and Minute Suites.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® – Includes full membership to American Airlines Admirals Clubs, including the Admirals Club at ATL (Concourse T).
- The New United ClubSM Card – Grants membership to United Club, including the United Club at ATL (Concourse T).
Now, let’s dive into how each of these cards works for lounge access at ATL and the key details to know.
Amex Platinum: The All-in-One Lounge Access Card
If you want maximum lounge coverage at ATL, the American Express Platinum Card is the top choice. NerdWallet notes that this single card can get you into 11 of Atlanta’s lounges.
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Here’s why:
- Delta Sky Clubs: As an Amex Platinum cardholder, you can enter any Delta Sky Club when flying on a same-day Delta flight. Just show your Platinum Card (and boarding pass) at the lounge.
Note: Starting Feb 2025, Amex Platinum cardholders are limited to 10 Sky Club visits per year (Feb 1–Jan 31) unless they spend $75,000 annually on the card. So while you do get access, heavy Delta travelers might bump against that cap.
- Centurion Lounge: The Amex Platinum also gets you into The Centurion Lounge at ATL (Concourse E). This is automatic – just present your Platinum Card and boarding pass, regardless of airline. Centurion Lounges are exclusive to Amex Platinum, Centurion, and Delta Reserve (for Delta's lounge, not Centurion) cardholders, so this is a prime perk of the Platinum.
- Priority Pass Select: The Platinum Card comes with a Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required). At ATL, Priority Pass grants access to The Club at ATL (Concourse F) and also allows you to use Minute Suites (which are private nap rooms in Concourses B and F) for free for up to 1 hour per visit. This means Platinum cardholders have a lounge option even when not flying Delta or if they’re in concourses without Sky Clubs.
Amex Platinum covers almost every base – Delta Sky Clubs, Centurion Lounge, and the Priority Pass lounge. The only major lounge it doesn’t cover is the Admirals Club (American Airlines lounge) at Concourse T.
Not sure which card is best for your travel style? Kudos can help analyze your spending and travel habits to recommend the ideal credit card. Already have the cards we mentioned? Kudos will remind you of your lounge benefits.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve: Best for Delta Flyers
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a co-branded Delta card that shines for frequent Delta travelers at ATL (Delta’s home hub). Its key benefit is unlimited Delta Sky Club access when you fly on Delta that day. You just need to show your Reserve card and boarding pass (Delta flight) to enter.
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Unlike the Amex Platinum, the Reserve card does not currently impose a visit cap – you can visit the Sky Club as often as you fly Delta, even multiple clubs in one day.
A few points about the Delta Reserve:
- You can bring up to two guests into Delta Sky Clubs with the Reserve, but it costs $50 per guest per visit (or complimentary if they also have Reserve cards).
- The Reserve card also gives complimentary access to Amex Centurion Lounges when flying Delta (effective early 2023, Delta Reserve cardholders can use Centurion Lounges on Delta itineraries) – but note that if you have an Amex Platinum you’d use that for Centurion instead. The Reserve’s main draw is Sky Club access.
- Annual fee is $550, a bit lower than Platinum, and it comes with other Delta perks (like upgrade priority and an annual companion certificate) that are valuable if you’re loyal to Delta. (see rates & fees)
If you primarily fly Delta through ATL, the Delta Reserve card is a strong choice. It ensures you can always pop into a Sky Club without worrying about yearly caps, and you’re supporting your Delta status earning as well. However, it doesn’t help with non-Delta lounges (no Priority Pass, no Admirals/United access), so its lounge benefit is narrower than Amex Platinum’s.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Priority Pass for The Club at ATL
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is another popular premium card, and its contribution for ATL travelers is via Priority Pass lounge access. With the Sapphire Reserve, you get a Priority Pass Select membership (with unlimited free visits for you and guests) that lets you into 1,300+ lounges worldwide.
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At ATL, this means:
- You can access The Club at ATL in Concourse F, which is the designated Priority Pass lounge at the airport. Show your digital Priority Pass card (via the app) or physical card, and you and up to two guests can enter for free (subject to capacity). This lounge offers complimentary food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and even showers, making it a valuable pit-stop especially if you’re not flying Delta.
- You can also use Minute Suites with Priority Pass. ATL has Minute Suites in Concourse B and Concourse F. Priority Pass gives you 1 hour free in a private suite (essentially a small room with a daybed, TV, and quiet space) – great if you need a nap or to get some work done in silence during a layover.
It’s worth noting that many premium cards besides the Sapphire Reserve also include Priority Pass. A card with Priority Pass access is key if you fly through ATL on airlines other than Delta frequently. It’s the ticket to the Club at ATL lounge, which is otherwise $50 per visit without membership.
Just keep in mind, Priority Pass won’t help you with Delta Sky Clubs, Admirals, or United Clubs – it’s mainly for the independent lounge. The Sapphire Reserve’s $550 annual fee also comes with a $300 travel credit and great points earning, making it a well-rounded choice beyond just lounges.
Citi / AAdvantage Executive Card: Admirals Club Access
American Airlines loyalists traveling through ATL will want to consider the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. This is AA’s top-tier card with a $595 annual fee, and its signature perk is full Admirals Club membership. The cardholder gets access to any Admirals Club worldwide, regardless of airline flown, and can bring immediate family or up to two guests for free.
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At ATL, this card is your golden ticket to the Admirals Club in Concourse T. Normally, without the card or an Admirals membership, you couldn’t access that lounge unless flying AA business/first internationally or on a day pass (AA discontinued most day passes).
With the Citi Executive card, just flash the card and your boarding pass (you don’t even have to be flying AA, but officially AA asks you to be flying their airline or partner that day to use their clubs – enforcement is lax for cardholders though). You’ll be able to relax in the Admirals Club’s quiet environment, enjoy free drinks and light snacks, and escape the terminal crowds.
Keep in mind:
- This card is really aimed at American Airlines frequent flyers. If you rarely fly AA, the value of Admirals Club membership at ATL (or anywhere) diminishes.
- Apart from lounge access, the card offers some AA perks like priority check-in and a free checked bag, but it’s not as universally useful for lounge access beyond Admirals Clubs.
If you find yourself on American Airlines flights out of ATL often (or connecting through AA hubs), the Citi / AAdvantage Executive card can pay off by turning those layovers into Admirals Club visits. For ATL specifically, it’s the only credit card that will get you into the Admirals Club lounge.
New United Club℠ Card: United Club Access
Lastly, for United Airlines flyers, the New United Club℠ Card from Chase is the parallel to the AA card: it includes a full United Club membership. With this card (annual fee $695), you and two guests can enter any United Club lounge. At ATL, that means the United Club in Concourse T is open to you even if you’re just connecting or waiting on a United flight.
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If you often fly United through Atlanta or other airports with United lounges, this card is a convenient way to ensure you always have a comfortable spot to wait. Like the AA card, if you’re not a regular United customer, it’s probably not worth getting just for the occasional lounge visit because of the high fee. But for completeness: yes, there’s a card for United lounge access too!
This card is the go-to for United loyalists who want lounge comfort. At ATL’s small United Club, this card will get you free entry anytime you’re flying United (or even connecting on Star Alliance, since club membership can grant access when flying partners). If United isn’t your airline of choice, you’re better off with a more general card like the Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum.
Choosing the Right Card for You
If you travel through Atlanta frequently, the best card for lounge access really depends on your primary airline:
- Flying Delta often? Amex Platinum or Delta Reserve will serve you best. Platinum offers more versatility (other lounges), whereas Reserve is unlimited for Sky Clubs and slightly lower annual fee. Note the Platinum’s Sky Club visit limit (10/year) if you travel very frequently.
- Flying American often? The Citi AAdvantage Executive is practically a must for Admirals Club access. No other card (besides Amex Centurion which is ultra-exclusive) will get you into the ATL Admirals Club.
- Flying United often? The New United Club℠ Card card likewise is key for United Club access at ATL and elsewhere.
- Mix of airlines or infrequent traveler? Amex Platinum shines for covering multiple lounges (Delta, Centurion, Priority Pass) in one card. If the fee is too steep or if you want to stick to one card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve (Priority Pass) is a solid pick for broad lounge coverage beyond airline-specific ones, though it won’t help with Delta or Amex Centurion Lounge.
- Looking for value? Consider that many travel cards have big annual fees to provide these lounge perks. If you’re not sure you’ll use lounges enough, you might stick with a mid-tier card and occasionally pay for lounge access. But often, using a lounge just 3-4 times can offset a $50 day pass cost and justify a premium card’s fee when combined with its other benefits.
Importantly, always enroll in the lounge benefits your card offers. For example, with Amex or Chase, you need to activate Priority Pass membership before you can use those lounges.
Atlanta’s airport is much more enjoyable when you have lounge access – and getting the right credit card is the key to the kingdom. Evaluate your travel patterns, pick a card that matches, and you’ll be sipping free coffee (or champagne) in a comfy chair at ATL instead of fighting for a seat at the crowded gate area.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can one credit card really get me into almost every lounge at ATL?
Yes – the Amex Platinum card comes very close. It gives Delta Sky Club access (with a Delta flight) + Centurion Lounge access + Priority Pass for The Club ATL. That covers all but the United and American lounges. For those, you’d need their specific airline card or membership.
What credit card do I need to access the Delta Sky Club at Atlanta?
You have two main credit card options: the American Express Platinum (or Business Platinum) or the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex card. Both will let you into Delta Sky Clubs at ATL when flying Delta. The Platinum also works (with a 10-visit annual cap from 2025), and the Reserve has unlimited visits for the cardholder. Other Amex cards like the Centurion (black card) also work, but those are very exclusive.
Does Priority Pass get me into Atlanta’s Delta or American lounges?
No. Priority Pass is not accepted at Delta Sky Clubs, Admirals Clubs, or United Clubs. At ATL, Priority Pass only covers The Club at ATL (independent lounge) and Minute Suites. To access airline-specific lounges (Delta, AA, UA), you need the airline’s membership or an eligible card (e.g., Amex Platinum for Delta, Citi Exec for AA, United Infinite for UA).
Is the Centurion Lounge in Atlanta free with Amex Platinum?
Yes. If you have The Platinum Card from Amex, you can access the Centurion Lounge ATL at no charge. You can bring two guests for free as well (guest policy as of 2025 allows 2 complimentary guests per visit, but note Amex is changing guest policies for Platinum in some cases to require a fee unless you hit spending thresholds). But the lounge itself is complimentary – it’s a key perk of the Platinum card.
I only travel through ATL occasionally – is it worth getting a credit card just for lounge access?
If it’s truly occasional (e.g., once or twice a year), a $500+ annual fee card might not be worth it purely for lounges. You could pay for a day pass at The Club ATL for ~$50 when needed. However, if you value other card perks (like big sign-up bonuses, travel credits, etc.), the math can work out. Frequent ATL travelers (monthly or more) generally find a lounge credit card well worth it for the comfort, food, and drink savings – not to mention the productivity boost of a quiet space.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
