Option 3: Gain Access via Airline Status or Premium Tickets

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What it is: Airlines reward their elite frequent flyers or premium cabin passengers with lounge access in certain situations. This method doesn’t require extra payment per visit, but of course earning status or buying first class has its own costs. At Newark, lounge access via status/ticket works primarily for international travel.

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Examples at EWR:

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United Airlines Status/Premium Cabins:

• United Polaris business/first – gets you into the Polaris Lounge or United Club.

• Star Alliance Gold Status: If you hold Star Alliance Gold and are departing on a Star Alliance international flight, you can access the United Club even in economy.

• Star Alliance Business/First Class ticket: Any passenger with a same-day Star Alliance long-haul business or first class ticket out of EWR gets lounge access. If it’s on United, you go to Polaris or Polaris + possibly a separate first class section if it existed.

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Delta Air Lines Status/Premium:

• Delta’s SkyTeam Elite Plus members get Sky Club access when flying internationally on Delta or partners, with one guest allowed. This could apply if, say, you’re connecting at EWR on Delta to an international flight.

• Delta One business class passengers always get Sky Club access, even domestically, on day of flight.

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American Airlines Status/Premium (Oneworld):

• Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire elites get lounge access only when traveling internationally. So an AA Executive Platinum flying to London from EWR can use the Admirals Club. But if that Exec Plat is just flying EWR-ORD domestic, no lounge unless they have membership or the credit card.

• First/Business class on international Oneworld flights from EWR grants access to partner lounges. AA doesn’t have Flagship lounges at EWR, so even international AA premium flyers would just use Admirals Club.

• For purely domestic AA first class out of EWR, no automatic lounge access – AA reserves lounge perks for their Flagship services, unlike Delta which sells memberships but similarly doesn’t include domestic first.

• Other International Carriers: Newark sees some foreign airlines. Typically, business or first class on those carriers gets you into their respective lounges in Terminal B, or a contract lounge.

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Pros of Status/Premium access:

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• It’s “free” at the point of use: If you already have the status or ticket, you don’t pay extra for the lounge – it’s a nice included perk.

• Often higher-tier lounges: Some lounges are only accessible this way (e.g., Polaris Lounge requires the premium ticket – no other method will let you in, as we discussed). The lounge experience is part of the premium travel experience you’ve paid for.

• Guests sometimes included: International first-class tickets often allow a guest in lounge; top-tier elites often can bring a guest (policies vary by alliance).

• No extra cards or fees to manage: You don’t have to carry another card or buy membership; it’s automatically recognized via your boarding pass or frequent flyer number.

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Cons:

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• Limited to your travel scenario: If you normally fly economy without status, this won’t help. You’re not going to buy a business class ticket just for lounge access.

• Domestic limitations: U.S. airlines largely do not give lounge access on domestic itineraries to elites. So your Platinum status might get you upgrades and other perks, but you’ll still need a card or membership for lounge on domestic trips.

• Status can be hard to earn: If you’re not already a frequent flyer, chasing status solely for lounge access is usually not worth it. Credit card paths are easier in many cases.

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When to use this option:

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If you have status or are flying in business/first, by all means use the lounge! Be aware of what you’re entitled to:

• Flying United Polaris business from Newark? Head to the Polaris Lounge – it’s yours to enjoy pre-flight.

• You’re United Gold flying economy to Europe – don’t forget you can hit the United Club.

• Flying Delta One or are a SkyTeam Elite Plus on an int’l trip – enjoy the Sky Club.

• If you normally fly economy but have a long international trip, sometimes splurging on a business class ticket not only gives you a comfier flight but also nets lounge access.

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In summary, status/ticket-based access is wonderful when it applies, but inconsistent for the average traveler. We recommend viewing it as a bonus if it happens, and not relying on it for every trip unless your travel pattern always meets the criteria.

Option 4: Purchase an Annual Lounge Membership

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What it is: Old-school style – pay an annual fee to join a lounge program. This is how airline lounges traditionally operated. For a lump sum, you get unlimited access to that airline’s lounges (and sometimes partners) regardless of what class you fly.

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At Newark, the relevant paid memberships are:

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• United Club Membership: Grants entry to all United Clubs worldwide. Newark has United Clubs in Terminal C (several) and Terminal A. United now sells two tiers: standard “Club” and a higher “All Access”. The standard membership runs around $650/year. You can also get this membership free with the United Club Infinite credit card as we mentioned. Members can generally bring 2 guests or 1 adult + children under 21 as guests for free.

• Admirals Club Membership: Grants access to AA Admirals Clubs. Cost is $650 – or you can redeem miles for it. It allows spouse + kids under 18 or 2 guests free.

• Delta Sky Club Membership: Two levels – Individual and Executive. These require you to be a SkyMiles member. But starting in 2023, Delta restricted sales of new memberships only to Medallion elite members; also, even members must be flying Delta that day to use the Club. Many are shifting to credit cards instead because Amex Platinum is a better deal unless you need the guest privileges of Executive membership.

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Pros of Membership:

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• Unlimited access: If you travel weekly, having a membership means lounge every time, no fuss.
• Guest/family inclusion: The higher-tier or standard policies often include guests, which is great for those who don’t travel solo.

• Multiple lounges/alliance: United/AA memberships often let you use partner lounges when traveling internationally. Admirals Club membership gets you into any oneworld partner lounge if flying their metal, etc., though alliance rules can vary. Essentially, it broadens options when abroad.

• No need for a specific credit card: If you for some reason prefer not to have a certain card, you can still buy membership with cash or miles.

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Cons:

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• High upfront cost: $600+ out-of-pocket is steep. You’d want to make sure you use the lounge enough. A quick calc: If a day pass is $59, then $600 is ~10 visits’ worth. Do you go to a lounge more than 10 times a year? If yes, membership could pay off; if no, stick to cards or day passes.

• Airline-specific: You buy United = you get United Clubs. It won’t help for Delta or AA or vice versa. If you fly multiple carriers, you’d need multiple memberships, which isn’t feasible.

• Credit cards might be cheaper: As we’ve seen, many memberships now can be obtained via credit cards with similar or better perks.

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When to use this option:

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Honestly, outright membership purchase is becoming rarer for savvy travelers, unless:

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• Your company pays for it (some corporate travel policies might cover a lounge membership).

• You are fiercely loyal to one airline and want to avoid opening another credit card.

• You need the guest privileges that only come with the highest tier membership. E.g., a Delta flyer with a family might opt for the Executive membership because even though they have an Amex Platinum, they want to bring their spouse and two kids every time without fees.

• You have a stash of miles you can use to pay for membership. Sometimes people with excess miles use them for lounge membership if they’ve covered all other travel needs – not always the best use of miles, but it’s an option.

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For most, we’d recommend exploring the credit card route before buying membership with cash. Kudos can help compare the net cost: for instance, if you’re about to spend $650 on membership, see if a card with a similar fee gives the same lounge access plus a big point bonus – that could easily outweigh the difference.

What’s the Best Way to Access Newark’s Lounges?

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After exploring all options, here’s a quick scenario-based recommendation:

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• “I fly out of Newark once or twice a year.” – Don’t get an expensive card just for that. Simply buy a day pass when you need it or see if your one-off premium ticket covers it. No need for recurring fees.

• “I travel monthly, but on different airlines.” – Consider a premium credit card like Amex Platinum. It covers Delta at EWR and will cover the new Centurion Lounge. For United lounge access on trips, use the two passes from a United Explorer card or pay occasionally. If you often fly American, maybe get the Citi Executive card for Admirals access. Essentially, leverage cards to cover each alliance you use – it’s still cheaper than buying memberships for all.

• “I’m a United regular (or AA regular).” – If you primarily fly one airline, using that airline’s credit card with lounge benefit is usually best. It’s a set annual fee and you’re done – lounge every time, plus the card’s other perks (free bags, etc.). If you despise credit cards, then straight-out membership purchase is your path.

• “I have elite status/premium flights.” – Use those when applicable; supplement with a card or day pass when not. For example, a United Platinum might get lounge access on Europe trips but not on domestic – they could carry the United Explorer card for the two free passes to use on domestic occasions when needed.

• “I just want the nicest lounge no matter what.” – If your goal is to access the Polaris Lounge at Newark (the nicest one), remember no credit card or membership will grant that – only a Polaris ticket will. So in that unique case, the answer is “fly business class”. For all other lounges, choose any of the above methods that fits your budget.

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In conclusion, Newark’s lounge landscape can seem complex, but it boils down to either pay per visit or invest in a card/membership for unlimited visits. Frequent travelers almost always save more with the latter, especially if they utilize credit card bonuses and perks. The occasional traveler can stick to one-off passes.

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With Kudos, you can also discover if you have hidden lounge access – for instance, adding your cards to Kudos might remind you that your Venture X card has Priority Pass. Or maybe you forgot you had two United passes sitting in your account from your card – time to use them! Managing your credit card perks smartly will ensure you never sit in a crowded gate area at EWR when you could be sipping a latte in a lounge instead.

FAQs – Lounge Access at EWR

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Does Newark Airport have Priority Pass lounges?

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Not anymore. As of now, Newark has no traditional Priority Pass lounges in the network. In the past, there were two lounges in Terminal B that accepted Priority Pass, but those agreements ended. Today, the only Priority Pass “experience” at EWR is a Be Relax Spa in Terminal A, where Priority Pass holders can get a free massage or manicure instead of lounge access.

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Which credit card is best for Newark airport lounge access?

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It depends on which airline you fly the most:

• For United flyers, the United Club Infinite Card is best, as it grants United Club membership.

• For American Airlines flyers, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is ideal, providing Admirals Club membership.

• For Delta or general travel, The Platinum Card from American Express is great – at Newark it gets you into Delta’s Sky Club and soon the Centurion Lounge. Plus it comes with Priority Pass for use at other airports.

• If you’re more of a free agent across airlines, the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Capital One Venture X can be useful since they provide Priority Pass and other travel perks.
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In short, pick the card aligned with your preferred airline at Newark.

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Can I use someone else’s lounge membership or credit card to get in?

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Generally no – lounge access benefits are typically non-transferable. The name on the card or membership has to match your ID/boarding pass. For example, Priority Pass cards have your name and lounge agents do check. Same with credit cards like Amex Platinum; you must be the cardholder present. However, there are a couple of workarounds: If you are an authorized user on someone’s credit card account, you get your own card and access privileges. Authorized user fees apply on some cards but can be worth it for the lounge benefit.

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Do any lounges at EWR allow pay-per-use without membership or status (aside from day passes)?

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Newark doesn’t have an independent “pay lounge” like some airports do. The closest is the Art & Lounge in Terminal B, which sells access to the public, but it’s before security and not widely used unless you specifically seek it out. For all major lounges, you either need a day pass, status, premium ticket, or an appropriate credit card/membership as outlined. There is no common-use lounge where you can just pay at the door without being tied to an airline’s program.

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I have a long layover at Newark – can I switch terminals to use a lounge?

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Not easily. Newark’s terminals (A, B, C) are separate and not connected airside. To go from one terminal to another, you’d have to exit and re-clear security, which is time-consuming and only feasible if you have at least 2-3 hours extra and the correct boarding pass to re-enter. Also, you can only clear security in a terminal if you have a departing flight from there.