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There is a particular type of joy that comes from wheeling your suitcase up to the entrance of an airport lounge and knowing that you can take refuge until it’s time to begin the next chaotic leg of your journey. However, it can feel like only an elite handful of travelers actually have the credentials and flying power to get into airport lounges.

But, even if you only fly a few times a year in economy, you can do more than dream of huge, comfortable spaces that boast buffets, coffee stations, bars, showers, work spaces and enviable views of some of the world’s best runways. There are plenty of ways to get into airport lounges without spending a fortune or becoming an elite-level airline customer. Check out the cheapest ways to get into airport lounges for budget travelers.

Join a Rewards Program

Joining the rewards program of your favorite airline is the first and most obvious strategy for gaining free or cheap lounge access. This will open the doors to airline-branded lounges and even allow you to bring along a guest for free in most cases. Of course, there are other outside-the-box ways to enjoy lounges if you don’t travel that frequently or if you aren’t loyal to any single airline. If you want to figure out what programs to join or how to get the most out of your rewards program, check out the FlyerTalk forum. We have a guide to every airline’s rewards program here.

Explore What Your Credit Card Offers

The credit card you use every day without thinking about it could actually be your undiscovered passport to some of the top airport lounges. Many credit cards offer lounge access as a perk. It’s okay if your go-to credit card doesn’t offer any lounge perks. You can always upgrade to a card that does. Keep in mind that airline-branded cards are going to be your best bets. Here’s a quick roundup of some of the best cards when it comes to lounge access:

• The United ClubSM Card will open the doors to United Club lounges and Star Alliance business lounges. It even provides access to the Amtrak Acela lounge.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® cards offer access to Priority Pass lounges.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express gives you access to Centurion Lounges at hubs like at Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), LaGuardia (LGA), Las Vegas (LAS), Miami (MIA), Philadelphia (PHL), Seattle (SEA), San Francisco (SFO) and Hong Kong (HKG). You’ll also get access to Delta Sky Club locations whenever you fly with Delta.
• The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® sets you up with an American Airlines Admirals Club membership.
• The Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express and the Delta Reserve® for Business Credit Card provide Sky Club access whenever you fly with Delta.

Keep in mind that this is just a small sample of what’s available out there. How can you know if your card provides lounge access? You can read through the terms of your contract or simply call up the customer service line and ask. Some frequent travelers who don’t want to miss out on lounge access often get multiple cards that offer access. Those with multiple cards can pick and choose the best lounges too.

Get to Know Day Passes

Many lounge providers are beginning to embrace the day pass. In fact, you can often visit a lounge for as little as $30 or $40. This one-time cost can be more than worth it if you’ve had a rough connecting flight or if you need to get some work done in a quiet place. You can use an outlet like LoungeBuddy to gain lounge access on the same day as travel without any type of membership status, elite ticket or long-term commitment. Lounge Pass is another outlet that links to day passes for tons of airports around the world. It’s also possible to walk up to the lounge belonging to the airline you’re flying with and ask to purchase a day pass. For instance, Alaska Airlines provides day passes for $50 per guest or $25 per guest if you have a qualifying Alaska Airlines Visa® card. Almost every major carrier offers some type of similar setup.

Utilize Your AAA Membership

Are you a member of AAA? You may have noticed that membership comes with tons of perks that most of us overlook. AAA sometimes partners with airport lounges to provide discounts. Some of the past collaborations have been with Escape Lounges and The Club lounges. Deals can rotate and they are often based on region. The bottom line is that it never hurts to ask about a potential AAA discount before you buy a day pass at an airport lounge.

Ask a First-Class Traveler to Invite You as a Guest

This strategy is a little bold. However, it just might work. First-class travelers actually get to bring along a guest for free at most lounges. Why let a free pass go to waste when you could be that guest? This strategy involves hanging around outside a lounge entrance and simply asking travelers to do you a favor as they make their way toward the entrance.

The Lounge Lifestyle Is Closer Than Ever

Can you practically smell the fresh-brewed artisan coffee and hear the gentle buzzing of a lounge’s free Wi-Fi whipping all around you already? It’s true that lounges were once reserved only for elite travelers. However, lounges are more accessible than ever before. You can use the tips above to unlock lounge access even if you’re a budget traveler.