What other credit cards offer the priority pass for free? The only card I have ever been aware of was AMEX at the platinum level or above (and then only with the "charge" cards, not their partner benefits cards like Delta Plat, SPG Plat, etc.). For $395, the AMEX Plat obviously pays for the priority pass. Do other platinum-level cards (MC/VISA) offer the same pass with a "credit" level annual fee?

IIRC Platinum Amex access to airport clubs is not related to Priority Pass. It is a separately negotiated benefit, only good for the Delta, Northwest, or Continental lounge and only when flying their respective airline, and there are few options outside the US.

For the US AmEx Platinum, this is true. However, if your AmEx Platinum card is based out of another country, it will likely come with Priority Pass instead of the NW, CO & DL perk.

So are there (non-AMEX) cards that *do* offer Priority Pass membership as a perk? Seems like that would be a pretty nice benefit, if the annual fee is not excessive..

I am a college student and I dont know where your school base is, but you can do MR's cheap if you are near a major airport. I will be a senior and have had either Premier or Premier Executive with United since my sophomore year. Try doing it before you graduate because we have the flexability. Having status takes the passion and makes it an amazing experience!!

I'm in Australia... Thus, the problem

The flights start at like $1200 to leave the country (unless I wanted to go to NZ every week )...

If I was in the US I'd have a United Students VISA card, etc. and be doing milage runs every weekend ...But the ONLY way to get Star Alliance milage from CC's in Australia is to get an AMEX... I suppose I could look at getting Qantas milage (One World Alliance)

That sounds like a plan worth looking into - build up enough miles to get yourself status with OneWorld then go on whatever MRs you can as sale fares become available... I'm almost 19 and have been doing MRs as well as generic biz travel since i started my business a couple years back and I've had a passion for flying since I was a kid... and let me tell you, when you get a cheap 8-segment MR with all segments upgraded, there's nothing better (aside from the F class award of course)

Also, I'm a PriorityPass member on the 399 plan and it's definitely worth the price - it gets you into a LOT of nice lounges I'd otherwise be unable to access (such as the ultra-nice Korean Air Business Lounge in Seoul and a few airport-operated lounges). It's also good for when I fly to non AA or DL airports.


Happy travels.

-kyle

The Diners Club card comes with free access to many Airport Lounges worldwide.
You can checkout the lounge locations on their website.
The cost of basic membership is $95.

Interesting.... I'll have to check it out. I've never had a DC card, although their signup mile bonuses are nice.

Thanks for the heads-up!

The list of Diners Club worldwide lounges is listed on the main site,
www.dinersclub.com.
They are located in 32 countries and the rules/hours of entry are listed there as well. It's at least worth checking out.

That's 'as well as' not 'instead of'.