Airport Lounge Pass Break-Even Calculator
Find the visit count where a premium credit card with lounge access beats buying day passes. Enter the day-pass price and how many trips you make each year, then optionally include guest visits and the card's annual fee to see the savings or shortfall.
Card perks, guest rules, and access policies vary by issuer and airport; confirm details before purchasing.
Examples
- $59 day pass, 12 solo visits, $695 annual fee, no guests ⇒ Annual pay-as-you-go cost: $708.00 USD | Card breakeven at: 11.78 visits | Estimated savings with card: $13.00 USD (1.84%).
- $65 day pass, 10 personal visits plus 4 guest visits, $550 annual fee ⇒ Annual pay-as-you-go cost: $910.00 USD | Card breakeven at: 8.46 visits | Estimated savings with card: $360.00 USD (39.56%).
FAQ
Do guest visits count toward breakeven?
Yes. Each guest visit is treated like another day pass you would have purchased, so adding guests lowers the breakeven visit count.
What if my card gives credits instead of unlimited access?
Use the annual fee box for the net cost after credits or rebates so the breakeven reflects your true out-of-pocket amount.
Does this include Centurion or partner access limits?
No. It assumes every visit you want is allowed. Check your card's guest rules and capacity limits before relying on the estimate.
Additional Information
- Treats every lounge entry (including guests) as a paid visit when buying day passes individually.
- Leaving the fee blank uses a $695 default to mirror premium travel cards that bundle lounge access.
- Savings are undiscounted and assume you would have bought each visit at the listed day-pass price.
- Percent savings compare card ownership versus paying for the same number of visits out of pocket.