Lounge access used to be something you got with a flat-bed seat or a decade of airline loyalty. Not any more — a handful of premium travel credit cards now open the doors to hundreds of lounges worldwide, no upgrade required. The catch is that fees and fine print vary wildly, so which card makes sense depends a lot on how and where you fly.

The heavyweight is the American Express Platinum, which costs $895 a year but gets you into more than 1,550 lounges across 140 countries. That includes Amex's own Centurion Lounges — known for proper restaurants and cocktails rather than sad buffet trays — plus Priority Pass, Plaza Premium and Escape Lounges, and up to 10 visits a year to Delta Sky Clubs when you're flying Delta. The weak spot is guests: free entry for companions only kicks in after $75,000 of annual spending, otherwise adults pay $50 each.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve, at $795, is the friendlier pick for couples and families. You get two free guests at Sapphire Lounges and Priority Pass locations, and the eight Sapphire Lounges (with more coming at Dallas and LAX) have built a reputation for quality food. There's also access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges, handy if you fly Star Alliance carriers like Lufthansa or Singapore Airlines.

American Airlines regulars have a more focused option: the Citi/AAdvantage Executive card, $695 a year, includes a full Admirals Club membership. That matters because AA elite status alone no longer gets you into clubs on domestic flights. You're looking at nearly 50 Admirals Clubs plus over 60 partner lounges, and immediate family or two guests come free with a same-day boarding pass. It's inflexible — useless if you don't fly American — but genuinely valuable if you do.

The budget-conscious pick is the Capital One Venture X at $395, well under its rivals. Capital One Lounges in Denver, New York JFK and Washington DCA are polished, wellness-focused spaces, and you also get Priority Pass. The trade-off is guests: expect to pay $45 per adult at Capital One locations unless you hit that $75,000 spend threshold.

Not ready for a premium card? Lighter options exist. The United Explorer Card, $0 the first year then $150, throws in two United Club passes annually — enough for a couple of trips a year without a big commitment.

The right choice comes down to your home airport, whether you fly domestic or long-haul, and who you travel with. A frequent solo international flyer, a family of four and an American Airlines commuter all have different best answers here.

Original reporting: The Points Guy.