Banks Use Airport Lounges to Lure Premium Users

Banks are increasingly using airport lounges to attract premium users to their credit cards, and it's working. According to J.D. Power, bank-operated airport lounges outperformed airlines in customer satisfaction. The top three spots for overall customer satisfaction with airport lounge networks were held by American Express and Capital One, which tied for first place, and Chase, which came in third.

Some banks, like Revolut and Nubank, are newer entrants to the market, but they're catching up fast. Revolut announced it will open its first airport lounge next year, while Nubank has already opened one at São Paulo International Airport.

American Express has long been a leader in this space, with over 1,550 lounges worldwide, including 32 locations within its Centurion Lounge network. The company's Platinum Card is one of the most expensive options on the market, but it also comes with unlimited access to these lounges.

Capital One has also made significant strides in this area, with seven U.S. lounge locations and an eighth slated to open soon. Its Venture X travel credit card offers premium perks at a lower price point than some of its competitors.

Nubank's Ultravioleta Lounge is available exclusively to members of its most expensive membership tier, which comes with a monthly fee of 89 Brazilian reals (about $17.25 USD).