In this article, Priority Pass refers to the network of airport lounges, while Priority Pass Select refers to the airport lounge benefits included with your credit card. To enter a Priority Pass lounge, you'll need to show your membership card (or digital card) and your boarding pass.

Generally, you do not need to show your physical credit card to enter a Priority Pass lounge; instead, you must present your Priority Pass Membership Card, which can be either the physical plastic card or the digital QR code found in the Priority Pass app. Many travelers receive Priority Pass as a benefit from premium credit cards (like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum), but the credit card itself is not your "ticket" to the lounge. You must first activate your membership and receive your specific Priority Pass credentials. However, a new feature called "Access on Payment Card" (AoPC) is being rolled out by some banks in 2025 and 2026, which allows participating lounges to simply swipe your eligible physical credit card to verify your membership and grant entry. If your bank supports this, you won't need a separate pass. Regardless of which method you use, you must also present a same-day boarding pass that matches the name on your Priority Pass account. Always carry the digital app as a backup, as lounge receptions are increasingly moving toward touchless QR scanning to speed up the check-in process during busy travel periods.