Priority Pass vs Amex Platinum Lounge: Which Programme Gives You More Access?

Halfway through a four-hour layover at Istanbul Atatürk, my eyes burning from lack of sleep, I discovered the difference between a Priority Pass lounge and the Turkish Airlines Business Lounge that my Amex Platinum card also granted me access to. Two doors apart, in the same terminal, but two completely different worlds. One: an overcrowded space with lukewarm buffet food and a queue for the coffee machine. The other: a spa with hamam, freshly prepared food and a sleeping room where I lay flat for two hours before my flight to Malé.

That moment made me curious. What exactly do you get with Priority Pass alone, and what does the Amex Platinum add on top of that? As a Belgian traveller who regularly departs from Brussels Airport, I wanted to properly investigate.

What exactly is Priority Pass, and how does lounge access work for Belgian travellers?

Let me start at the beginning, because I notice there's a lot of confusion about this. Priority Pass is the world's largest independent lounge network. You pay an annual membership and gain access to lounges regardless of which airline you fly with. No business class ticket needed, no frequent flyer status required. Simply scan your card or app and walk in.

There are three tiers. Standard costs around €100 per year, but you still pay per visit (approximately €35 per visit). Standard Plus gives you ten free visits. And then there's Prestige: unlimited access, no extra cost per visit. The latter is what you want if you fly more than five or six times a year.

The thing is: Priority Pass Prestige as a standalone product costs around €500 per year. That's serious money. And then you only have lounge access. No insurance, no points, no additional travel benefits. Purely that door opening when you have your boarding pass.

From Belgium, the network is perfectly usable. At Brussels Airport you have access to the Diamond Lounge and a few other options. In Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris CDG, Frankfurt, London Heathrow: there are Priority Pass lounges everywhere. For Belgian travellers who regularly fly via those hubs, it covers the basics.

What does Amex Platinum lounge access offer on top of Priority Pass?

This is where it gets interesting. When I applied for my American Express Platinum card, I honestly just expected the Priority Pass membership. What I hadn't realised is that the card gives you a complete lounge ecosystem that extends much further.

To start with, you get Priority Pass Prestige, the highest tier. Unlimited access, and your guest also gets in for free. That alone is worth the €500 you would otherwise pay separately. But it doesn't stop there.

The Amex Platinum also opens the doors to Centurion Lounges (mainly in the US and a few international cities), Delta Sky Clubs when you fly with Delta, and Plaza Premium Lounges worldwide. In practice, that means: more options at more airports. I experienced this myself in Dubai, where the Priority Pass lounge was packed and I simply walked through to a quieter alternative using my Platinum card.

The total? More than 1,550 lounges worldwide. That's significantly more than the 1,400 you reach with Priority Pass alone. And the quality differs too. Centurion Lounges are known for their fresh kitchens with dishes by top chefs. That's truly a different level from the standard Priority Pass buffet.

The real comparison: costs, value and what you concretely get as a Belgian

Let's be honest and put the numbers side by side. Because ultimately it's about what you get back for your money.

I know. The difference in annual fee is €280. But look at what you get extra for that. The Fast Lane at Brussels Airport alone is worth €169. Add three times Dining for 2 (up to €300), and you're already above that €280. Everything after that is a bonus.

And I'm not even counting the welcome bonus yet. Via the TravelLux.be referral link you receive up to 150,000 Membership Rewards points. These are points you can transfer to Brussels Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and fifteen other airline partners. Depending on how you use them, they're easily worth €750 to €1,500.

My experiences at airports: when Priority Pass suffices and when it doesn't

I'm not going to tell you that Priority Pass is bad. That would be unfair. There are lounges in the network that are excellent. The Primeclass Lounge in Istanbul, for example, or the No1 Lounges in London Gatwick. Pleasant spaces with good food and a calm atmosphere.

But there are also moments when the system creaks and groans. Last year I flew BRU to DXB via LHR with British Airways. At Heathrow Terminal 5, the Priority Pass lounge was so full there was a queue. Literally: twenty minutes waiting to enter a lounge. That's exactly the opposite of what you use a lounge for.

With my Amex Platinum I had an alternative. The Plaza Premium lounge in the same terminal accepts Platinum cardholders. I walked in, immediately found a seat, ordered a gin and tonic and had a perfectly fine two hours before my connecting flight. That kind of flexibility is priceless when you're at a busy hub.

At Brussels Airport itself I notice the difference too. The Fast Lane security, which you get for free with the Platinum card, regularly saves me fifteen to twenty minutes. Especially on Friday mornings, when all of corporate Belgium heads to the airport, that's worth its weight in gold. Combine that with the Dining Experience at Black Pearls (twice a month) and it feels like the airport is working for you rather than the other way around.

Honestly: if you only fly two or three times a year and always from small regional airports, then a standalone Priority Pass Standard Plus membership might be sufficient. But if you depart from Brussels, regularly travel via major hubs, or occasionally fly with your partner (who can enter the lounge for free), then the Amex Platinum is a completely different story.

Which lounge programme suits your travel pattern as a Belgian traveller?

I've mapped this out for myself, and perhaps it helps you too. It depends on three things: how often you fly, who you travel with, and how much value you place on the extra benefits beyond lounge access.

Do you fly fewer than four times a year, solo, and only within Europe? Then a Priority Pass Standard or Standard Plus may be sufficient. You pay less, and the lounges at European airports are generally fine.

But do you fly four times or more per year, take longer trips (think BRU to DXB to MLE, or BRU to SIN to DPS), travel with a partner, and also want insurance, points and hotel benefits? Then the Amex Platinum becomes a no-brainer. You pay €780 per year, but the combined value of all benefits easily adds up to €2,000+ if you actively use them.

What tipped the scales for me were the Membership Rewards points. I use my Platinum card for daily expenses and save thousands of points per month that way. Last year I flew business class with Emirates to the Maldives with them. That flight BRU to MLE via DXB would normally cost more than €3,500 return. With points I paid zero euros out of pocket. That's the power of a card that does more than just open a lounge door.

At TravelLux.be I regularly write about how to maximise those points. Also check out our article on the full benefits of the Amex Platinum in Belgium if you want to see the complete picture.

Frequently asked questions about Priority Pass vs Amex Platinum lounge access