Embedded Files
Author: Matthew
February 26, 2025
Do you have choice paralysis in determining which premium travel credit card to get? We provided the card analyses for the top three premium travel credit cards - American Express Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Capital One Venture X in a previous blog post.
In this blog post, we'll give you a deeper analysis as to why you should pick one of these three cards based on the airports you fly out of frequently (or commonly have layovers in). To note, this does not mean you shouldn't get the card if you fly out of X airport - if you have a good rationale, it may make more sense for you!
Are we missing an airport you frequent? Email us at matthew@wuhoogroup.com for our free recommendation.
Subscribe to our free newsletter to stay updated!
Analysis Parameters
Analysis Parameters
Going into our recommendations per airport, we made the following assumptions
You are a solo traveler (or you would get the authorized user cards for family members)
You highly value free lounge access before your flight - so you travel enough to warrant a card
You will likely fly on the carrier that uses the airport as a hub (e.g., Delta out of ATL, United out of IAD, etc.)
Note: not updated so your airport still might be down below
The list was organized basically in this manner:
Get the Amex/Chase/Capital One card if there is a branded lounge at the airport
Get Capital One Venture X for the cheapest Priority Pass lounge access
Get the card that mainly transfer to the airline that uses the airport as a hub
Airport
Airport
Atlanta (ATL)
Hub: Delta
Card(s)
Card(s)
American Express Platinum
Rationale
Rationale
Centurion Lounge access
Limited free Delta Skyclub access
Membership Reward Points transfer to Delta
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Could get the Venture X to have the cheapest way to get Priority Pass
Austin (AUS)
Hub: Southwest, Delta
Other
Consider getting an airline card for airline-specific lounges
If no loyalty, choose one of the premium travel cards
Boston (BOS)
Hub: JetBlue, Delta
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Sapphire Lounge access
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Could get the Venture X to have the cheapest way to get Priority Pass
Ultimate Reward Points transfer to JetBlue
Could get the American Express Platinum for limited Delta Skyclub access
Nashville (BNA)
Hub: Southwest
Other
Consider AA card or Amex Plat for AA lounge or Delta Skyclub, respectively
Consider card with restaurant Prioirty Pass access
Consider Southwest cards for companion pass
Buffalo (BUF)
Capital One Venture X
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Baltimore (BWI)
Hub: Southwest
Capital One Venture X
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Could get the Chase Sapphire Preferred to transfer points to Southwest
Charleston (CHS)
Hub: Breeze Airways
Capital One Venture X
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Charlotte (CLT)
Hub: American
American Express Platinum
Capital One Venture X
Centurion Lounge access
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Cleveland (CLE)
Hub: United
Capital One Venture X
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Cincinnati (CVG)
Hub: Delta
Capital One Venture X
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Could get the American Express Platinum for points and limited Delta Skyclub access
DC (DCA)
Hub: American
American Express Platinum
Capital One Venture X
Centurion Lounge access
Capital One Lounge access
Denver (DEN)
Hub: United
American Express Platinum
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Capital One Venture X
Centurion Lounge access
Ultimate Reward Points transfer to United
Capital One Lounge access
Dallas (DFW)
Hub: American
American Express Platinum
Capital One Venture X
Centurion Lounge access
Capital One Lounge access
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Detroit (DTW)
Hub: Delta
American Express Platinum
Limited free Delta Skyclub access
Membership Reward Points transfer to Delta
Newark (EWR)
Hub: United
American Express Platinum
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Centurion Lounge access (2026)
Ultimate Reward Points transfer to United
Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Hub: JetBlue
American Express Platinum
Centurion Lounge access
Membership Reward Points transfer to JetBlue
though not at the best rate, so a CSR might be better
Dulles (IAD)
Hub: United
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Capital One Venture X
Chase Sapphire Lounge access
Ultimate Reward Points transfer to United
Capital One Lounge access
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Honolulu (HNL)
Hub: Hawaiian
Capital One Venture X
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Consider Amex cards for transferring points to Hawaiian
Consider Southwest cards for companion pass
Houston (IAH)
Hub: United
American Express Platinum
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Capital One Venture X
Centurion Lounge access
Ultimate Reward Points transfer to United
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Indianapolis (IND)
Other
American Express Platinum for the Delta Skyclub
Other card with Prority Pass restaurant access for the TAP
Otherwise get a premium travel card for the points redemptions
New York (JFK)
Hub: Delta, American, JetBlue
American Express Platinum
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Centurion Lounge access
Chase Sapphire Lounge access
Membership Reward Points transfer to Delta
Ultimate Reward Points transfer to JetBlue
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Capital One Lounge (to come)
Chicago (MDW)
Hub: Southwest
Capital One Venture X
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Consider Southwest cards for companion pass
Las Vegas (LAS)
American Express Platinum
Capital One Venture X
Centurion Lounge access
Capital One Lounge access
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Los Angeles (LAX)
Hub: Delta, United American, JetBlue, Alaska
American Express Platinum
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Centurion Lounge access
Chase Sapphire Lounge access (to come)
Maple Leaf Lounge access with CSR if flying on Star Alliance
Membership Reward Points transfer to Delta
Ultimate Reward Points transfer to United and JetBlue
New York (LGA)
Hub: Delta, American
American Express Platinum
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Centurion Lounge access
Chase Sapphire Lounge access
Maple Leaf Lounge access with CSR if flying on Star Alliance
Membership Reward Points transfer to Delta
Capital One Lounge (to come)
Kansas City (MCI)
Capital One Venture X
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Orlando (MCO)
Hub: JetBlue
Capital One Venture X
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Miami (MIA)
Hub: American
American Express Platinum
Capital One Venture X
Centurion Lounge access
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Minneapolis (MSP)
Hub: Delta
Capital One Venture X
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Could get the American Express Platinum for limited Skyclub access
New Orleans (MSY)
Hub: Breeze Airways
Capital One Venture X
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Chicago (ORD)
Hub: United, American
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Points transfer to United
Consider the United Club Business for United Club access
Philadelphia (PHL)
Hub: American
American Express Platinum
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Centurion Lounge access
Chase Sapphire Lounge access
Portland (PDX)
Hub: Alaska
American Express Platinum
For points to transfer to Alaska and limited Delta Skyclub access
Could consider airline cards for lounge access and points
Phoenix (PHX)
Hub: American
American Express Platinum
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Centurion Lounge access
Chase Sapphire Lounge access
Pittsburgh (PIT)
Capital One Venture X
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Richmond (RIC)
Other
Choose a card based on your preferred airlines and travel preferences - no airport lounges
Raleigh (RDU)
Other
Consider airline cards for their respective lounges
San Diego (SAN)
Hub: Alaksa
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Sapphire Lounge access
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Could consider the American Express Platinum to transfer to Alaska
Seattle (SEA)
Hub: Delta, Alaska
American Express Platinum
Capital One Venture X
Centurion Lounge access
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Membership Reward Points transfer to Delta and Alaksa
San Francisco (SFO)
Hub: United, Alaska
American Express Platinum
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Capital One Venture X
Centurion Lounge access
Maple Leaf Lounge access with CSR if flying on Star Alliance
Membership Reward points transfer to Alaska
Ultimate Reward Points transfer to United
Free lounge access through Priority Pass
Salt Lake City (SLC)
Hub: Delta
American Express Platinum
Centurion Lounge access (to come)
Limited free Delta Skyclub access
Membership Reward points transfer to Delta
St. Louis (SLT)
Hub: Southwest, American
Other
Consider one of the premium travel cards for points
Consider an AA card for points and lounge access
Tampa (TPA)
Other
Consider one of the premium travel cards for points
Consider an AA or American Express Platinum card for points and AA or Delta lounge access respecitvely
Final Notes
Final Notes
Southwest is a popular airline and at many airports. However, outside of lounge access, the card set likely focuses on getting companion pass.
While we didn't capture other airports, it's likely the Capital One Venture X would be the best bet to get Prioirty Pass lounge access.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse