DragonPass and LoungeKey are, together with Priority Pass, some of the most popular airport lounge membership programs in the world. They both provide airport lounge access regardless of the class of travel or airline one is flying on – a very welcome perk for those who often travel in economy class without an airline status.
Continue reading to learn more about the two programs so that you can figure out if you should be getting one, the other, or neither.
Both DragonPass and LoungeKey Boast a Solid Network of Lounges and Other Airport Facilities
Both DragonPass and LoungeKey have about 1,400 facilities at hundreds of airports around the world in their networks. It’s worth noting that LoungeKey is run by the Collinson Group, the same company that runs Priority Pass. Because of that, Priority Pass and LoungeKey offer the same network of facilities.
In addition to airport lounges, both of the programs also offer access to some other facilities like gyms, sleeping pods, and even a public bath at Nagoya Chubu Airport. They also offer discounts and free meals at select airport restaurants.
As far as lounges are concerned, while most of the lounges in their networks are third-party contract lounges, they also have some airline lounges in their networks. A good portion of the two networks overlaps and most of the participating lounges are average (i.e. nothing to write home about) at best contract lounges.
That said, there are some hidden gems like the WestJet Elevation Lounge in Calgary and Oman Air Lounge in Bangkok.
Overall, LoungeKey is stronger in the Americas where it has a presence at about 100 more airports than DragonPass. DragonPass, on the other hand, is stronger in Europe where it has a presence at about 50 more airports than LoungeKey, and Asia-Pacific/Middle East where it wins by about 150 airports. In Africa, the two program’s presence is fairly similar.
A DragonPass Membership Can Be Acquired Directly, LoungeKey Is Only Available as a Credit Card Perk
There are some considerable differences in their networks. That said, perhaps the main difference between DragonPass and LoungeKey is that while you can pay to use the former, you cannot do so with the latter.
DragonPass is a standalone membership that you can pay for either directly or get as a credit card perk. That said, even if you get it as a credit card perk, you still need a separate membership card (physical or digital) to be able to enter DragonPass lounges.
LoungeKey, on the other hand, is only available as a credit card perk. It is tied directly to the credit card that you get it through. This makes it a bit more convenient to use than DragonPass since you do not have to have an extra membership card. Instead, the credit card that you have the membership through serves as your LoungeKey membership card.
Not All DragonPass and LoungeKey Memberships Are Created Equal
When you buy DragonPass directly, there are three levels of membership you can choose from:
- Standard: 99 USD per year including 1 lounge visit
- Standard Plus: 259 USD per year including 8 lounge visits
- Prestige: 429 USD per year including unlimited lounge visits
If you get DragonPass through a credit card, the number of visits included will depend on the credit card you choose. While some lower-end credit cards offer a set number of visits per year, higher-end credit cards tend to offer unlimited DragonPass membership.
In either case, additional visits beyond what is included in your plan (and bringing in guests) will cost you 35 USD per visit per person.
LoungeKey is similar in this regard. While you cannot buy the membership directly, the number of visits you will have included in your membership will depend on the type of credit card you get it through.
With DragonPass, You Can Also Enjoy Discounts on Meet & Greet Services and Airport Transfers
The one thing that DragonPass has and LoungeKey doesn’t is discounted meet & greet services and airport transfers. Personally, I rarely use either, but if you do, then this benefit might be of some value to you.
That said, these services are not offered at all of the airports served by DragonPass. As such, make sure it is available at the airports you frequent the most before making this perk something that shifts you toward getting a DragonPass membership.
DragonPass vs. LoungeKey: Which One Should You Get, If Either?
First of all, I would recommend searching for credit cards offering DragonPass, LoungeKey, or Priority Pass that you can apply for. Depending on the country you live in, you might only find one or two cards, both offering the same program membership. In that case, if one of the card’s annual fee is reasonable, that is likely the best way forward.
In case you find cards offering both DragonPass and LoungeKey, then you should decide based on the two program’s footprints. Go to the DragonPass website and see what (if any) lounges it has available at the airports you frequent. Then do the same for LoungeKey. Remember, LoungeKey is essentially the same as Priority Pass in terms of network, so you can use the Priority Pass website for this exercise.
If you come to the conclusion that both programs offer lounges at the airports you frequent, then, perhaps, just go with the one that you can get for cheaper (i.e. the one that comes with a credit card with a lower annual fee). That said, do not forget to account for the credit card’s other perks when doing this math.
Lastly, if you cannot find a credit card offering LoungeKey, then you will be limited to DragonPass, Priority Pass, or other similar alternatives.
Summary
While the details of how the two programs work are different, at their very core, DragonPass and LoungeKey are very similar. They provide access to airport lounges and other perks (like access to airport gyms and sleeping pods, discounts at airport restaurants, etc.) to their members.
Both of these can often be had as perks of higher-end credit cards. Additionally, a DragonPass membership can be purchased directly.
Which one – if either – you go with will depend on what credit cards are available in your country, and how much their annual fees are. The decision will also depend on what airports you frequent the most since, while largely overlapping, there are also some considerable differences in the two programs’ networks.
