Lounge access rules change often — confirm in the lounge's app or the card's benefits page before you fly.
Honolulu is Hawaiian Airlines' hub, now part of Alaska Air Group, and almost every mainland airline flies here too. There's no Centurion Lounge at HNL and no Chase or Capital One lounge, but Priority Pass HNL still opens Hawaiian's own Premier Club in Terminal 1. That makes a Priority Pass card the best credit card for Honolulu flyers on most trips, with Amex Platinum adding the Delta Sky Club.
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Quick answer
- Best overall for HNL lounge access: Amex Platinum — includes Priority Pass (Premier Club and IASS) and 10 Delta Sky Club visits a year on Delta flights
- Best value for Priority Pass: Capital One Venture X — $395 for Hawaiian's Premier Club (Terminal 1) and the IASS Hawaii Lounge (Terminal 2); no Capital One Lounge here
- Best for frequent Hawaiian flyers: a Priority Pass card, since the Premier Club takes it. The Atmos Rewards Summit Alaska Lounge passes don't work in Hawaiian's lounges
- Best for frequent United flyers: United Club card with United Club access in Terminal 2
- Best for frequent American flyers: Citi AAdvantage Executive with Admirals Club access in Terminal 2 — see our Citi AAdvantage guide
Airport snapshot
Terminal 1 is Hawaiian's, with its two lounges. Terminal 2 handles most other airlines and holds the airline clubs plus a row of international lounges in the Garden Court area. Hawaiian and Alaska are still moving check-in lobbies after their merger (international check-in moved to Terminal 2, Lobby 4 on October 3, 2026), so check your boarding pass.
Where to go by terminal
| Terminal | Airlines | Lounges there |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Hawaiian (interisland and many mainland flights) | Premier Club (Priority Pass), Plumeria Lounge |
| Terminal 2 | United, Delta, American, Southwest, Asia-Pacific carriers | Sky Club (F1), United Club (G2–G3), Admirals Club, IASS (Priority Pass), airline lounges |
You can walk between Terminals 1 and 2, but it's a long open-air walk (allow 15–20 minutes), and the Wiki Wiki shuttle also runs. Pick the lounge in your own terminal if you're short on time.
Lounges at HNL
There's no Centurion Lounge at HNL.
Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club
- Location: Terminal 1, level 2, near gate A18.
- Access: Priority Pass members (up to 3 hours before departure); first and business passengers on Hawaiian or Alaska flights; Atmos Rewards elites (Silver and up) on Hawaiian or Alaska flights. Arriving passengers can use it only when connecting to another Hawaiian or Alaska flight.
- Guest policy: Priority Pass guests follow your card's rules; Atmos elites can bring two guests.
- Best for: Hawaiian flyers with a Priority Pass card. It's the rare US airline lounge that Priority Pass opens.
Hawaiian Airlines Plumeria Lounge
- Location: Terminal 1, level 3, near the shuttle pickup.
- Access: Eligible business-class and long-haul first-class passengers, eligible oneworld elites on international trips, and Alaska Lounge and Lounge+ members. Day passes ($40) are sold at the front desk to passengers on Alaska, Hawaiian, oneworld or Hawaiian partner flights. Priority Pass access ended in 2025.
- Guest policy: Set by your access route; infants 2 and under free.
- Best for: Premium-cabin Hawaiian passengers, and Alaska Lounge members.
Delta Sky Club HNL
- Location: Terminal 2, Concourse F, near gate F1.
- Access: Same-day Delta flight. Delta SkyMiles Reserve gets 15 visits a year and Amex Platinum and Business Platinum get 10, unlimited after $75,000 in annual spend. Also Sky Club members, Medallion and SkyTeam Elite Plus members, and Delta One passengers. No day passes.
- Guest policy: $50 per guest, up to two. Reserve cardholders get four free guest passes a year.
- Best for: Delta flyers. Reviewers rate its food among the best at HNL.
United Club HNL
- Location: Terminal 2, Concourse G, above gates G2 and G3.
- Access: United Club members and United Club card holders with a same-day United or Star Alliance flight. Day passes cost $59, and United Explorer cardholders get two a year.
- Guest policy: United Club card membership includes one guest.
- Best for: United flyers to the mainland.
Admirals Club HNL (with JAL Sakura Lounge)
- Location: Terminal 2, above The Local @HNL restaurant, sharing space with Japan Airlines' Sakura Lounge.
- Access: Admirals Club members (including Citi AAdvantage Executive cardholders), AA and oneworld elites as eligible, premium-cabin international passengers. Citi Strata Elite includes four Admirals Club passes a year. Day passes cost $79 or 7,900 miles.
- Guest policy: Members can bring immediate family or up to two guests.
- Best for: American and JAL flyers.
Coming to HNL
- Hawaiian/Alaska premium lounge: Planned at the Mauka Concourse entrance in Terminal 1, now expected around early 2028. Access rules haven't been announced.
- Southwest lounge: Terminal 2. HNL is one of Southwest's first four lounges (with Austin, Baltimore and Nashville), projected for late 2027 and tied to a new Chase card.
Priority Pass at HNL
- Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club — Terminal 1. Real lounge, up to 3 hours before departure.
- IASS Hawaii Lounge — Terminal 2, Garden Court area. Real lounge, but basic, with limited food, and it closes early evening.
- Access: Any Priority Pass Select card. Amex Platinum, Sapphire Reserve and Citi Strata Elite include two free guests; Venture X charges $35 per guest.
Best credit cards for HNL
| Card | Annual fee | Lounges you get at HNL | Guests | Best if you… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Platinum | $895 | Premier Club, IASS (PP), Sky Club on Delta (10) | PP 2 free; Sky Club $50 | fly Delta and Hawaiian |
| Capital One Venture X | $395 | Premier Club, IASS (PP) | $35 each | want the lowest fee |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $795 | Premier Club, IASS (PP) | 2 free | travel as a family |
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve | $650 | Sky Club (15 visits) | $50 each; 4 free passes | fly Delta |
| Citi AAdvantage Executive | $695 | Admirals Club | Family or 2 | fly American |
Recommended strategy
- If you fly Hawaiian often from HNL: Get any Priority Pass card and use the Premier Club. It's Hawaiian's own lounge, and it's the best-value lounge trick at HNL. The Atmos Summit's Alaska Lounge passes don't work in Hawaiian's lounges, so don't get that card for HNL alone.
- If you want one card that covers the best lounges: Amex Platinum gets you both Priority Pass lounges plus the Sky Club on Delta. If you fly United instead, Sapphire Reserve or Venture X give the same Priority Pass access for less.
- If you want strong lounges at a lower cost: Venture X at $395 for the Premier Club and IASS. Budget $35 per guest, which adds up for families on vacation.
- If you fly United, American or Delta: Their club cards beat Priority Pass in Terminal 2, where IASS is the only Priority Pass lounge.
No card? Day passes & other options
Plumeria Lounge passes cost $40 at the desk (Alaska, Hawaiian or partner flights), United Club $59, Admirals Club $79, and IASS from $25. The H.I.S. LeaLea Lounge in Terminal 2 sells passes online ($43 plus tax).
FAQ
Is there a Centurion Lounge at HNL? No. Amex Platinum holders at HNL use Priority Pass (the Hawaiian Premier Club and the IASS Hawaii Lounge) and the Delta Sky Club when flying Delta.
Does Priority Pass work at HNL? Yes, at Hawaiian's Premier Club in Terminal 1 and the IASS Hawaii Lounge in Terminal 2. It stopped working at the Plumeria Lounge in 2025.
Amex Platinum vs Sapphire Reserve vs Venture X: which is best at HNL? All three get the same Priority Pass lounges. Platinum adds 10 Delta Sky Club visits, which matters only if you fly Delta. Sapphire Reserve includes two free guests, which helps on family trips. Venture X costs $395 but charges $35 per guest. Solo traveler: Venture X. Family: Sapphire Reserve. Delta flyer: Platinum.
Can I use the Atmos Summit card's lounge passes at HNL? Not in Hawaiian's lounges. Summit passes work at Alaska Lounges, and HNL doesn't have one yet. Atmos elite status (not the card) can get you into the Premier Club, and Gold and above can use the Plumeria Lounge on Hawaiian international flights.
Related guides
- Best credit cards for airport lounge access
- Priority Pass lounges in the USA
- Alaska Airlines Visa guide
- United Club access
- Los Angeles (LAX) airport lounges
- San Francisco (SFO) airport lounges
Lounge access rules, guest policies and locations change. Always confirm current details with the airline, lounge operator or card issuer before you travel.
