Best Credit Cards & Lounge Access for St. Louis (STL) Flyers

Lounge access rules change often — confirm in the lounge's app or the card's benefits page before you fly.

St. Louis is a Southwest-heavy airport with American, Delta and United in a separate terminal, and STL lounge access is thin: one American Admirals Club in Terminal 1 and one Priority Pass STL lounge, Wingtips, in Terminal 2. There's no Centurion Lounge at STL, no Delta Sky Club, no United Club and no Chase or Capital One lounge — so the best credit card for St. Louis flyers depends almost entirely on which terminal you leave from.

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Quick answer

• Best overall for STL lounge access: none covers both terminals. For Terminal 2 (Southwest), any Priority Pass card gets you into Wingtips; for Terminal 1 (American), you need Admirals Club access.
• Best value for Priority Pass: Capital One Venture X — $395 for Priority Pass, which at STL means the Wingtips Lounge in Terminal 2
• Best for frequent American flyers: Citi AAdvantage Executive with Admirals Club membership — see our Citi AAdvantage guide
• Best for occasional American flyers: Citi Strata Elite — Priority Pass for Terminal 2 plus four Admirals Club passes a year for Terminal 1

Airport snapshot

Southwest is STL's biggest carrier and has Terminal 2 almost to itself, along with Lufthansa (Frankfurt) and British Airways (London, launched April 2026 as a seasonal route). American, Delta, United, Alaska, Frontier and Air Canada use Terminal 1, split between Concourse A (Delta, United, Air Canada) and Concourse C (American, Alaska, Frontier). The airport plans to replace both terminals with a single new one; the latest timeline (April 2026) targets 2032.

Where to go by terminal

Terminal	Airlines	Lounges there
T1 Concourse A	Delta, United, Air Canada	None
T1 Concourse C	American, Alaska, Frontier	Admirals Club (C entrance)
Terminal 2 (E)	Southwest, Lufthansa, British Airways	Wingtips Lounge (Priority Pass)

Nothing here connects after security. The two terminals are linked only by a landside shuttle, and even within Terminal 1, Concourses A and C have separate checkpoints. Use the lounge in your own concourse or skip it.

MidAmerica St. Louis (BLV): the Allegiant airport across the river in Illinois has a restaurant and bar but no lounge.

Lounges at STL

Priority Pass at STL

• Wingtips Lounge — Terminal 2, opposite E29. Real lounge; the only Priority Pass location at STL.
• Access: Priority Pass Select from Amex Platinum, Sapphire Reserve, Venture X or Citi Strata Elite covers it. There's no Priority Pass option in Terminal 1.

Best credit cards for STL

Card	Annual fee	Lounges you get at STL	Guests	Best if you…
Capital One Venture X	$395	Wingtips (Priority Pass)	$35 each via PP	Fly Southwest from T2
Chase Sapphire Reserve	$795	Wingtips (Priority Pass)	2 free via PP	Travel with companions
Citi Strata Elite	$595	Wingtips + 4 Admirals Club passes/yr	2 free via PP; 1 AC pass per adult	Split time between T1 and T2
Citi AAdvantage Executive	$695	Admirals Club	Family or 2	Fly American every month
Amex Platinum	$895	Wingtips (Priority Pass)	2 free via PP	Want Centurion Lounges elsewhere

Citi raised the AAdvantage Executive fee from $595 to $695 for new accounts from August 23, 2026.

Recommended strategy

• If you fly Southwest often from STL: Venture X. It's the cheapest way into Wingtips, and Priority Pass is useful at most airports you'll fly to. Check Wingtips hours before relying on it.
• If you fly American often from STL: Citi AAdvantage Executive. It's the only card that unlocks the Admirals Club every time, and the membership works at American hubs like DFW and ORD.
• If you want one card that covers both terminals: Citi Strata Elite. Priority Pass handles Terminal 2 and four Admirals Club passes cover a few American trips from Terminal 1.
• If you fly Delta or United from STL: there's no lounge in Concourse A. Amex Platinum or a Delta or United co-brand card only pays off at your connecting hub.

No card? Day passes & other options

The Admirals Club sells day passes ($79 or 7,900 miles) with a same-day American or oneworld ticket, and Wingtips sells $45 passes to anyone in Terminal 2. Active-duty military can use the USO, which is landside in both terminals.

FAQ

Is there a Centurion Lounge at STL? No. STL has no Centurion, Chase Sapphire or Capital One Lounge. Amex Platinum's only use here is its Priority Pass membership at Wingtips in Terminal 2.

Does Priority Pass work at STL? Yes, at one lounge: Wingtips, opposite gate E29 in Terminal 2. Its hours are limited, and there's no Priority Pass option in Terminal 1.

Amex Platinum vs Sapphire Reserve vs Venture X: which is best at STL? All three get you exactly the same thing at STL — Priority Pass entry to Wingtips — so pick on fee and what you get elsewhere. Venture X is the cheapest at $395. Sapphire Reserve includes two free Priority Pass guests (Venture X charges $35 each). Platinum only makes sense if you'll use Centurion Lounges and Sky Clubs at other airports.

Is there a Delta Sky Club or United Club at STL? No. Delta and United fly from Terminal 1's Concourse A, which has no lounge. The only airline lounge at STL is American's Admirals Club in Concourse C.

Is STL getting a new terminal? Yes, eventually. The airport plans to consolidate into one new terminal on the Terminal 1 site, with the latest timeline (April 2026) targeting 2032. No lounge plans have been announced.

Related guides

• Best credit cards for airport lounge access
• Admirals Club access
• Priority Pass lounges in the USA
• Southwest cards guide
• Kansas City (MCI) airport lounges
• Chicago (ORD) 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.