American Express Gold Lounge Access by Country: Visit Limitations and How to Fill the Gaps
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American Express issues different versions of the American Express Gold Card around the world, and lounge access varies significantly by country. Some markets offer no lounge access, while others provide limited Priority Pass or Plaza Premium entries.
This guide is written for current Amex Gold cardmembers. It explains what lounge access you receive in your country and how LoungePair can help when your free visits run out, when traveling with a companion, or when your airport lacks an eligible lounge.
Priority Pass is a global lounge program that provides access to 1,800+ airport lounges worldwide, regardless of the airline or ticket class you’re flying.
Amex Gold Lounge Access by Country
Country | Lounge Access | Program | Free Visits (per year) |
|---|---|---|---|
Australia | No | — | 0 |
Canada | Yes (limited) | Plaza Premium (Canadian locations only) + Priority Pass (membership only) | 4 (Plaza Premium) No free Priority Pass visits (membership only) |
India | No | — | 0 |
International Dollar Card (IDC) | Yes (minimal) | Priority Pass | 2 |
Mexico | Yes (generous) | Priority Pass | 10 |
New Zealand | No | — | 0 |
Singapore | No | — | 0 |
Switzerland | Yes (minimal) | Priority Pass | 2 |
United Arab Emirates (Credit) | Yes (limited) | Priority Pass | 5 (Credit Card) 8 (Charge Card) |
United Kingdom | Yes (limited) | Priority Pass | 4 |
United States | No | — | 0 |
Guest entries always count as one visit each. For example, if your card gives you 2 visits per year and you visit a lounge with a guest, that will use up your 2-visit allowance.
Country-by-Country Lounge Access Details
Australia: Does the Amex Gold Card Have Lounge Access?
Short answer: No.
The Australian Amex Gold Card includes no lounge access, no Priority Pass membership and no Plaza Premium entries.
Amex Gold cardmembers in Australia will need to rely entirely on paid lounge access.
When to use LoungePair: Any time you need lounge access in Australia or abroad.
Canada: Does the Amex Gold Rewards Card Have Lounge Access?
Short answer: Yes, but only in a limited way.
What you get:
4 free Plaza Premium visits per membership year, valid only at Canadian locations
Priority Pass membership with no free visits
Extra visit pricing:
Plaza Premium: CA$60-110 (depending on the location)
Priority Pass: US$35
Priority Pass membership is included, but every Priority Pass entry is charged.
When to use LoungePair: After you have used your four Plaza Premium visits, when travelling through international airports or with guests, when it is cheaper than the US$35 Priority Pass rate, or when you need lounges not included in Plaza Premium or Priority Pass.
India: Does the Amex Gold Card Have Lounge Access?
Short answer: No.
The Indian Amex Gold Charge Card includes no lounge program and no Priority Pass access.
When to use LoungePair: Ideal for domestic and international lounge access.
International Dollar Card (IDC): Does the Amex Gold IDC Include Lounge Access?
Short answer: Yes, but minimal.
What you get:
A Priority Pass membership
2 free visits per membership year
(Supplementary cardmembers do not receive their own allowance.)
Extra visit pricing: US$35
When to use LoungePair: After you use your two free visits or when travelling with guests, when LoungePair prices beat the Priority Pass US$35 per-visit rate, and when you need access to lounges not included with Priority Pass, such as Plaza Premium.
Mexico: Does the Mexican Amex Gold Card Have Lounge Access?
Short answer: Yes. This is the strongest Amex Gold lounge benefit globally.
What you get:
Priority Pass (Standard Plus) membership
10 free visits per membership year
Extra visit pricing: US$35
Mexico’s Amex Gold card provides the highest lounge allotment of any Gold card worldwide.
When to use LoungePair: After you use your ten free visits or when travelling with companions, when LoungePair offers a lower price than the US$35 Priority Pass fee, and when your airport lacks full Priority Pass coverage and you need access to lounges outside that network.
New Zealand: Does the Amex Gold Card Have Lounge Access?
Short answer: No.
There is no lounge program and no Priority Pass membership.
When to use LoungePair: For lounge access in New Zealand and overseas.
Singapore: Does the Amex Gold Card Have Lounge Access?
Short answer: No.
There is no lounge program and no Priority Pass membership.
When to use LoungePair: For lounge access at Singapore Changi or internationally.
Switzerland: Does the Swiss Amex Gold Card Have Lounge Access?
Short answer: Yes, but with very limited access.
What you get:
Priority Pass membership
2 free visits per membership year
Extra visit pricing: US$35
When to use LoungePair: After your two free visits or for guest access, when LoungePair provides better value than the Priority Pass US$35 fee, and when your airport does not have an eligible Priority Pass lounge.
United Arab Emirates: Does the UAE Amex Gold Card Have Lounge Access?
UAE Gold Credit Card: Lounge Access
5 free Priority Pass visits
Extra visits cost US$35
UAE Gold Charge Card: Lounge Access
8 free Priority Pass visits per membership year
Shared between primary and supplementary users
Extra visits cost US$35
With shared visit allowances, multi-person trips can use up your UAE Gold lounge benefits quickly.
When to use LoungePair: After you have used your annual free visit allowance, when travelling with family or guests, when it offers better value than the Priority Pass US$35 per-visit charge, or when your airport does not have an eligible Priority Pass lounge and you need access to alternative partners.
United Kingdom: Does the U.K. Amex Gold Card Have Lounge Access?
Short answer: Yes, but with limitations.
What you get:
Priority Pass membership
4 free lounge visits per membership year
Extra visit pricing: US$35
When to use LoungePair: After your four free visits, when it is cheaper than the US$35 Priority Pass rate, or when you need lounges not covered by Priority Pass, such as Plaza Premium.
United States: Does the U.S. Amex Gold Card Have Lounge Access?
Short answer: No, the U.S. Amex Gold card includes no lounge benefits.
There is no Priority Pass membership, no Plaza Premium access, no Centurion access, and no airline lounge privileges.
For lounge access with the U.S. Amex Gold, you’ll need to rely on paid options like LoungePair.
When to use LoungePair: Ideal for occasional lounge access without upgrading to a premium Amex card.
How LoungePair Complements Amex Gold Lounge Benefits
LoungePair is an excellent solution for Amex Gold cardmembers who find their lounge access limited.
LoungePair offers pay-per-visit lounge access with no membership fees, providing flexibility when your Amex Gold lounge access is limited.
You can use LoungePair when:
✓ You have used all your free visits
✓ You are traveling with a companion
✓ You prefer predictable, upfront pricing
✓ You only need lounge access occasionally
✓ Your airport does not have an eligible lounge
✓ You want lounge access without paying for a premium Amex card
✓ LoungePair offers better value than the US$35 Priority Pass per-visit fee
Summing Up
Amex Gold lounge benefits vary significantly by country, ranging from no access in markets like the United States, Australia, India and Singapore to modest Priority Pass or Plaza Premium allowances in places such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Canada. Mexico offers the most generous package with 10 annual visits.
Because access is limited or nonexistent in many regions, LoungePair offers a practical and affordable way to enjoy airport lounges whenever you travel. With flexible pay-per-visit pricing and coverage across a wide range of lounges worldwide, LoungePair gives Amex Gold cardmembers a premium airport experience without needing to upgrade their card or rely on restrictive annual visit limits.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Amex Gold Card include airport lounge access?
Lounge access on the Amex Gold card depends entirely on the country where the card is issued. Some versions include limited Priority Pass or Plaza Premium visits, while others include no lounge access at all. Gold cardmembers who need additional or more flexible options can use pay-per-visit lounge access through LoungePair.
Do Amex Gold lounge benefits include guest access?
Guests can enter if the lounge accepts Priority Pass or Plaza Premium visitors, but each guest uses one visit from your annual allowance. If you’ve already used your complimentary visits or need multiple guest entries, LoungePair can provide extra access at a predictable cost.
Can I buy extra lounge visits if I’ve used all my Amex Gold benefits?
Yes. Priority Pass charges per additional entry, and Plaza Premium charges vary by location. Many travelers prefer using LoungePair to purchase extra visits because pricing is transparent and does not require ongoing membership fees.
What’s the easiest way to get lounge access if my Amex Gold card doesn’t include it?
If your specific Amex Gold product provides no lounge access, or if you’ve already used your free visits, the simplest solution is to purchase pay-per-visit access through LoungePair. It offers upfront pricing and a wide selection of lounges worldwide without requiring a premium credit card.
Does the Amex Gold Card in Australia include lounge access?
No. The Australian Amex Gold Card does not include any lounge access or Priority Pass membership. Travelers who want lounge access typically use LoungePair or upgrade to a different Amex product.
Does the Canadian Amex Gold Card include lounge benefits?
Yes, but in a limited way. The Canadian Gold Rewards Card includes four free Plaza Premium lounge visits per membership year, valid only in Canada. It also includes Priority Pass membership, but all Priority Pass entries are charged per visit. Travelers often turn to LoungePair for international lounge access.
Does the Amex Gold Card in India include lounge access?
No. The Indian Amex Gold Charge Card does not include any airport lounge access. Travelers can instead purchase one-off lounge entry through LoungePair when needed.
Does the Amex Gold International Dollar Card (IDC) include lounge access?
Yes, but on a limited basis. The Gold IDC includes Priority Pass membership and two complimentary visits per membership year. These visits can be used for either the cardmember or a guest. For anyone needing more frequent lounge access, LoungePair offers extra visits on demand.
Does the Amex Gold Card in Mexico include lounge access?
Yes. The Mexican Amex Gold card includes Priority Pass Standard Plus, which provides ten complimentary lounge visits per membership year. Each entry uses one visit, whether for you or a guest. After the ten visits are used, additional entries are charged at the standard Priority Pass rate or available through LoungePair.
Does the Amex Gold Card in New Zealand include lounge access?
No. The New Zealand Amex Gold Card does not include lounge access or Priority Pass membership, and travellers who want lounge access typically use LoungePair or upgrade to another Amex card that offers it.
Does the Amex Gold Card in Singapore include lounge access?
No. The Singapore-issued Amex Gold Card includes no Priority Pass membership and no complimentary lounge visits. LoungePair is a common option for cardmembers seeking pay-per-visit access.
Does the Amex Gold Card in Switzerland include lounge access?
Yes, the Swiss Amex Gold includes two Priority Pass visits per membership year. Each person entering uses one visit. Additional entries are charged at the standard Priority Pass rate, and many travelers use LoungePair for extra or more flexible lounge access.
Does the Amex Gold Card in the UAE include lounge access?
Yes. UAE Gold cards include Priority Pass access, although the number of free visits varies. The Gold Charge Card includes 8 complimentary visits per membership year, while the Gold Credit Card includes 5. These allowances are shared between the primary and supplementary cardmember. LoungePair is often used when the shared allowance is exhausted.
Does the U.K. Amex Gold Card include lounge access?
Yes. The U.K. Amex Preferred Rewards Gold Card includes a Priority Pass membership and four complimentary lounge visits per membership year. Each person entering the lounge uses one visit. Once the four visits are used, additional access can be purchased at the standard Priority Pass rate or through LoungePair.
Does the U.S. Amex Gold Card offer lounge access?
No. The U.S. version of the Amex Gold Card does not include any airport lounge access. It does not include Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, or Centurion Lounge entry. Travelers often rely on LoungePair when they need occasional, pay-per-visit lounge access.