Hey, it’s Micah 👋 from The Boundless Brothers!
If you’ve ever wondered how people (like us!) skip security lines and hang out in airport lounges before flights—it’s not because we’re rich. It’s because the right credit cards cover lounge access, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry, and even CLEAR Plus. We’ve been using these perks all through our JetBlue 25-for-25 Challenge, and now you can too.
1. Lounge Access
Get free food, Wi-Fi, and a quiet place to wait instead of sitting at the gate.
Cards that include lounges:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve → Priority Pass
- Capital One Venture X → Priority Pass + Capital One Lounges
- Amex Platinum → Centurion, Delta SkyClubs (with Delta flights), Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and more
2. TSA PreCheck & Global Entry
Skip long lines, keep your shoes on, and breeze through security/customs. Normally $78–$100, but these cards cover it:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Capital One Venture X
- Amex Platinum
3. CLEAR Plus
Biometric fast lane at security (normally $189/year).
- Amex Platinum → Includes CLEAR Plus credit
Our Top 4 Recommended Cards
Here’s what we actually recommend depending on your budget and how simple you want to keep things:
Chase Sapphire Reserve (2025 Refresh)
- Premium travel card ($795 annual fee)
- 125,000-point welcome bonus (at time of publishing)
- $300 annual travel credit, $300 dining credit, $300 Stub Hub credit, and more
- Lounge access via Priority Pass
- TSA Precheck/Global Entry Credit
👉 Apply here for 125,000 bonus points
Capital One Venture X (Best One-Card Pick)
- $395 annual fee (offset by $300 travel credit)
- 2x miles on everything, 10x on hotels, 5x on flights
- Lounge access: Priority Pass + Capital One Lounges
- TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
👉 Apply here for Capital One Venture X
American Express Platinum (2025 Refresh)
- $895 annual fee
- Best lounge access (1,550+ lounges)
- $600 hotel credits, $400 dining credits, $300 Lululemon, $300 digital entertainment, CLEAR Plus credit, and more
- TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
👉 Best current Amex Platinum offer tracked here: Frequent Miler Amex Platinum page
Honorable Mention: Chase Sapphire Preferred
This is a great starter travel card if the annual fees on the premium cards above scare you. Keep in mind, it doesn’t offer lounge access, CLEAR Plus credit, or TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit. But it’s still one of the most popular travel cards because of its strong earning structure and low annual fee.
- Affordable annual fee: $95
- 75,000-point welcome bonus (at time of publishing)
- 3x points on dining, 2x on travel, 5x on travel through Chase Travel
- Transfer points to 13 airline & hotel partners
👉 Apply here for 75,000 bonus points
Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever wondered how people (like us!) skip security lines and hang out in lounges before flights—it’s not because we’re rich. It’s because of these credit card perks.
If you want TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, CLEAR, and lounge access too, these are the best cards to start with:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Capital One Venture X
- American Express Platinum
👉 Honorable Mention: If you’re not ready for premium annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the perfect entry-level travel card. You won’t get lounges or security perks, but you’ll still unlock transferable points, strong bonus categories, and a big welcome bonus. Apply here for 75,000 bonus points
Travel doesn’t have to be stressful—you just need the right tools.
See you in the lounge ✈️
—Micah, The Boundless Brothers