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Adding authorized users (aka extra cardholders) to your primary credit card account just got more expensive. On August 17, the combined fee for the first three authorized users added to The Platinum Card® from American Express increased a whopping 230 percent. And in July, the fee for authorized users on the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® went from free for up to 10 additional users to $175 for up to 3 cardholders.
But in general, most of these fees are still offset by travel benefits they may provide, like airport lounge access independent of the primary cardholder, elite status with specific hotel programs, and a TSA/Global Entry credit per cardholder. Additionally, any implicit travel insurance and shopping protection of a credit card (e.g., trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay protection, and/or extended warranty coverage—depending on the card) apply to purchases made by authorized users.
Fortunately, one premium travel credit card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, still permits up to four additional users for free, each getting their own Priority Pass membership (and complimentary access to 1,300+ lounges) and access to Capital One’s growing network of proprietary airport lounges.
Here’s everything you need to know about the basics of adding authorized users to your account in today’s rapidly changing credit card landscape, plus the four best credit cards that offer excellent benefits for additional cardholders.
The basics of having authorized users on your credit card
There’s both risk and reward in adding authorized users to your primary credit card account. The risk: putting your credit line in the hands of another. The reward: lots more points for you, the primary cardholder and, in some cases, travel benefits aplenty for both you and your additional cardholders.
If you’re a couple or family who shares finances or an employer who trusts your employees, having one primary account with multiple authorized users can be a smart and cost-effective credit card choice. You’ll reign master of the points balance, and your crew scores the best travel perks without each person having to pay an annual fee upwards of $500. Everyone wins!
When you apply for a credit card in your name, you are the primary cardmember and account holder. Under the line of credit obtained, you can add authorized users—or extra cardholders—to your primary account. But all charges and payments ultimately remain your financial responsibility, if your authorized users don’t cough up the money by the due date. Beyond the financial liability of charges made, it’s also the primary cardholder’s credit score that will be impacted by on-time (or late) and complete (or incomplete) payments across all accounts. Meanwhile, the additional cardholders’ credit may also be impacted by the health of the overall credit card account because the account does appear on each secondary member’s credit report. In terms of earning points and miles, the primary cardholder banks all points and miles earned from his or her own purchases, plus those of authorized users.
Married couples, parents with kids, and employers often partake in this model of primary account plus authorized users, especially now that credit card companies have made it easy to control spending limits on sub-accounts directly from their apps or websites. It’s also enticing that the annual fees for additional cardholders are far lower than those of the primary cardmember.
Four cards with great authorized user benefits, ranked
Few credit cards impress when it comes to additional cardholder benefits, but there are four exceptions. Here, we break down the fees and key perks for authorized users of these cards, starting with the best:
1. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (annual fee: $395) is the only premium travel credit card that allows additional cardholders at no cost. Considering that the card comes out to only $95 a year (after the $395 annual fee is offset by the $300 annual travel credit), this presents an exceptional value, granting a total of five cardholders—the primary plus four others—highly coveted lounge access and Priority Pass membership.
Additional cardholder fee: $0 each, up to four users
Airport lounge access: Access to Capital One lounges with two guests. Each user also gets a Priority Pass membership, allowing access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide with two guests. This membership does not include credits at Priority Pass restaurants.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credits: None
Hotel benefits: Access to Capital One Travel’s Premier Collection, a highly curated selection of top hotels and resorts globally plus its boutique-driven Lifestyle Collection, both of which give cardholders perks like experience credits and space-available room upgrades.
2. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (annual fee: $550) charges a very reasonable $75 for additional cardholders. Chase’s new lounges are some of the best out there, and Reserve cardholders can access them whenever they travel. What’s more is that the Priority Pass membership granted through the Reserve is valid at Priority Pass restaurant partners, typically for $56 to $64 off the bill ($28–$32 for the cardholder plus the same for one guest).
Additional cardholder fee: $75 each
Airport lounge access: Access to Chase lounges with two guests. Each gets a Priority Pass membership, allowing access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide with two guests. This membership includes credits at Priority Pass restaurants.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credits: None
Hotel benefits: None
3. The Platinum Card® from American Express
In August 2023, The Platinum Card® from American Express (annual fee: $695, see rates and fees) raised its additional cardholder fee to $195 per user. Prior to that, the fee was a mere $175 total for up to first three users (less than $60 each) plus $175 per user number four and beyond. While additional Platinum cardholders receive more benefits overall than authorized users of other premium cards, at $195 per user it’s worth doing a cost-benefit analysis on how many users to actually add.
Additional cardholder fee: $195 each
Airport lounge access: Access to 40+ Centurion Lounges for users and Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner for users and up to two guests. Access to Delta Sky Club airline lounges for users. Each also gets a Priority Pass membership, allowing access to 1,300+ lounges around the world with two guests. This membership does not include credits at Priority Pass restaurants.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credits: Yes, up to $120 per user every four years.
Hotel benefits: Gold status in Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy plus access to Fine Hotels & Resorts and the Hotel Collection from American Express, granting cardholders travel perks like dining credits, late checkout, and space-available upgrades.
4. Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Prior to July 2023, the best perk of the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (annual fee: $595) was adding up to 10 additional users at no cost. It was too good to be true and only a matter of time until the benefit ended. The upped fee is definitely not unreasonable, especially for those who fly American Airlines often.
Additional cardholder fee: Up to three cardholders can be added for a total of $175 (less than $60 apiece). Additional cardholders beyond the initial three cost $175 each.
Airport lounge access: Each user receives access privileges to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges with two guests, but not access to oneworld partner lounges.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credits: None
Hotel benefits: None
Takeaways
Airport lounge access typically costs a pretty penny, but some premium credit cards are practically giving it away to additional cardholders. The equivalent of a credit card’s Priority Pass Select membership is $469 annually. Access to American Express’s lounge portfolio (Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, and Priority Pass membership) is worth even more, and a new price for additional cardholders reflects that. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the only premium travel credit card that allows additional cardholders at no cost—and we aren’t sure how long this exceptional, fee-free perk will remain.
Suffice to say, for the family, close friends, or work team that travels—and sometimes does so separately—it makes financial sense for everyone to come together for card membership. Appoint a primary account holder and decide on additional cardholders to maximize snazzy travel benefits at minimum cost.
This article was originally published in April 2022; it was updated on August 25, 2023, with new information. While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any time, and may have changed or may no longer be available.
