7 credit cards with the best authorized user benefits

Adding an authorized user to your credit card allows someone else, such as a family member or trusted friend, to make purchases on your account. Their spending can also help you earn rewards faster and meet spending requirements for welcome bonuses or other benefits.Dependin on the card, authorized users may also benefit from the account's positive credit history and receive valuable card perks, such as lounge access and statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck applications.Here's a look at the best rewards cards for authorized users, the benefits they offer and what to consider before adding someone to your account.Overview of the best cards for authorized usersHere are some credit cards that offer valuable benefits to authorized users:CardAnnual feeAuthorized user feeRewards rateCapital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card$395No additional cost for up to four authorized users (adding complimentary lounge access is $125 per card) 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel 2 miles per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees)$795$195 per additional cardholder 8 points per dollar spent on all purchases made through Chase Travel℠ (except for purchases covered by the annual $300 travel credit) 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides, plus $10 monthly in-app credit (through Sept. 2027) 4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked direct (except for purchases covered by the annual $300 travel credit) 3 points per dollar spent on dining purchases 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases American Express Platinum Card®$895 (see rates and fees)$195 for each additional authorized user; companion Platinum cards can be added for free (see rates and fees) 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel 1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases Terms apply The Business Platinum Card® from American Express$895 (see rates and fees)$400 per additional cardmember (see rates and fees) 5 points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel 2 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more and on eligible purchases in select business categories (up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases Terms apply Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card$650 (see rates and fees)$175 per additional cardmember (see rates and fees) 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases 1 mile per dollar spent on other eligible purchases Terms apply Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card$650 (see rates and fees)$175 per additional cardmember (see rates and fees) 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases 1.5 miles per dollar spent on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases plus all other eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 on your card each calendar year 1 mile per dollar spent on other purchases Terms apply Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® (see rates and fees)$695Up to 3 additional cardholders for $175, then $175 for each additional authorized user 12 miles per dollar spent on eligible hotels booked through aadvantagehotels.com and eligible car rentals booked through aadvantagecars.com 4 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases (or 5 miles per dollar after spending $150,000 in a calendar year) 1 mile per dollar spent on other purchases 1 Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage status for each eligible mile earned Capital One Venture XThe Capital One Venture X offers premium travel benefits for a $395 annual fee, with the option to extend select perks to authorized users.THE POINTS GUYAuthorized user benefitsVenture X authorized users can receive complimentary Hertz President's Circle status* upon enrollment, along with eligible travel and purchase protections. They can also receive access to Capital One lounges and Priority Pass lounges for an additional $125 annual fee per authorized user.*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.Authorized-user feesYou can add up to four authorized users at no additional cost. If you want an authorized user to receive eligible lounge access, you'll pay $125 annually for that card.To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture X.Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletterJoin over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s expertsBy signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.Chase Sapphire ReserveThe annual fee for the primary account is $795 and Chase Sapphire Reserve primary cardholders can expect plenty of perks. Authorized users, however, can only rely on a few in their own right.THE POINTS GUYAuthorized user benefitsAuthorized users receive access to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés when departing on a Star Alliance member airline flight, and their own Priority Pass Select membership, which offers access to over 1,700 airport lounges worldwide. They also receive unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounges.In addition to lounge access, authorized users can also enjoy at least 12 months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass (must be activated by Dec. 31, 2029). Authorized users are also covered by Chase's extensive travel protections.Authorized-user feesEach additional Sapphire Reserve card costs $195 annually.To learn more, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.Apply here: Chase Sapphire ReserveAmerican Express PlatinumThe Amex Platinum has an $895 annual fee and offers two types of additional cards: a paid additional Platinum Card and a no-annual-fee Companion Platinum Card. The paid version provides a broader range of premium travel benefits.THE POINTS GUYAuthorized user benefitsPaid authorized users are entitled to their own Global Entry ($120 every four years) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85 every four years) application fee reimbursement and can register for hotel and rental car elite status. They also receive access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Delta Sky Club*, Centurion and Priority Pass™ lounges with the same entry privileges as the primary cardmember.*When traveling on same-day Delta flights; eligible Platinum cardmembers will receive 10 visits per eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight.Authorized users also have access to booking through Fine Hotels + Resorts, along with all the extra benefits that it confers.(Enrollment is required for select benefits)Authorized-user feesAdditional Platinum Cards cost $195 each annually. You can also add Companion Platinum Cards at no additional annual fee.Companion cards earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked through Amex Travel or directly with airlines (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per year, then 1 point per dollar spent) and on prepaid hotels on Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar spent on all other spending.However, Companion cardmembers are not eligible for Priority Pass membership or access to Centurion Lounges. Furthermore, they do not qualify for other perks such as annual Uber Cash and elite status at certain hotels and rental car agencies.To learn more, see our full review of the Amex Platinum.Apply here: Amex PlatinumAmerican Express Business PlatinumLike the personal Platinum card, the Amex Business Platinum offers premium travel benefits to eligible additional cardmembers, although the cost is higher.THE POINTS GUYAuthorized user benefitsBusiness Platinum authorized users are eligible for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credits ($120 every four years for Global Entry and up to $85 every four years for TSA PreCheck) and receive access to Centurion, Priority Pass and Delta Sky Club lounges* — among other benefits.*When traveling on same-day Delta flights; eligible cardmembers will receive 10 visits per eligible card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight.Authorized users also get access to the Amex Business Platinum's suite of travel and purchase protections.Enrollment is required for select benefits.Authorized-user feesBusiness Platinum cardmembers can tack on additional cards for $400 each, so it's not nearly as good a deal as with the personal card. That said, it's still worth considering if you have an employee who travels frequently.To learn more, see our full review of the Amex Business Platinum.Apply here: Amex Business PlatinumDelta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express CardThe benefits offered by the Delta SkyMiles Reserve and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business are very similar, so let's consider them together. Both of these cards carry annual fees of $650.Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-900ER. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYAuthorized user benefitsAuthorized users of both cards get access to Delta Sky Clubs* and Amex Centurion Lounges when they travel on flights marketed and operated by Delta and present a same-day Delta boarding pass.*Reserve cardmembers will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more per calendar year.Authorized-user feesAdditional cards cost $175 per year each for both the Reserve and Reserve Business. Since these cards offer the same perks for their authorized users, the choice comes down to which card makes more sense for your wallet long-term.To learn more, see our full reviews of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business.Apply here: Delta SkyMiles ReserveApply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve BusinessCiti / AAdvantage Executive World Legend MastercardCiti's top-tier American Airlines cobranded card has an annual fee of $695 per year. While authorized users don't receive all the primary cardholder's benefits, they can still access eligible Admirals Club locations.THE POINTS GUYAuthorized user benefitsAdditional cardholders can access eligible American Airlines Admirals Clubs and bring immediate family members or up to two guests at no additional charge, subject to the lounge's entry requirements. However, they don't receive access to partner lounges through this benefit.Additionally, spending by authorized users counts toward earning bonus Loyalty Points each year — these are credited to the primary cardholder's account.Authorized-user feesYou can add up to three authorized users for $175 annually. Each additional authorized user beyond those three costs another $175 per year.To learn more, see our full review of the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Legend Mastercard.Apply here: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Legend MastercardBenefits of adding authorized usersBeyond the perks offered by individual cards, there are other reasons you might consider adding someone to your account.Adding an authorized user can help you earn rewards faster, since their purchases count toward your account's spending activity. This can be especially useful when working toward a welcome bonus or spending-based benefits, such as elite status. Some issuers also offer targeted bonuses for adding authorized users.Authorized users may also benefit from the primary cardholder's positive credit history, potentially helping them build or improve their own credit. Depending on the issuer, adding an authorized user may also provide additional options for sharing or transferring rewards.Related: Should my partner get their own card or be added as an authorized user?Drawbacks to adding authorized usersOf course, there are also a few potential downsides to consider before adding someone to your account.The biggest consideration is that the primary cardholder is responsible for all purchases, even those made by authorized users. Authorized users generally aren't responsible for repaying the account balance, although issuer policies and individual circumstances may vary.Additional cards may also come with annual fees, and authorized users don't always receive the same benefits as primary cardholders.Before adding someone to your account, make sure you understand the costs, benefits and available spending controls.Related: Everything you need to know about authorized credit card usersBottom lineThere are many reasons to add an authorized user to your credit card account. It can help someone build their credit and improve their score, net you extra spending toward a welcome bonus and extend the use of your points to friends or family members.Certain high-end credit cards also bestow value-added benefits on authorized users, such as lounge access, Global Entry reimbursements and inflight purchase discounts.As always, when considering a credit card, consider your spending habits and needs and then determine whether adding authorized users will provide enough value to justify any annual fees you might incur.And remember that as the primary cardholder, you're responsible for purchases made by authorized users.Related: Is it worth becoming a Citi / AAdvantage Executive authorized user for Admirals Club access?For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.For rates and fees of the Amex Delta Reserve card, click here.For rates and fees of the Amex Delta Reserve Business card, click here.For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.