An Extra Holiday Credit Card Perk: Mall Lounges

Having access to an airport lounge is a well-known perk of airline rewards programs and some credit cards, but you might want to see if your credit card has another way for you to escape the chaos this holiday season: Shopping mall lounges.

Like at an airport, finding a relaxing space at a mall is difficult to come by, particularly during such a busy shopping time. If you’re lucky, you might have access to an exclusive lounge at an upscale shopping center near you, all because of a little piece of plastic in your wallet.

Chase United Cardmembers

Consumers with Chase United credit cards not only get rewards with the airline, they also get to VIP Lounges at two shopping centers. Each cardholder is allowed to bring three guests into the space.

The Westfield San Francisco Centre has a lounge for Chase United cardholders from 11 a.m. to close now through Christmas Eve. The Mall in Short Hills, N.J., has the same thing. Perks include bag and coat check, snacks, beverages, Wi-Fi and gift wrapping services. Additionally, cardholders can donate new toys to Toys for Tots on December 8th or 15th and get a United Club pass in exchange (you can bring two toys for two passes). The lounges also play football games on Sundays.

Citi Cardmembers

Citi cardholders shopping in the Miami area can gain access to the Citi Lounge at Aventura Mall, with exclusive beauty, fashion and food tasting events taking place through Jan. 2. Cardholders will also get special discounts at certain stores in the mall, which they can wander through well-caffeinated, thanks to the complimentary coffee in the lounge. From December 11 through Christmas Eve, there’s complimentary gift wrapping for purchases made that day – up to three. (Full Disclosure: Citibank & Chase advertise on Credit.com, but that results in no preferential editorial treatment.) 

MasterCard Members

If you’re doing holiday shopping in New York City and have a MasterCard, you can visit the Holiday Lounge at the Shops at Columbus Circle Time Warner Center. You can check your bags and coat, and enjoy complimentary refreshments through December 24, though there are some special events scattered throughout the month.

You never know what perks your local shopping center may have to offer, so it can’t hurt to check. Things like exclusive lounges and clubs can make certain credit cards extra appealing, but there are many more things to consider when deciding to get a credit card.

Before applying, it’s important to look at your credit scores and get an idea of what products you might qualify for (there are cards specifically for good credit, bad credit and so on), and pay close attention to the terms and conditions. For example, if you plan to use the card to finance a purchase, maybe look at one with a 0% APR period or one with a low interest rate. You can see where your credit stands and how credit cards affect your credit scores by getting your free credit report summary every 30 days on Credit.com.