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I Asked Friends To Add Me as an Authorized User on 3 Credit Cards — Here’s Why

Ryan Smith's image
Ryan Smith
Updated: 
Edited by: Nick Ellis
& Jestan Mendame
I Asked Friends To Add Me as an Authorized User on 3 Credit Cards — Here’s Why
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When most people think about adding an authorized user to a credit card, there’s usually a standard set of reasons. Maybe you want to help a friend build their credit score, give your kid a head start on their credit history, or have someone help you earn points from spending. Those are all good reasons.

But there’s another angle that’s less talked about: Some cards give their authorized users real perks. In these cases, it can be worth asking a friend to add you to their account, even if there’s an additional fee involved.

That’s exactly what I did with 3 different cards, and here’s why.

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Why I Asked Friends To Add Me as an Authorized User

I travel a lot, and many of my trips are solo. Airport lounges are where I get work done, grab a bite, and decompress before a flight. Plus, avoiding the constant announcements at airport gates saves me from headaches.

The catch is that the cards with the best lounge access come with annual fees that add up fast once you’re carrying several of them. If you want access to every type of lounge and get each required credit card to make it happen, you’re looking at thousands of dollars in annual fees.

Instead of applying for each card myself, I asked a friend who already held each card to add me as an authorized user. I reimburse them for the authorized user fee so they’re not out any money, and I get the lounge access I was after. I pay less than the full annual fee, skip opening a new card (and the credit inquiry that comes with the application), and still get the lounge access.

Here are the 3 cards I was added to, along with the reasons why.

Hot Tip:

There are some important things to know about authorized users — whether you’re adding someone to your card or being added to someone else’s. There are fees and credit score implications to consider beforehand.

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

My first friend added me to his Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and I cover the $195 authorized user fee.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®Terms Apply / Rates & Fees
Chase Sapphire Reserve®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
100,000 points
$2,000
$795
19.74% - 28.24% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Excellent
Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
  • 5x points on Lyft rides
  • 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
Cons
    • $795 annual fee
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
  • Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases.
  • $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, a statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
  • Get up to $150 in statement credits from January through June and again from July through December for a maximum of $300 annually when you dine at restaurants part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
  • Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $324 annually.
  • Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.74% - 28.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

What I get in return is unlimited visits to Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations. Why does that matter? Without this card, my existing Priority Pass membership doesn’t get me into Chase Sapphire Lounges unless I pay.

Chase Sapphire Lounge San Diego bar seating
Inside the Chase Sapphire Lounge in San Diego. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

As an authorized user on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, that restriction disappears. I get unlimited visits, which, for someone in and out of airports as often as I am, justifies itself pretty quickly — and the $195 authorized user fee looks much better to me than the card’s $795 annual fee for the primary account holder.

» Related: 25 Benefits of Adding Authorized Users to the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

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2. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Next up is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$395
Purchases: 19.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Excellent
Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
Cons
  • $395 annual fee
  • Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Top rated mobile app
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: Purchases: 19.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Capital One doesn’t charge a fee to add an authorized user, but there’s a twist: Authorized users only get lounge privileges if you pay an annual fee of $125 per person. This policy took effect in February 2026, so that’s what I do, and I reimburse my friend for it.

That $125 gets me unlimited visits to Capital One Lounges and Capital One Landings. The sole downside is that I can’t bring a guest without paying a $35 fee per person. That guest policy could be a dealbreaker for some people, but for me and my steady stream of solo trips, it’s not an issue.

Again, I like the $125 price tag much better than the Capital Venture X card’s $395 annual fee.

» Related: 23 Benefits of Adding Authorized Users to the Capital One Venture X Card

3. Citi Prestige® Card

The last one is the Citi Prestige® Card — a card that’s no longer available to new applicants — where I cover the $75 authorized-user fee. This is the sleeper of the bunch, and it’s all about thinking broadly with Priority Pass.

Priority Pass Restaurant TGI Fridays Lima Peru
Dining at the Lima, Peru, airport recently. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

Over the past few years, the non-lounge side of Priority Pass has been stripped away from many memberships. Chase removed access to Priority Pass-affiliated restaurants in July 2025. Capital One did more than that, cutting access to all non-lounge spaces — including nap rooms, spas, massages, and restaurants — in January 2023.

However, the Citi Prestige card still gets you into all of these spaces. On certain travel days, sitting down for a full meal at the airport at no charge beats a crowded lounge.

» Related: Which Credit Cards Still Offer Priority Pass Restaurant Benefits?

Final Thoughts

I’ll be honest: This strategy doesn’t make sense for everyone. It only works if you have friends willing to add you and you travel enough to use the access. You also need to be certain that the people adding you are using their credit cards responsibly, because being an authorized user typically appears on your credit report.

Paying a smaller authorized user fee to reimburse a friend got me more lounge access without opening a single new credit card or paying a full annual fee myself. Depending on the airport I’m passing through, the best credit card perk might come from my friend’s wallet.

Featured Image Credit: Vitaly Gariev via Unsplash
Ryan Smith's image

About Ryan Smith

Ryan completed his goal of visiting every country in the world in December of 2023 and is now revisiting some favorites. Over the years, he’s written about award travel and credit cards for publications like AwardWallet, The Points Guy, USA Today Blueprint, CNBC Select, Tripadvisor, Point.me, Forbes Advisor, and more.

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