Umrah can be a long, and exhausting journey.  Depending on how you book, there’s easily a few stops before you finally arrive in Makkah or Madinah, respectively.  During our Umrah trip last fall, we were able to access multiple lounges for free throughout our journey.  It truly made our journey smoother, having more secluded places to rest, eat, and pray while in airports.

The Card

My husband and I each hold the Capital One Venture X Credit Card.  One benefit of this card is access to 3 different lounge programs: Capital One, Plaza Premium, & Priority Pass.  You + two guests are allowed into lounges for free.  You can also add up to 4 authorized users (per card) for free; each can take in 2 guests.  Note that for Priority Pass lounges, depending on which lounge you are trying to access, it can vary (and they may only allow the cardholder + 1 additional guest).  As a reminder, the Venture X comes with complimentary Priority Pass membership that you need to register for after getting approved for the card.

The Journey

This is how our itinerary looked: DFW > IST > Jeddah > Makkah > Madinah > IST > DFW.  (I had booked flights from DFW to IST, roundtrip, and then booked separate one-way flights from IST to Jeddah, and then Madinah to IST, respectively.)

Lounge #1: We flew from DFW Airport to IST.  Prior to departure, we got to access the Capital One Lounge.  There were 4 of us for this trip; we had left our little one back home with family.  We each took 1 kid with us as our guest, for free.  This lounge is definitely a family favorite!  There’s relaxation rooms, interfaith prayer rooms, a nursing room for mothers, great food options, and you even get to take food to go from the grab-and-go section.  Nothing beats healthy and delish items to go on long travel days!

Lounge #2: After spending two short nights in Istanbul, we departed for Jeddah.  We were able to access the iGA lounge thanks to our Priority Passes.  This is where we changed into our Ihram, prayed, and grabbed a bite to eat before our flight.  There are separate prayer spaces for men and women, private workspaces, a good buffet of food and drinks, showers and changing areas, and seating areas throughout the lounge.  There’s even a kids play area that’s perfect for little ones to get some energy out before a departing flight.

Lounge #3: From Madinah, I had booked one-way flights back to IST for the 4 of us.  We visited the Primeclass Lounge at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, thanks to the complimentary Priority Pass membership we each hold.  On this travel day home, it took us 4 flights before we were able to finally make it home.  Little did we know then how much we would appreciate our naps prior to our departure flight!

There’s also a children’s play area, workstations, a quiet room where you can read Quran, and individual spaces to rest.  Our flight was very late in the evening, and while we were there, there was a small food buffet open with refreshments.  Complimentary luggage storage is also available inside the lounge if needed.

THE Premium Card We Hold

This card is THE premium travel credit card we each hold.  While there are other premium card options like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or The Platinum Card from American Express – Capital One Venture X comes out on top for us.  You get comparable perks and benefits, for a lower annual fee.  Here are some other benefits that come with this card:

• 10k Anniversary Miles
• $300 travel credit
• Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA Precheck Credit
• No foreign transaction fees

I love the Venture family of cards!  They offer me additional flexibility in covering travel expenses that you can’t book directly in points and miles.  Check out how Capital One miles saved me just under $3,000 for our Umrah trip.

In Sum

While all lounge programs are not created equal, it helps to scout one out first before succumbing to buying airport food.  We are also always looking for quiet and clean places to pray while traveling – away from the hustle and bustle of the airport.  One card, one trip, three lounges – priceless.  Because when you’re traveling with the family, and someone’s always hungry, it sure isn’t.

 

Umrah is achievable for thousands of dollars less!  You can check out A Guide to Umrah on Points & Miles that I’ve created that walks you through:

• How to search for award flight availability (economy seats) from the U.S., on popular routes to Jeddah & Madinah
• How to search for award flight availability on partner airlines for airlines in the same airline alliance, with video walkthroughs on both
• How to book hotel stays on points, in the 4 major hotel loyalty programs
• What cards are best for hotel stays & flights, as well as thinking through card lifecycles
• How to cover other travel-related costs (such as transportation between the 2 holy cities) that isn’t booked directly using points/miles (like airfare & hotel stays)
• What “free breakfast” means in each of the major hotel loyalty programs, and how to get that perk
• How to stay organized in award travel with the TravelFreely App

I’ve also spent thousands of dollars to go to Umrah with my family, and I know the feeling of planning and saving up.  With points and miles, the journey is closer and more attainable than you think.