Denver International Airport was the fifth-busiest airport in the United States in 2017, seeing more than 61 million passengers.

Whether you’re traveling to or from Denver, or just changing planes there, an airport lounge can be a nice respite from the noise and crowds of the gate area. Depending on your ticket or your airline rewards program, you have a number of choices.

Let’s take a look at four great airport lounge options.

• Delta Sky Club®, Concourse A
• United Club℠ Denver, Concourse B, East and West
• American Airlines Admirals Club®, Concourse A
• USO Denver, Concourse A

Delta Sky Club®, Concourse A

You can find the Delta Sky Club® at the Center Core of Concourse A. It’s open from 5 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (although times may vary depending on the last Delta flights of the day). It’s open seven days a week.

In the lounge, you’ll find complimentary Wi-Fi and beverages, with premium beverages available to buy. Delta staff members can also assist guests with their flights.

Single visit passes are $59 per person, per visit.

If you’re a Delta Diamond Medallion® Member, you can select a Sky Club® membership as one of your Choice Benefits, and that can get you into the lounge as well. Or you can access it if you’re a member of SkyTeam Elite Plus® (including Delta Diamond, Platinum or Gold Medallion® members) traveling in any cabin on certain SkyTeam international flights — you’ll even be able to bring in a guest.

United Club℠ Denver, Concourse B, East and West

There are two United Club℠ locations in Concourse B — one on the east side near Gate B44 and another on the west side near Gate B32. The United Club℠ East is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. United Club℠ West is open daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

These clubs have United representatives who can assist you with your flights and feature complimentary bar service, beverages and light snacks.

United Club℠ members can access the club with two adult guests or one adult guest and dependent children under 21. You can also buy a one-time United Club℠ pass for $59 per person.

American Airlines Admirals Club®, Concourse A

This lounge is located in Concourse A near the north end of the bridge from Jeppesen Terminal. It’s open from 4:45 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., seven days a week. It features complimentary Wi-Fi, PCs with internet access and food for purchase. It also has a children’s room. American Airlines staff members can be available to assist with your flights.

Access to the lounge is offered to those flying first class or business class for qualifying flights on American or a oneworld® airline. You can also use the lounge if you are an elite status member with AAdvantage® Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro or Platinum on a qualifying international flight with American or a oneworld® airline, or if you’re a oneworld® Emerald℠ or Sapphire℠ member and flying on a qualifying American or oneworld® flight. Day passes are also available for $59.

USO Denver, Concourse A

This lounge is in the central part of Concourse A and is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Amenities include snacks, beverages, Wi-Fi and computers. It also offers a children’s play area and a sleeping area. Admission is free for active-duty service members and their families.

Bottom line

Denver International Airport’s lounges offer harried travelers a place to relax and get away from the crowds. But if you can’t access any of these lounges, you may have another option at Denver International to take a break from it all.

Can the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa® Signature Card compete with the premium rewards cards from the major banks?

In recent years, credit card issuers have been rushing to offer premium travel cards with ever greater rewards and more-valuable benefits. PenFed is approaching this market in a unique way.

Usually, these cards offer large bonuses on travel purchases and just one point for other purchases.

Other cards may offer more than one point on all purchases, but with no bonus spending categories. PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa® Signature Card does both.

This card offers PenFed Honors Advantage Members account holders four points per $1 on all travel-related purchases. These account holders also get the $95 annual fee waived.

All other cardholders will get three points per $1 for travel-related purchases.

And all cardholders will earn 1.5 points per $1 on all other purchases, with no caps or limits on rewards.

New applicants can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in purchases on their card within the first 90 days of account opening.

This card also comes with a $100 annual air ancillary travel credit and a $100 credit toward a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.

• The rundown: Everything we like about the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa® Signature Card
• Heads up: What you should consider before applying for the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa® Signature Card
• Do the math: How to get the most out of the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa® Signature Card

The rundown: Everything we like about the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa® Signature Card

More points for travel and nontravel spending

If you hold an Honors Advantage checking account with PenFed or are an eligible member of the military, you earn four points on qualifying travel-related purchases.

If you don’t have a checking account or aren’t a military member, you’ll still earn a strong three points per $1 for travel-related purchases. All other purchases return 1.5 points per $1 with no limit.

These are high rates of return, and the combination of 1.5 points per $1 and bonus categories is rare.

Perks usually only offered by cards with high annual fees

Cardholders will receive a $100 air travel credit each year and a $100 credit toward a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application every five years.

For the $100 annual air travel credit, you’ll receive statement credits when you charge airline fees from certain domestic carriers. Eligible fees include baggage and ticket change fees as well as in-flight food and beverage.

Travel insurance and other protections

This card also offers travel accident insurance and a notable level of purchase protection.

Other benefits include roadside assistance, baggage loss and delay insurance, trip cancellation and delay coverage, and rental car insurance.

And more benefits

• New cardholders receive 50,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
• There are no foreign transaction fees with this card.

Heads up: What you should consider before applying for the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa® Signature Card

Since PenFed is a credit union, you will have to join before you apply for the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa® Signature Card. However, everyone is eligible to become a member, not just those with military affiliations.

To get the most out of this card and earn the four points per $1 for travel purchases, you’ll either have to be a member of the military or open up a checking account with PenFed.

Do the math: How to get the most out of the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa® Signature Card

If you have significant travel or commuter transportation expenses each year, then this card offers you the opportunity to earn competitive rewards for these purchases, as well as a strong rate of return for other purchases.

For example, if you spend $5,000 a year on eligible travel purchases — which can include many local expenses like public transportation and tolls — and you qualify for the four points per $1, you can earn 20,000 points each year.

Bottom line: Is the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa® Signature Card right for you?

There’s no one card that can be the best at everything, but this card may come closer than most. Since both its travel and nontravel rewards are strong, this could be a card that you use for most of your purchases.

If these kinds of travel and transportation expenses are a big part of your budget and you’re willing to give a credit union a try, then it may be worth considering this card.

The Dick’s Sporting Goods credit cards are no longer available. For other options, check out our list of the highest cash back credit cards.

Dick’s Sporting Goods actually offers two credit cards, but you can’t choose which Dick’s credit card you’re going to get when you apply.

After you fill out an application, you’ll first be considered for the Rewards of Sport Mastercard®. If the card’s issuer, Synchrony Bank, doesn’t approve you for that card, then you’ll be considered for the Rewards of Sport Credit Card.

Both Dick’s Sporting Goods credit cards offer two points for every $1 spent on in-store purchases. Points are earned in Dick’s ScoreCard program, which allows you to earn a $10 merchandise reward for every 300 points. This equates to rewards worth 6.66% of your in-store purchases.

Other benefits include access to special financing offers — and neither card comes with an annual fee.

The Rewards of Sport Credit Card can only be used in person at Dick’s Sporting Goods stores, as well as its other store brands, Field & Stream and Golf Galaxy. Unlike most other store cards, it can’t be used for online purchases.

On the other hand, the Rewards of Sport Mastercard® can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. In addition to offering the two points per $1 spent on in-store purchases, you can also earn one point for every $3 spent on out-of-store purchases.

Keep reading to learn more about the features of these cards and whether they’re right for you.

• Everything we like about the Dicks Sporting Goods Rewards of Sport Credit Card and Rewards of Sport Mastercard®
• What you should consider before applying for the Dick’s credit cards
• How to get the most out of the Dicks Sporting Goods Rewards of Sport Credit Card and Rewards of Sport Mastercard®
• Are the Dicks Sporting Goods Rewards of Sport Credit Card and Rewards of Sport Mastercard® right for you?

Everything we like about the Dicks Sporting Goods Rewards of Sport Credit Card and Rewards of Sport Mastercard®

With more than 700 locations, Dick’s Sporting Goods has emerged as one of the largest sports and fitness retailers in the U.S. Its store credit cards offer several advantages.

Earn two points per $1 spent on in-store purchases

Rewards earned for in-store purchases are worth 6.66%of the amount spent. This is a very strong rate of return for a store credit card, as many will only offer rewards worth 5% of purchases or less.

Promotional financing offers

The Dick’s credit cards may come with a special promotional financing offer. These offers allow you to avoid interest charges on your in-store purchases if they are paid in full before the financing period ends. The promotional terms will vary by store and are not extended to every cardholder.

10% back in rewards on your first Rewards of Sport Credit Card purchase

A savings of 10% may be significant on a large purchase, but it only applies to an in-store purchase. Also, if you choose to use a financing offer, you won’t get this discount.

Earn rewards at multiple stores

These cards don’t just offer rewards at Dick’s Sporting Goods. You can also earn points at Golf Galaxy and Field & Stream stores.

What you should consider before applying for the Dick’s credit cards

While these cards let you earn valuable points for in-store purchases, there are several limitations to this offer.

Points don’t count toward online purchases or at kiosks

You can’t use the Dicks Sporting Goods Rewards of Sport Credit Card to make purchases at in-store kiosks or DicksSportingGoods.com, GolfGalaxy.com and FieldandStreamShop.com. If you use the Rewards of Sport Mastercard® at in-store kiosks, you’ll earn the out-of-store purchase rewards rate of one point per $3 spent on purchases, as well as the one point for every $1 you get for in-store purchases using your ScoreCard number.

Exclusions apply

ScoreCard program points can’t be earned on sales tax or on certain brands, such as PING, Mizuno Golf, Titleist and some TaylorMade products. You also can’t earn points on gift cards, returned merchandise, online services, shipping, gift certificates and gift wrap.

Low rate of return on out-of-store purchases

With the Rewards of Sport Mastercard®, you’ll only earn one point for every $3 spent on out-of-store purchases, a 0.33% cash back rate. This rewards rate isn’t competitive with the leading cash back reward cards though.

High interest rates and fees

Both Dick’s cards have variable annual percentage rates, or APRs, of the prime rate plus 23.74%. As of April 1, 2017, the total variable APR for purchases for both cards is 27.74%. This APR is much higher than the national average, which is 16.13% as of August 2017. And while neither card has an annual fee, the Rewards of Sport Mastercard® has a cash advance fee of 4% ($10 min.) and a foreign transaction fee of 3%.

Deferred interest financing

While promotional financing deals like the Dick’s cards offer can sound tempting, you need to make sure you can pay off the full balance within the promotional period. If you don’t pay in full by the due date, you’ll have to pay all the interest that has accumulated since your purchase.

How to get the most out of the Dicks Sporting Goods Rewards of Sport Credit Card and Rewards of Sport Mastercard®

There are some families who love athletics. Everyone plays a different sport, and the household makes frequent purchases at sporting goods stores such as Dick’s. This would be the ideal household to have a Rewards of Sport Credit Card or the Rewards of Sport Mastercard®.

The rate of return for in-store purchases, 6.66%, is very strong, and the 10% discount after approval for the Rewards of Sport Credit Card can be valuable for larger purchases.

At the same time, the Rewards of Sport Mastercard® doesn’t offer very compelling rewards for out-of-store purchases. With a different credit card, you can get much more appealing rewards.

Are the Dicks Sporting Goods Rewards of Sport Credit Card and Rewards of Sport Mastercard® right for you?

If you’re a die-hard athlete and a fan of Dick’s Sporting Goods stores, then it can make perfect sense to have this card for the in-store savings.

But if your spending is more varied, you may fare better with a more general rewards card where you earn competitive rewards on all purchases.