Airport lounge access can transform an otherwise gruelling layover into a relaxing respite. Lounges may offer free snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi, plentiful comfortable seating, dedicated work areas, showers, sleep pods and even spa services. It’s little wonder, then, that for many frequent fliers, lounge access is an especially coveted credit card feature.
Best overall airport lounge access card
At a glance: With six complimentary airport lounge visits a year, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card offers the most free visits among credit cards in a comparable fee range. For that reason alone, the card pays for itself. Adding to its travel-friendly allure is the fact that it’s one of the few cards in Canada that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction (FX) fee. Other cards typically charge 2.5% on purchases made in a foreign currency.
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Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
Annual fee: $150
Welcome offer: earn up to $1,100 in value in the first 12 months, including up to 35,000 bonus Scene+ points. To qualify, apply by October 31, 2024.
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | $60,000 per year |
| Credit score | 725 or higher |
| Point value | 1 Scene+ point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel on any airline or hotel (including AirBnBs). |
Best airport lounge access card for occasional travellers
At a glance: If you find yourself in an airport even just a few times a year, you’ll appreciate that the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offers free membership in the Mastercard Travel Pass program provided by DragonPass, plus four free passes a year.
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BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
Annual fee: $150
Welcome offer: You can earn up to 100,000 points
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% on purchases, 23.99% on cash advances, 23.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000 |
| Credit score | 760 or higher |
| Point value | 1 BMO Rewards point = $0.0067 when redeemed for travel. |
Honourable mention: Best airport lounge access card for occasional travellers
At a glance: If you frequently cross the border to the U.S. for vacations, work trips or family visits, consider the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite. The card includes membership in the Visa Airport Companion Program and also gives you four free lounge visits a year. Every four years, you get a statement credit of up to $100 towards a Nexus application fee.
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CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
Annual fee: $139
Welcome offer: You can earn up to $1,400 in value including a first year annual fee rebate.
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000 |
| Credit score | 760 or higher |
| Point value | 1 point= $0.01 on average. |
Pros
- Includes a free membership to the Visa Airport Companion Program managed by DragonPass, as well as four free lounge visits per year.
- Flexible rewards program that allows you to redeem points for travel, merchandise, gift cards, mortgage payments and more.
- Save up to 10 cents/litre on gas at eligible gas stations if you link your card with Journie Rewards, a loyalty program that helps you earn points at Pioneer, Fasgas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations.
Cons
- To get the highest earn rate of 2 points for every $1 spent, you must make a travel purchase via the CIBC Rewards Centre.
- The value of points decreases when they’re not used for travel.
- There is an $80,000 cap on the 1.5-point earn rate, after which you’ll only get 1 point per $1 spent on groceries, gas and drugstore purchases.
Best airport lounge access card for premium perks
At a glance: It’s one of the most expensive premium credit cards in Canada, but the $799 annual fee gets you access to the most comprehensive and amenity-laden selection of airport lounges worldwide, including top-tier American Express Centurion Lounges. Depending on the lounge, cardholders may have an unlimited number of free visits and can also bring one companion with them at no additional cost.
American Express Platinum
Annual fee: $799
Welcome offer: earn up to 100,000 rewards points ($1,000 value). Conditions apply.
Card details
| Interest rates | N/A (as a charge card, you’re required to pay off your balance in full every month) |
| Income required | None |
| Credit score | 760 or higher |
| Anniversary bonus | $200 annual dining credit to use at a curated list of Canada’s top restaurants. Plus, $200 annual travel credit when booking through American Express Travel Online. |
| Point value | 1 Amex Membership Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed with the Flexible Points Travel Program, $0.015 on average with the Fixed Points Travel Program, and up to $0.02 with airline points transfers. |
Our methodology: How we determine the best cards
The MoneySense editorial team selects the best credit cards by assessing the value they provide to Canadians across various categories. Our best credit cards for airport lounge access ranking is based on an extensive list of card details and features—with a focus on those that matter to air travellers—including the number of airport lounge visits, annual fees, interest rates, welcome offers, rewards earn rates and redemption options, annual income requirements and perks. We have also considered the pros and cons of each card to help you determine which ones best suit your financial needs. Our rankings are an unbiased source of information for Canadians. The addition of links from affiliate partners has no bearing on the results. Read more about how MoneySense makes money.
Best lounge access credit cards overview
Airport lounge access programs in Canada
| Program | Key details |
|---|---|
| DragonPass Number of lounges: More than 1,200 worldwide |
In 2022, DragonPass took over the airport lounge programs for Visa and Mastercard; in Canada, the programs are now respectively called the Visa Airport Companion Program and Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass. The program includes access to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada, as well as hundreds of different lounge programs worldwide. Lounges feature snacks and beverages, free Wi-Fi, showers and business centres. Cardholders can usually use their free passes for themselves and for a guest, but specific rules vary by lounge. |
| Maple Leaf Lounges Number of lounges: 16 across North America and Europe |
Amenities include cell-free quiet zones, snacks and beverages, free Wi-Fi and showers. Maple Leaf Lounges can only be used by customers departing on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express or a Star Alliance partner airline. |
| Centurion Lounges Number of lounges: More than 40 worldwide |
Centurion Lounges typically feature high-quality meals (designed by award-winning chefs) and beverages (and may even feature a signature cocktail), free high-speed Wi-Fi, plush seating and dedicated working areas. Some feature elevated amenities like spa services, nap pods and showers. Centurion Lounges are often part of The American Express Global Lounge Collection that features more than 1,300 airport lounges in over 140 countries. |
How to get free access to airport lounges in Canada
Several travel credit cards offer access to airport lounges for cardholders. Depending on the credit card, you can get a certain number of lounge visits every year in specific countries around the world. If you want to get free unlimited access to airport lounges, consider a credit card like the American Express Platinum Card which includes the American Express Global Lounge Collection. The card comes with a fairly large annual fee, like most credit cards with airport lounge access, but the card’s rewards and benefits may outweigh the fee if you are a frequent flier and value the ability to visit airport lounges when you’re traveling.
The cost of airport lounge access in Canada
If it’s not offered as a free perk with your credit card, you’ll have to pay for airport lounge access.
Air Canada offers three tiers of Maple Leaf Club memberships. Costs range from $375 to $665 per year. Guests pay $59 per visit, and hourly passes are not available. Note that Air Canada has temporarily suspended the sale of memberships to Maple Leaf Club, and there is no indication when it will resume selling them.Â
Priority Pass memberships range from USD$99 per year for a Standard membership to USD$469 per year for a Prestige membership. The former comes with zero free lounge visits—members pay $USD35 per visit, the same as guests. Meanwhile, Prestige members get unlimited complimentary visits.
The costs of DragonPass memberships are similar: fees range from USD $99 per year for a Classic membership (which includes one free lounge visit) to USD$429 for a Prestige membership (which comes with unlimited lounge access).Â
For Plaza Premium lounges, you can get a pass for a set number of visits. For example, in Canada, you can buy a five-visit pass for USD$155. Or you book with by the hour. The Plaza Premium Lounge at Toronto Pearson Airport, for example, charges $66.68 for a two-hour visit.Â
If you want free airport lounge access, your options are more limited. First-class passengers may get access as part of their ticket benefits, and Air Canada’s Aeroplan program offers access to Elite members who have reached an eligible status level. For frequent travellers, carrying an airport lounge credit card may be the simplest and most cost-effective way to get this premium perk.
DragonPass vs. Priority Pass: Which should you choose?
DragonPass and Priority Pass are third-party lounge access membership providers. Up until 2022, Priority Pass was the primary partner for most Mastercard and Visa airport lounge programs. However, DragonPass has become the partner of choice for most credit card lounge access programs for cards like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite. You can still access the Priority Pass program with the American Express Platinum Card, however.
