Not all airport lounge access credit cards are created equal – some offer unlimited access to one or two lounge networks, while others don't offer free access at all, just a free membership to a specific lounge program. You'll need to know exactly what your card provides to take full advantage.
American Express cards offer the most and best access for Priority Pass lounges. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card wins for Dragonpass and Plaza Premium Lounge access, and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card is best for Maple Leaf Lounges.
The guide below outlines how each lounge network works, highlights credit cards with lounge access, explains which cards include passes for guests, and much more.
Key Takeaways
- Some credit cards provide unlimited airport lounge access for specific lounge networks, while others provide different levels of access.
- The 4 largest airport lounge programs in Canada are Priority Pass, Dragonpass, Plaza Premium Lounges, and Maple Leaf Lounges.
- The Platinum Card grants unlimited access to the highest number of Canadian and international airport lounges as long as you spend $20,000 a year.
- Some Visa Infinite and Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards provide 4 – 6 complimentary visits to Dragonpass lounges per year.
- Mastercard World and World Elite credit cards provide up to 4 complimentary visits to Dragonpass lounges each year.
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The 4 biggest airport lounge networks in Canada
Airport lounges eliminate the stress and boredom of waiting for a flight. They offer staples such as complimentary food, drink, and entertainment, specialty services like family rooms, showers, and spa treatments, and the rarest of travel commodities – peace and quiet.
The 4 largest airport lounge networks in Canada are:
Every major airport in the country features at least 1 lounge from one of the networks listed above, as listed in the table below. Keep in mind, though, that the largest networks overlap and include the smaller ones. Toronto's tiny Billy Bishop City Airport does not actually house 3 lounges – it's one lounge that's part of 3 programs.
| Airport | Priority Pass | Dragonpass | Plaza Premium | Maple Leaf |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Calgary International Airport (YYC) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Edmonton International Airport (YEG) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1* |
| Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1^ |
| Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Regina International Airport (YQR) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| St. John's International Airport (YYT) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Vancouver International Airport (YVR) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Canadian airport lounges | 26 | 25 | 16 | 23 |
| Total international airport lounges | 1,900+ | 1,400+ | 250+ | 7 |
| Total airport lounges (globally) | 1,900+ | 1,400+ | 250+ | 30 |
*Closed for renovation, set to re-open in early 2027
^Closed for renovation, set to re-open in late 2026
Qualifying for airport lounge access typically requires a same-day boarding pass and at least 1 of the following:
- A flight ticket from a specific airline
- Business or First Class fare
- Entry fees
- Membership
And while you could buy a Priority Pass or Dragonpass membership online, there's an even better deal. For the same annual fee (or less), you could enjoy a welcome bonus, travel perks, and complimentary airport lounge access with a premium credit card.
How to access airport lounges with your credit card
Typically, only premium credit cards include airport lounge access as a perk or benefit. Most carry high annual fees and high income requirements, so it's worth comparing cards to see which one is best for you.
Priority Pass
Best for: Frequent flyers departing from major cities
Annual membership fee: $99 – $469 USD
Pros:
- 1,900+ airport lounges in 850+ airports in 143 countries around the world
- 50,000+ rental car locations with exclusive member pricing
- 1,100+ private airport transfer locations
- Includes every lounge in Dragonpass and Plaza Premium Lounge networks
- No specific airline or flight class required
Cons:
- $35 USD guest fee
- 2 – 3 hour visit limit
- Only included with American Express credit cards
How to get in:
If you've got an American Express credit card with Priority Pass, you don't need anything else. Qualifying cards provide access to every lounge in the Dragonpass and Plaza Premium Lounge network, plus they include the fabulous Amex Global Lounge Collection.
There are only 4 Canadian American Express credit cards with Priority Pass perks:
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Free Annual Lounge Passes | Extra Pass Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Platinum® Card | $799 | Unlimited with $20,000 in annual spending | $35 USD |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | $799 | Unlimited with $20,000 in annual spending | $35 USD |
| Scotiabank American Express® Platinum Card | $399 | * 10 for primary cardholders * 4 for supplementary cardholder | $35 USD |
| American Express® Gold Rewards Card | $250 | * Priority Pass membership only (no free passes) * 4 passes for Plaza Premium Lounges in Canada | $35 USD |
Dragonpass
Best for: Frequent flyers departing from major cities
Annual membership fee: $79 – $449 USD
Pros:
- 1,400+ airport lounges in 800+ airports in 135+ countries worldwide
- Up to 20% off 1,000+ airport restaurants
- Includes every lounge in the Plaza Premium network
- Included in the Mastercard Travel Pass and Visa Airport Companion programs
- No specific airline or flight class required
Cons:
- $31 – $35 USD per lounge visit
- 2 – 3 hour visit limit
- Limited passes included with credit cards
How to get in:
Dragonpass supplies complimentary airport lounge memberships and passes for select World Mastercard, Visa Infinite, World Elite Mastercard, and Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards. Unfortunately, even the top cards only provide 6 free visits per year – and you'll have to pay for every guest you bring along.
Here are the top 4 Mastercard and Visa credit cards with Dragonpass in Canada:
| Credit Card | Annual fee | Free Annual Lounge Passes | Extra Pass Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | $399 | 6 | $32 USD |
| Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card | $150 | 6 | $32 USD |
| BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* | $150 | 4 + 1 free guest per visit | $35 USD |
| Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®* | $0 | None, but includes Mastercard Travel Pass membership | $35 USD |
Plaza Premium Lounges
Best for: Infrequent travellers to major cities
Annual membership fee: Passes available, not memberships
Pros:
- 250+ airport lounges in 600+ airports and 150+ countries worldwide
- 20% discount with a Smart Traveller membership
- 2 – 6 hour visit limit
- Included in the Amex Global Lounge Collection, Priority Pass, and Dragonpass
- No membership required
- No specific airline or flight class required
Cons:
- $43 – $110 CAD entry fee
How to get in:
Plaza Premium Lounges charge high entrance fees but no membership fees. If you don't have an American Express, Mastercard, or Visa credit card from the table below, you can simply walk up to the front desk and pay for lounge access à la carte.
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Free Annual Lounge Passes | Extra Pass Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card | $139 | 6 | $32 USD |
| The Platinum Card | $799 | Unlimited with $20,000 in annual spending | Varies by lounge |
| Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard | $0 | None included, but free membership in Mastercard Travel Pass | $32 USD |
| BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* | $150 | 4 | $32 USD |
Maple Leaf Lounges
Best for: Frequent domestic flyers
Annual membership fee: N/A
Pros:
- 25 airport lounges in 20 airports and 4 countries worldwide
- 20 Canadian airport locations
- Award-winning airport lounges and services
Cons:
- Air Canada, Premium Rouge, or Star Alliance boarding pass required
- Only included with Aeroplan-branded credit cards
How to get in:
Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounges boast the best of Canadian art, decor, and design – and the wide range of locations make them ideal for Canucks who fly domestic. They only welcome Aeroplan credit cardholders, and you'll need an Air Canada, Premium Rouge, or Star Alliance boarding pass to get in.
Here are the best Aeroplan credit cards with Maple Leaf Lounge access in Canada:
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Free Annual Lounge Passes | Extra Pass Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card | $599 | Unlimited + 1 free guest* | $59 CAD |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card | $599 | Unlimited + 1 free guest* | $59 CAD |
| American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card | $599 | Unlimited + 1 free guest* | $59 CAD |
Take note: There are several other airport lounge networks in Canada, including Delta Sky Club and Desjardins Odyssey Lounge. By and large, smaller airport lounges only welcome travellers on a certain airline and/or flight class – but if there's a credit card with access, we'll note it in the next section.
Credit cards by airport lounge access
The creditcardGenius algorithm has 10 top picks for travel credit cards in Canada providing unlimited, limited, and paid airport lounge access.
Remember, the less access included in the card, the lower the fees – and the easier it may be to get approved.
Credit cards with unlimited airport lounge access
Credit cards with unlimited airport lounge access are expensive but freeing. You'll need at least $80,000 of personal income or $200,000 of household income to qualify – but at the airport, all you need to do is flash your card and boarding pass to get in.
Here are the 3 best credit cards with unlimited airport lounge access in Canada:
| Credit Card | Lounge Network | Free Passes for Cardholder | Free Guests per Visit | Additional Pass Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Platinum Card | * Delta Sky Club * * Plaza Premium * Priority Pass | * Unlimited with $20,000 in annual spending * Unlimited * Unlimited | * 0 * 1 * 1 | * N/A * $43 – $110 CAD * Varies |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card | * Maple Leaf * Dragonpass | * Unlimited * 6 | * 1 * 0 | * $59 CAD * $32 USD |
| American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card | * Maple Leaf | * Unlimited | * 1 | * $49 – $79 |
* Requires a Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight pass
The Platinum Card
We'd be remiss if we didn't mention The Platinum Card yet again. The Delta Sky Club, Plaza Premium Lounges, and Priority Pass are just 3 of the 7 airport lounge networks in the Amex Global Lounge Collection with unlimited free access. You can even bring a partner and 2 children under 21 into any Executive Lounge by Swissport at no charge.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card gives you unlimited access to every Maple Leaf Lounge at home and abroad. An Air Canada, Premium Rouge, or Star Alliance boarding pass is required to enter – and to enjoy 1 checked bag, priority baggage handling, and other VIP travel perks for free.
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card includes unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges for the cardholder and a guest travelling with them. Bonus perks with Air Canada include a free first checked bag, priority airport check-in, priority boarding, and more.
Credit cards with limited airport lounge access
Credit cards with limited airport lounge access are best suited for infrequent flyers. You don't need a high annual income or to pay a high annual fee to qualify, and you can usually use the complimentary passes for yourself or your travelling companions as you please.
Here are the best credit cards with limited airport lounge access in Canada:
| Credit Card | Lounge Network | Free Passes | Additional Pass Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank American Express® Platinum Card | * Plaza Premium * Priority Pass | * 10 (combined) | * $43 – $110 CAD * Varies |
| BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard | * Dragonpass | * 4 | * $32 USD |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card | * Dragonpass * Plaza Premium | * 6 | * $32 USD |
Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card
×1 Award winner 
$200 GeniusCash + Up to 
GC: $200
1x Award winner The Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card rewards cardholders with 10 complimentary Priority Pass Lounge visits per year, including Plaza Premium Lounges. Since it's an American Express card, it has lower acceptance – but you only need $12,000 of personal income to qualify.
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
GC: $150
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard gives you 4 passes per year – compliments of Mastercard Travel Pass – that you can use with the Dragonpass network for yourself and travelling companions. Beyond those 4 visits, though, you'll be on the hook for $32 per person per visit.
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card
×1 Award winner GC: $50
1x Award winner The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card includes the Visa Airport Companion program, which gives you 6 free lounge passes per year. It also offers 11 types of insurance coverage and a valuable perk for travellers: no foreign exchange fees on purchases not in Canadian dollars.
Credit cards with free airport lounge membership
Credit cards providing free airport lounge memberships are much more common. Since membership fees for Dragonpass and Priority Pass start at $99 USD, they're an excellent option for occasional travellers.
All World Elite Mastercards include free Dragonpass membership – but here are the 3 best credit cards with free airport lounge membership in Canada:
| Credit Card | Free Membership | Lounge Fees | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® | Dragonpass | $35 USD | $120 |
| Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard | Dragonpass | $32 USD | $0 |
| Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard | Dragonpass | $35 USD | $0 |
Business credit cards with airport lounge access
A few business credit cards include airport lounge access as a perk. While the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business only provides a free Dragonpass membership, the rest offer unlimited and limited free lounge visits:
| Credit Card | Lounge Network | Free Passes for Cardholder | Free Guests per Visit | Additional Pass Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | * Plaza Premium * Priority Pass | * Unlimited with $20,000 in annual spending | * 1 * 1 | * $43 – $110 CAD * $35 USD |
| American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card | * Maple Leaf | * Unlimited | * 1 | * $59 CAD |
| Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite Business* Card | * Dragonpass | * 6 | * 0 | * $32 USD |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card | * Maple Leaf | * Earn up to 4 passes for cardholder/guests per year | * N/A | * N/A |
| BMO® Ascend World Elite®* Business Mastercard®* | * Dragonpass | * 2 | * 0 | * $35 USD |
FAQ
Which cards are eligible for airport lounge access?
There are quite a few cards across all major networks that include airport lounge access. A few particularly good choices include The Platinum Card, Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card, and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.
Which credit card offers the best access to airport lounges?
The Platinum Card, TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card, and American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card are all credit cards that provide unlimited airport lounge access. Just be aware that American Express is changing its policy, so you'll have to spend $20,000 each year to enjoy unlimited access the following calendar year.
Can you tell me how to get airport lounge access for free?
Getting airport lounge access for free is easy if you happen to have the right credit card. Browse our list of the best credit cards based on the lounge network you want to use. You'll usually get 4 to 10 free passes, but some cards include unlimited lounge access.
Can I get free lounge access with my Mastercard?
Yes, if you have a World or World Elite Mastercard, like the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, you'll get free lounge access and free passes. Others, like the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard and Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard, don't give free passes, but provide free membership with the Mastercard Travel Pass program.
Is there a Mastercard airport lounge network?
Mastercard operates Mastercard Travel Pass, which used to be called Mastercard Airport Experiences. All World and World Elite Mastercards give access to Mastercard Travel Pass, which is powered by Dragonpass. However, no cards offer unlimited free lounge passes in the program.
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