Edmonton International Airport (YEG) has 2 Plaza Premium Lounges and only one other lounge, which is operated by Air Canada. While they’re both operated by the same company, the non-U.S. departures Plaza Premium Lounge generally sees more favorable reviews.
If you’re on the fence about splurging for lounge access for your next trip, we’ll cover what you can expect so you can decide whether it’s worth the expense.
Key Takeaways
- Travellers can access the Plaza Premium Lounge daily from 4:30 AM – midnight.
- You can buy an adult lounge pass for 2 to 6 hours for $55 to $90 CAD.
- DragonPass and Priority Pass members can access the Domestic Plaza Premium Lounge by using a complimentary visit or paying $32 – $35 USD.
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How to access the non-US departures Plaza Premium Lounge in Edmonton
There are 2 Plaza Premium Lounges in Edmonton International Airport: one for non-U.S. departures near gate 52 and one for U.S. departures near gate 88. Here are the lounge operating hours:
- The non-U.S. departures Plaza Premium Lounge (the subject of this article) is near gate 52 and is open daily from 4:30 AM – 12:00 AM.
- The US Transborder Plaza Premium Lounge is located at the end of the Transborder terminal past gate 88 and is open daily from 5:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
When you head to the lounge area, take the stairs to the second floor and you’ll see the Plaza Premium lounge to the right. To check in at the desk, show your valid, same-day boarding pass and one of these payment methods:
Entry fee
If you don’t have a membership or lounge access, you can purchase entry at the front desk.
| Guest age | 2 hours | 3 hours | 6 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $55.80 CAD | $68.04 CAD | $90.72 CAD |
| Adult and 1 child (2-11) | $94.86 CAD | $115.67 CAD | $154.22 CAD |
| Child under 2 | Free | Free | Free |
There are discount options available to those who qualify:
- Save 20% with a Smart Traveller digital membership
- Save up to 33% with a Plaza Premium Lounge Pass Americas, which gives you two 3-hour visits at any lounge in North or South America for $80 USD
- Save up to 50% with a Priority Pass Lounge (PPL) Canada, which gives you five to ten 3-hour visits to any lounge in Canada for $155 – $295 USD
When you’re ready to book your lounge access, make a reservation up to a year in advance using online booking. If you’re booking a group of 10 travellers or more, the lounge requires at least 1 week of advance notice. You may need to show your booking confirmation email when checking in.
Membership
You can access every Plaza Premium Lounge in Canada for free with a DragonPass membership. If you’ve used all of your free passes for the year, it will cost you $31 – $35 USD for each 2-hour visit.
If you’re a Priority Pass member, you can also get Plaza Premium Lounge access with your unlimited or limited complimentary lounge access. Extra or guest passes cost $35 USD per 2-hour visit.
Credit cards with Plaza Premium Lounge access
Before you pay for lounge access out of pocket, check to see if one of your credit cards comes with airport lounge access. Amex, Mastercard, and Visa all offer cards with complimentary lounge access (some of them use DragonPass).
These 10 premium credit cards can get you into the Plaza Premium Lounge in Edmonton for free:
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome bonus | Free Plaza Premium Lounge visits |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Platinum Card | $799 | Up to 100,000 bonus points (terms) | Unlimited ($35 per additional guest) |
| Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card | $399 |  $175 GeniusCash + Up to 60,000 80,000 bonus points (terms) | 10 ($35 USD per additional pass) |
| BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard | $150 | $125 GeniusCash + Up to 90,000 100,000 bonus points, first year free (terms) | 4 + 4 ($35 USD per additional pass) |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | $399 | Up to 70,000 bonus points (terms) | 6 ($32 USD per additional pass) |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card | $599 | Up to 85,000 bonus points (terms) | 6 ($32 USD per additional pass) |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card | $150 | $30 GeniusCash + 35,000 bonus points (terms) | 6 ($32 USD per additional pass) |
| American Express Gold Rewards Card | $250 | $125 GeniusCash + Up to 60,000 bonus points (terms) | 4 (Canadian lounges only, $35 USD per additional pass) |
| CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card | $139 | Up to 45,000 bonus points, first year annual fee rebate (terms) | 4 ($32 USD per additional pass) |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card | $139 | Up to 45,000 bonus points, first year annual fee waived† (terms) | 4 ($32 USD per additional pass) |
| Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege | $395 | None | 6 ($32 USD per additional pass) |
Keep in mind that the more luxurious (aka expensive) a credit card with lounge access is, the more free lounge passes it tends to offer. If you think you’ll use all the included passes every year, it might be worth it to spring for a card that comes with unlimited lounge access.
Don’t use lounges all that often? A card that includes a free DragonPass membership might be the way to go. For instance, if you have the Tangerine World Mastercard, MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, or the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard, you just have to pay the $32 USD – $35 USD entry fee.
Business credit cards offer lounge access, too. Take a look at The Business Platinum Card from American Express for unlimited access, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card for 6 annual free visits, or the BMO Ascend World Elite Business Mastercard for 2 annual free visits.
The Plaza Premium Lounge experience
Hours: Daily from 4:30 AM – midnight
Location: Above the departures hall across from gate 52
Maximum stay: 6 hours
Payment forms accepted: Alipay, American Express, Mastercard, PayPal, WeChat Pay, Visa
Amenities:
- Food available with vegetarian and gluten-free options
- Complimentary coffee, tea, soda, and select alcoholic beverages
- Premium drinks*
- Flight monitors
- Computer station
- Televisions
- Wi-Fi and charging stations
- Printing and photocopying*
* Available at additional cost.
Atmosphere
Image credits: Plaza Premium Lounge
With 2,000 more square feet than the Transborder Plaza Premium Lounge, the non-U.S. departures lounge is spacious at 4,500 sq. ft. The lounge opened in 2012 and seats up to 80 guests at a time. There’s cozy seating near the dining area or a bright galleria with lounge seats and high-top tables overlooking the departures terminal.
"I would not describe this lounge as “premium" but it ticks all the boxes of what a lounge should have. Food, drinks, and seating. I do appreciate that this lounge is really quiet and there seems to not be a lot of foot traffic here so it’s possible to rest and rejuvenate while you wait for your flight.” —Christopher Yew, 3-star Google review
Comfort
The first thing you might notice about the Plaza Premium Lounge is its soft lighting and comfortable seating. There are lounge seats spread throughout the space, though guests say they find workspaces and tables with adequate space to eat in short supply.
If you’re visiting during peak hours with a partner or small group, you may need to split up or get creative with seating arrangements while you enjoy the food offerings.
"One aspect for improvement: lack of good spaces for eating. The dining tables in the main room gets filled up quickly, and the side room tends to be quieter, but the high tables are way too small for plates for a full meal (especially not enough space for 2 people) and the sofas are too soft for eating (but nice for relaxing or napping). Hope that could be improved!" —Andrew Yin, 5-star Google review
Dining
Meals are pretty basic at the Plaza Premium Lounge. You’ll typically see a continental breakfast plus eggs and sausage. Later in the day, salad fixings, rice, a hot entree, and soup are usually available at the self-serve buffet – although lounge guests generally aren’t overly impressed with the offerings.
Frequent complaints include dirty dining spaces and food not being replenished. This is something to keep in mind if your visit coincides with peak travel hours. That said, travellers appreciated having easy access to coffee and soda dispensers.
"The food is minimal and mediocre for an airport lounge. Typically 2-3 hot dishes and a basic salad. Drinks are standard. The lounge is not spacious nor updated. However, service is always 5/5! On my last visit, Manpreet was incredible. Her hospitality went above and beyond!" —Ashlee Rolheiser, 3-star Google review
Entertainment
The lounge’s entertainment options are fairly standard – you’ll notice televisions and flight monitor displays throughout the lounge and bar area. You can also charge your device, catch up on emails or work with the free Wi-Fi, or read the complimentary newspapers while you wait.
Rules
The Plaza Premium Lounge in Edmonton advises guests to remember the following rules:
- DON’T bring outside food or beverages
- DON’T carry food or beverages outside
- DON’T dress inappropriately
- DON’T leave minors unattended
- DON’T smoke
- DON’T watch videos or listen to music without a pair of headphones
It’s up to the lounge’s discretion whether or not to admit pets and service animals. If you’re travelling with one, call ahead to see if you can bring them in.
Is the non-U.S. departures Plaza Premium Lounge in Edmonton worth it?
If you’re paying a premium to access the lounge and enjoy a fine meal, you may be disappointed. Yes, you’ll get to spend your downtime in a relatively comfortable space with nice seats, but travellers agree that the food service could be better.
If you have free access to the lounge, we recommend grabbing a bite to eat at one of the airport’s restaurants before heading to the Plaza Premium Lounge. You can easily find somewhere in the lounge to unwind and enjoy complimentary coffee, soda, or drink from the bar.
"A very nice place to hang out while you are waiting for your flight. If you get in free with your airline rewards, then by all means go but if you have to pay to get in, I’d go pretty much anywhere else. The food is like bad cafeteria food, the coffee isn’t fit to drink and the alcoholic beverages are of the lowest quality available. The staff is hit or miss. Much better value for your money going to any one of the multitude of restaurants available on the main concourse." —D.M., 2-star Google review
FAQ
Can anyone access the Plaza Premium Lounge?
Plaza Premium Lounge prides itself on being inclusive, offering its lounge services to travellers using any airline. You get lounge access by paying an entry fee, having a membership that offers Plaza Premium lounge passes, or by having a credit card that gets you in.
What airport lounges does Edmonton airport have?
Edmonton International Airport has 2 Plaza Premium Lounges – 1 for U.S. departures and 1 for non-U.S. departures – and a Maple Leaf Lounge operated by Air Canada.
How much does a lounge visit cost?
The price of a lounge visit depends on how long you’d like to stay and whether or not you have access through a credit card. If you’re simply purchasing a lounge visit from Plaza Premium’s website, expect to pay between $55 and $90 CAD for 1 adult.
Is Plaza Premium Lounge included in Priority Pass?
Yes, Priority Pass members get unlimited or limited complimentary lounge access. If you’ve already used your passes for the year, you can buy a 2-hour pass for $35 USD.
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