Our Guide To The Plaza Premium Lounge In Montréal

The Plaza Premium Lounge in Montreal is found in the International Zone of the Trudeau International Airport, near Gate 57. It's many comforts, conveniences, and perks are available for DragonPass and Priority Pass members travelling through this airport.

Especially if you want free passes to this Plaza Premium lounge, the best and most valuable way to gain access is to use one of the top credit cards for lounge access. Eligible members flying with Air France can access the lounge between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM each day. Otherwise, eligible members with a same-day boarding pass can join a waitlist and stay for up to two hours.

The guide below further explains how to access this airport space, describes the amenities available, and offers tips on how to decide whether a membership is right for you.

How to access the Plaza Premium Lounge in Montréal

The Air France/KLM Lounge operated by Plaza Premium Lounge is located in the International Concourse near Gate 57. It’s open Monday – Sunday from 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM ET.

Between the hours of 3:00 – 7:00 PM, the lounge is reserved exclusively for Air France Business and Flying Blue Elite Plus members. All you have to do is present your same-day boarding pass and/or membership card to enter in the afternoon.

All other guests may enter by presenting a valid, same-day boarding pass issued by any airline and one of the following:

Entry fee

Plaza Premium Lounge fees vary by location. To access the Air France Lounge in Montréal for 2 hours, you’ll need to pay:

• $61.02 CAD per adult
• $42.73 CAD per child
• $0 for children under 2

But you can save money by taking advantage of deals like:

• 20% off with a Smart Traveller digital membership
• Up to 33% off with a Plaza Premium Lounge Pass Americas, which grants 2 3-hour visits at any lounge in North or South America for $80 USD
• Up to 50% off with a PPL Pass Canada, which grants 5 – 10 3-hour visits to any lounge in Canada for $155 – $295 USD

The Air France Lounge admits travellers from other airlines on a first-come, first-serve basis. Due to the popularity of the lounge and the uncertainty of the waitlist system, we don’t recommend booking admission ahead of time.

Note: PPL Passes are shareable, transferable, and valid for up to 12 months after purchase.

Membership

DragonPass members can access every Plaza Premium Lounge in Canada for free with their unlimited or limited complimentary lounge visits. If you’re out of free passes, you’ll need to pay $31 – 35 USD for each 2-hour visit, which saves up to 49% off the admission price.

Priority Pass members can also access every Plaza Premium Lounge in Canada by using the unlimited or limited complimentary lounge access included in their membership. Once out of passes, guest lounge access costs $35 USD per 2-hour visit, saving you 43% on regular admission.

Note that neither DragonPass nor Priority Pass give you guaranteed or priority access to the lounge. If you don’t have an Air France boarding pass, you’re likely to be waitlisted.

Credit cards with Plaza Premium Lounge access

Whether you prefer American Express, Mastercard, or Visa, you have several options for getting access to airport lounges with your credit card.

The easiest method is to flash a card with the Amex Global Lounge Collection, the Mastercard Travel Pass, or the Visa Airport Companion Program. Depending on how many complimentary visits remain on your card, you could get in for free.

Here are the premium credit cards in Canada you can use to get into the Air France/KLM Lounge in Montréal 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 USD per additional guest)
Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card	$399	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	$100 GeniusCash + 35,000 bonus points (terms)	6 ($32 USD per additional pass)
American Express Gold Rewards Card	$250	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		6 ($32 USD per additional pass)

But even if you don’t get a free visit, cards like the Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard, MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, and the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard have their place. All 3 include a free DragonPass membership, which you can use to enter the lounge for $32 USD – $35 USD per guest.

If you need a business credit card, check out The Business Platinum Card from American Express for unlimited access to Plaza Premium Lounges, 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.

There are no credit cards with guaranteed or priority access to this particular lounge. If you don’t have an Air France boarding pass, you’re likely to be waitlisted.

The International Air France Lounge experience

Hours: Monday – Sunday from 5:00 AM – 3:00 PM and 7:00 – 10:00 PM ET (3:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET for Air France customers only)

Location: International Zone near Gate 57

Maximum stay: 2 hours

Payment forms accepted: American Express, Mastercard, Visa

Amenities:

• Accessible washroom and facilities
• Baby-changing station
• Complimentary food and drink
• Complimentary house beer, liquor, and wine
• Flight monitors (Air France flights only)
• Premium bar service*
• Lockers*
• Showers
• Televisions with satellite broadcasts
• Vegetarian and gluten-free dining options available upon request
• Wheelchairs available upon request
• Wi-Fi and charging stations
• Work stations

* Available at additional cost.

Atmosphere

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The first sight of the Air France Lounge in Montréal is striking. With a dining area themed after a Parisian brasserie, the airline’s signature royal blue contrasts nicely with shades of white and neutral wood accents.

The lounge occupies 490 square metres and seats 149 guests, and while it’s not large, it has a warm and social atmosphere. The large windows, silver light fixtures, and gorgeous blue tile all work to create a luxurious atmosphere.

Unfortunately, the lounge’s waitlisting policy is likely to sour your first impressions. DragonPass, Priority Pass, and premium credit cardholders report that anyone who isn’t "flying blue" is likely to be waitlisted or turned away, even if the lounge appears empty. If you’re lucky enough to be called, you probably won’t have much more than an hour to spare before your flight.

"I entered the Lounge with Visa card access. The reception staff treat these entries very differently, for the worse! The two times we used the lounge it felt like they were doing us a favor by letting us in! Worst service I've ever had in VIP rooms!" – 1-Star TripAdvisor review by Brunna C.

Comfort

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The lounge’s reception desk is on the main level. After checking in, take the staircase or elevator to the top and take a right turn to find a:

• Dining area: The path on the right leads immediately to a dining area with a curved blue couch and 15 tables, each with a pair of grey seats.
• Window seating area: The large windows on the left side are lined by a series of leather loungers and side tables divided by wooden screens. Nearest to the entrance is the largest sitting area: a red couch, a blue couch, and a white table recall the tri-colour flag while a model of an Air France plane proudly takes flight.
• Work stations: The lounge’s work stations are marked by distinctive, semi-spherical lamps and black outlets. Look for a white marble table set between the dining area and the bar.
• Bar seating: Grab a blue high-top chair at the bar to socialize under the globe pendant lights.
• Private dining area: Past the bar, at the far end of the lounge are a dozen small dining tables offering a quiet dining experience.

Meanwhile, if you take a left at the entrance, you can see a:

• Work counter: A handful of seats offer a space to work while overlooking the tarmac.
• Private phone booth: A blue, 3-sided fabric booth beside the work stations offers a semi-private space to take a call.
• Quiet lounge area: Rounding the corner past the booth, you’ll find additional seating on couches and leather loungers for guests interested in peace and quiet.
• VIP Lounge: Only Flying Blue Ultimate members can access the cordoned living room, which features soft lighting, 3 couches, a red armchair, and a mini fridge with drinks.

Behind the dining area and the bar is a hallway with 7 washrooms, 3 of which have showers. Tiled in soft gray, the facilities are generally clean and granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

"First time in this lounge and it's pretty good. On peak hours they limit [entry] to guests using air France and KLM only. Seats here are very comfy and lots of room. Food and drinks were limited but their beef stew was to die for. Just that was a star on its own. Great place to chill." – 5-Star Google review by Sam W.

Dining

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The Air France Lounge has stacks of tea, ice water, soft drinks, and a Lavazza coffee machine on offer. Alcoholic offerings include house beer, liquor, wine, and different cocktails depending on the time of day. The buffet hosts pastries, a soup tureen, hot entrées and sides in blue and red enamel dishes, and a cold charcuterie and salad bar. Food selection likely varies by time of day.

The lounge serves – what else? – French cuisine, including a highly-praised beef bourguignon stew. Leave some room and ask for dessert at the bar.

"The hot food was delicious. Chicken dish, beef dish was amazing and literally melts in your mouth, pasta and rice was nice too. The soup was top notch. My favourite thing surprisingly for me was the dessert! Chocolate cake and carrot cake were absolutely excellent!" – 5-Star Google review by Ali K.

Entertainment

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In keeping with its atmosphere, the Air France Lounge is light on entertainment. There are a few TVs and magazines, but considering the 2-hour time limit, you’ll probably only have enough time to eat, relax a little, and go.

Rules and restrictions

There’s a short list of DON’Ts to remember while visiting the Air France Lounge in Montréal:

• 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

The admission of pets and service animals is subject to the lounge’s discretion – make sure to call ahead if you’re travelling with a furry friend.

Is the Air France Lounge in Montréal worth it?

Absolutely – if you’re an Air France customer, that is. With priority entry, you’ll have plenty of time to soak up the luxurious atmosphere and enjoy above-average food for an airport lounge.

However, DragonPass, Priority Pass, and premium credit cardholders rarely get the same treatment. Although the Plaza Premium Lounge website offers 2 – 6-hour passes online, we do NOT recommend booking in advance. The lounge has instituted a 2-hour limit and by all accounts, entry is never guaranteed, even with pre-booked admission.

Instead, we recommend hopping on the waitlist, crossing your fingers, and making a back-up plan. If you haven’t been called within an hour of your flight, it’s unlikely to happen.

"If you are lucky enough to get in perfect. If you don’t fly with Air France forget it. Been on waiting list for a 3h and never got a single call from them…
Edit: Been able to get in during another flight during the year and so far the best lounge in YUL. Clean / food is great and there is plenty of options. Not too crowded and quiet. You have options to take a shower also which is a huge plus. Careful if you are not travelling with Air France or partners they don’t call your flight!" – 5-Star Google review by Ludovic L.

FAQ

Can anyone access the Plaza Premium Lounge?

Plaza Premium Lounges are generally open to travellers from any airline, however, the Air France in Montreal only admits Air France customers between 3:00 – 7:00 PM ET.

How do you get free lounge access at Montreal airport?

You can get into the Air France Lounge in Montreal for free using an Air France Business boarding pass, a Flying Blue Super Elite Plus membership, a premium credit card, or a DragonPass or Priority Pass membership.

Which airlines use Plaza Premium Lounge?

Plaza Premium Lounges are not affiliated with any airline and will accept any guest with a valid same-day boarding pass. The exception is the Air France Lounge in Montreal, which reserves afternoons and early evenings for Air France customers.