Our Guide To The Plaza Premium Lounge In Toronto (Terminal 1, Domestic)

There are six Plaza Premium Lounges in Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), and the Domestic Lounge in Terminal 1 is a stylish and convenient space for weary travellers. It does get quite busy, thanks to its convenient location, extensive seating options, and high-quality amenities, which are very attractive.

To access the lounge, you’ll need a valid same-day boarding pass from any airline and a paid entry fee, membership, or premium credit card. We recommend using a card from our list of the best lounge access credit cards to maximize your airport experience.

Below, you'll find further details on how to access this lounge, what it's like inside, and whether it's worth a visit.

How to access the Domestic Plaza Premium Lounge in Toronto Terminal 1

There are 6 Plaza Premium Lounges in Toronto Pearson Airport, one for each Domestic, International, and US Transborder zone in Terminals 1 and 3. If your flight departs from Terminal 1, you have a choice of 3 lounges after passing security:

• The Domestic Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 (the subject of this article) is located on Level 3 and is open Monday – Sunday from 5:30 AM – 10:00 PM ET.
• The US Transborder Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 is located on Level 2 near Gate F53 and F55 and is open every day from 5:30 AM – 9:00 PM ET.
• The International Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 is accessible by the elevator on Level 2 near Gate E77 (look for the circular logo next to "3"). It’s open every day from 5:30 AM – 11:59 PM ET.

Once you reach the front desk, you’ll need to present a valid, same-day boarding pass issued by any airline and one of the following:

Entry fee

Plaza Premium Lounge fees vary depending on the location, the length of your stay, and your age. To access the Domestic Lounge in Terminal 1, you’ll need to pay:

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 $157 – $300 USD

You can reserve your seat in a lounge up to a year in advance by using the online booking, or book entry for a group of 10 or more at least 1 week in advance. Make sure to bring a printed copy of your booking confirmation email to the lounge to smooth your entry.

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 unlimited or 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 37% 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. À la carte or guest lounge access costs $35 USD per 2-hour visit, saving you 28% off regular admission.

Credit cards with Plaza Premium Lounge access

Whether you use American Express, Mastercard, or Visa, there are several ways to get access to airport lounges with your credit card.

The cheapest method is to flash a card with the Amex Global Lounge Collection, the Mastercard Travel Pass, or the Visa Airport Companion Program.

Here are the premium credit cards available in Canada that can get you into the Domestic Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 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	Up to 60,000 80,000 bonus points (terms)	10 ($35 USD per additional pass)
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard	$150	$150 GeniusCash + Up to 100,000 115,000 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	$80 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)

The best credit cards with lounge access tend to be expensive. For example, a Visa Infinite Privilege or World Elite Mastercard credit card will provide more free visits than one from the Visa Infinite or World Mastercard lineup.

But even if they don’t include any free visits, cards like the Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard, MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, or Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard have their place. You can use the included DragonPass membership to visit the Domestic Plaza Premium Lounge for just $32 – $35 USD a pop.

If you’d rather use a business credit card, check out 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 Toronto Plaza Premium Lounge experience (Domestic, Terminal 1)

Hours: Monday – Sunday from 5:30 AM – 10:00 PM ET

Location: Terminal 1, Domestic Departures, Level 3

Maximum stay: 6 hours

Payment forms accepted: Alipay, American Express, Mastercard, PayPal, WeChat Pay, Visa

Amenities:

• Accessible facilities and washrooms
• Baby-changing stations
• Complimentary food and drink
• Flight monitors
• Newspapers and magazines
• Payphones*
• Premium bar service*
• Showers*
• Televisions with live broadcast
• Vegetarian and gluten-free dining options available upon request
• VIP Room*
• Wi-Fi and charging stations

* Available at additional cost.

Atmosphere

^{Image credit: Plaza Premium Lounge}

The Domestic Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 (or "Plaza Premium Concept Lounge" on Google) encompasses 4,900 square feet and a show-stopping wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Recent renovations have placed light wood panels and white marble accents throughout the lounge to reflect the ample natural light.

Unfortunately, its attractive facade and convenient location make it the first stop of many travellers. Online reviewers complain of long wait times and being denied entry when the lounge hits max capacity, which happens too soon and too often.

"Convenient location just past security. Not too big, so it got fairly crowded. Still more relaxing than the typical airport waiting areas. Food was limited but still a nice selection and fairly tasty… Staff was friendly and cleared tables quickly." —Raquel, 4-star Google review

Comfort

The Domestic Lounge accommodates about 110 guests. Turn right after reception and you’ll find:

• The bar: Clad in white, sage green, and a thin halo of lights, the bar only seats 4 but functions as the iconic centrepiece of the lounge.
• The dining area: Just after the bar lies a collection of 6 cafeteria tables and dining seats, plus a line of 4 black sofa-chair-cubicles against the wall.
• The terminal sitting area: 10 Brown leather chairs with side tables command the best view in the lounge, which looks onto the rest of the terminal. Just behind them is a second row of 6 white armchairs and table seating for 10.
• The work area: The far side of the terminal sitting area hosts a dozen private sofa-chair-cubicles with extendable working tables, in-seat outlets, and USB charging stations.
• The shower room: For $22 CAD, you can wash away your pre-flight worries for up to 30 minutes. Toiletries and towels are free, and so is the shower if you’re an Amex Platinum cardholder.

While there’s plenty of seating in the main lounge, we highly recommend paying $13 CAD for a seat in the VIP room. Not only is it separated from the rest of the lounge, but it also includes 1 premium drink, access to a private shower stall, and a dedicated drinks and snacks station. Inside, you can choose between a small living room area with a TV and a line of individual armchairs overlooking the rest of the terminal.

"It has been newly renovated and it shows. Many seating choices to suit many needs. From well-appointed pods complete with plug-in capabilities to large tables to accommodate groups." —Dan, 4-star Google review

Dining

^{Image credit: Plaza Premium Lounge}

The food station in the dining area serves both hot and cold buffet items, transitioning from breakfast (eggs, sausages, and pastries) to lunch and dinner (pasta, salad, sandwiches, or soup) around 10 AM. Coffee, fresh food, and drinks are always available, as is alcohol.

Unfortunately, the lounge’s complimentary beverage selection is quite limited. If you want anything other than 2 house beers (Coors Light or Molson Canadian), 2 house wines (white or red), or 5 spirits (gin, rum, vodka, or 2 whiskeys), you’ll have to buy it at the bar. Still or sparkling bottled water is also considered a premium drink.

Overall, as long as you can tolerate cafeteria food, you’ll be satisfied. But staff are often overwhelmed during busy periods, which causes both the food quality and cleanliness of the lounge to suffer.

"There are ample amounts of food and refills were quick. During my visit at 5 PM, there were 3 salads, yogurts, apples, oranges, rice, noodles, meatballs, curry chicken, 2 soups, chips, muffins, toast and open bar." —Samuel, 3-star Google review

Entertainment

If you forgot a book or you’re waiting for your phone to charge, there are TVs in the dining area, terminal sitting area, the VIP room, and on either side of the bar. As for peace and quiet, you’re better off relying on a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones.

Rules and restrictions

You’ll need to follow the usual list of DON’Ts while visiting the Terminal 1 Domestic Plaza Premium Lounge in Toronto:

• 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. Be sure to call ahead if you’re travelling with a furry friend.

Is the Domestic Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 in Toronto worth it?

The Domestic Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 offers the best value to credit cardholders who can enter for free. Then again, some Google reviewers complain about leaving the lounge feeling disillusioned with the worth of their American Express credit card.

The lounge is small, it fills up fast, and during peak times, both food and service quality suffer. The VIP room is a great buy – but it’s still better to wait for a quiet morning or early afternoon.

"Overall good lounge nothing too fancy but good staff and okay food! A good place to wait for domestic flights. 7/10" —Jason Shaw, 3-star Google review

FAQ

How do I get into the Plaza Premium Lounge in Toronto?

To enter the Plaza Premium Lounge in Toronto Pearson, you’ll need to present a boarding pass and pay an entry fee ($66.68 – $108.48 CAD per adult and $46.68 – $75.96 CAD per child), flash your DragonPass or Priority Pass membership, and/or present a premium credit card with free passes.

What’s included in the Plaza Premium Lounge?

Plaza Premium Lounges include unlimited hot and cold food, drinks, and snacks; self-serve coffee, soft drinks, and tea; plus a selection of house beer, spirits, and wine.

How many Plaza Premium Lounges are in Toronto airport?

There are 6 Plaza Premium Lounges in Toronto airport, one in each of the Domestic, US Transborder, and US Transborder departure zones in Terminals 1 and 3.

Is the Plaza Premium Lounge free for Amex cardholders?

American Express Platinum and Business Platinum credit cardholders enjoy free, unlimited access to Plaza Premium Lounges, while Scotiabank Amex cardholders get 10 free visits per year.

What’s the best lounge at Toronto Pearson?

The best lounge in YYZ is the über-exclusive Air Canada Signature Suite, where premium flyers enjoy fine dining, svelte interior décor, and a rarefied atmosphere.