Our Guide To The Plaza Premium Lounge In Toronto (Terminal 3, International)

As the newest of the six Plaza Premium Lounges in Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), the International Lounge in Terminal 3 sets a new standard for the brand – at least in Canada. With a well-stocked children's play area, expansive tarmac views, and a gorgeous Aero Bar, this space is definitely worth a visit.

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. To get the most out of the experience, we recommend using a card from our list of the top lounge access credit cards.

The review that follows covers the various ways to access this lounge, what to expect from a visit, and more.

How to access the International Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 in Toronto

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 3, you have a choice of 3 lounges after passing security:

• The Domestic Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 is located on Level 2 near Gates B22 and B24. It’s open Monday – Sunday from 5:30 AM – 10:00 PM ET.
• The International Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 (the subject of this review) is accessible by elevator on Level 2 near Gate C32 and is open every day from 5:30 AM – 12:59 PM ET.
• The US Transborder Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 is accessible by the elevator on Level 2 near Gate A10, and is open every day from 5:30 AM – 7:00 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 International Lounge in Terminal 3, 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 two 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 five to ten 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% on regular admission.

Credit cards with Plaza Premium Lounge access

Regardless of your preferred credit card network, you have several options for getting 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. Depending on how many complimentary visits remain on your card, you could get in for free.

There are also some premium credit cards in Canada you can use to get into the International Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 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	$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)

The best credit cards with lounge access tend to be expensive.

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, 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 Terminal 3, International Plaza Premium Lounge experience

Hours: Monday – Sunday from 5:30 AM – 12:59 AM ET

Location: Elevator access via Terminal 3, Level 2, near Gate C32

Maximum stay: 6 hours

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

Amenities:

• Children’s play area
• Complimentary food and drink
• Flight monitors
• Live cooking station
• Massages and manicures*
• Nursery room
• Premium Aero bar service*
• Showers*
• Televisions with satellite broadcasts
• Vegetarian and gluten-free dining options available upon request
• Wi-Fi and charging stations

* Available at additional cost.

Atmosphere

The newly-renovated International Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 embraces bright views of the tarmac with warm, curved, wooden accents. The visual update extends to more than just a new coat of paint; the chairs, tables, and tiles are all new, as are the LED strips, table lamps, and pot lights setting the space aglow.

"Sure, they made us wait 15 mins because they were at maximum capacity, but once inside, we had the necessary space to enjoy quite a nice meal and a fairly good glass of wine. The staff was friendly, the lounge clean and frankly, we had nothing to complain about!" —Kenneth, 4-star Trip Advisor review

Comfort

The International Plaza Premium Lounge also runs the Business and First Class lounge for British Airways and Cathay Pacific, which is located to the right after reception. Take the first left after the front desk to reach the general lounge area and amenities such as:

• The Aero Bar: If the giant pillar of light behind the counter doesn’t grab your attention, its location just inside the lounge entrance will. There’s room for roughly 8 guests to sit at the marble counter and order cocktails and specialty coffees for an extra fee.
• The dining area: About 3 dozen guests can sit opposite the buffet at either the long central marble table or one of the 2 vinyl benches flanking it.
• The children’s play area: The small room around the corner from the self-serve drink counter provides the lounge’s smallest guests with mini chairs, couches, and tables, plus books, stuffed animals, and toys.
• The middle seating area: A dozen pairs of sofa chairs occupy the middle of the lounge. There are few side tables with outlets and no TVs, making this the ideal place to read a book.
• The window seating area: The lounge frames its expansive views of the tarmac with 3 large seating areas, each containing sofa chairs, lamps, and tables with outlets and USB chargers.

The toilets are also brand new and clad in shining white, ceramic faux-marble tiles.

"Impressive, newly-renovated lounge. It’s a big space with Business Class fliers in a separate area… The washrooms are kept clean. Staff is helpful and friendly. There are plenty of private pods for charging phones and tech devices." —Rav, 5-star Google review

Dining

When it comes to food, the International Lounge strikes a great balance between quality and variety, with plenty of options for halal, vegan, and vegetarian diners.

At the hot counter, you’ll find a hot tureen filled with chili or soup for lunch or dinner, 2 large entrées under heat lamps, 6 trays of smaller entrées and sides, and several cold sides and salads. If you have a sweet tooth, head to the end of the hot counter for several cold desserts, or look for cases of cookies, bread, muffins, and pastries.

Unfortunately, Plaza Premium’s free drink selection is limited to just 2 reds, 2 whites, 2 beers, and 5 basic spirits. You can only get the premium stuff at the bar for an extra fee.

"I had a great experience at Place Premium Toronto Pearson Airport. The staff gave a warm welcome, and there was a decent selection of drinks. They offered both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food options. Although no main course was available when I visited around 6 PM, the finger foods were good. The waiting service was attentive, and the washroom was clean. The best part was the nice view of the airport tarmac. Highly recommended!" —Chowdhury, 5-star Google review

Entertainment

The International Plaza Premium Lounge gets bonus points for providing physical magazines and newspapers in addition to free Wi-Fi. You can watch TV while the kids are playing or rest your eyes on a tranquil view of the horizon from the window. You can even book a massage or manicure at reception.

Rules and restrictions

There’s a short list of DON’Ts to remember while visiting the International Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 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. Call ahead if you’re travelling with a furry friend.

Is the International Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 in Toronto worth it?

The International Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 is worth a half-hour wait and/or an entry fee. The seating is varied, the food is decent, and there are plenty of amenities to occupy your time.

As always, beware of crowding during peak travel times, which can eat into the time you spend at the lounge and compromise its cleanliness and quality.

"It’s a great way to spend your waiting hours at the lounge before your flight. With your Priority Pass membership you get to eat for free and have a comfortable place to chill and relax." —Jhell, 5-star Trip Advisor 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.