Priority Pass is a global airport lounge program that gives travellers access to 1,900+ lounges worldwide. Members enjoy perks like complimentary Wi-Fi, meals, and drinks, plus discounts on dining, spa services, and airport transfers.
Many of the best lounge access credit cards include complimentary Priority Pass membership, but the number of free lounge visits can vary. Some cards offer unlimited visits, while others include a set number or charge a fee for each visit.
Here, we cover all you need to know about Priority Pass, including the features and amenities you'll find at participating lounges, membership costs, and many other helpful details.
Key Takeaways
- Priority Pass is a membership program that provides travellers with access to airport lounges around the world.
- Some credit cards provide free membership, but typically, Priority Pass memberships cost $99 – $469 USD per traveller per year, with one-time guest passes available for $35 USD each.
- Depending on your membership level, you may get free access to participating Priority Pass lounges or pay a fee each time you visit.
- To enter a Priority Pass airport lounge, you must present a membership or eligible credit card, plus your boarding pass (from any flight class or airline).
Never miss an amazing deal again + get our bonus 250+ page eBook for FREE. Join 50,000 other Canadians who receive our weekly newsletter – learn more.
What is Priority Pass?
Priority Pass is an independent airport lounge membership program founded in 1992. Founder Colin Evans wanted to give travellers the "exclusivity and tranquillity" of an airport lounge without requiring a premium-class airline ticket.
Over 30 years later, the Collinson Group now operates Priority Pass, serving 500 million customers annually.
What's included in a Priority Pass lounge?
Most Priority Pass lounges offer free food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and a comfortable place to sit. Some offer a little more, too. Plaza Premium Lounges, for example, can include live cooking stations, showers, and fully equipped workstations.
There are also 20+ Priority Pass lounges across 9 airports in Canada:
- Aspire Lounge at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
- Aspire and Elevation Lounges at the Calgary International Airport
- Plaza Premium Lounges at the Edmonton International Airport
- Air France, National Bank, and Aspire Lounges at the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport
- Aspire Salon Lounge at the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
- Be Relax Spas, KLM Crown Lounge, and Plaza Premium Lounges at the Toronto Pearson International Airport
- Plaza Premium Lounge at the Winnipeg J.A. Richardson International Airport
- Plaza Premium and SkyTeam Lounges at the Vancouver International Airport
Pros and cons of Priority Pass
The biggest perk of Priority Pass lounges is the flexible entry requirements. You don't need to fly first class or stick to a specific airline – all you need is a boarding pass for your flight and a Priority Pass membership to access participating lounges.
But before you spring for a membership, weigh the benefits and drawbacks of Priority Pass:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| * 1,900+ airport lounges across 850+ airports in 143 countries * Complimentary WithU and TrvlWell premium fitness app subscriptions * Bookable private transfers at 1,100+ airports * Bookable workspaces with desks, meeting rooms, or private offices in 80+ countries * Discounted car rentals at 50,000+ locations * Meet & Assist services available for a fee | * Crowded lounges in busy airports * Expensive annual membership or premium credit card fees * Visits are limited to 2 – 3 hours before flight * No free member lounge access on the lowest membership tier * No free guest lounge access unless your membership includes complimentary guest passes * Non-transferable memberships |
How to buy a Priority Pass membership
You can buy a Priority Pass membership online for an annual fee, plus a $10 USD delivery fee:
| Standard | Standard Plus | Prestige | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $99 USD | $329 USD | $469 USD |
| Free Member Passes | 0 | 10 | Unlimited |
| Member Pass Fee | $35 USD | $35 USD | N/A |
| Guest Pass Fee | $35 USD | $35 USD | $35 USD |
If you don't fly often, the Standard membership is likely your best bet. It doesn't include any free visits, but you'll pay less overall if you make 6 or fewer visits per year.
Once you're making 7 or more visits, the next membership tier becomes the better deal.
The Standard Plus plan offers a $120 USD discount on the usual admission fees for 10 passes. However, if you take 14 or more flights per year, upgrading is more economical.
With the Prestige plan, you'll save $35 USD on each lounge visit, plus you'll have the peace of mind of knowing you can grab a meal and a shower before your flight.
How do I know if my credit card includes Priority Pass?
American Express is the only network in Canada that includes Priority Pass among its premium credit card perks. Not only do you get access to every Priority Pass airport lounge in the world, but you also get to enjoy the fabulous Amex Global Lounge Collection.
| Credit Card | Lounge Programs | Free Passes | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Platinum Card | * Amex Global Lounge Collection * Priority Pass | * 6 if you spend $20,000 a year | $799 |
| The Business Platinum Card from American Express | * Amex Global Lounge Collection * Priority Pass | * 6 if you spend $20,000 a year | $799 |
| Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card | * Plaza Premium Lounges * Priority Pass | * 10 | $399 |
| American Express Gold Rewards Card | * Plaza Premium Lounges * Priority Pass | * 4 | $250 |
Some cards don't include free lounge visits but give you a discounted rate on a Priority Pass membership, like the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card.
While you'll still have to pay for lounge visits with this card, you'll get plenty in return, including up to 6 points per $1 spent, excellent insurance coverage, and no foreign transaction fees.
×3 Award winner 
$200 GC Boost + Up to 50,000 bonus points + No foreign exchange fees.*
GC: $100 + $100
3x Award winner How to use Priority Pass
Most Priority Pass lounges are located past airport security, so you'll need a same-day boarding pass to get in. Just show your boarding pass along with your Priority Pass membership or eligible credit card.
At the reception desk, you'll need to show one or more of these:
- Present a physical Priority Pass membership card
- Present a Digital Membership Card on the Priority Pass app
- Present a payment card with Priority Pass benefits
To make things easier (and to guarantee yourself and any guests a seat), you can pre-book your lounge passes online for a small fee.
Priority Pass alternatives
Like Priority Pass, Dragonpass is another paid independent lounge membership program.
Priority Pass vs. Dragonpass
The Dragonpass network includes 1,300+ lounges, including every Plaza Premium Lounge in Canada. So it has fewer than Priority Pass.
Priority Pass has 3 membership options, compared with 2 from Dragonpass. Both start at $99 USD, but visit fees are different:
- Priority Pass charges $35 USD per visit.
- Dragonpass includes 1 free visit, then charges $37 USD for each additional visit.
When it comes to services, Priority Pass offers more wellness and entertainment opportunities. For instance, you can enjoy Game Space, a fun arcade-like area at select lounges, or book a spa treatment.
Dragonpass doesn't offer anything similar, but it does provide fast-track security to make your airport experience run smoothly.
Fortunately, plenty of travel credit cards and business travel credit cards offer Dragonpass for free. Both Mastercard Travel Pass and the Visa Airport Companion Program use Dragonpass, so you have dozens of fantastic credit cards to choose from.
Here are a few of our favourites:
FAQ
Are airport lounges free with Priority Pass?
Priority Pass lounges aren't free, but certain credit cards provide a handful of free visits. The best card for airport lounge access is The Platinum Card, which provides unlimited visits to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Amex lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and more.
Which airports can you use Priority Pass at?
It's easy to find lounges that participate in Priority Pass – more than 850 airports around the world operate lounges within the program, including 8 Canadian airports. Before your trip, use the search bar on the Priority Pass website to find participating lounges for your travel destinations.
What lounges are under Priority Pass?
Plaza Premium lounges are probably the most popular lounges included with Priority Pass. But you can also access Aspire Lounges, KLM Lounges, Be Relax Spas, Chase Sapphire Lounges, VIP ONE Lounges, No.1 Lounges, Power Lounge, and quite a few others.
Does a Priority Pass cost very much?
Priority Pass memberships are reasonably priced and offer varying levels of accessibility for each tier. A Standard membership costs $99 USD per year but only provides lounge access, not free visits. A Standard Plus membership costs $329 USD and members have 10 free visits per year. The Presige membership is $469 USD and provides unlimited lounge access.
Can you tell me how to get Priority Pass for free in Canada?
The best way to get Priority Pass for free is to have a travel credit card that provides Priority Pass membership – there are business travel cards with this feature too. These usually give a limited number of free passes each year, so read your card's terms and conditions carefully.
Is there a Priority Pass lounge in Toronto?
Yes, there are 6 Plaza Premium lounges located at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), and entry to all is included with a Priority Pass membership. The KLM Crown Lounge is a particularly nice YYZ lounge also included in Priority Pass. If you're flying out of Toronto Billy Bishop (YTZ), head to the Aspire Lounge.
creditcardGenius is the only tool that compares 126+ features of 250 Canadian credit cards using math-based ratings and rankings that respond to your needs, instantly. Take our quiz and see which of Canada's 250 cards is for you.
GC: 
Comments
Leave a comment
Required fields are marked with *. Your email address will not be published.
Showing 1 comments