The Visa Airport Companion program provides complimentary airport lounge access to eligible Visa credit cardholders and their guests. It grants lounge access to over 1,200 lounges worldwide through the LoungeKey network, where travellers can enjoy amenities like comfortable seating, complimentary food and beverages, Wi-Fi, and business facilities.
Available on select premium Visa cards, the Visa Airport Companion lounge list features 20+ lounges in Canada. While some cards, including a few of the best Visa cards, provide unlimited access, others offer a set number of annual visits.
The following guide offers all the details you need to decide whether this credit card benefit can help make layovers and pre-flight waiting more comfortable for you.
Key Takeaways
- The Visa Airport Companion Program provides select Visa credit cardholders with a free Dragonpass membership and up to 10 free lounge visits per year.
- Most credit cards with the Visa Airport Companion Program have high income requirements and annual fees.
- The Visa Airport Companion perk is worth $99 – $320 USD or more.
- The best credit card with the Visa Airport Companion is the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card.
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What is the Visa Airport Companion Program?
The Visa Airport Companion Program is the Visa equivalent of the Mastercard Travel Pass or Amex Global Lounge Collection – a complimentary membership giving cardholders free or discounted access to 1,200+ airport lounges around the world. Enroll your credit card, and you'll unlock savings at lounges, restaurants, and stores in 8 Canadian airports.
The Visa Airport Companion Program is a perk reserved for Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards and select Visa Infinite and Visa credit cards. You'll find it among the benefits of 19 premium credit cards in Canada, although not all include free lounge passes.
Visa Airport Companion Program overview
| The Visa Airport Companion program | |
|---|---|
| Perk Type | Airport lounge access program |
| Provider | Visa |
| Cost | Free |
| Value | $99+ – $320+ USD |
Pros:
- 1,200+ airport lounges in the Visa Airport Companion Program network
- 19 Canadian credit cards with the Visa Airport Companion Program
- Includes up to 10 free airport lounge visits
Cons:
- $150,000 personal or $200,000 household income required for Visa Infinite Privilege cards
- $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income required for Visa Infinite cards
- High annual fees for most cards
- Not all cards include free airport lounge visits
How the Visa Airport Companion Program works
You must enroll your Visa credit card in the Visa Airport Companion Program before you can enjoy the benefits. First, head to the program's website, enter your credit card information, and create an account.
Congratulations: You've just saved $99 USD on the standard annual Dragonpass membership fee!
Next, download the Visa Airport Companion app for Android or iOS and find an airport lounge, restaurant, or store you want to visit.
How to get airport lounge access with the Visa Airport Companion Program
The Visa Airport Companion Program is powered by Dragonpass. To get into a Dragonpass lounge, find the reception desk and present:
- An eligible and enrolled Visa credit card
- A digital membership card AND QR code on the Visa Airport Companion app or website
- A printed or emailed e-certificate listing your digital membership information AND a QR code
If there are at least 48 hours before your flight, many lounges let you pre-book access online.
Use the mobile app or website to book a timeslot for you and up to 6 guests, but be warned: You may be refused entry if you arrive too early or more than an hour late.
Just note that booking times are limited – you generally can't reserve access during peak times.
Any in-person or walk-in visits you make will be deducted from the free lounge visits on your account. If you need to buy another visit for yourself or a guest, it'll cost $32 USD, saving you $3 USD off the usual entry price. Online pre-booking fees may also apply.
Airport lounges included in the Visa Airport Companion Program
The Dragonpass airport lounge network encompasses 1,200+ locations worldwide. Prepare to enjoy unlimited complimentary food, drink, and snacks in:
- 509 Asian airports, including Tokyo (NRT), Hong Kong (HKG), and Seoul (ICN)
- 158 European airports, including Frankfurt (FRA), Heathrow (LHR), Munich (MUC), and Zurich (ZRH)
- 64 African airports, including Cape Town (CPT), Johannesburg (JNB and HLA), and Oujdah (OUD)
- 26 U.S. airports, including Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Dallas (DFW), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Washington (IAD), San Francisco (SFO), and New York (JFK and LGA)
- 11 Oceania airports, including Christchurch (CHC), Melbourne (MEL), and Sydney (SYD)
- 8 Canadian airports, including every Plaza Premium Lounge location in Toronto (YYZ and YTZ), Montreal (YUL), and Vancouver (YVR)
Keep in mind:
- Lounge access may be restricted to international travellers – not domestic or transborder flyers.
- There are few Dragonpass lounges in the US and none in Chicago-O'Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), or Los Angeles (LAX).
- You must follow the lounge's code of conduct during your visit.
If you get the chance, pay a visit to the Pearl Lounge in Bahrain. It's a sumptuously decorated oasis, the winner of a 5-star SKYTRAX rating, and the best Dragonpass airport lounge in the world.
Some airport lounges may not accept a credit card as proof of membership. Be prepared by downloading a copy of your membership and QR code for use offline.
How to get airport dining offers
Getting up to 25% off your meal at the airport is easier than getting lounge access. Simply open the Visa Airport Companion app or website and search for the airport name to pull up a list of offers. Select the offer you want, then present the QR code to the restaurant for scanning – there are over 50 locations in Canada to choose from.
How to get airport retail offers
The last Visa Airport Companion membership benefit is 10%–20% off a minimum purchase of $25–$150 at select airport stores. The selection includes Lolë, Herschel, and The Loop Duty-Free – but the best offer is 35% off any bottle of wine from the Vin Room in Calgary (YYC).
Once again, you'll have to redeem the offer by finding it in the Visa Airport Companion app or on the website, tapping it, and showing the QR code to the cashier.
How to get the Visa Airport Companion Program
Canadians have the choice among 19 credit cards in the Visa Airport Companion Program: 10 Visa Infinite Privilege cards, 8 Visa Infinite cards, and 1 Gold Visa card.
The 5 best Visa Airport Companion credit cards in Canada offer 4 – 6 free passes per year.
| Credit card | Welcome bonus | Annual fee | Free lounge visits | Income requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card |  $400 GeniusCash + Up to 200,000 bonus points (terms) | $599 | 6 | * $150,000 personal * $200,000 household |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card | Up to 45,000 bonus points, first year annual fee waived† (terms) | $139 | 4 | * $60,000 personal * $100,000 household |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card | $150 GeniusCash + 50,000 bonus points (terms) | $150 | 6 | * $60,000 personal * $100,000 household |
| TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card | $40 GeniusCash + Up to 146,000 bonus points (terms) | $139 | 4 | * $60,000 personal * $100,000 household |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | Up to 100,000 bonus points (terms) | $399 | 6 | * $200,000 personal * $200,000 household |
1. Best Visa Airport Companion credit card in Canada
GC: $400
Lounge access: 6 free lounge visits per year
Rewards:
- 5x BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on travel, dining, gas, groceries, and drugstores
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
A card with a $599 annual fee has to deliver something special, and the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card doesn't disappoint. It includes a $200 annual lifestyle credit and all the luxuries of the Visa Infinite Privilege program, like automatic Diamond Status at Sandman Hotels.
Redeem your BMO Rewards points on travel, and you can also look forward to 6 free airport lounge visits, priority security clearance, and parking discounts at major Canadian airports.
Pros:
- $200 annual lifestyle credit
- 12 types of insurance included
- 25% bonus points for adding an authorized user
- Visa Infinite Privilege benefits
Cons:
- High income requirements
2. Best value Visa Airport Companion credit card
×1 Award winner Earn up to 45,000 Aventura points + 4 free lounge passes per year.†
1x Award winner Earn up to 45,000 Aventura points + 4 free lounge passes per year.†
Lounge access: 4 free lounge visits per year
Rewards:
- 2 points per $1 spent on travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Centre
- 1.5 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, groceries, EV charging, and drugstores
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
For $139 annually, you can earn Aventura Rewards, visit 4 airport lounges for free, and experience the Visa Infinite Program with the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card. Benefits include 24/7 concierge services and access to exclusive dining events, plus a complimentary room upgrade, daily breakfast, and more at 900+ hotels.
Pros:
- $100 NEXUS fee rebate every 4 years
- 12 types of insurance included
- Up to 10 cents per litre at Journie gas stations
- $0 transfer and cash advance fees to 120+ countries
- Visa Infinite benefits
Cons:
- Minimum income requirement of $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
3. Best no foreign exchange fees Visa Airport Companion credit card
×1 Award winner GC: $150
1x Award winner Lounge access: 6 free lounge visits per year
Rewards:
- 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more
- 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, restaurants, entertainment, and daily transit
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 on all other purchases
With 6 airport lounge visits per year and no foreign exchange fees, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card is the perfect card for travelling shopaholics. If you prefer a staycation, you can also choose to redeem your Scene+ points on groceries, restaurants, and movie tickets at a rate of 1 cent per point.
Pros:
- 11 types of insurance included
- 0.00% foreign exchange fee
- Automatic Avis Preferred Plus membership status
- Visa Infinite benefits
Cons:
- High income requirements
- Fewer rewards than other Visa Infinite Cards
4. Best flexible rewards Visa Airport Companion credit card
GC: $40
Lounge access: 4 free lounge visits per year
Rewards:
- 8 points per $1 spent on travel booked online through Expedia For TD
- 6 points per $1 spent on groceries, restaurants, and public transit
- 4 points per $1 spent on recurring bill payments, streaming, digital gaming, and media
- 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card offers much more than just 4 airport lounge passes per year. This card will earn you up to 8 points per $1 spent on purchases.
It also comes with an annual $100 travel credit for use at Expedia For TD, and will cover you on your travels with 12 types of insurance.
Pros:
- Annual $100 travel credit at Expedia For TD
- Visa Infinite benefits
- 12 types of insurance
Cons:
- High income requirements
- Points only worth 0.5 cents each
5. Best insurance Visa Airport Companion credit card
Lounge access: 6 free lounge visits per year
Rewards:
- 1.25 points per $1 spent on all purchases
Although the premium credit card on our Visa Airport Companion lists includes a fantastic insurance package, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege has it beat. You'll get higher coverage amounts for mobile device insurance, lost or stolen baggage insurance, hotel burglary insurance, and more coverage days for emergency medical insurance, along with emergency medical over 65.
Pros:
- Save 3 cents per litre on fuel at Petro-Canada
- Generous welcome bonus
- High point value of up to 2.33 cents
Cons:
- Only earns 1.25 points per $1 spent on all purchases
- Poor rewards if not redeemed through the Air Travel Redemption chart
FAQ
Who is eligible for Visa Airport Companion?
To get a Visa Airport Companion membership as a benefit, you must have an eligible and enrolled Visa credit card. To access a lounge, show your digital membership card AND the QR code in your Visa Airport Companion app or on the website.
Is the Visa Airport Companion worth it?
If you happen to have a qualifying Visa credit card that gives you access and free passes, it's definitely worth taking advantage of. You can rest in the comfort of a well-maintained airport lounge in between flights, grab something tasty to eat, or just get away from the hustle and bustle of your airport terminal.
Which Visa card offers airport lounge access?
If you have 1 of the 10 Visa Infinite Privilege Cards, 8 Visa Infinite Cards, or the Gold Visa Card with the benefit, you'll get airport lounge access through the Visa Airport Companion Program along with a specified number of free passes each year.
Is there a Visa Airport lounge list?
The best way to see the most up-to-date list of the 1,200+ Visa Airport lounges is to search for airports on the Visa Airport Companion website to find lounges along your travel routes. You can also do this by downloading the program's app and searching there.
Which Visa Airport Companion lounge-eligible cards offer the most free visits?
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card includes a Visa Airport Companion membership and a whopping 10 free passes each year. Although the card has a very steep annual fee and high income requirements, the welcome bonus and annual travel credit help offset them.
Is there a Visa Airport Companion app?
Yes, you can download the Visa Airport Companion app from Google Play or the App Store. Both versions are highly rated by users, since the app makes it easy to track usage history and locate participating lounges. Plus, it generates a QR code you can scan to access a lounge.
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