Airport lounge entry can remodel an in any other case gruelling layover into a calming respite. Lounges sometimes supply free snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi, snug seating, work areas, showers, sleep pods and even spa companies. It’s little surprise, then, that for a lot of frequent fliers, lounge entry is an particularly coveted bank card function. Listed here are the perfect playing cards to hold with you in your subsequent journey.
Finest airport lounge entry bank cards
Get $75 Present Card Provide
Gold: Our high choose general
Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite Card
Get 6 free passes yearly to over 1,200 lounges globally. Plus, pay no international transaction charges when overseas.
Provide ends
Could 01, 2025
GO TO SITE
Curiosity Charges:
20.99% buy, 22.99% money advance, 22.99% stability switch
Welcome supply:
$300 worth
Earn as much as $1,300 in worth within the first 12 months, together with as much as 40,000 bonus Scene+ factors. To qualify, apply by July 1, 2025.
featured
Silver: Finest for luxurious perks
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
Comes with limitless entry to premium Maple Leaf Lounges and over 1,200 extra lounges worldwide.
GO TO SITE
Curiosity Charges:
20.99% buy, 22.99% money advance, 22.99% stability switch
Welcome supply:
$792 worth
Earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan factors while you make your first buy along with your new card. Earn an extra 35,000 Aeroplan factors while you spend $12,000 inside 180 days of Account opening. Circumstances Apply.
featured
Bronze: Finest for journey to the U.S.
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card
Get 4 passes yearly to over 1,200 lounges globally. Plus, a Nexus charge rebate each 4 years.
GO TO SITE
Curiosity Charges:
20.99% buy, 22.99% money advance, 22.99% stability switch
Welcome supply:
$900 worth
Earn as much as $1,450 in worth together with a primary yr annual charge rebate.
Finest lounge entry bank cards overview
Evaluate key options of widespread airport lounge entry playing cards in Canada. Preserve scrolling for our editors’ high picks.
| Annual charge | Free lounge visits per yr | Free visitor entry | Variety of lounges | Really useful revenue | Really useful credit score rating | Apply now (featured playing cards solely) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite |
$150 | 6 passes: Visa Airport Companion (DragonPass) | Sure | 1,200 | $60,000 per yr | 725 or greater | Go to web site |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
|
$599 | Limitless passes: Maple Leaf Lounges
6 passes: Visa Airport Companion (DragonPass) |
Sure | 23 Maple Leaf (Entry excludes Air Canada Signature Suites and lounges operated by third events, similar to Star Alliance member airways)
1,200 |
$150,000 per yr | 680 or greater | Go to web site |
| American Specific The Platinum Card
|
$799 | Limitless passes: Amex World Lounge Assortment (Precedence Go, Plaza Premium, Centurion) | Sure | 1,400 | None specified | 760 or greater | Go to web site |
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard |
$150 | 4 passes: Mastercard Journey Go (DragonPass) | Sure | 1,300 | $80,000 per yr | 760 or greater | Go to web site |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
|
$139 | 4 passes: Visa Airport Companion (DragonPass) | Sure | 1,200 | $60,000 per yr | 760 or greater | Go to web site |
Rogers Crimson World Elite Mastercard |
$0 | 0 passes: Mastercard Journey Go (DragonPass) | No | 1,300 | $80,000 per yr | 725 or greater | Go to web site |
MoneySense award winners
Try the professionals and cons of the highest three airport lounge entry bank cards, in addition to the perfect American Specific and no-fee card choices.
Gold: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
At a look: The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is the perfect card general for airport lounge entry. With six complimentary lounge visits a yr, this card presents essentially the most free visits amongst bank cards in a comparable charge vary. For that purpose alone, the cardboard pays for itself. Including to its travel-friendly attract is the truth that it’s one of many few playing cards in Canada that doesn’t cost the standard 2.5% international transaction (FX) charge.
featured
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
Annual charge: $150
Welcome supply: Earn as much as $1,100 in worth within the first 12 months, together with as much as 40,000 bonus Scene+ factors. Provide ends July 1, 2025.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on stability transfers |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $60,000 per yr or family revenue of $100,000 per yr |
| Credit score rating | 725 or greater |
| Level worth | 1 Scene+ level = $0.01 when redeemed for journey on any airline or lodge (together with Airbnbs). |
Silver: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
At a look: For Aeroplan factors collectors who need an elevated airport expertise, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege bank card generally is a nice journey companion. That is the perfect bank card to supply entry to luxurious airport lounges. It’s filled with journey advantages like limitless free entry to Maple Leaf Lounges all through North America.
featured
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
Annual charge: $599
Welcome supply: Earn as much as $3,000 in worth together with as much as 85,000 Aeroplan factors. Circumstances apply.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on stability transfers, 22.99% on money advances |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $150,000 or family revenue of $200,000 |
| Credit score rating | 680 or greater (advisable) |
| Anniversary bonus | Earn a one-time bonus of 30,000 Aeroplan factors while you spend a minimum of $24,000 inside 12 months of opening the account. Circumstances apply. |
| Level worth | Aeroplan factors are value $0.02 on common |
Execs
- Airport lounge entry: Get limitless entry to Maple Leaf Lounges for you and a visitor, and 6 free visits per yr to over 1,200 airport lounges.
- Journey insurance coverage: Get 31 days of protection for journey medical (for these below 65), versus the extra frequent 15-21 days. Additionally get protection for journey interruptions, flight delays, baggage, rental automobiles and extra.
- Nexus charge rebate: Get pleasure from a Nexus utility charge rebate of as much as $100 each two years.
- Journey perks: Get precedence check-ins, boarding, baggage dealing with, airport upgrades, and airport standby. Additionally, get an annual round-trip companion cross and free checked luggage on Air Canada.
Cons
- Finest for Air Canada flyers: Finest rewards worth when redeeming for Air Canada flights. And lots of journey advantages (like precedence check-in and boarding) solely apply to flights operated by Air Canada.
- Excessive annual charge: The charge could be very steep even for a premium card with many perks. The extra cardholder charge of $199 can also be excessive.
- Excessive revenue requirement: The necessities are very excessive in comparison with different playing cards.
Bronze: CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
At a look: The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite is the perfect airport lounge entry card for frequent travellers to the U.S. Contemplate this card should you usually go to the U.S. for holidays, work journeys or household visits. The cardboard contains membership within the Visa Airport Companion Program and in addition provides you 4 free lounge visits per yr. Each 4 years, you get an announcement credit score of as much as $100 in direction of a Nexus utility charge.
featured
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
Annual charge: $139
Welcome supply: Earn as much as $1,450 in worth, together with a primary yr annual charge rebate.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on stability transfers |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $60,000 or family revenue of $100,000 |
| Credit score rating | 760 or greater |
| Level worth | 1 level= $0.01 on common |
Finest Mastercard choice: BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
At a look: In the event you’re an occasional traveller, the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard could also be a good selection to get you airport lounge entry. If you end up in an airport even only a few instances a yr, you’ll admire that this card presents free membership within the Mastercard Journey Go program supplied by DragonPass, with 4 free lounge passes a yr.
featured
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
Annual charge: $150
Welcome supply: Earn as much as 100,000 factors
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | Rates of interest: 21.99% on purchases, 23.99% on stability transfers, 23.99% on money advances |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $80,000 or family revenue of $150,000 |
| Credit score rating | 760 or greater |
| Level worth | 1 BMO Rewards level = $0.0067 when redeemed for journey |
Finest American Specific choice: The Platinum Card
At a look: In the event you’re a frequent traveller, The Platinum Card is the most suitable choice for you. It’s probably the most costly premium bank cards in Canada, however the $799 annual charge will get you entry to essentially the most complete and amenity-laden choice of airport lounges worldwide, together with top-tier American Specific Centurion Lounges. Relying on the lounge, cardholders could have an infinite variety of free visits and may also deliver one companion with them at no extra price.
American Specific Platinum
Annual charge: $799
Welcome supply: Earn as much as 100,000 Membership Rewards factors ($1,000 worth).
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | N/A (as a cost card, you’re required to repay your stability in full each month) |
| Revenue required | None |
| Credit score rating | 760 or greater |
| Anniversary bonus | $200 annual eating credit score to make use of at a curated listing of Canada’s high eating places. Plus, $200 annual journey credit score when reserving via American Specific Journey On-line. |
| Level worth | 1 Amex Membership Rewards level = $0.01 when redeemed with the Versatile Factors Journey Program, $0.015 on common with the Mounted Factors Journey Program, and as much as $0.02 with airline factors transfers |
Finest no charge choice: Rogers Crimson World Elite Mastercard
At a look: In the event you aren’t seeking to pay a hefty annual charge to entry airport lounges, the Rogers Crimson World Elite Mastercard is the most suitable choice. Get entry to over 1,300 lounges worldwide for simply USD$32 per individual per go to. Plus, get journey insurance coverage and perks like 3% money again on all U.S. greenback purchases (offsetting foreign exchange charges) and the very best base earn charge of any no-fee card in Canada.
featured
Rogers Crimson World Elite Mastercard
Annual charge: $0
Welcome supply: None right now.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 25.99% on purchases, 27.99% on money advances, 27.99% on stability transfers |
| Revenue required | $80,000 per yr |
| Credit score rating | 725 or greater |
Execs
- Airport lounge entry: Complimentary membership to Mastercard Journey Go giving entry to over 1,300 lounges for $32 USD per individual per go to.
- Journey insurance coverage: Comes with six forms of protection, together with emergency medical, journey cancellation and automotive rental harm protection—a uncommon perk for a no-fee card.
- Offset foreign exchange charges on U.S. purchases: Earn 3% money again on all purchases made in U.S. {dollars}, each in-person and on-line, which is sufficient to offset the standard 2.5% international transaction charge charged by most bank cards.
- Excessive base charge: The 1.5% base earn charge is greater than every other no-fee card in Canada. Plus, in contrast to most playing cards, there are not any earnings caps.
- Buyer bonus: Rogers, Fido and Shaw prospects earn an extra 0.5% on all purchases (for a complete of two%). Plus, these prospects get a 1.5x redemption bonus when making use of their money again rewards to invoice funds with Rogers, Fido and Shaw.
Cons
- Flat earn charge: Different playing cards supply greater earn charges on choose classes, which may enable you to reap extra rewards, relying in your spending habits.
Airport lounge entry packages in Canada: a comparability
Questioning which lounges you possibly can truly go to along with your lounge passes? One of the best lounge entry bank cards in Canada supply entry to a number of of the next airport lounge packages.
| Program | Variety of lounges | Bank cards with lounge entry | Key particulars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges | 16 throughout North America and Europe | Aeroplan co-branded premium bank cards | Maple Leaf Lounges can solely be utilized by prospects departing on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Specific or a Star Alliance companion airline. |
| Plaza Premium Lounge | 250+ worldwide | N/A | Out there for bookings by the hour, however included in DragonPass and Precedence Go membership. |
| DragonPass | 1,300+ worldwide | World Credit cards, World Elite Credit cards (by way of the Mastercard Journey Go program)
Visa Infinite, Visa Infinite Privilege playing cards (by way of the Visa Airport Companion program) |
Consists of entry to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada, in addition to lots of of various lounge packages worldwide.
Cardholders can normally use their free passes for themselves and for a visitor, however guidelines range by lounge. |
| Precedence Go | 1,600+ worldwide | American Specific (by way of the American Specific World Lounge Assortment) | Consists of entry to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada, in addition to lots of of various lounge packages worldwide.
Cardholders can normally use their free passes for themselves and for a visitor, however guidelines range by lounge. |
| Centurion Lounges | 40+ worldwide | American Specific (by way of the American Specific World Lounge Assortment) | Centurion Lounges sometimes function high-quality meals and elevated facilities like spa companies, nap pods and showers. |
The price of airport lounge entry in Canada
If it’s not supplied as a free perk along with your bank card, you’ll need to pay for airport lounge entry.
Air Canada presents three tiers of Maple Leaf Membership memberships. Prices vary from $375 to $665 per yr. Members can deliver company alongside at $59 per go to per visitor. Nevertheless, Air Canada has briefly suspended the sale of memberships to Maple Leaf Membership, and there’s no indication when it is going to resume promoting them.
Precedence Go memberships vary from USD$99 per yr for a Normal membership to USD$469 per yr for a Status membership. The previous comes with zero free lounge visits—members pay $USD35 per go to, the identical as company. In the meantime, Status members get limitless complimentary visits.
The prices of DragonPass memberships are related: charges vary from USD $99 per yr for a Traditional membership (which incorporates one free lounge go to) to USD$429 for a Status membership (which comes with limitless lounge entry).
For Plaza Premium lounges, you may get a cross for a set variety of visits. For instance, in Canada, you should buy a five-visit cross for USD$155. Otherwise you guide by the hour. The Plaza Premium Lounge at Toronto Pearson Airport, for instance, costs $66.68 for a two-hour go to.
If you need free airport lounge entry, your choices are extra restricted. First-class passengers could get entry as a part of their ticket advantages, and Air Canada’s Aeroplan program presents entry to Elite members who’ve reached an eligible standing stage. For frequent travellers, carrying an airport lounge bank card could be the easiest and most cost-effective option to get this premium perk.
Are airport lounge entry bank cards value it?
Airports have a captive buyer base, and so they realize it: meals and beverage costs at airports can border on daylight theft, and it’s not arduous to spend $10 to $40 per individual on meals and drinks. This alone may justify the price of lounge entry, the place meals, drinks, and alcohol are complimentary.
In the event you journey with a whole lot of carry-on baggage, fly long-haul, or have an extended layover, airport lounges are additionally a much-needed sanctuary the place you possibly can clean up with a bathe, compensate for work, or just take a nap.
the price of airport lounge packages talked about above, every lounge cross included along with your bank card may very well be value USD$25 on common. So if you already know you’ll use them, lounge entry bank cards are undoubtedly value it.
How to decide on a lounge entry bank card
Questioning which bank card with lounge entry presents you the perfect worth? Listed here are a few issues to contemplate when making your alternative.
How regularly do you fly? Take into consideration how usually you’ll actually use the lounge passes that include a bank card. In the event you solely journey a few times a yr, the 4 passes supplied by BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard or CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite will possible be enough. However, should you fly greater than as soon as a month and have loads of layovers in your journeys, a card with limitless lounge entry just like the American Specific Platinum Card may very well be properly definitely worth the premium.
Does the lounge program match your journey habits? Not all lounges are equal, and gaining access to extra lounges doesn’t imply higher worth. As an illustration, with regards to DragonPass vs Precedence Go, each memberships embrace entry to the favored Plaza Premium Lounge community in addition to extra unique airline lounges — however entry isn’t assured, particularly at busy airports or peak journey instances.
In the event you primarily fly with Air Canada and its companions round North America, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege would possibly supply higher consolation with entry to Maple Leaf Lounges.
What different journey bank card advantages do you worth? A bank card with no international transaction charge just like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite can prevent a tidy sum on abroad purchases, whereas a card bundled with strong journey insurance coverage protects you in opposition to unexpected journey hiccups.
