The best credit cards for airport lounge access in Canada for 2025
If you want to make your travels a little more comfortable, airport lounge access is key. Here are the credit cards that offer it and how it works. The post The best credit cards for airport lounge access in Canada for 2025 appeared first on MoneySense.
Airport lounge access can transform an otherwise gruelling layover into a relaxing respite. Lounges typically offer free snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, work areas, showers, sleep pods and even spa services. It’s little wonder, then, that for many frequent fliers, lounge access is an especially coveted credit card feature. Here are the best cards to carry with you on your next trip.
Best airport lounge access credit cards
Best lounge access credit cards overview
Compare key features of popular airport lounge access cards in Canada. Keep scrolling for our editors’ top picks.
MoneySense award winners
Check out the pros and cons of the top three airport lounge access credit cards, as well as the best American Express and no-fee card options.
Gold: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
At a glance: The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is the best card overall for airport lounge access. With six complimentary lounge visits a year, this card offers the most free visits among credit cards in a comparable fee range. For that reason alone, the card pays for itself. Adding to its travel-friendly allure is the fact that it’s one of the few cards in Canada that doesn’t charge the typical 2.5% foreign transaction (FX) fee.
Silver: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
At a glance: For Aeroplan points collectors who want an elevated airport experience, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege credit card can be a great travel companion. This is the best credit card to offer access to luxury airport lounges. It’s packed with travel benefits like unlimited free access to Maple Leaf Lounges throughout North America.
Bronze: CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
At a glance: The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite is the best airport lounge access card for frequent travellers to the U.S. Consider this card if you often visit the U.S. for vacations, work trips or family visits. The card includes membership in the Visa Airport Companion Program and also gives you four free lounge visits per year. Every four years, you get a statement credit of up to $100 towards a Nexus application fee.
Best Mastercard option: BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
At a glance: If you’re an occasional traveller, the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard may be a good choice to get you airport lounge access. If you find yourself in an airport even just a few times a year, you’ll appreciate that this card offers free membership in the Mastercard Travel Pass program provided by DragonPass, with four free lounge passes a year.
Best American Express option: The Platinum Card
At a glance: If you’re a frequent traveller, The Platinum Card is the best option for you. It’s one of the most expensive premium credit cards in Canada, but the $799 annual fee gets you access to the most comprehensive and amenity-laden selection of airport lounges worldwide, including top-tier American Express Centurion Lounges. Depending on the lounge, cardholders may have an unlimited number of free visits and can also bring one companion with them at no additional cost.
Best no fee option: Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
At a glance: If you aren’t looking to pay a hefty annual fee to access airport lounges, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is the best option. Get access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide for just USD$32 per person per visit. Plus, get travel insurance and perks like 3% cash back on all U.S. dollar purchases (offsetting forex fees) and the highest base earn rate of any no-fee card in Canada.
Airport lounge access programs in Canada: a comparison
Wondering which lounges you can actually visit with your lounge passes? The best lounge access credit cards in Canada offer access to one or more of the following airport lounge programs.
The cost of airport lounge access in Canada
If it’s not offered as a free perk with your credit card, you’ll have to pay for airport lounge access.
Air Canada offers three tiers of Maple Leaf Club memberships. Costs range from $375 to $665 per year. Members can bring guests along at $59 per visit per guest. However, Air Canada has temporarily suspended the sale of memberships to Maple Leaf Club, and there is no indication when it will resume selling them.
Priority Pass memberships range from USD$99 per year for a Standard membership to USD$469 per year for a Prestige membership. The former comes with zero free lounge visits—members pay $USD35 per visit, the same as guests. Meanwhile, Prestige members get unlimited complimentary visits.
The costs of DragonPass memberships are similar: fees range from USD $99 per year for a Classic membership (which includes one free lounge visit) to USD$429 for a Prestige membership (which comes with unlimited lounge access).
For Plaza Premium lounges, you can get a pass for a set number of visits. For example, in Canada, you can buy a five-visit pass for USD$155. Or you book by the hour. The Plaza Premium Lounge at Toronto Pearson Airport, for example, charges $66.68 for a two-hour visit.
If you want free airport lounge access, your options are more limited. First-class passengers may get access as part of their ticket benefits, and Air Canada’s Aeroplan program offers access to Elite members who have reached an eligible status level. For frequent travellers, carrying an airport lounge credit card may be the simplest and most cost-effective way to get this premium perk.
Are airport lounge access credit cards worth it?
Airports have a captive customer base, and they know it: food and beverage prices at airports can border on daylight robbery, and it’s not hard to spend $10 to $40 per person on food and drinks. This alone could justify the cost of lounge access, where food, drinks, and alcohol are complimentary.
If you travel with a lot of carry-on baggage, fly long-haul, or have a long layover, airport lounges are also a much-needed sanctuary where you can freshen up with a shower, catch up on work, or simply take a nap.
Looking at the cost of airport lounge programs mentioned above, each lounge pass included with your credit card could be worth USD$25 on average. So if you know you’ll use them, lounge access credit cards are definitely worth it.
How to choose a lounge access credit card
Wondering which credit card with lounge access offers you the best value? Here are a couple of things to consider when making your choice.
How frequently do you fly? Think about how often you’ll really use the lounge passes that come with a credit card. If you only travel once or twice a year, the 4 passes offered by BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard or CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite will likely be sufficient. On the other hand, if you fly more than once a month and have plenty of layovers on your trips, a card with unlimited lounge access like the American Express Platinum Card could be well worth the premium.
Does the lounge program match your travel habits? Not all lounges are equal, and having access to more lounges doesn’t mean greater value. For instance, when it comes to DragonPass vs Priority Pass, both memberships include access to the popular Plaza Premium Lounge network as well as more exclusive airline lounges — but access isn’t guaranteed, especially at busy airports or peak travel times.
If you mainly fly with Air Canada and its partners around North America, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege might offer greater comfort with access to Maple Leaf Lounges.
What other travel credit card benefits do you value? A credit card with no foreign transaction fee like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite can save you a tidy sum on overseas purchases, while a card bundled with solid travel insurance protects you against unforeseen travel hiccups.
Frequently asked questions
More of Canada’s best credit cards:
Canada’s best credit cards
Canada’s best instant approval credit cards
Canada’s best no fee credit cards
Canada’s best credit cards for people with bad credit
Comments
Post a Comment