Airport lounge entry can rework an in any other case gruelling layover into a soothing respite. Lounges usually provide free snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi, comfy seating, work areas, showers, sleep pods and even spa companies. It’s little marvel, then, that for a lot of frequent fliers, lounge entry is an particularly coveted bank card function. Listed below are the perfect playing cards to hold with you in your subsequent journey.
Finest airport lounge entry bank cards
Get $75 Present Card Supply
Gold: Our high choose total
Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite Card
Get 6 free passes yearly to over 1,200 lounges globally. Plus, pay no overseas transaction charges when overseas.
Supply ends
Might 01, 2025
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Curiosity Charges:
20.99% buy, 22.99% money advance, 22.99% stability switch
Welcome provide:
$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.
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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.
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Curiosity Charges:
20.99% buy, 22.99% money advance, 22.99% stability switch
Welcome provide:
$792 worth
Earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan factors whenever you make your first buy along with your new card. Earn a further 35,000 Aeroplan factors whenever you spend $12,000 inside 180 days of Account opening. Circumstances Apply.
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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.
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Curiosity Charges:
20.99% buy, 22.99% money advance, 22.99% stability switch
Welcome provide:
$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 in style 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 helpful earnings | Really helpful 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 larger | Go to 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, comparable to Star Alliance member airways)
1,200 |
$150,000 per yr | 680 or larger | Go to site |
| American Express The Platinum Card
|
$799 | Limitless passes: Amex International Lounge Assortment (Precedence Go, Plaza Premium, Centurion) | Sure | 1,400 | None specified | 760 or larger | Go to site |
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard |
$150 | 4 passes: Mastercard Journey Go (DragonPass) | Sure | 1,300 | $80,000 per yr | 760 or larger | Go to site |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
|
$139 | 4 passes: Visa Airport Companion (DragonPass) | Sure | 1,200 | $60,000 per yr | 760 or larger | Go to site |
Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard |
$0 | 0 passes: Mastercard Journey Go (DragonPass) | No | 1,300 | $80,000 per yr | 725 or larger | Go to site |
MoneySense award winners
Take a look at the professionals and cons of the highest three airport lounge entry bank cards, in addition to the perfect American Categorical and no-fee card choices.
Gold: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
At a look: The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is the perfect card total for airport lounge entry. With six complimentary lounge visits a yr, this card provides probably the most free visits amongst bank cards in a comparable charge vary. For that motive 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 everyday 2.5% foreign transaction (FX) fee.
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Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
Annual charge: $150
Welcome provide: Earn as much as $1,100 in worth within the first 12 months, together with as much as 40,000 bonus Scene+ factors. Supply ends July 1, 2025.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on stability transfers |
| Earnings required | Private earnings of $60,000 per yr or family earnings of $100,000 per yr |
| Credit score rating | 725 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 Scene+ level = $0.01 when redeemed for journey on any airline or resort (together with Airbnbs). |
Silver: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
At a look: For Aeroplan points 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.
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TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
Annual charge: $599
Welcome provide: 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 |
| Earnings required | Private earnings of $150,000 or family earnings of $200,000 |
| Credit score rating | 680 or larger (beneficial) |
| Anniversary bonus | Earn a one-time bonus of 30,000 Aeroplan factors whenever you spend at the least $24,000 inside 12 months of opening the account. Circumstances apply. |
| Level worth | Aeroplan factors are price $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 underneath 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 software 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 move and free checked baggage 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 be excessive.
- Excessive earnings 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 in case 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 the direction of a Nexus software charge.
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CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
Annual charge: $139
Welcome provide: 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 |
| Earnings required | Private earnings of $60,000 or family earnings of $100,000 |
| Credit score rating | 760 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 level= $0.01 on common |
Finest Mastercard possibility: BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
At a look: When you’re an occasional traveller, the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard could also be a sensible choice to get you airport lounge entry. If you end up in an airport even only a few instances a yr, you’ll recognize that this card provides free membership within the Mastercard Journey Go program offered by DragonPass, with 4 free lounge passes a yr.
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BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
Annual charge: $150
Welcome provide: 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 |
| Earnings required | Private earnings of $80,000 or family earnings of $150,000 |
| Credit score rating | 760 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 BMO Rewards level = $0.0067 when redeemed for journey |
Finest American Categorical possibility: The Platinum Card
At a look: When you’re a frequent traveller, The Platinum Card is the most suitable choice for you. It’s one of the crucial costly premium bank cards in Canada, however the $799 annual charge will get you entry to probably the most complete and amenity-laden choice of airport lounges worldwide, together with top-tier American Categorical Centurion Lounges. Relying on the lounge, cardholders might have a vast variety of free visits and may convey one companion with them at no extra price.
American Categorical Platinum
Annual charge: $799
Welcome provide: 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) |
| Earnings required | None |
| Credit score rating | 760 or larger |
| Anniversary bonus | $200 annual eating credit score to make use of at a curated checklist of Canada’s high eating places. Plus, $200 annual journey credit score when reserving by American Categorical 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 possibility: Rogers Purple World Elite Mastercard
At a look: When you aren’t seeking to pay a hefty annual charge to entry airport lounges, the Rogers Purple 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 fee of any no-fee card in Canada.
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Rogers Purple World Elite Mastercard
Annual charge: $0
Welcome provide: None presently.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 25.99% on purchases, 27.99% on money advances, 27.99% on stability transfers |
| Earnings required | $80,000 per yr |
| Credit score rating | 725 or larger |
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 automobile 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 everyday 2.5% overseas transaction charge charged by most bank cards.
- Excessive base fee: The 1.5% base earn fee is larger than another no-fee card in Canada. Plus, not like most playing cards, there are not any earnings caps.
- Buyer bonus: Rogers, Fido and Shaw prospects earn a further 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 fee: Different playing cards provide larger earn charges on choose classes, which might make it easier to reap extra rewards, relying in your spending habits.
Airport lounge entry applications 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 provide entry to a number of of the next airport lounge applications.
| 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 Categorical or a Star Alliance companion airline. |
| Plaza Premium Lounge | 250+ worldwide | N/A | Obtainable for bookings by the hour, however included in DragonPass and Precedence Go membership. |
| DragonPass | 1,300+ worldwide | World Credit cards, World Elite Credit cards (through the Mastercard Journey Go program)
Visa Infinite, Visa Infinite Privilege playing cards (through the Visa Airport Companion program) |
Consists of entry to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada, in addition to tons of of various lounge applications worldwide.
Cardholders can normally use their free passes for themselves and for a visitor, however guidelines fluctuate by lounge. |
| Precedence Go | 1,600+ worldwide | American Categorical (through the American Categorical International Lounge Assortment) | Consists of entry to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada, in addition to tons of of various lounge applications worldwide.
Cardholders can normally use their free passes for themselves and for a visitor, however guidelines fluctuate by lounge. |
| Centurion Lounges | 40+ worldwide | American Categorical (through the American Categorical International Lounge Assortment) | Centurion Lounges usually 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 provided as a free perk along with your bank card, you’ll need to pay for airport lounge entry.
Air Canada provides three tiers of Maple Leaf Club memberships. Prices vary from $375 to $665 per yr. Members can convey visitors alongside at $59 per go to per visitor. Nonetheless, Air Canada has temporarily suspended the sale of memberships to Maple Leaf Membership, and there’s no indication when it’s going to resume promoting them.
Priority Pass memberships vary from USD$99 per yr for a Commonplace 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 visitors. In the meantime, Status members get limitless complimentary visits.
The prices of DragonPass memberships are comparable: charges vary from USD $99 per yr for a Basic 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 move for a set variety of visits. For instance, in Canada, you should buy a five-visit move for USD$155. Otherwise you e book 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 might get entry as a part of their ticket advantages, and Air Canada’s Aeroplan program provides 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 approach to get this premium perk.
Are airport lounge entry bank cards price it?
Airports have a captive buyer base, and so they comprehend it: meals and beverage costs at airports can border on daylight theft, and it’s not exhausting to spend $10 to $40 per individual on meals and drinks. This alone might justify the price of lounge entry, the place meals, drinks, and alcohol are complimentary.
When you journey with numerous carry-on baggage, fly long-haul, or have a protracted layover, airport lounges are additionally a much-needed sanctuary the place you possibly can clean up with a bathe, make amends for work, or just take a nap.
Taking a look at the price of airport lounge applications talked about above, every lounge move included along with your bank card may very well be price USD$25 on common. So if you realize you’ll use them, lounge entry bank cards are undoubtedly price it.
How to decide on a lounge entry bank card
Questioning which bank card with lounge entry provides you the perfect worth? Listed below are a few issues to think about when making your selection.
How often do you fly? Take into consideration how usually you’ll actually use the lounge passes that include a bank card. When you solely journey a couple of times a yr, the 4 passes provided by BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard or CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite will seemingly be adequate. Then again, in case 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 Express Platinum Card may very well be effectively well 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 larger worth. As an example, in the case of DragonPass vs Precedence Go, each memberships embody 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.
When you primarily fly with Air Canada and its companions round North America, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege would possibly provide larger consolation with entry to Maple Leaf Lounges.
What different journey bank card advantages do you worth? A bank card with no overseas transaction charge just like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite can prevent a tidy sum on abroad purchases, whereas a card bundled with solid travel insurance protects you in opposition to unexpected journey hiccups.
