Airport lounge entry can remodel an in any other case gruelling layover into a calming respite. Lounges sometimes provide free snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi, comfy 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 below are the very best playing cards to hold with you in your subsequent journey.
Finest airport lounge entry bank cards
Get $75 Present Card Supply
Gold: Our prime 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
Could 01, 2025
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Curiosity Charges:
20.99% buy, 22.99% money advance, 22.99% steadiness 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% steadiness switch
Welcome provide:
$792 worth
Earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan factors if you make your first buy together with your new card. Earn a further 35,000 Aeroplan factors if you spend $12,000 inside 180 days of Account opening. Situations 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 price rebate each 4 years.
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Curiosity Charges:
20.99% buy, 22.99% money advance, 22.99% steadiness switch
Welcome provide:
$900 worth
Earn as much as $1,450 in worth together with a primary 12 months annual price rebate.
Finest lounge entry bank cards overview
Examine key options of well-liked airport lounge entry playing cards in Canada. Maintain scrolling for our editors’ prime picks.
| Annual price | Free lounge visits per 12 months | 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 12 months | 725 or increased | 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, reminiscent of Star Alliance member airways)
1,200 |
$150,000 per 12 months | 680 or increased | Go to site |
| American Express The Platinum Card
|
$799 | Limitless passes: Amex World Lounge Assortment (Precedence Cross, Plaza Premium, Centurion) | Sure | 1,400 | None specified | 760 or increased | Go to site |
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard |
$150 | 4 passes: Mastercard Journey Cross (DragonPass) | Sure | 1,300 | $80,000 per 12 months | 760 or increased | Go to site |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
|
$139 | 4 passes: Visa Airport Companion (DragonPass) | Sure | 1,200 | $60,000 per 12 months | 760 or increased | Go to site |
Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard |
$0 | 0 passes: Mastercard Journey Cross (DragonPass) | No | 1,300 | $80,000 per 12 months | 725 or increased | 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 very best American Categorical and no-fee card choices.
Gold: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
At a look: The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is the very best card total for airport lounge entry. With six complimentary lounge visits a 12 months, this card provides probably the most free visits amongst bank cards in a comparable price 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 standard 2.5% foreign transaction (FX) fee.
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Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
Annual price: $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 steadiness transfers |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $60,000 per 12 months or family revenue of $100,000 per 12 months |
| Credit score rating | 725 or increased |
| 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 points collectors who need an elevated airport expertise, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege bank card is usually a nice journey companion. That is the very best 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 price: $599
Welcome provide: Earn as much as $3,000 in worth together with as much as 85,000 Aeroplan factors. Situations apply.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on steadiness transfers, 22.99% on money advances |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $150,000 or family revenue of $200,000 |
| Credit score rating | 680 or increased (beneficial) |
| Anniversary bonus | Earn a one-time bonus of 30,000 Aeroplan factors if you spend at the very least $24,000 inside 12 months of opening the account. Situations apply. |
| Level worth | Aeroplan factors are price $0.02 on common |
Professionals
- Airport lounge entry: Get limitless entry to Maple Leaf Lounges for you and a visitor, and 6 free visits per 12 months 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 price rebate: Take pleasure in a Nexus software price 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 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 price: The price may be very steep even for a premium card with many perks. The extra cardholder price 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 very best airport lounge entry card for frequent travellers to the U.S. Take into account this card if you happen to typically go to the U.S. for holidays, work journeys or household visits. The cardboard consists of membership within the Visa Airport Companion Program and in addition provides you 4 free lounge visits per 12 months. Each 4 years, you get an announcement credit score of as much as $100 in the direction of a Nexus software price.
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CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
Annual price: $139
Welcome provide: Earn as much as $1,450 in worth, together with a primary 12 months annual price rebate.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on steadiness transfers |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $60,000 or family revenue of $100,000 |
| Credit score rating | 760 or increased |
| Level worth | 1 level= $0.01 on common |
Finest Mastercard choice: BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
At a look: When 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 occasions a 12 months, you’ll respect that this card provides free membership within the Mastercard Journey Cross program offered by DragonPass, with 4 free lounge passes a 12 months.
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BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
Annual price: $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 steadiness transfers, 23.99% on money advances |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $80,000 or family revenue of $150,000 |
| Credit score rating | 760 or increased |
| Level worth | 1 BMO Rewards level = $0.0067 when redeemed for journey |
Finest American Categorical choice: The Platinum Card
At a look: When you’re a frequent traveller, The Platinum Card is the best choice for you. It’s one of the vital costly premium bank cards in Canada, however the $799 annual price 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 could have a limiteless variety of free visits and may deliver one companion with them at no extra value.
American Categorical Platinum
Annual price: $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 steadiness in full each month) |
| Revenue required | None |
| Credit score rating | 760 or increased |
| Anniversary bonus | $200 annual eating credit score to make use of at a curated checklist of Canada’s prime eating places. Plus, $200 annual journey credit score when reserving via 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 price choice: Rogers Pink World Elite Mastercard
At a look: When you aren’t trying to pay a hefty annual price to entry airport lounges, the Rogers Pink World Elite Mastercard is the best 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 best base earn charge of any no-fee card in Canada.
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Rogers Pink World Elite Mastercard
Annual price: $0
Welcome provide: None at the moment.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 25.99% on purchases, 27.99% on money advances, 27.99% on steadiness transfers |
| Revenue required | $80,000 per 12 months |
| Credit score rating | 725 or increased |
Professionals
- Airport lounge entry: Complimentary membership to Mastercard Journey Cross giving entry to over 1,300 lounges for $32 USD per individual per go to.
- Journey insurance coverage: Comes with six sorts 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 standard 2.5% overseas transaction price charged by most bank cards.
- Excessive base charge: The 1.5% base earn charge is increased than some other no-fee card in Canada. Plus, not like most playing cards, there are not any earnings caps.
- Buyer bonus: Rogers, Fido and Shaw clients earn a further 0.5% on all purchases (for a complete of two%). Plus, these clients 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 provide increased earn charges on choose classes, which may assist you reap extra rewards, relying in your spending habits.
Airport lounge entry applications in Canada: a comparability
Questioning which lounges you may truly go to together with your lounge passes? The most effective 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 clients departing on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Categorical or a Star Alliance associate airline. |
| Plaza Premium Lounge | 250+ worldwide | N/A | Out there for bookings by the hour, however included in DragonPass and Precedence Cross membership. |
| DragonPass | 1,300+ worldwide | World Credit cards, World Elite Credit cards (by way of the Mastercard Journey Cross 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 a whole lot of various lounge applications worldwide.
Cardholders can often use their free passes for themselves and for a visitor, however guidelines differ by lounge. |
| Precedence Cross | 1,600+ worldwide | American Categorical (by way of the American Categorical World Lounge Assortment) | Consists of entry to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada, in addition to a whole lot of various lounge applications worldwide.
Cardholders can often use their free passes for themselves and for a visitor, however guidelines differ by lounge. |
| Centurion Lounges | 40+ worldwide | American Categorical (by way of the American Categorical 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 provided as a free perk together with your bank card, you’ll should pay for airport lounge entry.
Air Canada provides three tiers of Maple Leaf Club memberships. Prices vary from $375 to $665 per 12 months. Members can deliver friends 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 12 months for a Customary membership to USD$469 per 12 months for a Status membership. The previous comes with zero free lounge visits—members pay $USD35 per go to, the identical as friends. In the meantime, Status members get limitless complimentary visits.
The prices of DragonPass memberships are related: charges vary from USD $99 per 12 months 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 move for a set variety of visits. For instance, in Canada, you should purchase a five-visit move for USD$155. Otherwise you e-book by the hour. The Plaza Premium Lounge at Toronto Pearson Airport, for instance, expenses $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 provides entry to Elite members who’ve reached an eligible standing degree. For frequent travellers, carrying an airport lounge bank card would be the easiest and most cost-effective solution 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 may justify the price of lounge entry, the place meals, drinks, and alcohol are complimentary.
When you journey with a variety of carry-on baggage, fly long-haul, or have a protracted layover, airport lounges are additionally a much-needed sanctuary the place you may 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 together with your bank card might be price USD$25 on common. So if you understand you’ll use them, lounge entry bank cards are positively price it.
How to decide on a lounge entry bank card
Questioning which bank card with lounge entry provides you the very best worth? Listed below are a few issues to contemplate when making your alternative.
How regularly do you fly? Take into consideration how typically you’ll actually use the lounge passes that include a bank card. When you solely journey a few times a 12 months, the 4 passes provided by BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard or CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite will probably be enough. Alternatively, if you happen to 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 might be nicely 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. For example, in the case of DragonPass vs Precedence Cross, 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 occasions.
When you primarily fly with Air Canada and its companions round North America, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege may provide higher consolation with entry to Maple Leaf Lounges.
What different journey bank card advantages do you worth? A bank card with no overseas transaction price 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.
