7 Best Credit Cards in Canada With Airport Lounge Access for 2024
Jun 4, 2024The best credit cards with airport lounge access do much more than grant entry to a coveted airport oasis — they’re often chock-full of additional perks for travellers and everyday spenders alike.
Airport lounges are a refuge from the tiresome tumult of air travel. Whether for business or pleasure, air travel can be hectic. Traffic jams, security queues and flight delays add to an already energy-sapping experience.
Fortunately, these coveted airport oases are not as exclusive as you think — you just need a credit card that will grant you entry. Check out NerdWallet’s list of the best credit cards with airport lounge access to help find the right one for you.
Best credit cards in Canada with airport lounge access
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BACK TO TOPNerdWallet Canada selects the best credit cards with airport lounge access based on overall consumer value. Airport lounge access was a baseline requirement for all the credit cards on this list, but additional features were also considered. Factors in our evaluation methodology include each card’s annual fee, foreign transaction fees, rewards earning rates, ease of use, redemption options, domestic and international acceptance, promotional APR period, bonus offers, insurance offers, and cardholder perks such as priority boarding, free checked bags, fee rebates and more.
What to know about credit cards with airport lounge access
Lounge passes are only the tip of the iceberg for a credit card with luxurious travel perks. Comprehensive insurance coverage, priority boarding and free checked bags are offered by a number of these well-equipped credit cards. That said, cards loaded with bells and whistles typically have steep annual fees.
What to know about airport lounge access
Airport lounges come in all shapes and sizes but tend to offer a similar array of amenities. Here are some luxurious perks you might expect to enjoy when visiting an airport lounge:
Complimentary alcoholic beverages.
Complimentary buffet-style or tableside service food and drink.
Electronic device charging stations.
Free Wi-Fi.
Conference rooms and business centres.
Spa treatments.
Cell-phone-free quiet zones.
Shower facilities.
Generally speaking, pay-per-use lounges have fewer amenities thancompared to airline lounges that require membership access. Additionally, hours of operation vary; some lounges are open 24 hours a day, while others have set open and close times.
To enter a lounge, you must typically
show your lounge membership card or credit card alongside a valid piece of ID and a boarding pass. If you’re not a member and don’t have a credit card with airport lounge access, you may be able to purchase a single-use pass to enter the lounge.
» CHECK OUT: Popular loyalty programs for Canadians who love to travel
How long can you spend in an airport lounge?
Check your credit card or lounge program for terms and conditions. Some passes only permit you to stay in the lounge for several hours. Other passes may offer longer stays.
Can you bring your own food into an airport lounge?
Some lounges may allow you to bring your food into an airport lounge. If you’re unsure, check with your lounge access program or ask the lounge staff when you arrive.
Do you tip at airport lounges?
Tipping at airport lounges is at the visitor’s discretion. The type of service offered within the lounge may be a factor. Lounge location, company policy and local culture may also be worth considering.
Airport lounge access programs at a glance
Number of global lounges | Benefits | |
|---|---|---|
Visa Airport Companion | Over 1,200. |
|
Priority Pass | Over 1,500. |
|
American Express Global Lounge Collection | Over 1,400. |
|
Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass | Over 1,300. |
|
LoungePass | Over 600. |
|
Types of airport lounge networks
Airport lounge access credit cards in Canada may offer access to one or more airport lounge programs.
Priority Pass
With over 1,500 lounges in its collection, Priority Pass is one of the world’s most prominent airport lounge networks.
Mastercard Airport Experience by LoungeKey
Mastercard Airport Experience by LoungeKey is similar to Priority Pass, but its lounge network is marginally smaller. Many World Elite Mastercards include Mastercard Airport Experience by LoungeKey via a set number of free annual passes.
Maple Leaf Lounge
The Maple Leaf Lounge program is owned and operated by Air Canada. Lounge access is typically limited to Aeroplan members, select Aeroplan credit card holders and those with an Air Canada business class boarding pass.
Maple Leaf Lounges can be found in 17 airports across Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
American Express Centurion Lounges
There are no American Express Centurion Lounges in Canada, but American Express Platinum cardholders can access these lounges when they fly internationally. Centurion Lounges are located in Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Stockholm, London, Sao Paulo and Mexico City, among other destinations.
3 ways to get access to an airport lounge
There’s no need to sneak in — there’s more than one way to get into an airport lounge.
1. Get a credit card that includes lounge access
Some credit cards, such as the ones featured above, partner with airport lounge programs to offer lounge access. This access can range from unlimited entry for you and a travel companion to a set number of lounge passes annually. Be sure to read the fine print to know what type of airport lounge access the card offers.
Some cards only offer entry to a specific chain of airport lounges, like Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge. Other programs, like Priority Pass, let you access numerous lounge chains worldwide.
2. Purchase an annual membership
Without a credit card that comes with airport lounge access, you have the option to buy an annual membership. For example, Priority Pass charges $469 USD annually for unlimited access to its 1,500 lounges worldwide.
Annual lounge passes can be pricey, but the cost may be worth the comfort and convenience if you’re a frequent flier.
3. Buy a lounge day pass
If you don’t fly often, the cost of an annual lounge pass may not be practical. Instead, you might want to consider single-use lounge passes. As the name suggests, these passes offer one-time airport lounge entry and are a cost-effective alternative to annual passes.
Day passes are also an option for those who’ve used up their allotted number of annual lounge passes through their credit card.
Is it better to get a credit card with lounge access or buy passes?
Whether it’s better to get a credit card that offers lounge access or purchase passes depends on a number of factors, including how frequently you fly and your financial situation. For example, buying a single-use pass to a Plaza Premium Lounge in Toronto’s Pearson Airport costs about $66. The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card has a $150 annual fee but comes with six complimentary airport lounge passes annually, which includes access to Plaza Premium Lounges. The card’s annual fee makes sense if you plan to visit at least three Plaza Premium Lounges annually. However, if you only plan to fly once or twice a year, purchasing single-use lounge passes and opting for a credit card without an annual fee may be more cost-effective.
When assessing airport lounge access, remember that lounges do more than offer solace from the bustling airport — though that’s an undeniable perk. Lounges also offer free amenities, like food and drink, which you’d likely pay a pretty penny to acquire in the airport at large.
If you’ve got a tight layover or don’t have long to wait before your flight, you may be unable to squeeze much value from a lounge visit. But if you’re facing a long layover or a delayed flight with hours to kill before boarding, a lounge visit may have a sizable impact on the quality of your travel.
How to compare credit cards with lounge access
Credit cards that’ll get you into an airport lounge typically have a lot to offer beyond lounge passes, which means there’s a lot to consider before signing up:
Welcome bonus. Introductory rewards points or cash-back bonuses for new cardholders are common, so compare welcome offers before applying.
Rewards program. Credit cards with airport lounge access typically earn rewards. Consider your spending habits before signing up to maximize any rewards program you enter.
Insurance coverage. A card with insurance coverage — especially travel insurance — may provide frequent fliers with peace of mind. But not all cards offer this type of protection.
Annual fee. Lounge access doesn’t come cheap. Fees for the best credit cards with lounge access range from $150 to $799. Ritzier perks may accompany a card with a higher annual fee, but you have to decide if the added cost is worthwhile.
Interest rate. All credit cards charge interest, but rates vary. Your credit card’s interest rate will impact what you owe on outstanding balances, so review your options carefully.
Additional perks. Credit cards with lounge access are often flush with additional benefits for cardholders, like priority boarding, free checked bags, NEXUS application fee rebates, rental car discounts and concierge services, to name a few.
What Reddit has to say
To find the best cards in Canada with airport lounge access, NerdWallet’s credit card experts review numerous options available on the market. But our Nerds know it can also be helpful to hear what everyday cardholders think. We took to Reddit to find out what users are saying across multiple threads.
Redditors mostly agree with NerdWallet’s lounge-inclusive card picks.
As of this writing, Redditors suggest that some of the best cards with airport lounge access are the Amex Platinum, CIBC Aventura and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite, all of which made our list. They also recommend the Amex Gold, and while that card didn’t make out list, the Nerds agree it’s a good alternative.
Frequently asked questions
How do you check if you get airport lounge access with your card?
How do you check if you get airport lounge access with your card?
Expect credit cards that offer airport lounge access to advertise this perk on their card’s webpage. If you’re still unsure whether your card can get you into an airport lounge, scan your card’s terms and conditions — you can often find a copy online. Or, just call your card provider and ask. Expect credit cards that offer airport lounge access to advertise this perk on their card’s webpage. If you’re still unsure whether your card can get you into an airport lounge, scan your card’s terms and conditions — you can often find a copy online. Or, just call your card provider and ask.
Which credit card gives access to the Air Canada Lounge?
Which credit card gives access to the Air Canada Lounge?
The following Canadian credit cards offer access to Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge:
American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card.
American Express Aeroplan Corporate Reserve Card.
CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card.
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