Airport lounge entry can rework an in any other case gruelling layover into a calming respite. Lounges could supply free snacks and drinks (together with complimentary alcoholic), free Wi-Fi, plentiful snug seating, devoted work areas, showers, sleep pods and even spa providers. It’s little marvel, then, that for a lot of frequent fliers, lounge entry is an particularly coveted bank card characteristic.
Finest lounge entry bank cards overview
Right here’s a have a look at the lounge entry playing cards that presently prime the class in Canada.
Finest total airport lounge entry bank card
At a look: With six complimentary airport lounge visits a 12 months, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite 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 a foreign transaction (FX) fee. Different playing cards usually cost 2.5% on purchases made in a international forex.
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Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
Annual price: $150
Welcome supply: earn as much as $1,100 in worth within the first 12 months, together with as much as 35,000 bonus Scene+ factors. To qualify, apply by October 31, 2024.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on stability transfers |
| Revenue required | $60,000 per 12 months |
| Credit score rating | 725 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 Scene+ level = $0.01 when redeemed for journey on any airline or lodge (together with AirBnBs). |
Finest luxurious airport lounge entry card
At a look: For Aeroplan factors collectors who need an elevated airport expertise, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege bank card could be a nice journey companion. It’s full of journey advantages like limitless free entry for you and a visitor to Maple Leaf Lounges all through North America.
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TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
Annual price: $599
Welcome supply: You may earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan factors while you make your first buy together with your new card; Earn an extra 25,000 Aeroplan factors while you spend $12,000 inside 180 days of Account opening. Situations apply. Account should be accredited by September 3, 2024.
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 | 725 or larger |
| Anniversary bonus | Earn 30,000 Aeroplan factors while you spend at the least $24,000 inside 12 months of opening the account. Situations apply. |
| Level worth | Aeroplan factors are value $0.02 on common. |
Finest airport lounge entry playing cards for frequent travellers
At a look: It’s one of the crucial 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 an infinite variety of free visits and also can deliver one companion with them at no further price.
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American Categorical Platinum
Annual price: $799
Welcome supply: earn as much as 100,000 rewards factors ($1,000 worth). Situations apply.
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 larger |
| 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. |
At a look: Should you balk at paying $799 a 12 months for the American Categorical Platinum card, the Scotiabank Platinum American Categorical Card is likely to be the ticket. It’s match for many who are keen to pay a bit extra for further airport lounge visits. With an annual price of $399, it comes with 10 complimentary airport lounge visits per 12 months via Precedence Go. Moreover, cardholders earn 2 Scene+ factors per greenback spent on all purchases, and there aren’t any international transaction charges, making it a sensible alternative in the event you journey typically outdoors of Canada.
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Scotiabank Platinum Amex
Annual price: $399
Welcome supply: earn as much as $2,100* in worth in your first 14 months, together with as much as 60,000* bonus Scene+ factors. Supply ends October 31, 2024.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 9.99% on purchases, 9.99% on money advances, 9.99% on stability transfers |
| Revenue required | $12,000 per 12 months |
| Credit score rating | 760 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 Scene+ level = $0.01 when redeemed for journey on any airline or lodge (together with Airbnbs). |
Finest airport lounge entry card for infrequent journey
At a look: If you end up in an airport even just some occasions a 12 months, you’ll admire that the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard provides free membership within the Mastercard Journey Go program offered by DragonPass, plus 4 free passes a 12 months.
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BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
Annual price: $150
Welcome supply: You may earn as much as 100,000 factors
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 23.99% on money advances, 23.99% on stability transfers |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $80,000 or family revenue of $150,000 |
| Credit score rating | 760 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 BMO Rewards level = $0.0067 when redeemed for journey. |
Finest airport lounge entry card for travelling to the U.S.
At a look: Should you often cross the border to the U.S. for holidays, work journeys or household visits, contemplate the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite. The cardboard consists of membership within the Visa Airport Companion Program and likewise provides you 4 free lounge visits a 12 months. Each 4 years, you get a press release credit score of as much as $100 in direction of a Nexus utility price.
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CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
Annual price: $139
Welcome supply: You may earn as much as $1,400 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 stability transfers |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $60,000 or family revenue of $100,000 |
| Credit score rating | 760 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 level= $0.01 on common. |
Professionals
- Features a free membership to the Visa Airport Companion Program managed by DragonPass, in addition to 4 free lounge visits per 12 months.
- Versatile rewards program that means that you can redeem factors for journey, merchandise, present playing cards, mortgage funds and extra.
- Save as much as 10 cents/litre on gasoline at eligible gasoline stations in the event you hyperlink your card with Journie Rewards, a loyalty program that helps you earn factors at Pioneer, Fasgas, Ultramar and Chevron gasoline stations.
Cons
- To get the best earn charge of two factors for each $1 spent, you could make a journey buy by way of the CIBC Rewards Centre.
- The worth of factors decreases once they’re not used for journey.
- There may be an $80,000 cap on the 1.5-point earn charge, after which you’ll solely get 1 level per $1 spent on groceries, gasoline and drugstore purchases.
Our methodology: How we decide one of the best playing cards
The MoneySense editorial workforce selects one of the best bank cards by assessing the worth they supply to Canadians throughout numerous classes. Our greatest bank cards for airport lounge entry rating relies on an intensive checklist of card particulars and options—with a deal with people who matter to air travellers—together with the variety of airport lounge visits, annual charges, rates of interest, welcome provides, rewards earn charges and redemption choices, annual revenue necessities and perks. Now we have additionally thought of the professionals and cons of every card that can assist you decide which of them finest fit your monetary wants. Our rankings are an unbiased supply of knowledge for Canadians. The addition of hyperlinks from affiliate companions has no bearing on the outcomes. Learn extra about how MoneySense makes money.
Airport lounge entry packages in Canada
| Program | Key particulars |
|---|---|
| DragonPass Variety of lounges: Greater than 1,200 worldwide |
In 2022, DragonPass took over the airport lounge packages for Visa and Mastercard; in Canada, the packages are actually respectively referred to as the Visa Airport Companion Program and Mastercard Journey Go offered by DragonPass. This system consists of entry to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada, in addition to tons of of various lounge packages worldwide. Lounges characteristic snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi, showers and enterprise centres. Cardholders can often use their free passes for themselves and for a visitor, however particular guidelines range by lounge. |
| Maple Leaf Lounges Variety of lounges: 16 throughout North America and Europe |
Facilities embody cell-free quiet zones, snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi and showers. 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 accomplice airline. |
| Centurion Lounges Variety of lounges: Greater than 40 worldwide |
Centurion Lounges usually characteristic high-quality meals (designed by award-winning cooks) and drinks (and should even characteristic a signature cocktail), free high-speed Wi-Fi, plush seating and devoted working areas. Some characteristic elevated facilities like spa providers, nap pods and showers. Centurion Lounges are sometimes a part of The American Categorical World Lounge Assortment that options greater than 1,300 airport lounges in over 140 nations. |
Methods to get free entry to airport lounges in Canada
A number of journey bank cards supply entry to airport lounges for cardholders. Relying on the bank card, you will get a sure variety of lounge visits yearly in particular nations all over the world. If you wish to get free limitless entry to airport lounges, contemplate a bank card just like the American Express Platinum Card which incorporates the American Categorical World Lounge Assortment. The cardboard comes with a reasonably large annual price, like most bank cards with airport lounge entry, however the card’s rewards and advantages could outweigh the price if you’re a frequent flier and worth the flexibility to go to airport lounges while you’re touring.
The price of airport lounge entry in Canada
If it’s not supplied as a free perk together with your bank card, you’ll must pay for airport lounge entry.
Air Canada provides three tiers of Maple Leaf Club memberships. Prices vary from $375 to $665 per 12 months. Visitors pay $59 per go to, and hourly passes will not be obtainable. Be aware that Air Canada has temporarily suspended the sale of memberships to Maple Leaf Membership, and there’s no indication when it can 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 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 will 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 ebook with 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 provides entry to Elite members who’ve reached an eligible standing stage. For frequent travellers, carrying an airport lounge bank card would be the easiest and most cost-effective solution to get this premium perk.
DragonPass vs. Precedence Go: Which do you have to select?
DragonPass and Precedence Go are third-party lounge entry membership suppliers. Up till 2022, Precedence Go was the first accomplice for many Mastercard and Visa airport lounge packages. Nevertheless, DragonPass has turn out to be the accomplice of alternative for many bank card lounge entry packages for playing cards just like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite. You may nonetheless entry the Precedence Go program with the American Express Platinum Card, nonetheless.
