Airports are bustling places, and it must be said that you can’t find the best restaurants or bars at the best prices. The VIP airport lounge can then be seen as a haven of peace, a refuge. When they are not too crowded, they offer a quiet space to work. They often have a “desk” area to use a laptop.
It offers catering, comfortable seats, and bathrooms with showers. Airport lounges are not just for business people or frequent flyers! Here is all the information to finally have access to it too!
Airline lounges are offered to their business and first class passengers and members with a specific airline status. These benefits are often reciprocal between companies of the same alliance. Sometimes, there are exceptions (access to First Class lounges, tickets purchased in a particular fare class, etc.)
Her five ways to access the lounge:
And in all cases, certain restrictions apply.
Your credit card may give you lounge access, but these will often be independent lounge. These are not managed by an airline company but by a specialized company, such as Priority Pass or Dragon Pass.
There is often confusion between airport lounge networks (such as Priority Pass) and credit cards among our members.
Remember that airport lounge networks sell memberships directly to their members. However, you can get a free subscription to a network by applying for some credit cards. This is a separate account but still linked to your credit card.
So, if you close your credit card, the network subscription is cancelled within 24 hours. Also, some credit cards have agreements directly with salons and access is offered upon presentation of the credit card itself, not the network.
Don’t forget to check the access requirements for each show.
Priority Pass is the best known and includes nearly 1,300 salons worldwide.
Dragon Pass has over 1,300 lounges as well. Visa and Mastercard have recently joined the network.
Plaza Premium lounges (connected to DragonPass) total approximately 180 lounges.
Centurion Lounges are operated by American Express.
Maple Leaf Lounges are offered by Air Canada in North America and Europe.
Discover in this article the different ways to access the different lounges of the Montreal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), and the photo reports we made in them:
Discover in this article the different ways to access the different lounges of the main Canadian airports: Toronto (YYZ), Calgary (YYC), Vancouver (YVR) and Quebec City (YQC), and the photo reports we made in these:
The vast majority of lounges are only accessible for departures with a confirmed ticket for the same day. HOWEVER, some lounges are also available for arrivals.
For example, after a long flight or a night flight, it can be enjoyable to have a meal or shower. Check out the type of access to the show when you prepare… or by trying your luck once you get there!
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard comes with 4 accesses to DragonPass member airport lounges like the National Bank’s Montreal Pierre-Elliott Trudeau Lounge.
The National Bank’s World Elite Mastercard® also offersunlimited access to the same lounge.
Next, the TDMD AéroplanMD Visa Infinite Privilege* Card gives 6 free Priority Pass admissions until June 30, 2022 (from July 1, 2022, admissions will be with access via DragonPass). You’ll also enjoy unlimited access to the Maple Leaf Lounges when you travel on a same-day flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express, Air Canada codeshare or a Star Alliance carrier. This is valid for both the primary and secondary cardholders. For a limited time, one guest is accepted free of charge.
The American Express Platinum Card provides unlimited access to Priority Pass, Plaza Premium and American Express Centurion lounges for the Cardmember and one guest.
Then, its SME version, the American Express Platinum card for Small businesses gives unlimited access to the holder (and 1 or 2 guests, depending on conditions) to Plaza Premium lounges, Delta Sky Club lounges, Priority Pass lounges and the VIP Club Med lounge at Jean Lesage airport (Quebec).
Here is our selection of the best cards to access airport lounges:
For information on lounges, it is helpful to download the following applications:
And if you are the Geek type, here is the compilation of the best apps for travellers!
Africa and Indian Ocean
North America
Central and Latin America
Europe
Asia – Oceania
Middle East
Access to an airport lounge may seem superfluous, but once you’ve tasted it, you certainly can’t do without it.
Indeed, what is the point of adding to the stress inherent to airports that of the rush? If you also have a credit card that allows you to enjoy such comfort, it would be a shame to miss out.
Savings are here:
