American Express Opens its Aspire Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau Airport
Travelers passing through Montreal-Trudeau airport now have an extra place to relax, drink and eat: the Aspire AMEX lounge.
Located in the domestic terminal, the lounge features an upscale, sit-down restaurant concept – a first for YUL. With its open kitchen and central bar, the YUL Aspire AMEX Lounge redefines the traditional airport lounge experience, offering a refined ambience worthy of Montreal’s finest establishments.
YUL Aspire AMEX lounge – Features
Location and Opening Hours
The Aspire AMEX Lounge is located in YUL’s domestic terminal, strategically situated between gates 1 and 2, next to Starbucks and YUL Pizza. This central location facilitates access for domestic travellers, while offering proximity to the main boarding areas.
The lounge is open daily from 5am to 9pm.
Design and Installations
The YUL Aspire AMEX Lounge features a sophisticated design and space for 100 visitors divided into distinct zones.
The space is cleverly divided into several environments: a formal dining area, equipped workstations, intimate alcoves for private discussions, and a relaxation area. Passengers can also take advantage of an area offering a beautiful view of the tarmac.
The central design element remains the open-plan kitchen, surrounded by a bar that enlivens the space. This configuration is more reminiscent of a high-end restaurant than a conventional airport lounge, creating an ambiance unique to YUL that transforms waiting into a true gastronomic experience.
Menu
The Aspire AMEX Lounge offers a unique dining experience with sophisticated table service, featuring creations by local chefs. The breakfast menu (5 AM to 11 AM) includes gourmet options such as pear French toast served with strawberry coulis, St-Viateur smoked salmon bagel, and a quinoa breakfast bowl with omelet and fresh vegetables.
For lunch and dinner (11 AM to 9 PM), travelers can savor dishes like oregano and lemon chicken with Greek salad, gnocchi with parmesan and white wine sauce, or Édouard & Léo’s signature hot dog with artisan sausage and smoked mustard. Desserts include creations like lemon tart in verrine and warm chocolate chip cookie with salted caramel sauce.
For travellers in a hurry, an innovative « grab-and-go » service allows you to order quality dishes to take away or enjoy at the lounge.
The service is complemented by a bar serving exclusive cocktails from Montreal’s renowned Cloakroom, beers from Montreal microbrewery Harricana, and coffees from micro-roaster Café Saint-Henri. The focus is on local and purely Montreal products.
Aspire Lounge YUL – How to Access It?
The Aspire AMEX lounge at Montreal-Trudeau is open to domestic terminal travelers with a same-day boarding pass.
The best way to enjoy complimentary access to the Aspire AMEX Lounge at YUL for yourself and a guest is by holding one of the following cards:
- American Express Platinum Card®
- Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Centurion Card from American Express
These cards give you unlimited access to airport lounges in the Priority Pass network, and the American Express Worldwide Lounge Collection, including Plaza Premium lounges. Additionally, you have priority access in case the lounge is full.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $799 | |||
| $799 |
Access to the Aspire AMEX lounge is possible with other credit cards, thanks to the Visa Airport Companion program and the DragonPass network. See our airport lounge access guide for more details.
It is important to note that for this lounge, holders of the above-mentioned American Express cards have priority access.
Our Recommendation
If you regularly frequent the domestic zone at YUL and are looking for a card that grants you access to the Aspire AMEX lounge to work, eat, or refresh yourself, the American Express Platinum Card® is your best choice.
As a Cardmember of the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, I’ve been able to take advantage of the huge selection of airport lounges worldwide, as well as numerous other travel benefits such as annual travel credit and Elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy.
What’s more, in the event that lounge Aspire AMEX is very busy or you’re in a hurry, you’ll have priority as the cardholder, so you can optimize your time before your flight.
If the annual fees for this card are too high for you, you could also apply for the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card. With the first year free, an exceptionally high welcome offer, and four annual airport lounge passes, it’s the best companion for less frequent travelers.
- Annual fee
- $0 $139No annual fee the first year
- No annual fee the first year
- Our valuation
- $939Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$800Annual fee rebated$139Total$939Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$800Annual fee rebated$139Total$939Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 160,000 points
- + First Year Annual Fee Rebate
on TD's website
Bottom Line
This new Aspire American Express lounge represents a significant improvement in services offered to domestic travelers at YUL. Its strategic location, trendy design, and local gastronomic offering make it a particularly attractive option for business travelers and high-end travel enthusiasts.
To learn more, read our full review of the Aspire American Express lounge at YUL.
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuation
- $1,700Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 100,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Our featured card
- Annual fee
- $120
- Our valuation
- $990Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 110,000 points
- Ends Sep 22, 2026
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
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