The Best Credit Cards For Airport VIP Lounge Access – November 2024

American Express Platinum Card^®

The Platinum Card is the best high-end card in Canada for travelers.

With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 140,000 Membership Rewards points:

• 100,000 points when you charge $10,000 in net purchases to your Card within the first 3 months of membership
• 40,000 points if you make a purchase in the 14 to 17 months following your membership

With this Card, you get :

• 2 points per dollar for dining purchases
• 2 points per dollar on travel purchases
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

You can use your Membership Rewards points in many ways:

• Transfer points to airline partners: Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Delta Skymiles, etc.
• Transfer points to hotel programs (Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy)
• Redeem points for statement credits to offset any travel purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
• Redeem points for statement credits towards other purchases (1,000 points = $10)
• And more!

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :

• 140,000 Aeroplan points
• 140,000 Avios
• 105,000 Flying Blue Miles
• 168,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this card, you also have advantages for your travels:

• $200 Annual Travel Credit
• $200 Annual Dining Credit
• $100 NEXUS Card Statement Credit
• Free, unlimited access for you and one additional traveller to over 1,200 airport lounges in more than 130 countries
• Hilton Honors Gold Elite status (complimentary breakfast at all Hilton hotels)
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
• Access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program

Finally, the Platinum Cardᴹᴰ stands out for the many insurances it offers: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out of province or country), lost or stolen luggage, flight delay and misdirected luggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Scotiabank Platinum American Express^® Card

For a limited time, when you apply for the Scotiabank®* Platinum American Express® Card, you can earn up to 60,000 points. That’s a $600 value for travel purchases including Airbnb.

With the Scotiabank®* Platinum American Express® Card, you earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases. You can redeem your points on travel purchases (flights, hotels, all-inclusive and even Airbnb). And you can also use them for other rewards in the Scene+ program, such as cash back rewards.

Plus, with this card, you will not pay 2.5% foreign transaction fees on any foreign currency purchases, and you get ten complimentary visits to airport VIP lounges with the Priority Pass and Premium Plaza networks.

And you get excellent insurance for your travels or purchases, concierge service, and exclusive American Express Offers (American Express Invites Program).

National Bank World Elite Mastercard

National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card on NBC. With the current welcome offer exclusive to the Milesopedia Network, receive up to 35,000 bonus points, distributed as follows:

• 10,000 points if you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
• 10,000 points if you make at least $10,000 in purchases in the first 6 months
• 15,000 points if you make at least $20,000 in purchases in the first 14 months

What’s more, you pay no annual fee for the first year.

With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:

• 5 points per dollar on grocery and restaurant purchases
• 2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
• 2 points per dollar on recurring bills
• 2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

And since it’s a National Bank Mastercard credit card, you can use it at Costco.

With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:

• Airport parking
• Baggage fees
• Seat selection
• Access to airport lounges
• Flight upgrades

In addition, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and free Wi-Fi with Boingo. And unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

Finally, in 2023 and 2024, Milesopedia voted National Bank World Elite Mastercard as the Best Credit Card for Travel and the Best Credit Card for Insurance.

Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite* Card

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card, you earn up to 35,000 Scene+ points as a welcome bonus (a $350 value) :

• 25,000 points after just $1,000 in purchases
• 10,000 points after $40,000 in purchases in the first year

Then, each year, if you make at least $40,000 in purchases on the card, you’ll earn an annual bonus of 10,000 points, a $100 value.

With the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 3 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

You’ll also earn 2 points for every dollar you spend, including on foreign transactions, in the following categories:

• Grocery shopping
• Restaurants
• Entertainment centers
• Transit

The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card is an excellent Visa credit card for this type of purchase.

You can redeem your points for any travel purchase at the rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusive properties and even Airbnb). You can also use your points as cash back with Scene+, such as at your grocery store checkout at the same rate of 1,000 points = $10.

The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card also offers:

• No fees for foreign currency transactions
• 6 complimentary passes to airport VIP lounges
• Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
• Concierge service

We voted this credit card the Best No-FX Fee Credit Card of 2024.

CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card

The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card is one of the best Visa credit cards with travel rewards.

CIBC has an offer with which you can earn up to 45,000 Aventura points:

• 15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase^†
• 30,000 Aventura Points if you spend $3,000 or more in the first 4 monthly statement periods^†

In addition, you can benefit from a rebate on the first year’s annual fee for the primary card holder ($139 value) and up to three authorized users ($50 each).

With this CIBC Aventura Credit Card, you get:

• 2 points for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre^†
• 1.5 points for every $1 spent at eligible gas stations, EV charging, grocery stores and drug stores^†
• 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases^†

The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card also offers:

• Airport lounges access: Visa Airport Companion Program membership with 4 complimentary visits per year
• Reimbursement of NEXUS membership fees ($100 value)

The minimum annual income required for this card is $60,000 (personal) or $100,000 (household).

CIBC Aventura^® Gold Visa* Card

If you don’t meet the income requirements for the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card, you can apply for the CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card. The minimum annual income required for this card is $15,000 (household).

CIBC has a digital offer with which you can earn up to 45,000 Aventura points :

• 15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase^†
• 30,000 Aventura Points when you spend $3,000 or more in the first 4 monthly statement periods^†

In addition, you can benefit from a rebate on the first year’s annual fee for the primary card holder ($139 value) and up to three authorized users ($50 each).

With this CIBC Aventura Credit Card, you get:

• 2 points for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre^†
• 1.5 points for every $1 spent at eligible gas stations, EV charging, grocery stores and drug stores^†
• 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases^†

The CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card also offers:

• Access to airport lounges: one Visa Airport Companion Program membership and 4 free visits per year
• Reimbursement of NEXUS membership fees ($100 value)

RBC^® Avion^® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

With this exceptional offer for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card, you can earn up to 70,000 Avion points:

• 35,000 Avion points on approval
• 20,000 Avion bonus points when you spend $5,000 in your first 6 months
• 15,000 Avion points as a one-time anniversary bonus 12 months after account opening

You can use your Avion Rewards points for travel or redeem them with other loyalty programs such as :

• American Airlines AAdvantage
• British Airways Executive Club (and Qatar Airways Privilege Club)
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• WestJet Rewards

The current welcome offer, for example, gives you the equivalent of 70,000 British Airways Avios or 700 WestJet Dollars.

With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card, you earn 1.25 points per dollar.

What’s more, you’ll benefit from a wide range of insurances: trip cancellation and interruption insurance, out-of-province or out-of-country emergency medical care insurance, collision and damage insurance for rental vehicles, and mobile device insurance.

Finally, you get six complimentary global airport lounge access passes and security fast track lanes at select Canadian airports

American Express^®* Aeroplan^® Reserve Card

With this welcome offer for the American Express®* Aeroplan® Reserve Card, you can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points. Here’s how:

• Earn 60,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months
• Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $2,500 in purchases in month 13

With this Amex Aeroplan Card, you earn 3X the points on purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. And 2x the points on Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada. Everywhere else, you will earn 1.25X the points.

With this Amex Aeroplan Premium Card, you receive many Air Canada travel benefits, such as access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America for you and one guest, priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling. It’s the best Amex Aeroplan Card for frequent Air Canada flyers.

With this American Express Aeroplan Card, enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada®* flights.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

American Express^® Gold Rewards Card

Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points with this welcome offer for the American Express® Gold Rewards Card. That’s a $600 value for travel or any purchase on the Card.

You can also transfer your points to airline partners such as Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, and hotel partners (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors).

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to:

• 60,000 Aeroplan points
• 60,000 Avios points
• 45,000 Flying Blue Miles
• 72,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this Card, you get many benefits like:

• $100 annual travel credit
• Priority Pass membership and 4 complimentary Plaza Premium visits per year
• $50 NEXUS credit

You earn 2 points per dollar for travel purchases, and at:

• gas stations
• grocery stores
• drugstores

And 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is one of the best World Elite Mastercard credit cards with travel points in Canada. With our exclusive offer, you can get up to 100,000 bonus points:

• 55,000 points after $4,500 in Card purchases in the first 3 months
• 3,750 points per month after $2,500 in monthly purchases from the 4th to the 15th month (up to 45,000 points)

Plus, the annual fee is waived in the first year for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.

With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, a premium credit card from BMO, you get:

• 5 points per dollar on travel purchases
• 3 points per dollar on dining purchases
• 3 points per dollar for entertainment purchases
• 3 points per dollar on recurring bill payments

And 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else, including at Costco. You can use BMO Rewards points for all travel purchases made through the agency or website of your choice (flights, hotels, car rentals, all-inclusive resorts, Airbnb, etc.) or for rewards and gift cards on the BMO Rewards platform.

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard also offers:

• Four annual complimentary passes to airport VIP lounges
• Excellent Premium insurance for your travels or purchases
• a premium concierge service

Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

Earn up to 150,000 points with this welcome offer for Business Platinum Card® from American Express:

• 110,000 Membership Rewards points after charging $15,000 in net purchases to your Card in the first 3 months of membership
• 40,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership

You can use your Membership Rewards points in many ways:

• Transfer points to airline partners: Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Delta Skymiles, etc.
• Transfer points to hotel programs (Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy)
• Redeem points for statement credits to offset any eligible purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
• And more!

150,000 points have a minimum value of $1,500 for a Statement credit, and much more if you transfer your points to a partner.

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to:

• 150,000 Aeroplan points
• 150,000 Avios
• 112,500 Flying Blue Miles
• 180,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this Card, you earn 1.25 Membership Rewards points per dollar on all purchases. What’s more, you’ll enjoy a host of travel and business benefits:

• Free, unlimited access for you and one additional traveller to over 1,400 airport lounges in more than 130 countries.
• $200 Annual travel credit
• $100 Card Statement Credit for Nexus
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
• Hilton Honors Gold Status
• Access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program
• Up to $120 in eligible Wireless Credits each year

With this Card you can maximize your cash flow with up to 55 interest free days. It is a card that is particularly appreciated by contractors when making large purchases in home improvement stores, for example.

Finally, the Business Platinum Cardᴹᴰ from American Express stands out for the many insurances it offers: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out of province or country), lost or stolen luggage, flight delay and misdirected luggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.