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Airports can feel a bit hectic at the best of times, so having a nice place like an airport lounge that’s a bit quieter and that gives you perks like snacks, drinks, work spaces, and showers can be a huge benefit.
To help you enjoy these spaces on your next trip, this article will explore the different way to access lounges at Vancouver International Airport so you can step away from the frenzied airport energy for a couple hours.
Vancouver International Airport is divided into two terminals: the Main Terminal and the South Terminal.
The Main Terminal lives up to its name and houses nearly all domestic, US/transborder, and international flights.
The South Terminal is used primarily for smaller regional airlines and floatplanes. In fact, it’s one of only a few floatplane-accessible terminals in North America!
Vancouver International Airport is home to 12 comfortable lounges that can make your pre-departure experience more relaxed and luxurious:
To help make sure you can enjoy one of these lounges whenever you visit the airport, let’s explore the requirements to access each type.
The Vancouver International Airport has 5 Air Canada associated lounge spaces, with at least one available in each of the airport’s 3 zones.
The Air Canada lounges are divided into 3 different categories:
You can read about these options and how to access them in greater detail in our complete guide to accessing Maple Leaf Lounges, but before you dig in to that, let’s go over the basics of how to enjoy these airport oases on your next trip.
First, Air Canda Cafés and Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges can be accessed by travellers who have one or more of the following:
Alternatively, if you don’t have any of those qualifications, you can also get into these facilities by holding one of the following credit cards:
Each of these cards includes access to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés as part of its benefits package.
Additionally, with the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card and CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card, you can use your complimentary lounge passes to access many other lounges at Vancouver International Airport via the Visa Airport Companion Program (more on this below).
For qualifying travellers, the Air Canada Signature Suite provides a more premium lounge option, showcasing complimentary cocktails, an à la carte menu, and more.
Unlike the Air Canada Cafés and Maple Leaf Lounges, this space cannot be accessed with a credit card and is exclusively available for the following travellers:
The Vancouver International Airport is home to 4 Plaza Premium Lounges, spread across each of the airport’s 3 zones, and 1 Plaza Premium First lounge (the first of its kind in North America!), available in the International departures area.
Plaza Premium Lounges can be enjoyed by anyone in the general public who’s willing to pay an entrance fee (usually around $32 USD), and you can also access them using the complimentary lounge passes that come with a handful of excellent credit cards.
The lounge passes available with eligible credit cards can be accessed and redeemed through one of the following programs/subscriptions:
Depending on which credit card(s) you hold, you may have access to multiple programs, and you may need to download an app and/or enroll to redeem your free passes.
Additionally, to better your chances of getting in to a lounge, you may want to consider pre-booking your lounge time. Plaza Premium and a few other spaces let you pre-book for around $5 USD to guarantee your entry and avoid any line-ups or waitlists.
Having the right credit card in your wallet can not only help you earn valuable rewards on all your purchases, but it can also give you perks like travel insurance, annual travel credits, and, of course, complimentary lounge access.
The following Canadian credit cards give you complimentary airport lounge access as part of their benefits packages:
If you’re looking for a more high-end lounge experience at the Vancouver International Airport, you can check out the first-in-North-America Plaza Premium First.
This upgraded Plaza Premium offers a premium buffet, à la carte menu, fine wine, handcrafted cocktails, and more, all in an elegant space that overlooks the departure gates below.
To access the Plaza Premium First, you can either pre-book (or walk-in if there’s space) and pay around $110 for your visit, or you can potentially use one of your credit card’s complimentary passes and pay an upgrade fee of around $30-50.
In terms of airline-specific lounges, the Vancouver International Airport has the Cathay Pacific Lounge, which is generally open around 4 hours prior to most Cathay Pacific flights.
The space offers a well-designed respite from the rest of the airport, and offers a buffet that includes a wide selection of Asian classics and Western favourites.
Additionally, you can also indulge in a drink and a shower, or get some work done in the available work spaces.
Access to the Cathay Pacific Lounge at Vancouver International Airport is available to travellers who meet one of the following criteria:
Conveniently, Cathay Pacific’s rewards program, Asia Miles, are fairly easy to earn in Canada. To build up your account balance, you can earn miles through the Cathay World Elite® Mastercard® – powered by Neo, and by transferring points from your American Express Membership Rewards or RBC Avion Rewards accounts.
The SkyTeam Lounge, representing the SkyTeam alliance of nine member airlines, offers travellers a beautiful respite from the hectic airport environment.
Visitors to this lounge can enjoy hot and cold food (including a noodle bar), drinks, shower facilities, and more.
This space can be accessed through one of the following methods:
For travellers looking to bring a guest or child with them when they visit a lounge at Vancouver International Airport, the rules can be a bit confusing.
Generally speaking, most lounges allow children under 2 years old to enter for free with an eligible adult, and then children over 2 years old are required to purchase or redeem a guest pass.
Additionally, some lounge programs let you use your free passes to bring guests (1 pass = 1 person), whereas others only let you redeem the passes for yourself. You’ll want to check the rules at the lounge you plan to visit, as well as your card’s terms and conditions in order to determine what’s allowed for your specific situation.
Finally, if you’re accessing a lounge using a business class or first class ticket, it’s worth double-checking the lounge guidelines for guests. In many cases, you’re allowed to bring a guest or two, but every so often you’re not (this is mostly the case with especially fancy lounges).
Anyone familiar with getting ready for a trip knows that a lot of planning can go into our pre-departure preparations.
To make sure you’re set for travel success, make sure that you’ve considered the following before heading out the door:
Spending your pre-departure hours with a free beverage, some snacks, and maybe a little extra quiet is a lovely way to begin your journey from Vancouver International Airport.
To help you enjoy access to lounges around the world, we recommend a card like the American Express Platinum Card® or the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, which each give you unlimited access to over 1,400 lounges around the world.
Alternatively, if you often fly economy with Air Canada and would like to put your feet up in Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges, consider a card like the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card. This card gets you access to Air Canada’s Cafés and Maple Leaf Lounges as long as you’re flying with Air Canada or a Star Alliance partner airline.
Also, don’t forget to explore our guide on using credit cards to access airport lounges across Canada to learn even more!
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