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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 Layout
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!
Lounges at Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Vancouver International Airport is home to 12 comfortable lounges that can make your pre-departure experience more relaxed and luxurious:
| airport zone | available lounges |
|---|---|
| Domestic | Plaza Premium (near Gate C29) Plaza Premium (near Gate B15) Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (near Gate C29) Air Canada Café (near Gate C47) |
| US/Transborder | Plaza Premium (near Gate E87) Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (near Gate E85) |
| International | Plaza Premium (near Gate D67) Plaza Premium First (near Gate D67) Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (near Gate D52) Air Canada Signature Suite (near Gate D52) Cathay Pacific Lounge (near Gate D70) SkyTeam Lounge (near Gate D53) |
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.
Air Canada Lounges
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:
- Air Canada Cafés
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges
- Air Canada Signature Suite
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.
Air Canada Cafés and Maple Leaf Lounges
First, Air Canda Cafés and Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges can be accessed by travellers who have one or more of the following:
- a business class or first class ticket on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Emirates, or a Star Alliance partner flight
- Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K, or 50K status
- Star Alliance Gold status
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).
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,200Total$1,200Plus $500 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,200
- Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 3 months
- Up to 85,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply 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”).
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,300Total$1,300Plus $500 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,300
- Welcome offerAfter $10,500 in 3 months
- Up to 90,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply 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”).
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$2,000Total$2,000Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $2,000
- Welcome offerAfter $24,000 in 12 months
- Up to 100,000 points
Apply Now
on TD's website
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$2,000Total$2,000Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $2,000
- Welcome offerAfter $25,000 in 12 months
- Up to 100,000 points
Apply Now
on CIBC's website
Air Canada Signature Suite
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:
- Business class or first class ticket-holders who are flying a non-stop Air Canada-operated flight to Europe, Asia, and South America with booking class J, C, D, Z, or P
- Aeroplan award ticket holders who have booked a Business Class Flexible Reward or First Class Flexible Reward ticket in booking class J, C, D, Z, P, or I
- Lufthansa Group HON Circle members who have a ticket on an international flight with Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, or Air Dolomiti, in any class of service
- First class passengers with Lufthansa and Swiss
- Emirates’ first class passengers departing on a flight operated by Emirates
Plaza Premium Lounges
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 (from CAD $68 per visit when booked online, based on the rate shown by Plaza Premium on October 26, 2026), 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:
- Plaza Premium
- Priority Pass
- DragonPass (via Visa Airport Companion)
- Mastercard Travel Pass (with DragonPass)
- American Express Global Lounge Collection
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.
Credit Cards with Lounge Access
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:
| Credit Card | Program/Network | # of Passes |
|---|---|---|
| TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite* Card | Visa Airport Companion Program | 4 |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card | Visa Airport Companion Program | 6 |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege* Card | Visa Airport Companion Program | 10 |
| Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite Business* Card | Visa Airport Companion Program | 6 |
| Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card | Priority Pass | 10 |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | Visa Airport Companion Program | 6 |
| CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card | Visa Airport Companion Program | 4 |
| CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card | Visa Airport Companion Program | 4 |
| CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card | Visa Airport Companion Program | 6 |
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card | Visa Airport Companion Program | 6 |
| BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* | Mastercard Travel Pass | 4 |
| American Express® Gold Rewards Card | Plaza Premium | 4 |
| American Express Platinum Card® | Amex Global Lounge Collection | Unlimited (from January 1, 2027: 6 Plaza Premium visits and 6 Priority Pass visits per calendar year, unless you make $20,000 in eligible purchases in the year) |
| Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Amex Global Lounge Collection | Unlimited (from January 1, 2027: 6 Plaza Premium visits and 6 Priority Pass visits per calendar year, unless you make $20,000 in eligible purchases in the year) |
Sponsored
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $139
- Our valuationMilesopedia 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.
- $939
- Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 6 months
- Up to 160,000 points
Apply Now
on TD's website
- Annual fee
- $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $350
- Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months
- Up to 35,000 points
- Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
on Scotiabank's website
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$600Total$600Plus $200 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $600
- Welcome offerAfter $20,000 in 6 months
- Up to 80,000 points
- Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
on Scotiabank's website
- Annual fee
- $199
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$400Total$400Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $400
- Welcome offerAfter $60,000 in 12 months
- Up to 40,000 points
- Ends Feb 28, 2027
Apply Now
on Scotiabank's website
- Annual fee
- $399
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$800Total$800Plus $200 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $800
- Welcome offerAfter $10,000 in 6 months
- Up to 100,000 points
- Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
on Scotiabank's website
- Annual fee
- $399
- Our valuationMilesopedia 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.
- $1,700
- Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 6 months
- Up to 100,000 points
- Ends Nov 25, 2026
Apply Now
on RBC's website
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $139
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$600Annual fee rebated$139Total$739Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $739
- Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 4 months
- Up to 60,000 points
Apply Now
on CIBC's website
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $139
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$600Annual fee rebated$139Total$739Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $739
- Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 4 months
- Up to 60,000 points
Apply Now
on CIBC's website
- Annual fee
- $499
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$800Total$800Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $800
- Welcome offerAfter $6,000 in 4 months
- Up to 80,000 points
Apply Now
on CIBC's website
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,340Total$1,340Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,340
- Welcome offerAfter $75,000 in 12 months
- Up to 200,000 points
- Ends Oct 31, 2026
Apply Now
on BMO's website
Exclusive
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$771Annual fee rebated$150Total$921Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $921
- Welcome offerAfter $20,000 in 12 months
- Up to 115,000 points
- Ends Dec 7, 2026
Apply Now
on BMO's website
- Annual fee
- $250
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,020Total$1,020Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,020
- Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months
- Up to 60,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply 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”).
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,190Total$1,190Plus $510 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,190
- Welcome offerAfter $10,000 in 3 months
- Up to 100,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply 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”).
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,360Total$1,360Plus $680 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,360
- Welcome offerAfter $15,000 in 3 months
- Up to 120,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply 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”).
Plaza Premium First
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 from CAD $127 for your visit (rate shown by Plaza Premium on October 26, 2026), or you can potentially use one of your credit card’s complimentary passes and pay an upgrade fee of around $30-50.
Cathay Pacific Lounge
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:
- Travellers flying with a first class or business class ticket on Cathay Pacific
- Cathay Silver, Gold, and Diamond elite members
- Cathay lounge passes
- oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members
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.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $180 |
SkyTeam Lounge
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:
- First class or business class ticket with a SkyTeam airline
- Be a SkyTeam Elite Plus member
- Lounge passes through affiliated programs such as DragonPass, PriorityPass, LoungeKey, and Diners Club
- Paid entry (~$32 USD per person)
Access to Airport Lounges for Guests and Children
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).
Pre-Departure Considerations
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:
- Confirm that your suitcases and carry-on fit within your airline’s baggage dimensions and rules so that you’re not hit with unnecessary fees when you check-in
- If you’re travelling abroad, we recommend getting a reliable eSIM from a vendor like Holafly, Airalo, or Saily since these let you easily stay connected all around the world.
- Consider signing up for a VPN service like NordVPN to keep your data safe and so that you can keep up with your favourite TV shows even on the other side of the planet.
Use our Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Philippine Airlines guides to prepare the flight and check access rights before choosing a lounge. Confirm the flights and operators in your booking; travelling through Vancouver does not establish that every airline operates a nonstop to its hub.
Bottom Line
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 access to more than 1,550 lounges around the world through the Global Lounge Collection (American Express Canada, checked on October 26, 2026). Starting January 1, 2027, access to Plaza Premium lounges (including those at YVR) and Priority Pass lounges will be limited to 6 complimentary visits per calendar year in each network, unless you charge at least $20,000 in eligible purchases to the card in the calendar year; access to the other lounges in the Collection remains unlimited.
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!
Vancouver Airport Lounges - Frequently Asked Questions
How can I access lounges at Vancouver International Airport (YVR)?
The Vancouver International Airport lounges can be accessed the following ways, depending on the lounge:
- With eligible business class and first class tickets
- With eligible elite status
- By using an eligible credit card, like the American Express Platinum Card, that offers lounge passes and subscriptions as part of its benefits package
How do I access Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges?
You can access Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges with the following credit cards:
You can also access the lounges if you have one or more of the following:
- a business class ticket on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Emirates, or a Star Alliance partner flight
- Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K or 50K status
- Star Alliance Gold status
Do I need to have an eligible credit card to get into a lounge at Vancouver International Airport?
You can access a lounge at Vancouver International Airport without an eligible credit card by paying a fee for entry or by holding an eligible business class or first class ticket (depending on the lounge).
That said, having a credit card that offers complimentary lounge passes is a great way to upgrade your travel plans without adding cost.
Do I need to have a business class or first class ticket to get into a lounge at Vancouver International Airport?
You don’t need a business class or first class ticket to access a lounge at Vancouver International Airport.
While many lounges are available to premium ticket-holders on eligible airlines, you can also get in to many of them by holding an eligible credit card and using its complimentary passes or by paying the entrance fees at lounges like Plaza Premium.