How to Access the Airport Lounges at Toronto Pearson International Airport
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Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) has lounges in Terminal 1 and Terminal 3: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Cafés, Plaza Premium lounges, the KLM Crown Lounge, an American Airlines Admirals Club and Be Relax spas.
Access depends on your ticket, your status or your credit card. Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Cafés open with an eligible ticket, status or Aeroplan credit card. Plaza Premium lounges are open to anyone through paid access, and the Plaza Premium and KLM Crown lounges also open with passes from Priority Pass or DragonPass (Visa Airport Companion or Mastercard Travel Pass).
Below, you’ll find the lounges by terminal and zone, then the credit cards that open them, and the access rules for each lounge. See also our full guide to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ).
Toronto Pearson lounges by terminal and zone (T1, T3)
Here are the lounges by terminal and zone at Toronto Pearson International Airport (list checked on October 26, 2026, on the Toronto Pearson website and on Plaza Premium's Toronto page):
| Airport Zone | Available Lounges |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 – Domestic | Air Canada Café (near Gate D20) Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (domestic zone; Air Canada does not give a gate) Plaza Premium Lounge (near Gate D20) |
| Terminal 1 – US/Transborder | Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Level 4, Node F) and Maple Leaf Lounge Express (Gates F84 to F99) Plaza Premium Lounge (near Gate F55) |
| Terminal 1 – International | Air Canada International Maple Leaf Lounge (Level 3, Node F) Air Canada Signature Suite (under renovation; temporary pop-up lounge near Gate E85, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) Plaza Premium Lounge (near Gate E77): closed; Toronto Pearson suggests the T1 domestic Plaza Premium lounge, about a 15-minute walk from the E gates |
| Terminal 3 – Domestic | Plaza Premium (near Gate B24) |
| Terminal 3 – US/Transborder | American Airlines Admirals Club (Transfer Level, near the duty-free stores) Plaza Premium (near Gate A10) |
| Terminal 3 – International | KLM Crown Lounge (near Gate C33) Plaza Premium (near Gate C32) |
| Infield Concourse (IFC, separate from T1 and T3) | Plaza Premium Lounge (after security, 3:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.) |
Which credit cards open Pearson lounges?
By holding the right credit card, you can earn valuable rewards that help you access free travel, you can save on travel insurance and car rentals, and, of course, you can get free access to airport lounges around the world.
Here’s the list of Canadian credit cards that offer complimentary airport lounge access as part of their perks and benefits package:
| 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 until Dec. 31, 2026; from 2027, 6 Priority Pass + 6 Plaza Premium per year (unlimited after $20,000 in annual spend) |
| Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Amex Global Lounge Collection | Unlimited until Dec. 31, 2026; from 2027, 6 Priority Pass + 6 Plaza Premium per year (unlimited after $20,000 in annual spend) |
Toronto Pearson International Airport Layout
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is divided into two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.
Within each terminal, there are departure zones for domestic flights, international flights, and US/transborder flights.
Typically you can move between the domestic zones and the international zones without too much trouble (though there will be a fair bit of walking); however, the US/transborder zone is located past US Pre-Clearance, so once you’re in this space, you’re not able to go elsewhere, and equally, travellers who are not going to the US are not able to access this area.
To understand how to access these areas of respite let’s look at each lounge or lounge type to see what you need to enjoy some snacks, a free drink or two, and a quiet reprieve while you wait for your flight.
Air Canada Lounges and Cafés
There are 6 Air Canada-associated lounges at Toronto Pearson International Airport, and they fall under 3 categories:
- Air Canada Cafés
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges
- Air Canada Signature Suite
We’ve written a complete guide on how to access Maple Leaf Lounges, so for the full details you’ll definitely want to take a look through that, but to get you started, here’s an overview of how to access these comfortable spaces.
Air Canada Cafés and Maple Leaf Lounges
To access Air Canada’s Cafés and Maple Leaf Lounges you need 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
…or you need to be a holder of one of the following credit cards:
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card and CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card also work with the Visa Airport Companion Program, giving you access to a number of other lounges in Toronto Pearson airport (more on this in the sections below).
Air Canada Signature Suite
The Air Canada Signature Suite is a more high-end lounge environment with an à la carte menu, complimentary cocktails, and more.
This lounge is limited to 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
There are 6 Plaza Premium lounges currently open at Toronto Pearson (checked October 26, 2026): Terminal 1 domestic (5:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.), Terminal 1 US/transborder (5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.), Terminal 3 domestic (5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.), Terminal 3 international (5:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.), Terminal 3 US/transborder (5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.) and the Infield Concourse (3:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.). The Terminal 1 international lounge near Gate E77 is closed: Toronto Pearson suggests the Terminal 1 domestic lounge, just after domestic security and about a 15-minute walk from the E gates.
These lounges are open to the general public through paid access and through complimentary lounges passes that are available with many excellent credit cards.
To use your eligible credit card to access a Plaza Premium lounge, you’ll be redeeming a pass through one of the following lounge programs and subscriptions:
- Plaza Premium
- Priority Pass
- DragonPass (via Visa Airport Companion)
- Mastercard Travel Pass (with DragonPass)
The program/subscription that you’ll use to access an airport lounge with your complimentary passes will depend on the card(s) you have, so make sure to check out the details on our credit card pages or in your card’s terms and conditions.
Also, keep in mind that you can pre-book your time in a Plaza Premium lounge on the Plaza Premium website (fees vary by lounge and date). This option can be very helpful since lounges in both terminals have become quite popular, and there can often be a wait to get in during busier times.
- 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
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $150 | |||
| $599 | |||
| $199 | |||
| $399 | |||
| $399 | |||
| $599 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $250 | |||
| $799 | |||
| $799 |
KLM Crown Lounge
A great lounge option for those travelling internationally from Terminal 3 is the KLM Crown Lounge located near Gate C33.
Considered one of the best lounges available at Toronto Pearson International Airport, this facility is available for passengers with an international business class ticket on Air France or KLM.
Additionally, you can access the KLM Crown Lounge similarly to Plaza Premium lounges, by using your passes available through Priority Pass and DragonPass (with Visa Airport Companion or Mastercard Travel Pass), or with the eligible American Express credit cards listed in the section above; however, keep in mind that priority will be given to business class and first class ticket holders.
American Airlines Admirals Club
Toronto Pearson International Airport is also home to one of American Airlines’ Admirals Club lounges, located near the duty-free shops in Terminal 3.
It offers food, drinks, shower facilities, and work spaces to make your pre-flight time as stress free as possible.
This friendly and cozy lounge can be accessed by the following travellers:
- Admiral Club members
- First class American Airlines ticket-holders
- OneWorld business class or first class ticket-holders
- OneWorld Sapphire elite status holders
Be Relax Spas
A bit of an outlier within the airport lounge options, Be Relax Spas are not so much a « lounge » since they don’t offer food, drinks, or a place to plug in your laptop; however, they do offer a unique and relaxing way to spend a layover or a couple hours waiting for your departure.
There are 3 Be Relax Spas at Toronto Pearson International Airport, with the following locations:
- Terminal 1 Domestic, near Gate D37
- Terminal 1 US/Transborder, near Gate F54
- Terminal 3 International, near Gate C36
The spas are open to the public, so anyone is welcome to enjoy any of the available services; however, travellers with a Priority Pass membership are also welcome to redeem one of their passes to indulge in their choice of the following treatments:
- Be Back 15-minute Massage plus O2 (~$45 value)
- Be Back 30-minute Massage (~$45 value)
- Polish Change plus Hand Massage (~$45 value)
- Be Feet 10-minute plus O2 (~$49 value)
Access to Airport Lounges for Guests and Children
Determining whether or not you’re allowed to bring a guest with you into a lounge for free or using a pass will depend on the lounge, how you’re accessing it, and the age of your guest. This is because each lounge and each lounge program/subscription tends to have slightly different rules for guests and children.
For example, some credit cards will let you use your complimentary passes for guests, some premium cards let you bring unlimited guests, and some cards don’t let you bring anyone.
To determine what’s allowed for you and your guests, you’ll want to check your card’s specific terms and conditions and the rules of the lounge you plan to visit.
For guests travelling with children, you can usually expect that children under 2 years old will be free to enter with an eligible adult, and children who are 2 years or older will be required to redeem/purchase a guest pass.
Pre-Trip Checklist
Before you settle in to your airport lounge experience, there’s a few pre-trip items that you’ll likely want to check off your planning list.
First, you’ll definitely want to make sure that your suitcases fit within your airline’s baggage dimensions and rules to avoid any unnecessary headaches at the check-in counter.
Next, for travellers heading outside of Canada, having a good eSIM can make it super easy to stay connected. With reputable vendors like Holafly, Airalo, and Saily offering eSIMs for hundreds of destinations, you’ll have no trouble finding a data plan that suits your needs.
And finally, before heading out, it’s also a good idea to consider signing up for a VPN service like NordVPN to keep your data safe and to help you watch your favourite TV shows from just about anywhere in the world.
Bottom Line
Putting your feet up at an airport lounge while you’re waiting for your flight at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is a great way to spend your pre-departure hours.
If you want to access airport lounges consistently, we recommend a card like the American Express Platinum Card® or the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, which open the American Express Global Lounge Collection, more than 1,550 lounges worldwide. Note the rule that applies from January 1, 2027: 6 complimentary Priority Pass visits and 6 Plaza Premium visits per calendar year (2 each for supplementary cards), with unlimited access to these two networks once you reach $20,000 in eligible spend in a calendar year, valid until December 31 of the following year (American Express, checked October 26, 2026).
Alternatively, if you’ve got your eye on Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges, consider a card like the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, which gives you access as long as you’re flying Air Canada or a Star Alliance partner airline.
Check out our guide on using credit cards to access airport lounges across Canada, at Vancouver International Airport, and at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport to learn more!
FAQs
Which credit card should you choose for travel?
If you travel regularly, the credit card you carry makes a real difference – travel insurance, points earning, airport lounge access and no foreign exchange fees. Use our credit card comparator to filter through 200+ Canadian cards based on your needs, or browse the best credit cards in Canada, ranked monthly by the Milesopedia team. Our top pick for travel with lounge access: the National Bank World Elite Mastercard with its $150 annual credit and DragonPass access.
Exclusive
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $150
- Welcome offer$150 annual fee rebated
- First Year Annual Fee Rebate
- Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now
on National Bank's website
How can I access a lounge at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)?
Airport lounges at Toronto Pearson International Airport can be accessed using eligible credit cards, like the American Express Platinum Card, that offer lounge passes and subscriptions, as well as with eligible elite statuses or with eligible business class and first class tickets.
How do I access Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges?
To access Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges and Cafés, you need to have one of the following credit cards:
…or have one 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 Toronto Pearson International Airport?
No, you don’t necessarily need an eligible credit card to get into a lounge at Toronto Pearson International Airport, though it can be a great way to enjoy free access.
Many lounges at Pearson airport can also be accessed by paying a fee for entry, and select lounges are accessible to travellers holding eligible business class and first class tickets.
Do I need to have a business class or first class ticket to get into a lounge at Toronto Pearson International Airport?
No, you don’t need a business class or first class ticket to get into a lounge at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Although many of the lounges are accessible with premium tickets on eligible airlines, travellers can also enjoy a relaxing lounge experience by using the complimentary passes available with eligible credit cards or by paying the entrance fee at select lounges.
Which lounges are in Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson?
Terminal 1 has Air Canada lounges in its domestic, US/transborder and international zones, and Plaza Premium lounges in its domestic and US/transborder zones; the Plaza Premium lounge near Gate E77 (international) is closed. A separate Plaza Premium lounge serves the Infield Concourse. The table at the top of this guide lists each lounge by zone.
Which lounges are in Terminal 3 at Toronto Pearson?
Terminal 3 has a Plaza Premium lounge in each of its three zones (domestic, US/transborder and international), plus the American Airlines Admirals Club in the US/transborder zone and the KLM Crown Lounge in the international zone.
Does my TD or Scotiabank Visa Infinite open a lounge at Pearson?
Yes, through the Visa Airport Companion Program. According to the table in this guide, the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card gives 4 passes and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card gives 6. Check which lounge network your card uses before you go.
