Free Airport Lounge Access in Canada: 6 Ways In
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The easiest way to get free airport lounge access is a credit card that includes visits: from 4 a year with the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card at $139, up to no visit limit at the National Bank Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard at $150. Here are the networks, the cards and the real cost of a visit.
According to our comparison tool, as of October 7, 2026, 29 of the 204 active Canadian credit cards open a lounge network, and only 16 include complimentary visits, from 2 to 10 a year. That is the first sort to make: a card that gives you the membership does not pay for your entry.
What you get in an airport lounge
You wait for your flight somewhere quiet, with food, drinks and a place to work. The standard varies a lot from one lounge to the next, and from one network to another.
- Food and drinks: a buffet, and often a bar
- Wi-Fi and outlets to work
- Showers: only in some lounges, check the lounge's page before you leave
So before paying for a card for its lounges, first check which lounges are at your home airport.
The 6 ways into an airport lounge
You have six ways in, and a credit card is only one of them:
- A card that includes visits (Priority Pass or DragonPass): 2 to 10 a year depending on the card.
- A card with no visit limit at a specific lounge: the National Bank Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau, Maple Leaf Lounges with premium Aeroplan cards.
- Elite status: Aeroplan 50K or higher for Maple Leaf Lounges; Star Alliance Gold for member airline lounges, whatever your class, with one guest on the same flight.
- An international business or first class ticket: the airline's and its partners' lounges are included.
- A paid membership: Priority Pass Standard at USD 99 a year, then USD 35 per visit.
- Paying at the door: some lounges sell entry on site, as at Montréal-Trudeau (prices in the Montréal section below).
Keep the costliest distinction in mind: a network membership gives you the right to enter, an included visit pays for your entry. Several cards only give the membership; each entry then costs you USD 32 (DragonPass) or USD 35 (Priority Pass).
Priority Pass and DragonPass: the two lounge networks
In Canada, two main networks offer airport VIP lounge access:
Some Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued in Canada are part of the DragonPass network.
On the American Express side, the American Express Platinum Card and the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card give access to the Priority Pass network.
Priority Pass
- More than 1,900 lounges and experiences in more than 600 cities and 143 countries
- Accepted in most international airports
- Comes mostly with American Express cards, including the American Express Platinum Card and the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card
- Paid membership available without an eligible card: USD 99 a year, then USD 35 per visit
DragonPass
- More than 2,500 experiences available to members
- Activated through Visa Airport Companion or Mastercard Travel Pass, depending on your card
- More than 1,200 lounges available through Visa Airport Companion
- Included with several Canadian Visa Infinite and Mastercard World Elite cards
To activate DragonPass, you first register your eligible card on Visa Airport Companion (Visa cards) or on Mastercard Travel Pass (Mastercard cards). You then present the QR code from the app at the lounge entrance. Beyond the included visits, each entry costs US$32 per person.
Credit cards for up to 6 lounge visits a year
If you travel occasionally, here are the best credit cards to get free access:
Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card
- 6 free visits a year for the primary cardholder
- $150 annual fee, waived with an eligible Scotiabank bank account
- Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000
- Access to the DragonPass network and Visa Airport Companion
TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
- 4 free visits per year
- Access to DragonPass lounges
- $139 annual fee
- $100 TD Annual Travel Credit
BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*
- 4 free visits per year
- Access to DragonPass lounges
- $150 annual fee, rebated in the first year for applications received by December 7, 2026
- Mastercard Travel Pass membership included
For these cards, each complimentary visit allows entry for one person. If you’re travelling with your family and exceed the included number of visits, each additional person pays USD 32.
The math for 4 visits: with the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card, your 4 visits are worth 4 × USD 32, or USD 128, against a $139 annual fee. The $100 TD Travel Credit, applied to your first eligible purchase of $500 or more through Expedia For TD, brings the net cost down to $39. From two trips a year with a lounge visit each way, the card pays for itself on lounges.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $150 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
Credit cards for frequent travellers
Frequent travellers should consider these premium credit cards:
National Bank World Elite Mastercard
- No visit limit at the National Bank Lounge, Montréal-Trudeau
- Free for you, one guest and two children aged 12 or under
- International flights only, not Canada or the United States
- Temporary lounge during the renovation: details in the Montréal section below
American Express Platinum Card® and American Express Business Platinum Card
- A collection of more than 1,550 lounges and partner spaces in 140 countries
- Centurion lounges with no visit limit and up to two guests
- One free guest in Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges
- Priority Pass and Plaza Premium with no visit limit until December 31, 2026
- From January 1, 2027: 6 visits a year in each of those two networks, unlimited again, with one guest, once $20,000 in eligible purchases is charged to the account in the calendar year (additional cards count), valid until December 31 of the following year
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card
- 10 visits a year for each cardholder, primary and additional
- Visa Airport Companion, which opens the DragonPass network
- $599 annual fee
- $250 Annual Travel Credit
Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card
- 10 visits a year for the primary cardholder
- Priority Pass and Plaza Premium combination
- $399 annual fee
- 4 visits a year for each additional cardholder
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card
- 6 DragonPass lounge visits a year
- $399 annual fee
- Minimum personal or household income of $200,000
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $399 | |||
| $599 | |||
| $399 | |||
| $799 | |||
| $799 |
Access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges
To access Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounges without elite status, two credit cards stand out:
TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card
- Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés in Canada and the United States, on the day of an Air Canada or Star Alliance flight
- From January 12, 2027: Maple Leaf Lounges worldwide
- One free guest with each visit, for the primary cardholder and for each additional cardholder
- 6 visits a year through Visa Airport Companion
- First checked bag free on Air Canada
- $599 annual fee, rising to $699 when your annual fee falls due on or after January 25, 2027
American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card and American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card
- Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés in Canada and the United States, with one guest
- From January 12, 2027: Maple Leaf Lounges worldwide, up to 6 Priority Pass visits a year and 8 passes a year for select Aspire Amex lounges in Canada
- Priority check-in and Zone 2 boarding
- First checked bag free for up to 9 travellers when the trip starts on an Air Canada flight
- $599 annual fee, rising to $799 on the first annual fee billing date after January 12, 2027
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $599 | |||
| $599 | |||
| $599 |
Lounges in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver
Your card only helps you if a lounge in its network sits in your departure zone. Here is what you will find at the country's three largest airports.
Montréal-Trudeau (YUL)
- National Bank Lounge, international zone (flights outside Canada and the United States): no visit limit with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard, for you, one guest and two children aged 12 or under; National Bank clients without this card pay $63.24 per adult. Since October 5, 2026, you are welcomed in a temporary lounge in the same spot, near Gate 53, while the main lounge is renovated, with reopening planned for 2028: buffet, reduced capacity and stays limited to 2 hours (3 hours for Private Banking 1859 clients).
- Desjardins Odyssée Lounges, near Gate 63 (international) and Gate 76 (transborder): visits are included with Desjardins Odyssée cards; otherwise entry costs $42 per person aged 12 and over, before tax.
- Aspire Lounge in the domestic zone, near Gates 1 and 2: it is part of the lounge collection of the American Express Platinum Card; the Aspire Lounge in the international zone accepts Priority Pass.
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges: with eligible Aeroplan status or a premium Aeroplan card.
While the work goes on, you will find the details and the alternatives at YUL in our article on the temporary National Bank Lounge.
Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
Plaza Premium runs six lounges there: for domestic flights and for flights to the United States in Terminals 1 and 3, for international flights in Terminal 3, and one more in the Infield Concourse. You get in with cards that include Plaza Premium, such as the American Express Platinum Card and the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card, or, in participating lounges, with Visa Airport Companion.
Vancouver (YVR)
Plaza Premium serves domestic flights there, including Pier C, flights to the United States, and international flights at Pier D. The same cards as in Toronto get you in.
For a lounge-by-lounge breakdown, with zones and hours, read our Montréal-Trudeau lounge guide.
Strategies to Maximize Your Airport Lounge Access
To make the most of your airport lounge access, consider these strategies:
- Combine two complementary cards: the free visits from each card add up.
- Travel as a pair: a card that admits a guest for free doubles the value of every visit.
- Plan your layovers: choose airports where your network has several lounges.
- Check which networks a lounge accepts: the same lounge can welcome both Priority Pass and DragonPass members.
Airport lounge access: our advice
If you fly two or three times a year, a card with 4 or 6 included visits is enough: the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card or the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card. If you often fly internationally from Montréal, the National Bank World Elite Mastercard opens its lounge with no visit limit. Beyond 10 trips a year, look at cards at $599 and up, keeping in mind the fee increases and new limits announced for 2027.
Included visits range from 2 to 10 a year depending on the card; beyond that, each entry costs you USD 32 or USD 35.
| Card | Free visits per year | Network and details |
|---|---|---|
| TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card | 4 | Visa Airport Companion (DragonPass) |
| BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard | 4 | Mastercard Travel Pass (DragonPass) |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card | 6 | Visa Airport Companion (DragonPass) |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card | 6 | Visa Airport Companion (DragonPass) |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card | 6, plus unlimited Maple Leaf Lounges | DragonPass; Maple Leaf Lounges in Canada and the United States with one guest, worldwide from January 12, 2027 |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card | 10 per cardholder | Visa Airport Companion (DragonPass) |
| Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card | 10, and 4 per additional cardholder | Priority Pass and Plaza Premium |
| American Express Platinum Card | Unlimited until December 31, 2026, then 6 per network | Priority Pass and Plaza Premium (unlimited again from 20,000 dollars in purchases in the calendar year), Centurion unlimited |
| American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card | Unlimited in Maple Leaf Lounges | Canada and the United States with one guest; from January 12, 2027, worldwide plus 6 Priority Pass visits |
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard | Unlimited at the National Bank Lounge | Montréal-Trudeau, international zone, with one guest and two children; temporary lounge, 2-hour stay |
To get lounge rule changes as soon as they happen, create your free member account.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $150 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $399 | |||
| $599 | |||
| $399 | |||
| $599 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which credit card gives you airport lounge access in Canada?
Three cards cover most needs. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card includes 6 visits a year for a $150 annual fee, the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card includes 4 visits for $139, and the National Bank World Elite Mastercard opens the National Bank Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau with no visit limit.
How do you get into the VIP lounge at Montréal airport?
It depends on your departure zone. For an international flight outside Canada and the United States, the National Bank World Elite Mastercard opens the National Bank Lounge with no visit limit. Cards that include Priority Pass or DragonPass visits open those networks’ partner lounges. The Montréal section of this guide covers each lounge by zone.
How much does a lounge visit cost without an eligible card?
With Priority Pass, a visit costs USD 35 for the member and USD 35 for each guest, on top of the annual membership. On the DragonPass side, Scotiabank and BMO charge USD 32 per person beyond the included visits. A lounge that sells entry at the door sets its own price.
Can you buy airport lounge access without a credit card?
Yes. Priority Pass sells a Standard membership at USD 99 a year, then USD 35 per visit. Some lounges also sell entry at the door, like the Desjardins Odyssée and National Bank lounges at Montréal-Trudeau: you will find their prices in the Montréal section.
Can you bring a guest into a lounge?
It depends on the card. The National Bank World Elite Mastercard covers one guest and two children aged 12 or under. The American Express Platinum Card covers one guest in Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges, and two guests in Centurion lounges. With a card that includes DragonPass visits, each free visit admits one person.
Does the American Express Platinum Card still offer unlimited lounge access?
Until December 31, 2026, yes. From January 1, 2027, access to Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges drops to 6 complimentary visits per calendar year for each network (2 for an additional card). Unlimited access returns, with one guest, once $20,000 in eligible purchases is charged to the account in the calendar year, and it stays valid until December 31 of the following year. Centurion lounges stay unlimited.
How do you get into Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges?
Two cards open them without elite status. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card covers Maple Leaf Lounges in Canada and the United States on the day of an Air Canada or Star Alliance flight. The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card covers Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés in Canada and the United States. From January 12, 2027, both cards open Maple Leaf Lounges worldwide. Each admits one guest, and Aeroplan 50K status or higher also gets you in.
Who can enter the National Bank Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau?
National Bank World Elite Mastercard holders, with one guest and two children; other National Bank clients pay for entry. The lounge only serves international flights, outside Canada and the United States. Its temporary location during the renovation and the allowed length of stay are in the Montréal section.
Learn more about airport lounges
If you fly out of Calgary, our article on the Aspire Amex Lounge on Concourse A sets out the eligible cards and the guest rules. To plan your next visit, also check our guide to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access and our review of the National Bank Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau.
