Scotiabank Gold American Express® CardScotiabank Gold American Express® CardEarn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points + no annual fee in your first year

How does Plaza Premium access airport lounges?

How does Plaza Premium access airport lounges?
Share

Plaza Premium is a program that provides access to partner airport lounges around the world. Here’s how it works and how you can get in for free, using your credit card. Here’s how it works and how you can get in for free, using your credit card.

How does the Plaza Premium program work?

Plaza Premium is a network of airport lounges worldwide, with over 250 accessible lounges.

In Canada, Plaza Premium lounges are located at the following airports:

Toronto YYZ

Vancouver YVR

Winnipeg YWG

Edmonton YEG

In the rest of the world, the lounges are located mainly in Asia, but also in the United States, Europe and Oceania.

Plaza Premium Program Access Levels

There are 3 levels of the Plaza Premium passes, valid in all lounges worldwide:

LevelCost
Go Global 2-visitUSD 79
Go Global 5-visitUSD 189
Go Global 10-visitUSD 349

In addition, other passes are available, but for America’s Plaza Premium lounges only:

  • Canada
  • United States
  • Mexico
  • Brazil
  • Salvador
  • and Colombia

The cost is :

LevelCost
Lounge Pass Americas 2-visitUSD 65
Lounge Pass Americas 5-visitUSD 151
Lounge Pass Americas 10-visitUSD 288

All visits must be made within one year of purchase. Otherwise, they are lost and not refunded.

Finally, if you’re only visiting Plaza Premium lounges in Canada, there’s a specific version for Canada: Plaza Premium Lounge – Pass Canada.

LevelCost
PPL Canada 5-visitUSD 151
PPL Canada 10-visitUSD 288
How does Plaza Premium access airport lounges? - Plaza premium access

In addition, it is possible to purchase and reserve access directly on the Plaza Premium website.

How does Plaza Premium access airport lounges? - Achat accès plaza premium

Access to airport lounges is helpful for travellers, who may not have an Elite status with their airline, but want to relax before their flight in the lounge.

However, we recommend checking out the free offers available with credit cards!

Plaza Premium Credit Card Subscription

In addition to these access passes purchased with Plaza Premium, there is “unofficial” access to these lounges via credit cards.

You only need to present certain credit cards at the entrance of the salon.

Some credit cards offer Plaza Premium membership AND free tours. Here is the list.

How does Plaza Premium access airport lounges? - Air France Montreal YUL Lounge

Plaza Premium and Visa Credit Cards

Scotiabank and CIBC offer complimentary access to Plaza Premium lounges, through affiliation with Visa Airport. Companion/DragonPass, to holders of these cards:

You need to use the Visa Airport Companion application. Then enter your credit card number to validate your access. Once at the airport and in the lounge linked to Visa Airport Companion / DragonPass, show the person at the entrance to the airport lounge the QR code that will be displayed.

Please note that complimentary VISA credit card visits are only for the primary cardholder and one accompanying person.

For the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card the 10 free visits are for the cardholder and his/her guests. An additional cardholder is entitled to 4 free visits.

Our credit card selection
Credit cardAnnual feeWelcome offer
Annual fee$399Welcome offer
Up to 100,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
Annual fee$150Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
Annual fee$139 $0Welcome offer
Up to 45,000 points
Apply Now
Annual fee$139 $0Welcome offer
Up to 60,000 points
Apply Now

Plaza Premium and Mastercard Credit Cards

All World Elite credit cards offer DragonPass membership with the Mastercard Travel Pass, allowing access to Plaza Premium lounges. However, only 2 BMO Mastercard credit cards also offer visits:

You need to use the Mastercard Travel Pass application. Then enter your credit card number to validate your access. Once at the airport and in the lounge linked to Mastercard Travel Pass / DragonPass, show the person at the lounge airport entrance the QR code that will be displayed.

Our credit card selection
Credit cardAnnual feeWelcome offer
Annual fee$149 $0Welcome offer
Up to 100,000 points
Apply Now
Annual fee$150 $0Welcome offer
Up to 115,000 points
Apply Now

Another original way to access Plaza Premium lounges free of charge is with the AIR MILES loyalty program!

With 775 Dream Miles, you get free access to lounge Plaza Premium in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Orlando, Dallas Fort Worth and Air France Lounge at Montreal.

With a welcome offer like the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard, which gives you 3,000 miles (3,250 miles if you include the miles you earn by spending $3,000), you can get 4 free access to Plaza Premium Lounges.

Plaza Premium and American Express Credit Cards

Some American Express credit cards also offer access to Plaza Premium lounges.

Here they are:

Our credit card selection
Credit cardAnnual feeWelcome offer
Annual fee$799Welcome offer
Up to 120,000 points
Apply Now
Annual fee$799Welcome offer
Up to 100,000 points
Apply Now
Annual fee$250Welcome offer
Up to 60,000 points
Apply Now

Summary

Here is a summary of the credit cards discussed in this article for access to the Plaza Premium lounges:

The Smart Traveller mobile application is the way to access the benefits of Plaza Premium lounges. It is available in the App Store or in Google Play.

Bottom Line

With knowledge of the lounge network and what each credit card has to offer, you can make the wait at the airport smoother.

Our featured card

Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-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.
Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.