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Discover the world of VIP airport lounges, where comfort and exclusivity meet. Enjoy privileged access to premium services, ensuring an unforgettable travel experience.
Airports are very busy places, and it’s fair to say that you won’t find the best restaurants or bars at the best prices there. The lounge can then be seen as a haven of peace, a refuge. When they are not too crowded themselves, they offer a quiet space to work. They often have a “business” corner for using a laptop.
Food, comfortable seating, bathrooms with showers. Airport lounges are not just for business travelers or frequent flyers! Here’s all the information you need to finally get access too!
Airline lounges are offered to their passengers in Business Class and First Class, as well as to members with a certain airline status. These benefits are often reciprocal between companies of the same alliance. There are sometimes exceptions (access to First Class lounges, tickets purchased in a particular fare class, etc.)
Lounge access can generally be obtained in 5 ways:
And in all cases, certain restrictions apply.
Your credit card can give you access to lounges, but these will often be independent lounges. These are not managed by an airline company but by a specialized company, such as Priority Pass or Dragon Pass.
Among our members, there is often confusion between airport lounge networks (like Priority Pass) and Credit Cards.
Remember that airport lounge networks directly sell memberships to their members. However, by subscribing to certain credit cards, you can obtain a free network membership. This is then a distinct account, but still linked to your credit card.
Therefore, if you close your credit card, the network membership is canceled within 24 hours. Also, some credit cards have direct agreements with lounges, and access is offered upon presentation of the credit card itself, not the network’s card.
Remember to check the access conditions for each lounge.
Priority Pass is the best known and includes nearly 1,300 lounges worldwide.
Dragon Pass also has over 1,300 lounges. Visa and Mastercard recently joined this network.
Plaza Premium lounges (linked to DragonPass) total approximately 180 lounges.
Centurion lounges are operated by American Express.
Maple Leaf lounges are offered by Air Canada in North America and Europe.
Discover in this article the different ways to access the various lounges at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), and the photo reports we have conducted in them:
Discover in this article the different ways to access the various lounges at major Canadian airports: Toronto (YYZ), Calgary (YYC), Vancouver (YVR) and Quebec (YQC), and the photo reports we have conducted in them:
The vast majority of lounges are only accessible for departures with a confirmed ticket for the same day. HOWEVER, some lounges are also accessible for arrivals.
For example, after a long flight or a night flight, it can be enjoyable to have a meal or shower. Check the lounge access type when preparing… or try your luck once you’re there!
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard comes with 4 accesses to DragonPass member lounges, such as the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
Furthermore, the National Bank World Elite Mastercard also offers unlimited access to this same National Bank lounge.
Next, the TDMD AeroplanMD Visa Infinite Privilege* Card provides 6 complimentary entries with Priority Pass until June 30, 2022 (starting July 1, 2022, entries will be via DragonPass access). You’ll also enjoy unlimited access to the Maple Leaf Lounges when you travel on a same-day flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express, Air Canada codeshare or a Star Alliance carrier. This is valid for both the primary and secondary cardholders. For a limited time, one guest is accepted free of charge.
The American Express Platinum Card provides unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, and American Express Centurion lounges for the cardholder and one guest.
Then, its SME version, the American Express Business Platinum Card, provides unlimited access to the cardholder (and 1 or 2 guests, depending on conditions) to Plaza Premium lounges, Delta Sky Club lounges, Priority Pass lounges, as well as the Club Med VIP lounge at Jean Lesage Airport (Quebec).
Here is our selection of the best cards for accessing airport lounges:
For information on lounges, it is useful to download the following applications:
And if you are the Geek type, here is the compilation of the best apps for travellers!
Africa and Indian Ocean
North America
Central and Latin America
Europe
Asia – Oceania
Middle East
Access to an airport lounge may seem superfluous, but once you’ve experienced it, you certainly can’t do without it.
Indeed, why add the stress of rushing to the inherent stress of airports? If you also have a credit card that allows you to enjoy such comfort, it would be a shame to miss out.
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