American Express Platinum Cards: Airport Lounge Access Limit in 2027
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What Are the New Airport Lounge Access Limits in 2027?
Effective January 1, 2027, holders of the American Express Platinum Card® and the Business Platinum Card® from American Express in Canada will be limited to 6 free visits per year each to the Plaza Premium and Priority Pass lounge networks, replacing the current unlimited access.
Supplementary cardholders will receive 2 complimentary visits per calendar year to each network, for a total of 4 visits.
One visit equals one person entering the lounge. So, if your family of 4 enters a Plaza Premium or Priority Pass lounge, you will have 2 complimentary annual visits remaining on your account.
Access will continue to be unlimited for Centurion lounges and other international lounges (Delta SkyClub, Executive Lounge by Swissport, Global Lounge Collection, Aspire).
Keep in mind, though, that the Global Lounge Collection no longer gets you into Lufthansa lounges as of October 1, 2026: see what the Platinum Card no longer offers at Lufthansa lounges.
Planning to connect through Frankfurt? See also how Discover Airlines, part of the Lufthansa Group, flies nonstop from Edmonton to Frankfurt starting June 1, 2027.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $799 | |||
| $799 |
How to Unlock Unlimited Lounge Access for Amex Platinum Cardholders?
To bypass this, you can regain unlimited access by spending at least $20,000 per calendar year on your card.
Once this minimum spend is confirmed within the year, you will have unlimited access until December 31 of the following year. For example, if you reach it on October 15, 2027, you will have unlimited access until December 31, 2028.
When this unlimited access is « unlocked » for Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges, it will be granted to all eligible primary and supplementary Platinum cardholders on the account. Additionally, cardholders will be able to bring one travel companion for free.
As of September 2026, American Express is already tracking this year's spending. If your account reaches $20,000 in eligible purchases by December 31, 2026, unlimited access will apply for all of 2027. Activation usually takes one week, but it can take up to 12 weeks.
Purchases by the primary cardholder and by supplementary cardholders count together. However, interest, annual fees, other fees and cash-equivalent transactions do not count, and returns are deducted from the total. Spending on another American Express card before a product change to Platinum is not transferred. You can track your progress in your online account or in the American Express app, as stated on the official Platinum Card benefits page.
When Do These Amex Platinum Lounge Access Changes Take Effect?
American Express announced these changes well in advance, giving Platinum cardholders just over a year to adapt and plan their travel habits. This allows customers to gradually familiarize themselves with the new system.
The timeline for the changes is as follows:
| Period | Access Status |
|---|---|
| Years 2025 and 2026 | No change Complimentary and unlimited access for the cardholder and one additional traveller to over 1,400 airport lounges in more than 130 countries, including Centurion, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass, and other international lounges. |
| Effective January 1, 2027, and thereafter | Complimentary and unlimited access to Centurion lounges and other international lounges 6 free annual visits to the Plaza Premium network and 6 free annual visits to the Priority Pass network OR, after $20,000 in eligible spending during the year, a return to unlimited access for Plaza Premium and Priority Pass. |
How Do These Changes Impact American Express Platinum Cards?
The impact depends on your travel profile. If 12 annual visits to the Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounge networks are enough for you as an occasional traveller, if unlimited access to Centurion Lounges meets your needs, and if you’re confident you can regain unlimited access by spending $20,000, these changes should not be an issue for you.
Otherwise, this will require a bit more organization, and you will need to plan your visits and distribute the complimentary accesses among the different lounges.
To decide whether to keep your card, start with two numbers: your annual spending on the card and your recent visits to Plaza Premium and Priority Pass lounges, guests included. Above $20,000 in purchases per year, access stays unlimited. Below that threshold, the cap changes nothing if you make 6 visits or fewer per network. If you exceed that number without reaching the threshold, compare the cost of paid entries with the other best credit cards that offer lounge access.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $799 | |||
| $799 |
How many Visits Will I be Entitled to with My Amex Platinum Card in 2027?
You will be entitled to 6 complimentary visits per network (Plaza Premium and Priority Pass), totaling 12 annual visits. Each supplementary personal or Business Platinum cardholder receives 2 visits per network per calendar year, for a total of 4 visits.
If you have an American Express Platinum Card® and a Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you will have 24 complimentary visits in total.
Access will continue to be unlimited for Centurion lounges and other international lounges (Delta SkyClub, Executive Lounge by Swissport, Global Lounge Collection, Aspire).
When Do My Complimentary Visits Renew for American Express Platinum Cards?
Free lounge visits reset every January 1. They expire on December 31 of the same calendar year and do not carry over from year to year.
What Happens if I Exceed My 6 Complimentary Annual Visits?
You can still access lounges by paying the lounge entry fee, typically between $32 and $45 USD per person, depending on the lounge.
How Many Guests Can I Bring, by Lounge Network?
Guest rules differ from one network to the next. Here is what the American Express Canada terms provide for the basic holder of a Platinum Card, as of October 2026:
- Centurion Lounges: up to 2 complimentary companions in the U.S. and at select international locations, where the policy may vary. Entry is allowed no more than 3 hours before the departure time on your boarding pass, or at any time during a same-day connection.
- Plaza Premium: 1 complimentary travel companion. Starting January 1, 2027, each guest entry is deducted from your 6 complimentary visits.
- Priority Pass: starting January 1, 2027, guests are also deducted from your 6 visits. Some lounges limit the number of guests or do not admit guests.
- Executive Lounges by Swissport (Canada): your spouse and 2 children under 21, or 1 travel companion.
- Delta Sky Club: guests pay the entry fee under Delta’s policy, using your Platinum Card, and must also be flying Delta that same day. Entry is allowed no more than 3 hours before departure, or at any time during a layover.
Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Lounge: Which Allotment?
Some lounges belong to both networks. Under the American Express Canada terms, if you show your Platinum Card at the entrance of one of these lounges, check-in goes through the Plaza Premium program and the visit is deducted from your Plaza Premium visits. To use a Priority Pass visit instead, show your Priority Pass Digital Membership Card. Once check-in is completed, the network cannot be changed. With the 2027 limits, this choice lets you spread your 12 visits across both networks.
