Airport lounges: How does the DragonPass program work to access airport lounges?

Updated Jun 1, 2026
Fact checked by
Audrey Voisine
Audrey Voisine Audrey Voisine
Audrey, co-founder of Milesopedia, is a dedicated entrepreneur, avid traveler, and mother of two children. She shares valuable tips and recommendations for families and frequent travellers alike, helping everyone get the most from points and rewards programs. As Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications, she is committed to guiding Milesopedia readers toward more accessible, practical, and memorable journeys.
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Review: National Bank Lounge at YUL, Montreal-Trudeau International Airport - National Bank Lounge YUL
To the point The DragonPass program provides access to more than 1,300 airport lounges. Here is how to access them for free with your credit card in Canada.

DragonPass is one of the largest airport lounge networks in the world. Here is how the program works and how to access it for free with your credit card. To compare all options, also see our page on the best credit cards.

Mastercard partners with DragonPass for airport lounge access - Akl Salon Strata 46

How does the DragonPass program work?

DragonPass is one of the largest networks of airport lounges in the world, with more than 1,400 lounges accessible in over 140 countries.

In Canada, DragonPass lounges are available at the following airports:

  • Montreal (YUL)
  • Quebec (YQB)
  • Toronto (YYZ)
  • Vancouver (YVR)
  • Winnipeg (YWG)
  • Edmonton (YEG)
  • Calgary (YYC)

For example, at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, two lounges are part of the DragonPass program:

DragonPass program membership levels

There are three official levels of the DragonPass program:

  • Classic (US$99): the first visit is free, then you pay for each of your visits and those of your guests;
  • Preferential (US$259): 8 visits are included each membership year, but you pay for your guests’ access as well as visits starting with the 9th;
  • Prestige (US$429): you have unlimited access to all lounges, but you pay for your guests’ access.

Access to airport lounges is useful for frequent travellers who do not necessarily have status with their airline but want to relax before their flight.

You can therefore subscribe to DragonPass directly.

However, we recommend that less frequent travellers look at the free offers available with credit cards!

DragonPass membership offered by cards

Beyond DragonPass’s “official” subscription levels, there are “unofficial” levels offered by credit cards.

Note that some DragonPass lounges may not be accessible with Mastercard Travel Pass and Visa Airport Companion.

Some cards highlight DragonPass among their benefits, but not all offers are equivalent. They may offer free DragonPass membership, but you then need to pay for each visit at a cost of US$32 per person (as of June 2026).

Other cards offer the membership AND a few free visits. Here they are.

DragonPass and Mastercard cards

Mastercard offers free DragonPass membership to World and World Elite cardholders such as the National Bank World Elite Mastercard or the MBNA Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard. However, you must pay for each entry.

The only Mastercard in Canada that offers both a DragonPass membership AND 4 free passes per membership year is the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard.

DragonPass and Visa cards

Eligible Visa cards must be registered via the DragonPass / Visa Airport Companion website.

Free visits are then granted per membership year.

For example, if you register your card on September 15, 2025, you have until September 14, 2026 to use your free visits. Any additional visit costs US$32 per person. Then, starting September 15, 2026, your free visits reset. Note that visits do not carry over from one year to the next.

One free visit = one person (adult or child, depending on the lounge’s minimum age) who enters for free.

If the number of people exceeds the number of free visits on the card, you must pay. So, if the card provides 4 free visits and you are a family of 5, the fifth person costs US$32.

Visa Infinite Privilege cards

With Visa Infinite Privilege cards, such as the TD™ Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* or the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card, you receive free DragonPass membership as well as 6 free visits per membership year.

As for the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card, it offers you 10 free visits per membership year as well as free DragonPass membership.

Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite+* Card

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card, you receive free DragonPass membership as well as 6 free passes per year to airport lounges.

It is also a card we recommend if you travel internationally: with it, you pay no foreign transaction fees on purchases in foreign currencies.

TD First Class card

Since May 2025, the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card has offered 4 free passes per membership year to lounges, as well as free DragonPass membership.

CIBC Aventura cards

With the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card and the CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card, you receive DragonPass membership as well as 4 free annual lounge passes!

Airport Lounges: How does the DragonPass program work for accessing airport lounges? - DragonPass QR code

Summary of DragonPass cards

Here is a summary of the cards discussed in this article for accessing DragonPass lounges (annual fees as of June 2026):

Number of annual visitsAnnual FeeComments
Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite+* Card6$150Annual fees may be waived for the first year during a promotion
CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card and
CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card
4$139Annual fees may be waived for the first year during a promotion
TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card6$599Also offers unlimited access to certain Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card6$399Add an authorized user ($99) and they will also receive six free visits
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card6$599Add an authorized user ($99) and they will also receive six free visits

DragonPass mobile app

Finally, do not forget to download the DragonPass app for iOS or DragonPass for Android. It gives you access to your digital membership card with a QR code—very convenient when travelling!

Airport Lounges: How does the DragonPass program work for accessing airport lounges? - DragonPass app

Your free passes with Mastercard Travel Pass

For DragonPass memberships obtained via Mastercard cards, use the Mastercard Travel Experiences app on iOS or on Google Play.

You can view all accessible airports on this Mastercard Travel Pass page.

In the app, enter your credit card number to validate your access. Once at a lounge affiliated with Mastercard Travel Experiences / DragonPass, show the QR code displayed to the staff member at the entrance.

Your free passes with Visa Airport Companion

For DragonPass memberships obtained via Visa cards, the Visa Airport Companion app is available on iOS or on Google Play.

You can view all accessible airports on this Visa Airport Companion page.

In the app, enter your credit card number to validate your access. Once at a lounge affiliated with Visa Airport Companion / DragonPass, show the QR code displayed to the staff member at the entrance.

Access to airport restaurants

A lounge pass can also be exchanged for a credit at a restaurant partnered with DragonPass, as with the Priority Pass program. However, the list of restaurants affiliated with DragonPass is much smaller than Priority Pass’s.

Most are located in Beijing, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo (Haneda), Boston, San Francisco, and New York (JFK).

In the meantime, you can enjoy discounts of up to 20% or offers at many airport restaurants.

A few additional details:

  • Lounge stay duration: most lounges limit visit time, often to 2 hours. Once this time has elapsed, you must re-register at reception, subject to availability. Each lounge sets its own rules, so check the maximum duration in the app before entering.
  • Minimum age and children: you must be 18 to hold a DragonPass membership. Children can still enjoy lounges: they enter as guests, and the cardholder must be present. Each entry, including children, counts as a visit.
  • Lounge pre-booking: for some lounges, you can reserve your spot in advance in the app, for you and up to 5 people. Pre-booking fees may apply per person. Any cancellation must be made at least 48 hours before the scheduled time to be refunded.

Two things to keep in mind:

  • The rule “guests must be on the same flight as the member” exists in DragonPass terms, but the Visa and Mastercard programs instead refer to guests accompanying the cardholder. I would therefore not include it in a credit-card-focused article.
  • These rules come from the terms of a direct DragonPass membership. For access via a credit card, the issuer’s terms (Visa or Mastercard) take precedence and may differ, for example regarding guests or refunds.

Conclusion

It is always pleasant to spend time in a lounge rather than in the hectic airport atmosphere. We regularly take advantage of this benefit when travelling. To go further, see our guide on free access to VIP airport lounges and subscribe to our newsletter to follow the best points strategies each week.

Which card should you choose for your travels?

If you travel regularly, choosing the right card makes all the difference for travel insurance, points earning, lounge access, and foreign exchange fees. Use our credit card comparison tool to filter among 200+ Canadian offers based on your needs, or consult our top travel credit cards, updated monthly. Our top pick for travellers with lounge access via DragonPass: the National Bank World Elite Mastercard, with its $150 annual credit.

DragonPass – Frequently asked questions

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Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien Voisine is the President and Founder of Milesopedia and a leading expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel across Canada, France, and the U.S.A. Now 40 years old and a father of two, he has explored more than 100 countries—many of them alongside his wife Audrey and their children. Specializing in loyalty programs such as Aeroplan, Flying Blue, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, Jean-Maximilien helps travellers unlock the full potential of their points and benefits. His mission: empower others to travel better and smarter across North America and Europe.
All posts by Jean-Maximilien Voisine

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