To the point
Mastercard ends its partnership with LoungeKey, to partner with DragonPass. This will allow access to the Plaza Premium lounges!
Credit history
LoungeKey was a benefit given by Mastercard. Like Priority Pass, it is an airport lounge network that offers access to 1,000 airport lounges for Mastercard World and World Elite credit cardholders.
As of July 1, 2021, LoungeKey and Priority Pass members no longer had access to several Plaza Premium lounges. As a result, travellers lost access to about 15 airport lounges in Canada.
Instead, Plaza Premium partnered with DragonPass, a third airport lounge network.
Now Mastercard has moved away from LoungeKey to partner with DragonPass. The latter provides access to more than 1,300 airport lounges around the world.
So, to untangle this spaghetti a bit, here’s the summary:
| Before | Mastercard = LoungeKey = Does not give access to the Plaza Premium network |
| Now | Mastercard = DragonPass = Provides access to the Plaza Premium network |
More details are to come, as there has been no official announcement.
As of May 15, 2022, the transition will be from LoungeKey to DragonPass. You can register now here, on the DragonPass website.
What's new
Today, I was able to sign up for DragonPass with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard®, for example. So I have a subscription to get into any airport lounge of the DragonPass network. But then I have to pay US$32 for my visit.
Enrollment works with most World and World Elite Mastercard credit cards from issuers that have already joined the DragonPass network.
According to our information, all issuers should have joined the network by the end of June 2022.
For example, here are the lounge options before with LoungeKey at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport:
And now after, with DragonPass :
The Air France-KLM lounge is now accessible!
Bottom Line
The Mastercard network offers World and World Elite credit cardholders access to a more extensive selection of airport lounges.
The only Mastercard in Canada to offer both a DragonPass subscription AND 4 free accesses is the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard®*.
Other World and World Elite Mastercard credit cards offer the membership, but you must pay for each visit.
More details are to come as there has been no official confirmation on this new Mastercard and DragonPass partnership. But this is excellent news for travellers, with more options to enter airport lounges!
It is safe to assume that there will be more news regarding airport lounge networks soon.
Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
