Review: Aspire Lounge – International Zone at Montreal-Trudeau (YUL)

Published September 16, 20253 min read

Note8/10

Lounge: Aspire International Lounge
Airport: Montreal-Trudeau International Airport
Lounge Access Method: Amex Platinum Card, Priority Pass, DragonPass
Terminal: International
Country: Canada
City: Montreal

Location of the Lounge

The Aspire Lounge in the International Zone at Montreal-Trudeau is located between gates 52 and 53. After security, head towards the International Zone (to the left), then follow the signs to the boarding gates. You will see it on your right just after passing the National Bank Lounge.

Nouveau salon en zone internationale à YUL : un deuxième Salon Aspire à l’aéroport Montréal-Trudeau - salon Aspire International YUL 2025 15

Schedule

The lounge is open daily from 2 PM to 10 PM.

Access to the Lounge

Priority access for holders of the American Express Platinum Card^®, Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, or American Express Centurion Card.
Also accessible via Priority Pass, DragonPass, or DreamFolks.
Access also available to eligible Aeroplan Elite members and Air Canada Business Class customers.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
American Express Platinum Card^® Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$799	Welcome offer Up to 100,000 points	Apply NowCompare
Business Platinum Card^® from American Express Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$799	Welcome offer Up to 120,000 points	Apply NowCompare

Available Services

The Aspire Lounge in the International Zone at YUL offers a large open space reminiscent more of a restaurant than a « lounge ». It benefits from beautiful natural light thanks to large windows offering a view of the tarmac.

I make this distinction between “lounge” and restaurant because this space is more of a dining area. The furnishings mainly consist of tables, chairs, and banquettes. There are no armchairs or sofas to stretch out, relax, or try to take a nap, for example.

The space includes:

Free high-speed Wi-Fi (registration required)
International power sockets and USB ports
Dining and work areas
2 flight information screens

Note: there are no restrooms inside the lounge due to limited space. You must therefore temporarily exit the lounge and use the public airport restrooms located directly opposite the lounge.

Dining

There is no buffet or takeaway option. Instead, you use the QR code placed at each numbered table to order your meal online. Navigating the relatively limited menu is easy and intuitive. Note that orders are not unlimited; each guest is restricted to one appetizer (small plate), one main course (large plate), and one dessert. In addition, during my visit, alcoholic beverages were not yet available, but they should be offered in the future.

My Overall Experience

During our visit on a Wednesday around 4:00 PM, there was no waiting line. Consequently, a table was assigned to us immediately, while the lounge seemed about 15% occupied. However, when we left around 5:30 PM, I would say the lounge was 75% occupied, and there was a waiting line of about 20 people at the reception.

Visually, the lounge is very open and quite inviting. Since the staff assigns you a table, there is no need to search for an available spot, which makes settling in faster and easier for guests. However, there is no relaxation area with armchairs or sofas. This makes it less suitable than other airport lounges if you just want to relax before your flight. If you are looking to have a more traditional meal before flying, I recommend this lounge. Service was quick and very courteous. The dishes were well prepared and nicely presented. However, if you want to unwind in a more comfortable and plush seat, other lounges in the international zone may be a better fit (see our other reviews).

Nouveau salon en zone internationale à YUL : un deuxième Salon Aspire à l’aéroport Montréal-Trudeau - salon Aspire International YUL 2025 02

Note that my visit to the lounge was during the pre-opening phase; it will be interesting to see how this lounge evolves over time. For more information on this lounge, read « New International Zone Lounge at YUL: A Second Aspire Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau Airport« .

Also check out our review of the new Aspire AMEX Lounge in the Domestic Zone at YUL!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Aspire Lounge in the International Zone at YUL?

After security, between gates 52 and 53 in the International Zone.

Is there a time limit for staying in the lounge?

Yes, the duration is limited to 3 hours.

Does Priority Pass provide access?

Yes, Priority Pass members can access the lounge.

Go further with airport VIP lounges

To access VIP lounges without paying $50 each time, check our complete guide on free airport lounge access and our best credit cards for airport VIP lounges ranking, updated monthly by the Milesopedia team.

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