If you have elite status with an airline frequent flyer program or are flying in business or first class, you can almost always guarantee yourself access to the typically quiet and good-for-the-soul business class lounges at airports across the globe. But, what if you don’t have elite status or never fly in a premium cabin? Can you still access business class lounges? The answer is yes, you sure can!
In this guide we show you all the various methods of accessing airport business class lounges to get you out of the hustle and bustle of many busy airports in Canada and the rest of the world.
The Rewards Canada Guide to Business Class Lounge access is broken down into the following sections
- Credit Cards with Lounge Access
- Third Party Lounge Access Programs
- Single Entry Options
- Airline Lounge Access Programs
TIP: Be sure to check out Rewards Canada's Special Offer below for Priority Pass!
Credit Cards can be a great way to gain access to many lounges in Canada and beyond. The majority of these cards don’t have their own programs but provide free membership into Mastercard TravelPass by DragonPass, Visa Airport Companion by DragonPass or Priority Pass.
The cards that do have their own access programs or tie into separate ones are The Platinum Card from American Express and the Diners Club Club Rewards Mastercard.
The Platinum Card from American Express
This is by far the best card in Canada for business class lounge access. The Platinum Card offers many different options which provide access to over 1,400 business class lounges in over 140 countries around the world.
The lounge access benefits for the Platinum Card are as follows
- Executive Lounges by Swissport: Free of charge access for the cardmember + Spouse and 2 children or one guest to participating lounges in Canada. (Benefit applies to both primary and additional Platinum cardmembers)
- Centurion Lounges: Access to American Express Centurion lounges and Centurion Studio lounges for the cardholder and 2 Guests (Benefit applies to both primary and additional Platinum cardmembers)
- Delta SkyClubs: Access to Delta Sky Clubs for no charge for the cardmember who are holding an Delta flight boarding pass. Additional guests must pay an entrance fee. Note: This option is not available if you are flying on the cheapest economy class fare with Delta. (Benefit applies to both primary and additional Platinum cardmembers)
- Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges: Cardmembers have complimentary access to American Express and Partner Lounge locations (guest access varies by location) Examples of this include select Lufthansa lounges.
- Plaza Premium Lounges: Cardmembers have complimentary access to Plaza Premium Lounges along with one guest (Benefit applies to both primary and additional Platinum cardmembers)
- Priority Pass Lounges: Cardmembers are provided Prestige Membership which provides unlimited lounge access with one guest included per lounge visit. All additional guests are US$32 (Benefit applies to both primary and additional cardmembers)
- Escape lounges: Cardmembers have complimentary access along with 2 Guests (Benefit applies to both primary and additional Platinum cardmembers)
As noted, additional Platinum cards (also known as supplementary cards) also receive the lounge access options
Click here to learn more and/or to apply for The Platinum Card from American Express
Tip: Use Amex's Lounge search to see which lounges you can access with the Platinum Card.
Diners Club Club Rewards Mastercard
Diners Club has their own lounge access program that is now run by Collinson (the owners of Priority Pass) which means holders of the Diners card can access all the same lounges found in the Priority Pass program. Unfortunately, if you do not currently hold this card you cannot apply for it as BMO stopped accepting applications for it. To see what lounges are covered by Diners Club you can visit their Airport Lounge Locator or download the Diners Club app for your smartphone.
Click here to learn more about the Diners Club Club Rewards Mastercard
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
As an Air Canada Aeroplan Ultra Premium co-brand credit card it provides access for the primary cardholder to Air Canada's Maple Leaf lounges in Canada and the United States. The card also provides free standard membership into the Priority Pass program.
Click here to learn more about the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Credit Card
American Express Gold Rewards Card
This card doesn’t have its own lounge program but provides free standard membership into the Priority Pass program (see above) plus four free Plaza Premium lounge visits.
Click here to learn more about the American Express Gold Rewards Card
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
This card doesn’t have its own lounge program but provides free membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass plus four free lounge visits annually. Mastercard Travel Pass provides discounted access to over 1,300 lounges and airport restaurants Worldwide. Learn more about MasterCard Travel Pass here.
Click here to learn more about BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card
This card doesn’t have its own lounge program but provides free membership in Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass) plus six free lounge visits annually. Each additional cardholder also receive 6 free visits per year. Click here to learn more about Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass)
Click here to learn more about BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite, Infinite Privilege and Gold Cards
These cards don’t have their own lounge program but provide free membership in Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass) with four free lounge visits annually for the Infinite and Gold cards, 6 visits for the Infinite Privilege. Click here to learn more about Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass)
Click here to learn more about the CIBC cards
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
As an Air Canada Aeroplan Ultra Premium co-brand credit card it provides access for the primary cardholder to Air Canada's Maple Leaf lounges in Canada and the United States. The card also provides free standard membership in Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass) with six free lounge visits annually. Click here to learn more about Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass)
Click here to learn more about the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card
Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard / Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege
These cards don’t have their own lounge program but provide free passes to the Desjardins Odyssey Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau Airport. The World Elite Mastercard gets 8 visits while the Visa Infinite Privilege gets 12.
The World Elite card also provides free membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass while the Infinite Privilege provides free membership in Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass) with six free lounge visits annually. Learn more about MasterCard Travel Pass here or Click here to learn more about Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass)
Click here to learn more about the Desjardins cards
National Bank World & World Elite Mastercard
The NBC World & World Elite Mastercards provides free access to the National Bank World Mastercard Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau airport. The cards also receive free membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass. Learn more about MasterCard Travel Pass here.
Click here to learn more about the National Bank World & World Elite Mastercards
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
This card doesn’t have its own lounge program but provides free standard membership in Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass) plus six free lounge visits annually. Click here to learn more about Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass)
Click here to learn more about the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
Rogers World Elite Mastercard
This card doesn’t have its own lounge program but provides free membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass. Mastercard Travel Pass provides discounted access to over 1,300 lounges and airport restaurants Worldwide. Learn more about MasterCard Travel Pass here.
Click here to learn more about Rogers World Elite Mastercard
Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card
This card doesn’t have its own lounge program but provides free standard membership into the Priority Pass program (see above) as well as access to Plaza Premium lounges. The card comes with ten free Priority Pass/Plaza Premium lounge visits annually.
Click here to learn more about the Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card
This card doesn’t have its own lounge program but provides free standard membership in Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass) plus six free lounge visits annually. Click here to learn more about Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass)
Click here to learn more about Scotia Passport Visa Infinite Card
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
As an Air Canada Aeroplan Ultra Premium co-brand credit card it provides access for the primary cardholder to Air Canada's Maple Leaf lounges in Canada and the United States. The card also provides free membership in Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass) plus six free lounge visits annually. Click here to learn more about Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass)
Click here to learn more about the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.
Vancity enviro Visa Infinite Card / Vancity enviro Visa Infinite Privilege Card
These cards don’t have their own lounge program but both cards provide free membership in Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass) The Infinite Privilege version does offer six free lounge visits annually as well. Click here to learn more about Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass)
Click here to learn more about the Vancity enviro Visa Infinite Card here and the Vancity enviro Visa Infinite Privilege Card here.
WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
This card doesn’t have its own lounge program but provides free membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass. You can also choose to convert the annual companion voucher into four lounge access passes. Learn more about MasterCard Travel Pass here.
Click here to learn more about WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
Other card options
All Canadian World and World Elite Mastercards receive free membership into the Mastercard Travel Pass program so any not listed above also have this benefit. Travel Pass works like Priority Pass in that it is annual membership whereby you get discounted access to over 1,300 lounges and airport restaurants Worldwide. Learn more about MasterCard Travel Pass here.
Several cards like the Scotiabank American Express Gold Card and TD Travel Visas provide discounted annual membership to Priority Pass (although double check the pricing against our special discount above to see what the better deal is!)
Priority Pass
Rewards Canada Partner - See discount offer below
The most famous and largest of all lounge programs, Priority Pass has been around for many years and offers access to over 1,500 lounges all over the world. They are also the most aggressive in adding new lounges with a few new lounges being added every month.
Priority Pass requires users to purchase an annual membership and depending on the level of membership that you buy you may or may not have to pay an entry fee each time you enter a Priority Pass lounge. The access fee is typically quite a bit less than the walk up rate for lounges that provide such an option.
There are a select few credit cards in Canada that provide the Priority Pass program as part of the benefits and as such will cover the annual cost along with providing some free lounge visits or in the case of the American Express Platinum Card, it provides unlimited access to lounges. You can find these listed in the credit card section above.
Priority Pass has also expanded beyond lounges by adding airport restaurants where you can get a dining credit! Most are in the U.S. and you'll find them listed on the Priority Pass website. (Membership offered via American Express are excluded from the dining option)
The three levels of membership that Priority Pass provides are as follows
- Standard Membership
Standard membership provides access at a cost of US$35 per person per visit. The members designated payment card is charged by Priority Pass with the lounge visit fee following a visit. Guests are charged US$35 per visit. - Standard Plus Membership
Standard Plus membership includes 10 free visits for the member and additional member visits are charged at US$35 per visit. Guests are charged US$35 per visit. - Prestige Membership
Prestige membership Includes unlimited lounge visits for the member. Guests are charged US$35 per visit.
SPECIAL OFFER FOR REWARDS CANADA READERS!
Rewards Canada is partnered with Priority Pass and for this feature we are pleased to provide our readers the following discounts on their annual memberships:
Standard Membership – full annual fee US$99
Special offer – 30% discount on first year membership – US$69
Standard Plus Membership – full annual fee US$329
Special offer – 20% discount on first year membership – US$263
Prestige Membership – full annual fee US$469
Special offer – 10% discount on first year membership – US$422
Click here to access this special offer for Rewards Canada readers
Dragonpass
*** NOVEMBER 14, 2024: DRAGONPASS HAS BEGUN TO SELL MEMBERSHIPS AGAIN ***
DragonPass is similar to Priority Pass in numbers of lounges and the passes the provide especially more so now as they are the primary access partner for Plaza Premium lounges. Their website states they have over 1,300 lounges participating which is slightly less than what Priority Pass advertises.
Tip: Sometimes you can purchase single entry passes for Plaza Premium via Dragon Pass with prices lower than Plaza Premium themselves!
The three levels of membership that DragonPass provides are as follows
- Preferential Membership – full annual fee US$99
Preferential Membership includes 1 free visit. Additional visits are charged at a cost of US$35 per person per visit. Guests are charged US$35 per visit. - Preferential Membership – full annual fee US$259
Preferential Membership includes 8 free visits. Additional visits are charged at US$35 per visit. Guests are charged US$35 per visit. - Prestige Membership – full annual fee US$429
Prestige membership Includes unlimited lounge visits for the member. Guests are charged US$35 per visit.
Website: https://dragonpassgo.com/membership-plan
Unbeknownst to a lot of Canadian travelers is the fact that you can walk right up to many third party lounges (those that are not owned or run by airlines) and pay to access that lounge for a single visit. The fees tend to be reasonable and access is usually granted for 2 to 3 hours. The two primary providers of lounges in Canada are Plaza Premium and Swissport.
You can also buy access to many of these lounges via WestJet, Lounge Pass or other methods detailed below. Many of these single entry lounge options are also covered by the annual lounge access programs and credit cards that are listed further below in this feature.
Plaza Premium
Plaza Premium has over a dozen lounges across Canada in Edmonton (2), Montreal (1), Toronto (6 + 1 Spa), Vancouver (4) and Winnipeg (1) They also have lounges in over 30 countries around the world. Costs for Plaza Premium Lounges in Canada are roughly C$60-C$65 for 2 hours, C$75 for 3 hours and C$100 for 6 hours. It does vary slightly per lounge. Children aged 2-11 enjoy a 30% discount. Click here to see all their lounges and/to buy one time passes to them.
Tip: Sometimes you can purchase single entry passes for Plaza Premium via Dragon Pass with prices lower than Plaza Premium themselves.
Plaza Premium also provides various multiple visit passes that allow you to access lounges with a discount. The Canada only pass offers 5 visits for US$157 or 10 visits for US$300 while the Americas Pass (Canada, U.S., Brazil, Mexico, El Salvador and Colombia lounges) with 2 visits can be purchased for US$80. You can also purchase Global Passes that range from US$99 for 2 visits to US$379 for 10 visits.
- Canada Pass: Click here for more details and/or to buy this pass
- Americas & Global Pass: Click here for more details and/or to buy this passes
Website: www.plazapremiumlounge.com
You can redeem points for a fancy cocktail in Toronto!
Executive Lounges by Swissport
Swissport runs four lounges in Canada: the Transborder and International Aspire lounges in Calgary, the Aspire Lounge in Ottawa the Montreal Airport Swissport lounge and the Aspire Air Canada Cafe at Toronto's Billy Bishop/Island Airport. Outside of Canada they operate over 50 lounges in 20 countries. Lounge access rates via Swissports website for their Canadian locations vary by location and date and time but tend to start around $52. You can also join their loyalty program Aspire Rewards for free however it only works at their UK locations.
Website: www.executivelounges.com
No1 Lounges
No1 Lounges is another UK based lounge provider that offer 13 locations in the U.K. At the time of the last update they did not have any lounges in Canada. You can access No1 lounges with programs like Diners Club, DragonPass, Lounge Club, Lounge Pass and Priority Pass. Some airlines also use them as their lounges if you are flying in business or first class. You can also purchase access directly from No1 lounges either online or right at the lounge.
Tip: You can earn Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points (Virgin Points) when you buy access to No1 Lounges at Heathrow Terminal 3, Gatwick, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Click here to learn more and book the lounges to earn points.
Website: no1lounges.com
WestJet Lounges
WestJet currently only has one of their own lounges in Calgary (YYC) in the domestic departures area of Concourse B. This is their outstanding flagship lounge that opened up in late 2020. There has been no word since that time about the other rumoured WestJet lounges they had planned for Canada and Europe.
For the time being WestJet also runs a ‘lounge’ program that provides access to select lounges across Canada and in London UK, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, Cancun or Montego Bay. You can book single entry visits for most of the lounges online or present your WestJet boarding pass along with payment right at the lounge. Prices vary depending on the lounge and the time of day you visit. For some lounges this is cheaper than the walk up rate.
Website: www.westjet.com/en-ca/airport/lounges
Lounge Pass
Lounge Pass is run by the same company that owns Priority Pass (see below in the 3rd party access programs) and offers single entry options to over 600 lounges in over 100 countries. Lounge Pass is in place so you don't have to buy a Priority Pass membership or have a credit card that offers the membership. In Canada, they provide access to lounges in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. Their pricing of starts at US$30 for the Canadian lounges. They do have access to some lounges that the others don't such as the KLM Crown lounge in Toronto Pearson's Terminal 3. Website: www.loungepass.com
Lounge Buddy
Want to find lounges that offer single entry options? An app launched a few years ago called Lounge Buddy can help. The app has grown over time and even now allows you to buy single entries into select lounges around the globe. Here in Canada you can use the app to pay for access to Plaza Premium Lounges in Toronto and Vancouver. At time of the most recent update to this feature, LoungeBuddy's rates started at C$62 for entry into their available Canadian locations. The app also lets you know which third party programs or credit card lounge access options can be used to access lounges.
Website: www.loungebuddy.com
LoungePair
LoungePair provides discounted access pricing to over 800 lounges around the world including Canada. They have their own negotiated pricing with some of those lounges and also provide comparative pricing from other lounge access providers with the ability to buy from those providers as well.
Website: www.loungepair.com
Finally airlines sell access to their own lounges via annual membership offers. Most do have the requirement that you are traveling with them or one of their partner airlines to be able to access the lounges however.
We only provide information on several of the larger North American airlines here but you can always check out other airlines to see if they offer similar programs.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Club
Air Canada’s annual lounge access program is called the Maple Leaf Club and offers three different access levels
May 2024 Update: Sales of Maple Leaf
Club memberships are still temporarily suspended
Canada - $375 per year (Single Traveller) or $550 per year (Traveller + Spouse) and provides access to 16 lounges in Canada only
North America Plus - $495 per year (Single Traveller) or $730 per year (Traveller + Spouse) and provides access to over 60 lounges in Canada, the U.S. and Europe
Worldwide - $665 per year (Single Traveller) or $970 per year (Traveller + Spouse) and provides access to over 210 lounges Worldwide and also provides complimentary access to one guest.
All Maple Leaf Club memberships also provide access to Air Canada's Executive First® / Executive Class® Priority Check-in counters.
Website: www.mapleleafclub.ca
Alaska Airlines Lounge Membership
There are two options that Alaska Airlines has for sale. Alaska Lounge membership gets you access to nine Alaska Airlines lounges in Anchorage, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, New York JFK and San Francisco. While Alaska Lounge+ membership also provides you access to over 90 affiliated lounges worldwide. Here are the new membership rates (in USD):
If you’re just passing through, you may buy a one time access pass for $60 (USD) to visit Alaska lounges in Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York–JFK.
Website: www.alaskaair.com/content/airport-lounge.aspx
American Airlines Admirals Club
American Admirals Club membership provides access to nearly 90 worldwide Admirals Club and partner lounge locations. You can buy day passes at US$59 each to access Admirals Clubs as well. You an also use AAdvantage miles to pay for memberships. Current pricing of annual pass memberships is as follow (in USD):
Website: www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/clubs/admirals-club-membership.jsp
Delta SkyClub
Delta SkyClub annual membership gives you access to over 250 lounges around the world. Current pricing on annual memberships are as follows:
Executive Membership Includes unlimited Club access for the member and up to two guests per visit. One-Year Rate: US$1495.00 or 149,500 miles.
Individual Membership Includes unlimited Club access for the member only. Individual Members may bring up to two guests to the Club at the rate of US$50.00 per guest per visit. One-Year Rate: US$695.00 or 69,500 miles
Website: www.delta.com/us/en/delta-sky-club/overview
United Club
United Club annual membership provides access to over 45 United Clubs Worldwide. They also sell single day access passes for $59. Current pricing of annual pass memberships is as follow (in USD):
Website: www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/airport/lounge/default.aspx
There you go. Now you know most of the ways to get access to business class lounges without being an elite level frequent flyer or flying in first or business class.
This feature was first posted on October 10, 2013 and is updated on a regular basis
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