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For a frequent traveller, lounge access can vastly improve air travel, especially if you have to make multiple flight connections. On a long-distance trip with layovers, having access to food and drinks, a quiet place to rest, entertainment, a business centre and even a shower during a stop on your journey can make the difference between arriving at your destination exhausted and arriving refreshed.
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Of course, you can purchase one-time access to a lounge, but it will cost you only a little less than half the price of a yearly unlimited access subscription, such as Priority Pass. A variety of Canadian credit cards offer lounge privileges included with the annual fee, but there are differences around how access is granted and which ones you can visit. Some cards offer unlimited access to select airport lounges, while others offer limited access each year. If it’s possible to determine how many times you will be travelling in a year, it can help you decide which card will hold the most value for you.
In Canada, there are different types of airport lounges you can access through your credit card, including Priority Pass lounges, those in the American Express Global Lounge Collection and traditional airline-specific lounges, such as Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge and the Mastercard Experience Lounges. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the best credit cards for lounge access, along with annual fees and the value of their lounge benefits.
The best credit cards with airport lounge access
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Best overall airport lounge access credit card
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card*
With a $139 annual fee, this card gets you a Priority Pass membership, plus six free visits per year to all participating lounges worldwide, including both Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges. Each lounge offers complimentary snacks and refreshments, internet access, a spot to charge your devices and, of course, a relaxing atmosphere. If you consider the full retail value of these passes, not to mention the cards’ other perks, the annual fee pays for itself.
Beyond that, it offers no foreign transaction fees (both online and when you’re abroad). It also offers competitive travel insurance coverage, including emergency medical, flight delay, lost baggage, hotel/motel burglary and rental car coverage. What sets this card apart is that it’s well-rounded and makes for a great card even if you don’t end up travelling this year. It earns you Scene+ points on your everyday expenses, which you can redeem for travel, along with movies, merchandise, gift cards and more.
- Annual fee: $139
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Interest rates: purchases 19.99%, cash advances 22.99%, balance transfers 22.99%
- Income requirement: $60,000, a minimum household income of $100,000 or a minimum of $250,000 in assets under management
- Welcome bonus: Earn up to 35,000 Scene+ points. First, earn 25,000 points when you spend $1,000 in everyday purchases in the first 3 months. Then, get another 10,000 points when you spend $40,000 on everyday purchases in the first year. Must apply by July 4, 2022.
- Rewards: 2 points per $1 on grocery, entertainment, dining and transit/travel; 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Perks: Priority Pass membership with 6 complimentary visits a year; no foreign transaction fee; comprehensive travel insurance
Get more details about the Scotiabank Passport Infinite Privilege*
Best luxury airport lounge access card
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
If you’re a loyal Aeroplan points collector who also wants to have a better airport experience, consider this card. You’ll get access to Maple Leaf lounges, complete with complimentary snacks and beverages, internet access and showers. Plus, get a Priority Pass membership and six complimentary visits per year. You also get a host of other perks to make you feel like a VIP at the airport, like priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling (and other perks) for you and up to eight companions. You’ll also get a Nexus fee rebate of up to $100 every 48 months and free first checked bags, too. You’ll get an extensive suit of travel insurance, even as you continue to earn Aeroplan points on your every day purchases that you can redeem for Air Canada flights, merchandise and gift cards.
- Annual fee: $599
- Interest rates: purchases 19.99%, cash advances 22.99%
- Income requirement: $150,000 individual or $200,000 household annual income
- Welcome bonus: When you apply online by May 29, you can earn 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card. Plus, get 85,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 each month for the first 10 months.
- Rewards: 2 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on direct purchases with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery, travel and dining purchases, 1.25 points per $1 spent everywhere else.
- Other perks: Access to Maple Leaf Lounges, complimentary Priority Pass membership with 6 complimentary visits per year, Nexus fee rebate up to $100 every 48 months, free first checked bag, priority check-in, priority baggage handling, priority boarding, priority airport standby, priority upgrades.
Best airport lounge access card for frequent travellers
American Express The Platinum Card
This top-tier card offers unlimited access to the widest range of airport lounges, which are included with your annual fee. With it, you gain access to the lounges across the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including: Priority Pass, Amex’s own Centurion Lounge, Plaza Premium Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when flying with the carrier). The lounges in the American Express Centurion Lounge Collection are impressive, with seasonal and locally inspired menus, curated wine pairings and refreshing showers.
That said, the Platinum Card comes at a steep $699 annual fee, but along with it comes a suite of benefits, including hotel status, enhanced lounge options, and premium insurance coverage. When you factor in the $200 annual travel credit in the welcome bonus, it brings the annual fee down to $499. If you know you’ll leverage the benefits, like if you travel very frequently, this is a worthwhile option.
- Annual fee: $699
- Interest rates: N/A
- Income requirement: N/A
- Welcome bonus: Earn up to 110,000 points. In the first three months of having the card, you’ll get 90,000 points after you charge $6,000 in net purchases to your card. You can also earn 10 points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases (up to 20,000 points) for the first six months of having the card. Must apply by May 11, 2022.
- Rewards: 3 points per $1 on dining and food delivery; 1 point per $1 on everything else
- Perks: Priority Pass and American Express Centurion Lounge access; Toronto Pearson Airport priority lane; hotel status at select brands; premium medical, flight delay/cancellation and baggage insurance
Get more details about The Platinum Card from American Express*
Best airport lounge access card for occasional travel
BMO World Elite Mastercard*
With this card, you’ll receive four passes to use yourself or to share with your travel companions, which is a great option if you’re not a frequent flyer but still want the flexibility of using a lounge a few times a year. It offers no annual fee the first year, as well as a competitive welcome bonus (70,000 BMO Rewards points, worth $467, after you spend a minimum of $3,000 in the first three months of membership). It also offers participation in the Mastercard Airport Experiences program. Mastercard’s Airport Experiences program and lounges are run by LoungeKey and offer World Elite users access to 1,000 lounges around the globe. Beyond that, this card allows you to earn BMO Rewards points at a reasonable rate of three points per $1 spent on travel, dining and entertainment and two points per $1 spent on everything else. They can be redeemed for flights (including fees and taxes), hotels, car rentals, cruises and vacation packages. You can also use your points toward products and gift cards, contribute them to a savings account or use them toward eligible purchases.
- Annual fee: $150 (first year free)
- Interest rates: purchases 20.99%, cash advances 23.99%, balance transfers 22.99%
- Income requirement: $80,000 individual or $150,000 household annual income required
- Welcome bonus: Get 60,000 points ($400 in travel rewards) when you sign up.
- Rewards: 3 points per $1 on travel, dining and entertainment; 2 points per $1 on everything else
- Perks: Participation in Mastercard Airport Experiences provided by LoungeKey; four complimentary lounge access passes per year (use by primary member or with companions); extended warranty, purchase protection and BMO World Elite travel and medical protection
Get more details about the BMO World Elite Mastercard*
Best airport lounge access card for travelling to the U.S.
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite*
If you frequently cross the border to the U.S. for vacations, work trips or to visit family, you should consider this card. Not only does it gain you access to the Priority Pass program, it gets you four visits a year and a rebate on your Nexus membership. While this card offers two less lounge visits than the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite, the annual fee is rebated the first year, and you get a Nexus membership rebate for $50. It also comes with an extensive suite of travel insurance, including out-of-province emergency travel medical insurance and more. Plus, you can earn Adventura points on your everyday purchases that can be redeemed plenty of ways, including for travel, merchandise, paying down your credit card or contributing to savings accounts.
- Annual fee: $139 (rebated first year)
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Interest rates: purchases 20.99%, cash advances 22.99%, balance transfers 22.99%
- Income requirement: $60,000 individual or $100,000 household annual income
- Welcome bonus: Earn up to $1,250 in points in your first year of having the card. Get 40,000 points ($850 in travel value), including 20,000 points from your first purchase with the card. Earn another 15,000 points. when you spend $1,000 on the card.
- Rewards: 2 points per $1 in CIBC Rewards Centre; 1.5 points per $1 on gas, grocery and drug stores; 1 point per $1 on everything else
Perks: Priority Pass membership with 4 visits a year; Nexus card fee rebate ($50 value, every 4 years); out-of-province emergency travel medical insurance; flight delay and baggage insurance; purchase protection and mobile device insurance
Get more details about the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
This article was originally published on Nov 27, 2020. It was last updated on April 14, 2022.
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More on credit cards:
- Canada’s best travel cards 2022
- Canada’s best credit cards for gas
- Canada’s best credit cards for grocery purchases 2022
- Best cash back credit cards
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