Best credit cards for airport lounge access 2022
For a frequent flyer, lounge access can dramatically improve air travel, especially if you need to make multiple connections. On a long-distance trip with layovers, having access to food and drink, a quiet place to rest, entertainment, a business center, and even a shower on one leg of your trip can make the difference. difference between arriving at your destination exhausted and arriving refreshed.
Sure, you can buy one-time access to a lounge, but it’ll only cost you just under half the price of an annual unlimited-access membership, such as Priority Pass. Various Canadian credit cards offer lounge privileges included in the annual fee, but there are differences in how access is granted and which ones you can visit. Some cards offer unlimited access to certain airport lounges, while others offer limited access each year. If it’s possible to determine how many times you’ll travel in a year, it can help you decide which card will be most valuable to you.
In Canada, there are different types of airport lounges that you can access with your credit card, including Priority Pass lounges, those in the American Express Global lounge collection, and traditional airline-specific lounges, such as the Air Canada Maple Leaf and Mastercard Experience Lounges. . With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the best credit cards for lounge access, along with the annual fees and value of their lounge benefits.
Best Airport Lounge Access Credit Card
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card*
With an annual fee of $150, this card entitles you to a Priority Pass membership, plus six free visits per year to all participating lounges worldwide, including Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges. Each lounge offers complimentary snacks and refreshments, internet access, a place to charge your devices and, of course, a relaxing atmosphere. If you consider the full retail value of these passes, not to mention the other card benefits, the annual fee is amortized.
Beyond that, it offers no foreign transaction fees (both online and abroad). It also offers competitive travel insurance coverage, including emergency medical insurance, flight delay, lost luggage, hotel/motel burglary, and rental car coverage. What sets this card apart is that it’s well balanced and makes it a great card even if you don’t end up traveling this year. It earns you Scene+ points on your daily spending, which you can redeem for travel, as well as movies, merchandise, gift cards and more.
Best luxury airport lounge access card
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege*
If you’re a loyal Aeroplan points collector who also wants a better airport experience, consider this card. You will have access to the Maple Leaf Lounges, with free snacks and drinks, internet access and showers. Plus, get six free visits to all 1,200 airport lounges 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). You’ll also get a Nexus fee discount of up to $100 every 48 months and a free first checked bag. You’ll benefit from a wide range of travel insurance, even as you continue to earn Aeroplan points on your everyday purchases that you can redeem for Air Canada flights, merchandise and gift cards.
- Annual subscription : $599
- Interest rate: purchases 20.99%, cash advances 22.99%
- Income requirement: $150,000 individual income or $200,000 annual household income
- Welcome bonus: You can earn up to 105,000 Aeroplan points. First, get 20,000 Aeroplan points on your first purchase with your card. Then earn 30,000 additional Aeroplan points when you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days. Finally, get 55,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within the first 12 months of opening an account. Must apply by January 3, 2023.
- Awards: 2 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on direct purchases from Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, 1.5 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on eligible gas, groceries, travel and dining purchases, 1.25 points per dollar spent everywhere else.
- Other advantages : Access to Maple Leaf Lounges, Nexus Fee Discounts of up to $100 every 48 months, First Checked Bag Free, Priority Check-in, Priority Baggage Handling, Priority Boarding, Priority Airport Waiting, Priority Upgrades. Access a round-trip companion annual pass starting at $99 (plus taxes, fees, charges and surcharges).
Best Airport Lounge Pass for Frequent Travelers
American Express The Platinum Card*
This top-of-the-range card offers unlimited access to the widest range of airport lounges, which are included in your annual membership fee. With it, you have access to lounges in the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including: Priority Pass, Amex’s Centurion Lounge, Plaza Premium Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when traveling with the carrier). The lounges at 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 with a hefty annual fee of $699, but it comes with a suite of perks, including hotel status, upgraded lounge options, and premium insurance coverage. When you factor in the $200 annual travel credit in the welcome bonus, that brings the annual fee down to $499. If you know you will reap the benefits, such as if you travel very frequently, this is an attractive option.
- Annual subscription : $699
- Interest rate: N / A
- Income requirement: N / A
- Welcome bonus: Earn up to 80,000 loyalty points. In the first 3 months, you will earn 60,000 points after charging $6,000 in purchases to your card. Then earn an additional 20,000 points when you make a purchase between the first 14 and 17 months of a la carte membership.
- Awards: 3 points per $1 on meals and food delivery; 2 points per $1 spent on travel; 1 point per $1 on everything else
- Advantages: Priority Pass and American Express Centurion Lounge access; Toronto Pearson airport priority lane; hotel status in certain brands; premium medical, flight delay/cancellation and baggage insurance
Best airport lounge pass for casual travel
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard*
With this card, you’ll receive four passes to use on your own or to share with your fellow travelers, which is a great option if you’re not a frequent traveler but still want the option of use a salon a few times a year. It offers no annual fee for the first year, as well as a competitive welcome bonus of 60,000 BMO Rewards points. It also offers participation in the Mastercard Airport Experiences program. Mastercard’s Airport Experiences program and lounges are operated by LoungeKey and offer World Elite users access to 1,000 lounges worldwide. Beyond that, this card lets you earn BMO Rewards points at a reasonable rate of three points per dollar spent on travel, dining, and entertainment, and two points per dollar 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 for products and gift cards, contribute them to a savings account or use them for eligible purchases.
- Annual subscription : $150
- Interest rate: purchases 20.99%, cash advances 23.99%, balance transfers 22.99%
- Income requirement: Individual annual income of $80,000 or household $150,000 required
- Welcome bonus: Get 60,000 points when you sign up for the card.
- Awards: 5 points per $1 on travel, 3 points per $1 on dining and entertainment, 1 point per $1 on everything else
- Advantages: Access to over 1 million Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide, BMO concierge service, extended warranty, purchase protection, and BMO World Elite travel and medical protection
Best Airport Lounge Pass for Traveling in the USA
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
If you frequently cross the border into the United States for vacations, work trips, or to visit family, you should consider this card. Not only does this get you access to the Visa Airport Companion program, but you get four visits per year and a discount on your Nexus membership. Although this card offers two fewer lounge visits than Scotiabank’s Visa Infinite Passport, the annual fee is refunded the first year and you get a $50 Nexus membership discount. It also includes a wide range of travel insurance, including emergency out-of-province travel medical insurance and more. Plus, you can earn Adventura Points on your everyday purchases which can be redeemed in a number of ways, including travel, merchandise, credit card reimbursement, or contributions to savings accounts.
Advantages: Visa Airport Companion Membership with 4 salon visits per 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; use Journie Rewards to save on gas.
This article was originally published on November 27, 2020. It was last updated on April 14, 2022.
