Finest airport lounge entry bank cards in Canada
Airport lounge entry can remodel an in any other case gruelling layover into a calming respite. Lounges might supply free snacks and drinks (together with complimentary alcoholic drinks), free Wi-Fi, plentiful snug seating, devoted work areas, showers, sleep pods and even spa companies. It’s little marvel, then, that for a lot of frequent fliers, lounge entry is an particularly coveted bank card function. Let’s have a look at the lounge entry playing cards that at the moment prime the class in Canada.
Finest total airport lounge entry bank card
At a look: With six complimentary airport lounge visits a 12 months, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card presents essentially the most free visits amongst bank cards in a comparable price vary. For that purpose alone, the cardboard pays for itself. Including to its travel-friendly attract is the truth that it’s one of many few playing cards in Canada that doesn’t cost a international transaction (FX) price. Different playing cards usually cost 2.5% on purchases made in a international foreign money.
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Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
Annual price: $150
Welcome supply: earn as much as $1,100 in worth within the first 12 months, together with as much as 35,000 bonus Scene+ factors. To qualify, apply by October 31, 2024.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on steadiness transfers |
| Revenue required | $60,000 per 12 months |
| Credit score rating | 725 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 Scene+ level = $0.01 when redeemed for journey on any airline or lodge (together with AirBnBs). |
Finest luxurious airport lounge entry card
At a look: For Aeroplan factors collectors who need an elevated airport expertise, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege bank card is usually a nice journey companion. It’s filled with journey advantages like limitless free entry for you and a visitor to Maple Leaf Lounges all through North America.
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TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
Annual price: $599
Welcome supply: You possibly can earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan factors once you make your first buy together with your new card; Earn a further 25,000 Aeroplan factors once you spend $12,000 inside 180 days of Account opening. Circumstances apply. Account have to be accepted by September 3, 2024.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on steadiness transfers, 22.99% on money advances |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $150,000 or family revenue of $200,000 |
| Credit score rating | 725 or larger |
| Anniversary bonus | Earn 30,000 Aeroplan factors once you spend a minimum of $24,000 inside 12 months of opening the account. Circumstances apply. |
| Level worth | Aeroplan factors are price $0.02 on common. |
Finest airport lounge entry card for frequent travellers
At a look: It’s one of the crucial costly premium bank cards in Canada, however the $799 annual price will get you entry to essentially the most complete and amenity-laden choice of airport lounges worldwide, together with top-tier American Categorical Centurion Lounges. Relying on the lounge, cardholders might have a limiteless variety of free visits and also can deliver one companion with them at no further price.
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American Categorical Platinum
Annual price: $799
Welcome supply: earn as much as 100,000 rewards factors ($1,000 worth). Circumstances apply.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | N/A (as a cost card, you’re required to repay your steadiness in full each month) |
| Revenue required | None |
| Credit score rating | 760 or larger |
| Anniversary bonus | $200 annual eating credit score to make use of at a curated checklist of Canada’s prime eating places. Plus, $200 annual journey credit score when reserving by way of American Categorical Journey On-line. |
| Level worth | 1 Amex Membership Rewards level = $0.01 when redeemed with the Versatile Factors Journey Program, $0.015 on common with the Mounted Factors Journey Program, and as much as $0.02 with airline factors transfers. |
Finest airport lounge entry card for infrequent journey
At a look: If you end up in an airport even only a few instances a 12 months, you’ll admire that the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard presents free membership within the Mastercard Journey Go program offered by DragonPass, plus 4 free passes a 12 months.
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BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
Annual price: $150
Welcome supply: You possibly can earn as much as 100,000 factors
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 23.99% on money advances, 23.99% on steadiness transfers |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $80,000 or family revenue of $150,000 |
| Credit score rating | 760 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 BMO Rewards level = $0.0067 when redeemed for journey. |
Finest airport lounge entry card for travelling to the U.S.
At a look: When you continuously cross the border to the U.S. for holidays, work journeys or household visits, take into account the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite. The cardboard consists of membership within the Visa Airport Companion Program and in addition provides you 4 free lounge visits a 12 months. Each 4 years, you get an announcement credit score of as much as $100 in direction of a Nexus utility price.
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CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
Annual price: $139
Welcome supply: You possibly can earn as much as $1,400 in worth together with a primary 12 months annual price rebate.
Card particulars
| Rates of interest | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on steadiness transfers |
| Revenue required | Private revenue of $60,000 or family revenue of $100,000 |
| Credit score rating | 760 or larger |
| Level worth | 1 level= $0.01 on common. |
Professionals
- Features a free membership to the Visa Airport Companion Program managed by DragonPass, in addition to 4 free lounge visits per 12 months.
- Versatile rewards program that lets you redeem factors for journey, merchandise, reward playing cards, mortgage funds and extra.
- Save as much as 10 cents/litre on gasoline at eligible gasoline stations in case you hyperlink your card with Journie Rewards, a loyalty program that helps you earn factors at Pioneer, Fasgas, Ultramar and Chevron gasoline stations.
Cons
- To get the very best earn charge of two factors for each $1 spent, you should make a journey buy through the CIBC Rewards Centre.
- The worth of factors decreases after they’re not used for journey.
- There’s an $80,000 cap on the 1.5-point earn charge, after which you’ll solely get 1 level per $1 spent on groceries, gasoline and drugstore purchases.
Our methodology: How we decide the perfect playing cards
The MoneySense editorial group selects the perfect bank cards by assessing the worth they supply to Canadians throughout varied classes. Our greatest bank cards for airport lounge entry rating relies on an in depth checklist of card particulars and options—with a give attention to people who matter to air travellers—together with the variety of airport lounge visits, annual charges, rates of interest, welcome presents, rewards earn charges and redemption choices, annual revenue necessities and perks. We now have additionally thought-about the professionals and cons of every card that will help you decide which of them greatest fit your monetary wants. Our rankings are an unbiased supply of knowledge for Canadians. The addition of hyperlinks from affiliate companions has no bearing on the outcomes. Learn extra about how MoneySense makes cash.
Airport lounge entry applications in Canada
| Program | Key particulars |
|---|---|
| DragonPass Variety of lounges: Greater than 1,200 worldwide |
In 2022, DragonPass took over the airport lounge applications for Visa and Mastercard; in Canada, the applications at the moment are respectively referred to as the Visa Airport Companion Program and Mastercard Journey Go offered by DragonPass. This system consists of entry to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada, in addition to a whole bunch of various lounge applications worldwide. Lounges function snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi, showers and enterprise centres. Cardholders can often use their free passes for themselves and for a visitor, however particular guidelines range by lounge. |
| Maple Leaf Lounges Variety of lounges: 16 throughout North America and Europe |
Facilities embody cell-free quiet zones, snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi and showers. Maple Leaf Lounges can solely be utilized by prospects departing on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Categorical or a Star Alliance associate airline. |
| Centurion Lounges Variety of lounges: Greater than 40 worldwide |
Centurion Lounges usually function high-quality meals (designed by award-winning cooks) and drinks (and will even function a signature cocktail), free high-speed Wi-Fi, plush seating and devoted working areas. Some function elevated facilities like spa companies, nap pods and showers. Centurion Lounges are sometimes a part of The American Categorical International Lounge Assortment that options greater than 1,300 airport lounges in over 140 international locations. |
How you can get free entry to airport lounges in Canada
A number of journey bank cards supply entry to airport lounges for cardholders. Relying on the bank card, you will get a sure variety of lounge visits yearly in particular international locations world wide. If you wish to get free limitless entry to airport lounges, take into account a bank card just like the American Categorical Platinum Card which incorporates the American Categorical International Lounge Assortment. The cardboard comes with a reasonably large annual price, like most bank cards with airport lounge entry, however the card’s rewards and advantages might outweigh the price in case you are a frequent flier and worth the flexibility to go to airport lounges once you’re touring.
The price of airport lounge entry in Canada
If it’s not supplied as a free perk together with your bank card, you’ll must pay for airport lounge entry.
Air Canada presents three tiers of Maple Leaf Membership memberships. Prices vary from $375 to $665 per 12 months. Company pay $59 per go to, and hourly passes will not be out there. Word that Air Canada has quickly suspended the sale of memberships to Maple Leaf Membership, and there’s no indication when it can resume promoting them.
Precedence Go memberships vary from USD$99 per 12 months for a Customary membership to USD$469 per 12 months for a Status membership. The previous comes with zero free lounge visits—members pay $USD35 per go to, the identical as friends. In the meantime, Status members get limitless complimentary visits.
The prices of DragonPass memberships are comparable: charges vary from USD $99 per 12 months for a Traditional membership (which incorporates one free lounge go to) to USD$429 for a Status membership (which comes with limitless lounge entry).
For Plaza Premium lounges, you will get a move for a set variety of visits. For instance, in Canada, you should buy a five-visit move for USD$155. Otherwise you e book with by the hour. The Plaza Premium Lounge at Toronto Pearson Airport, for instance, fees $66.68 for a two-hour go to.
If you need free airport lounge entry, your choices are extra restricted. First-class passengers might get entry as a part of their ticket advantages, and Air Canada’s Aeroplan program presents entry to Elite members who’ve reached an eligible standing stage. For frequent travellers, carrying an airport lounge bank card will be the easiest and most cost-effective option to get this premium perk.
DragonPass vs. Precedence Go: Which do you have to select?
DragonPass and Precedence Go are third-party lounge entry membership suppliers. Up till 2022, Precedence Go was the first associate for many Mastercard and Visa airport lounge applications. Nonetheless, DragonPass has change into the associate of selection for many bank card lounge entry applications for playing cards just like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite. You possibly can nonetheless entry the Precedence Go program with the American Categorical Platinum Card, nevertheless.
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