Credit Cards which offer Free Airport Lounge Access (updated May 28, 2018)
A few changes to the industry means that this post was due for an update from last time, namely,
- Now unlimited access on National Bank World MasterCard (now the same as the World Elite version)
- Addition of Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card
- Addition of Priority Pass access to the American Express Business Platinum Card
Airport lounge access has become so popular nowadays that it is almost the norm to be in the lounge. It is definitely the norm for miles and points addicts like myself.
Impressively, Canadians have a fair list of credit card that offer free lounge access at airport around the world. Note that this post will only list free access. I have no included reduced fee access.
Below is a list of card (in alphabetical order) to choose from:
| Credit Cards | Lounge Access | Annual Fees |
| American Express AeroplanPlus Platinum Card | Unlimited access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. | $499 |
| American Express AeroplanPlus Reserve Card | Unlimited access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge.
Unlimited access to Priority Pass Lounges. |
$899 |
| American Express Air Miles Reserve Card | Receive 4 complimentary Priority Pass Lounge passes per membership year. | $299 |
| American Express Business Platinum Card | Unlimited Canadian Platinum Lounge Benefit.
Unlimited access to The Centurion Lounges, along with two guests. Unlimited access to Priority Pass Lounges, along with one companion. Unlimited access to Delta Sky Club airport lounges. |
$499 |
| American Express Platinum Card | Unlimited Canadian Platinum Lounge Benefit.
Unlimited access to Priority Pass Lounges, along with one companion. Unlimited access to The Centurion Lounges, along with two guests. Unlimited access to Delta Sky Club airport lounges. |
$699 |
| BMO Air Miles World Elite MasterCard | Receive 2 complimentary Priority Pass Lounge passes per membership year. | $120 |
| BMO World Elite MasterCard | Receive 4 complimentary Priority Pass Lounge passes per membership year. | $150 |
| CIBC Aerogold Visa Card for Business
|
Receive 1 complimentary Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge pass per calendar year. Only on an Aeroplan Flight Reward flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or under the Air Canada Express banner. | $180 |
| CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite Privilege Card | Receive 4 complimentary Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge passes per calendar year. Only on an Aeroplan Flight Reward flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or under the Air Canada Express banner.
Receive 6 complimentary Priority Pass Lounge passes per membership year. |
$399 |
| CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite Card | Receive 1 complimentary Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge pass per calendar year. Only on an Aeroplan Flight Reward flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or under the Air Canada Express banner. | $120 |
| Desjardins Visa Odyssey Infinite Privilege | Receive 12 complimentary Desjardins Odyssey Lounge passes per year.
Receive 6 complimentary Priority Pass Lounge passes per membership year. |
$395 |
| Desjardins Odyssey World Elite MasterCard | Receive 8 complimentary Desjardins Odyssey Lounge passes per year. | $130 |
| NBC World Elite MasterCard | Unlimited access to the National Bank World MasterCard lounge, along with a companion. | $150 |
| NBC World MasterCard | Unlimited access to the National Bank World MasterCard lounge, along with a companion. | $125 |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card | Receive 6 complimentary Priority Pass Lounge passes per membership year. | $399 |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card | Receive 6 complimentary Priority Pass Lounge passes per membership year. | $139 |
| Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card | Receive 10 complimentary Priority Pass Lounge passes per membership year.
Supplementary cardholder receives 4 complimentary Priority Pass Lounge passes per membership year. |
$399 |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card | Receive 1 complimentary Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge pass per calendar year. Only on an Aeroplan Flight Reward flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or under the Air Canada Express banner. | $149 |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card | Receive 1 complimentary Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge pass per calendar year. Only on an Aeroplan Flight Reward flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or under the Air Canada Express banner. | $120 |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card | Receive 4 complimentary Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge passes per calendar year. Only on an Aeroplan Flight Reward flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or under the Air Canada Express banner.
Receive 6 complimentary Priority Pass Lounge passes per membership year. |
$399 |
Please let me know if I missed any credit cards!
Amex AeroplanPlus Platinum has never given unlimited PP access. Each visit costs US$27.
Thanks for spotting that! Post has been updated.
Hello Matt,
I am a big fan of your posts
I have already the Scotia Amex gold rewards card and just received my 25000 bonus points after spending $1000 so I’m not sure if I can still apply for the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite to get the 25000 points and the 6
priority pass lounge passes.
Are the 6 passes mailed to me after I get approved ?
Many thanks
I don’t see why you cannot have both cards. The Priority Passes should be linked to your Priority Pass membership card.
Great information! It would be nice to know if any of the annual fee can be waived. ie.: BMO World Elite can be waived if you have premium cheque account with BMO.
Will look into this for a future post. I usually do not write posts linking banking accounts to credit cards.
Though not exactly the same, I find multi-product rebate very close to the definition of “Tied Selling” https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/tiedselling.asp
BMO is no longer affiliated with Priority Pass.
Thanks for letting me know! This post is a little outdated now.
Here is the updated one: https://pointshogger.boardingarea.com/priority-pass-in-canada-updated-september-10-2018
Can you please add the President’s Choice Financial World Elite Mastercard to your list. It also offers a free lounge access at the airport. Thank you.
Where do you see free lounge access? Source?
Hi, did not find my card in your list. I have a BMO Diners Club Mastercard and it provides free access to over 850 airport lounges around the globe. I think in term of lounge access this card is the best.
https://www.dinersclub.com/clubmembers/airport-lounges#!
Thanks for the heads up. Will look into adding it to the next list!
It would be great if you could include Rogers Bank Credit Cards and PC Financial Credit Cards as well. Thanks.
I would love to include them when they offer Free airport lounge passes (as mentioned in the title).
This is what the Rogers card currently offers: “LoungeKey membership – you and a guest can gain access to over 850 airport lounges worldwide for $27USD per person/visit” (https://www.rogersbank.com/en/airport_experiences)
This card is only available in Alberta, but the ATB World Elite MC gives you two free lounge passes per year. They also have the deal where the annual fee is waived with their top-most checking account.
Thanks for the heads up Jordan!
Do you know if Amex Cobalt or BMO airmiles (blue one) offer lounge access?
No unfortunately they do not.
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Question, Do we just show the credit card at the lounge, or do we have to get vouchers first? Thanks for any help. If someone could email the correct response that would be so much appreciated. tvmackinnon@gov.pe.ca
For the most part, just show your credit card. In the past some cards mailed a voucher. Think most companies are going for paperless.
I have both RBC Avion Platinum and RBC Visa Infinite cards. What airport lounge can I get into in Hong Kong? Do I just show a card or do I need a voucher?
They should be creating you a Priority Pass account. You can find lounges here: https://www.prioritypass.com/en/airport-lounges
Do rbc master card or td visa card work for lounge ?
That’s a good question. Here is our more updated post on Lounge Access: https://pointshogger.com/credit-cards-which-offer-free-airport-lounge-access-updated-april-19-2021
You will notice 2 cards on that post that would answer your question: RBC WestJet World Elite MasterCard and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card.