Top 11 Lounge Credit Cards in Canada for December 2025

From our Editors: The Full List of The Best Lounge Credit Cards in Canada

Best Overall: American Express Platinum Card

There’s one card that’s particularly popular for its perks, specifically its lounge access. The American Express Platinum Card is your platinum-plated ticket to The American Express Global Lounge Collection; a network of over 1,400 partner airport lounges, at over 500 airports, in approximately 140 countries. The best part? You can visit these lounges as many times as you’d like, without paying an entry fee. Plus, oftentimes, you can bring a travel companion. It's benefits like these and the plenty of others that make this card one of the best perks credit cards in Canada.

While other cards offer unlimited access to certain airport lounges, none of them feature unlimited access to a network with quite as many options. As expected, however, this premium contender comes with the highest annual fee. Learn more in our Amex Platinum Card Review.

Best No annual fee: Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard

While the Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard isn’t traditionally known as a lounge credit card, it still earns an honourable place on this list for travellers who want excellent everyday rewards, no annual fee, and basic travel perks, without committing to a premium card.

This card does not include complimentary airport lounge entries, but eligible cardholders do receive access to Mastercard Travel Pass Provided by DragonPass, which allows pay-per-use entry into participating airport lounges worldwide. This makes it one of the most accessible—and budget-friendly—ways for Canadians to step into the lounge ecosystem without paying high fees. Learn more in our Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard Review

Best No-FX Fee Card: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

This next contender is credited as one of the top credit cards in Canada with no foreign transaction fees. On top of no foreign transaction fees, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card boasts a handful of complimentary Dragon Pass airport lounge visits. Complimentary visits apply to any of the cardholder’s guests, as long as the primary cardholder is present. These two top-tier perks are accompanied by strong travel coverage and solid Scene+ points on common categories that can later be redeemed at a high value towards trip expenses.

All of these features combined are what makes the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card one of the best travel credit cards in Canada. To qualify, however, you'll need to meet some annual income requirements and you'll have to pay an annual fee. For the full details, check out our Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card Review.

Best Aeroplan Option: Aeroplan Reserve Card

Prefer to travel with Air Canada? The Aeroplan Reserve Card is one of the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada, offering unlimited access for you and one guest to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafes. The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card also provides cardholders with a Priority Pass, but this perk excludes any complimentary visits. You’ll also find benefits like priority travel advantages, status lifts, a companion voucher, and free first checked bags packed into this card. The insurance coverage is extensive and the Aeroplan points per dollar spent on Air Canada purchases and dining makes the card perfect for travellers and foodies alike.

Sure, the annual fee is high, but you're paying for premium Aeroplan perks and points. Find out more in our Aeroplan Reserve Card Review.

Best Privilege Contender: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card comes with a Visa Airport Companion membership, plus some complimentary Dragon Pass airport lounge visits per year. Complimentary visits can be used for the cardholder alone or any accompanying guests. The card also includes perks like priority travel advantages, a flat-rate of Avion points on all eligible purchases, and comprehensive coverage. To qualify, you'll need to meet some extremely high annual income requirements and front an expensive annual fee. See more in out RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card Review.

Best Aeroplan Dual Lounge Access + Perks Card: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card

For those who want unlimited Maple Leaf lounge access, several complimentary visits to Dragon Pass lounges per year, and tons of other travel perks like priority travel benefits, free first checked bags, and plenty of status lifts, apply for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card. This contender also provides extensive travel insurance, including travel medical insurance for those over 65. Cardholders can also collect decent Aeroplan points on Air Canada, gas, groceries, dining and more, plus double the points on partner purchases. For more information, read our TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card Review.

Best Affordable Plaza Premium Access: American Express Gold Rewards Card

If Plaza Premium and Priority Pass lounges are more your style, consider the American Express Gold Rewards Card. This card grants you a Priority Pass membership, plus some complimentary visits to Plaza Premium lounges. These visits can be applied towards both the cardmember and any accompanying travel companions. Travellers also receive a travel credit, complimentary hotel benefits on accommodations booked through American Express Travel, and a Nexus Program rebate. Alongside strong coverage, this card earns you decent Amex Membership points per dollar spend on gas, grocery, drugstore, and travel purchases.

Thankfully, you don't need to meet any annual income requirements to qualify, and the annual fee is much lower compared to competitors. Discover more in our American Express Gold Rewards Card Review.

Best Plaza Premium + Priority Pass Access: Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card

If you're willing to pay a little more in annual fees in exchange for more access to both Plaza Premium and Priority Pass lounges, trade gold for platinum. The Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card offers primary cardholders several complimentary visits at both lounge networks, while supplementary cardholders receive fewer cost-free entries. This access is provided alongside no foreign transactions fees, extensive insurance coverage, and commendable Scene+ points per dollar spent on all eligible purchases, plus more when you book travel through Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia. Read more in our Scotiabank Platinum American Express Review.

Best National Bank Lounge Access: National Bank World Elite Mastercard

Is your go-to airport Montreal-Trudeau? If so, apply for the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This card grants cardholders, one guest, and two accompanying children unlimited complimentary access to the National Bank Lounge, located exclusively inside Montreal-Trudeau Airport. This lounge access accompanies an annual travel credit, solid insurance coverage, and impressive National Bank Rewards points per dollar spent on groceries, dining, gas, recurring bills, and travel booked through À La Carte Rewards. While the annual income requirements are high, the annual fee is relatively low. Learn more in our National Bank World Elite Mastercard Review.

Most Affordable: BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

For the most affordable lounge access credit card on this list, try the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard. This is the only lounge access card with a relatively low annual fee that's also waived for the first year of membership. At such a low price point, the card gives you a few complimentary Dragon Pass airport lounge visits per year. The free visits can be used by the cardholder and any accompanying travel companions. Other benefits include a variety of discounts on rental cars, data roaming plans, and Cirque du Soleil performances. Using this card, spenders collect BMO Rewards points on travel, dining, recurring bill payment, and entertainment purchases. For the full breakdown, check out our BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard Review.

Honourable Mention: CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card

While the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card isn't the best Aeroplan lounge access credit card on this list, it's still worth mentioning. This contender provides travellers with a handful of free access to Maple Leaf lounges, plus travel perks like free first checked bags, a companion voucher, and gas discounts. The card also includes some notable coverage, like extensive travel medical insurance for those over 65, earning it a spot in our Top Canadian Credit Cards for Seniors and Travel Insurance article. Both the annual fee and the annual income requirements on this card are quite steep, so it might not be for everyone. Read more in our CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card Review.

Best Airport Lounge Collection

In this blog post, we've listed the best lounge access credit cards, but many cards cater to different airport lounge collections. It's a good idea for you to familiarize yourself with each lounge collection before sending in an application. This way, you'll be able to decipher which collection is best for you and your travel habits, narrowing down your card selection even further.

National Bank Lounge

The National Bank Lounge is perhaps the most exclusive airport lounge on this list, which can be good or bad, depending on where you tend to fly out from. In fact, there's only one National Bank Lounge located inside the Montreal-Trudeau Airport, near Gate 53.

National Bank World Elite Cardholders, a guest, and two accompanying children can access the National Bank Lounge for free. Any additional travellers will be subject to a discounted entry fee.

Lounge services include:

• A quiet space to work or relax before take off
• Food and beverages
• Wi-Fi
• Newspapers and magazines

Ultimately, National Bank Lounge access is ideal for those who fly out exclusively from Montreal-Trudeau Airport.

Maple Leaf Lounges

Brought to you by Air Canada, Maple Leaf lounges are designed to help passengers relax and recharge before their flights. Each affiliated lounge is situated within 17 airports across Canada, the United States, and Europe.

This tight-knit collection of lounges includes amenities like:

• Complimentary snacks and beverages
• Showers
• Wi-Fi
• Business centres
• Cell phone-free quiet zones
• News and entertainment

Keep in mind that amenities may differ depending on the lounge location.

Here’s where you can find a Maple Leaf lounge to suit your itinerary: 

• Calgary International Airport
• Edmonton International Airport
• Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport
• Los Angeles International Airport
• Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport (Montreal)
• LaGuardia Airport (New York)
• Newark Liberty International Airport (New York)
• Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
• Regina International Airport
• San Francisco International Airport
• Saskatoon Airport
• St. John’s International Airport
• Lester B. Pearson International Airport (Toronto)
• Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (for Aspire Air Canada Cafe)
• Vancouver International Airport
• Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport

Since each Maple Leaf lounge access card on this list only grants cardmembers access to select lounges in Canada and the US, this type of lounge access might be best for domestic and trans-border travellers (those travelling on US-to-Canada or Canada-to-US flights). 

Dragon Pass Lounges

The Dragon Pass provides access to over 1,300 airport lounges across the globe, particularly concentrated in Asia. Canadian travellers can enjoy Dragon Pass services at airports in Montreal (YUL), Toronto (YYZ), Calgary (YYC), Quebec (YQB), Edmonton (YEG), Winnipeg (YWG), and Vancouver (YVR), with some airports hosting multiple Dragon Pass lounges.

Dragon Pass lounges include services like:

• Refreshments
• Entertainment
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Showers
• Flight Status Updates

It’s important to note, however, that services may differ between lounges.

Many Dragon Pass affiliated credit cards come with a complimentary pass that includes some free visits. After the complimentary visits have been redeemed, travellers and any accompanying guests need to pay an entry fee per visit.

For the budget-conscious, there are also some no-fee credit cards that include a free Dragon Pass membership without any complimentary visits.

So, Dragon Pass lounges might be the ideal choice for Canadian travellers who want a bit of a broader airport lounge network (especially for those travelling to Asia), and travellers who want airport lounge perks but who are on a bit of a budget.

Priority Pass Lounges

Linked to plenty of premium credit cards, Priority Pass offers eligible cardholders access to over 1,700 airport lounges and experiences. Compared to the Dragon Pass, these lounges are more focused in North America.

Cardholders can unlock access to the following Canadian airports using Priority Pass:

• Edmonton International: Plaza Premium Lounge (Domestic-International Terminal and US Transborder Terminal)
• Montreal Pierre E. Trudeau International: Air France Lounge operated by Plaza Premium Group, National Bank Lounge
• Ottawa Macdonald Cartier International: Aspire Salon Lounge
• Quebec Jean Lesage International: V.I.P Lounge Par Club Med
• Toronto Billy Bishop City: Aspire Lounge
• Toronto Lester B. Pearson International: Plaza Premium Lounge (US Transborder, Terminal 1), Plaza Premium Lounge (International Departures, Terminal 1), Plaza Premium Lounge (Domestic Departures, Terminal 1), plus 2 Be Relax Spas (Terminal 1)
• Vancouver International: 2 Plaza Premium Lounges (Domestic Departures, Domestic Terminal), Sky Team Lounge (International Departures, International Terminal), Plaza Premium Lounges (US Departures, International Terminal, Plaza Premium Lounge (International Departures, International Terminal)
• Winnipeg J.A. Richardson International: Plaza Premium Lounge
• YYC Calgary International: Elevation Lounge (Concourse B), Aspire Lounge International Departures (Concourse D), Aspire Lounge Transborder Departures Concourse E

Depending on which Priority Pass lounge you visit, you can find the following amenities:

• Refreshments and Dining: some lounges provide complimentary snacks and drinks, plus exclusive restaurant availability.
• Free Wi-Fi: keep yourself connected with your colleagues, friends, and family. 
• Workspaces: stay focused by booking a desk, meeting room, or private office in over 80 countries.
• Spa Treatments: including Oxygen Aromatherapy, massages, manicures, and facials through Be Relax Spas packages.
• Gaming Experiences: select lounges provide access to Game Space, an area where gamers of all ages can play leading game titles and try out purpose-built gaming stations.
• Sleeping Areas: certain locations provide sleep pods so you can be well-rested before takeoff.
• Premium Service and Support: offered by the Membership Services team, access support from multilingual advisors.

Ultimately, if you’re an eligible premium cardholder who wants a widespread selection of global lounges (particularly in North America) with top-tier services, Priority Pass lounge access might actually be a priority. 

Plaza Premium Lounges

You’ll see Plaza Premium lounge access sometimes included as a package deal on certain lounge access networks like the Dragon Pass, Priority Pass, or even the American Express Global Lounge Collection. 

On its own, Plaza Premium provides airport lounges to over 250+ locations, 80+ International Airports, and 30+ countries and regions.

Plaza Premium lounges are scattered across the following destinations:

• Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan regions
• The Americas (including the US, Canada, Mexico, and more)
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• India/Middle East/Africa

Canadian travellers in particular will find lounges at the following airports in Canada:

• Edmonton (YEG)
• Montreal (YUL)
• Toronto (YYZ)
• Vancouver (YVR)
• Winnipeg (YWG)

Depending on which lounge you visit, you can take advantage of amenities like:

• Bar access
• Showers
• Dining experiences
• Lounge seating
• Entertainment
• Wi-Fi
• Charging stations

Besides the Maple Leaf lounge network, you may be able to find Plaza Premium lounges affiliated with other lounge access packages mentioned in this post. Look for these high-quality independent lounges in your lounge access network or opt into these lounges alone as a loyal member with cards like the American Express Gold Rewards Card. 

The American Express Global Lounge Collection

This collection provides top-quality lounge access to Amex Platinum Cardmembers at more than 1,400 airport lounges across over 140 countries. It encapsulates other lounge networks on this list, like Plaza Premium and Priority Pass, offering more airport lounge options than any other competitor on the market.

You can expect the following airport lounges to be included on your participating card:

• The Centurion Lounge
• Plaza Premium Lounges
• Delta Sky Club
• Airspace Lounges
• Escape Lounges
• Escape Lounges - The Centurion Studio Partner
• Priority Pass 
• Executive Lounges by Swissport (available to Canadian Platinum Cardmembers)

These lounges will vary in terms of amenities, but oftentimes, they include:

• Snacks and beverages
• Specialty bars
• Dining experiences
• Wi-Fi
• Entertainment
• Personalized customer support
• Work spaces
• Comfortable seating areas

If you’re a frequent traveller who wants top-of-the-line airport lounge access, then you must consider an American Express Global Lounge Collection credit card.