Discover the best airport lounge access programs so you can enjoy a little luxury at the airport, no matter what type of plane ticket deal you scored.
With these airport lounge access programs, you can spend time at the airport comfortably between flights – or even show up very early for your flight for a little R&R!
It can be a real treat to use an airport lounge instead of hanging around the boarding gate on uncomfortable chairs, without an electrical plug and all-too-often weak WiFi.
Why Use an Airport Lounge?
Having airport lounge access provides a much more enjoyable layover at the airport. Most airport lounges have free WiFi, tons of plugs to charge your electronics, and complimentary snacks and drinks. You get to monitor your departure time from within the lounge and catch up on news or events with the televisions or newspapers you have access to. There are usually business centres to get some work done, too!
Some more intense lounges have napping rooms or showers with soap, shampoo and towels so you can refresh between long flights. Travelling with kids? Some airport lounge access includes a safe playroom for them to burn energy before a flight.
How to Get Airport Lounge Access
While it might feel like airport lounge access is out of reach, there are a few ways to make it passed the doors and stay a while. Here are some tips for getting to those airport lounges.
Airline Lounge Programs
Being loyal to an airline company does have its perks! One of the benefits to racking up miles on a single company is gaining access to their airport lounges. And if you are looking for something especially fancy and high class, Air Canada was just voted World’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining at this year’s Skytrax World Airline Awards. Depending on the airline reward program, it’s also possible to gain access to lounges at certain reward mile membership levels.
Credit Card Lounge Access Programs
You have probably seen advertisements for travel-oriented credit cards that provide airport lounge access. If you have a travel credit card, make sure to check out your perks so you don’t miss out on anything you’re paying for with the annual fee.
Travel-oriented credit cards also tend to provide other travel perks like travel insurance and travel reward points. When signing up for a new credit card, check to see what is included as it might save you a ton of money. As well, it is recommended to check new credit card releases every few years to make sure you aren’t missing out on any new/better travel rewards.
Airport Lounge Programs
You can purchase annual memberships for airport lounge access that are not connected to any airline or credit card. You can purchase these memberships at different levels, which provides you unlimited access or paid access.
Purchasing One-Time Airport Lounge Access
If you are not part of any airport lounge access program, there are opportunities to purchase one-time lounge passes.
You can do this in person or on sites like LoungeBuddy where you can purchase individual passes for as low as $25 USD. It is important to note that not all airport lounges allow one-time entrance passes.
Going as a ‘Plus One’
If you’re really lucky, someone you’re travelling with will have an extra guest pass for entry to an airport lounge!
Best Airport Lounge Access Programs in 2019
1. Priority Pass
In order to have the Priority Pass membership, you can purchase it directly from their site or have it included in certain credit card perks.
Being a Priority Pass member grants you access to over 1,200 lounges in 500 cities around the world. It can also be used to save on airport shopping, dining and spa experiences.
Depending on how often you use airport lounges, there are different membership tiers at different rates.
- The standard membership has the lowest annual fee, but each lounge visit requires an additional fee ($27 USD).
- The standard plus membership is more expensive and includes 10 free visits. Beyond the 10, lounge visits charge an additional fee ($27 USD).
- The prestige membership is the most expensive and most comprehensive, which is perfect for avid travellers. With this high-end Priority Pass, all lounge visits are included.
- Each membership tier allows guest access to lounges for an additional fee.
Credit cards that include complimentary Priority Pass lounge access include:
- American Express Air Miles Reserve Card, American Express Platinum Card, BMO World Elite Mastercard, CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite Privilege Card, Desjardins Visa Odyssey Infinite Privilege, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card, Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card, TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card, and more.
2. Mastercard Airport Experiences
The Mastercard Airport Experience memberships grants paid access to over 1000 airport lounges. Many of these lounges are the same as the Priority Pass lounges.
Different credit cards provide different admission tiers. Some have complimentary lounge visits while others require admission fees ($27 USD per person/visit).
Not all Mastercard customers are eligible for access. World Elite and World Mastercard accounts need to provide account proof in order to sign up for the program.
Credit cards that include Mastercard Airport Experiences include:
- Rogers World Elite Mastercard, BMO World Elite Mastercard, BMO AIR MILES World Mastercard, National Bank World Elite, Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard, RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard, and more.
3. Maple Leaf Lounges
Air Canada has its own airport lounges with the Maple Leaf Lounges and their partner lounges around the world.
There are three different tiers of membership, depending on where you intend to travel.
- Maple Leaf Club Canada provides access to 17 lounges across Canada.
- Maple Leaf Club North America Plus provides access to 17 lounges in Canada, 42 lounges in the United States and 3 lounges in Europe.
- Maple Leaf Club Worldwide provides access to the Canadian and American lounges, including 156 lounges worldwide.
Membership can be paid annually for a fee or by redeeming Aeroplan miles. Of course, as an airline-owned lounge, you can gain access through your airline tickets or Elite statuses. Maple Leaf Lounge access is granted to customers travelling in Air Canada Signature Class, Business Class, Premium Rouge, and Altitude Super Elite, Elite and Star Alliance Gold Members, among others.
Credit cards that include complimentary Maple Leaf lounge access include:
- TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card, CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite Card, American Express AeroplanPlus Platinum Card, and more.
4. Credit Cards
Travel-oriented credit cards can offer a lot of perks like points redeemable for travel, travel insurance, hotel upgrades, and airport lounge access. Here are four of the top travel credit cards in Canada.
American Express Personal Platinum
The American Express Personal Platinum card has a large annual fee, but part of that is made up in the annual travel credit you can redeem. Cardholders have unlimited access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes Priority Pass and other programs like Delta Sky Club, The Centurion Lounge, and more.
BMO World Elite Mastercard
With a smaller annual fee (and first year free), this credit card provides BMO Reward points, travel insurance, travel credit (restrictions), and access to the Mastercard Airport Experiences lounges, with four free lounge passes per year.
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite allows you to collect rewards points, have comprehensive travel insurance, and a Priority Pass membership with six free lounge passes per year.
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
This credit card includes reward points, travel credit, travel insurance, mobile device insurance, a NEXUS rebate and a Priority Pass membership with four free lounge passes per year.
Now that you know all about airport lounge access, put it to good use! Book a cheap flight with Skyscanner and bask in the luxuriousness of an airport lounge during your trip.
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