Greatest bank cards for airport lounge entry for 2023
Airport lounge entry can rework an in any other case gruelling layover into a calming respite. Relying on the airport and the kind of program you belong to, lounges might provide free snacks and drinks (together with complimentary alcoholic drinks), free Wi-Fi, plentiful snug seating, devoted work areas, showers, sleep pods and even spa providers. It’s little surprise, then, that for a lot of Canadian frequent fliers, lounge entry is an particularly coveted bank card characteristic. Fortunately, you possibly can select from a stable collection of bank cards that characteristic airport lounge entry applications as a part of their perks.
Be aware that solely a choose few playing cards provide limitless lounge entry, whereas others provide a restricted variety of visits per yr. The entire playing cards featured beneath include an annual charge. These charges differ considerably between playing cards, so realizing how a lot you fly in a mean yr, and what different perks you can also make use of, will assist you to decide which card provides probably the most worth.
How we decide the perfect playing cards
The MoneySense editorial workforce selects the perfect bank cards by assessing the worth they supply to Canadians throughout numerous classes. Our greatest bank cards for airport lounge entry rating is predicated on an intensive record of card particulars and options—with a deal with people who matter to air travellers—together with the variety of airport lounge visits, annual charges, rates of interest, welcome provides, rewards earn charges and redemption choices, annual revenue necessities and perks. We’ve additionally thought-about the professionals and cons of every card that can assist you decide which of them finest fit your monetary wants. Our rankings are an unbiased supply of data for Canadians. The addition of hyperlinks from affiliate companions has no bearing on the outcomes. Learn extra about how MoneySense makes cash.
Greatest total airport lounge entry bank card
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card*
At a look: With six complimentary airport lounge visits a yr, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card provides probably the most free visits amongst bank cards in a comparable charge vary. For that cause 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) charge. Different playing cards sometimes cost 2.5% on purchases made in a international forex. It additionally provides aggressive journey insurance coverage protection, together with uncommon lodge/motel housebreaking protection. You’ll additionally earn Scene+ factors in your on a regular basis bills. Redeem your factors for journey, together with films, merchandise, present playing cards and extra.
- Annual charge: $150
- Rates of interest: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on stability transfers
- Annual revenue requirement: Private revenue of $60,000, family revenue of $100,000
- Welcome bonus: You’ll be able to earn as much as 40,000 bonus Scene+ factors ($400 worth). Supply ends 30 April 2023.
- Rewards: 2 factors per $1 on grocery, leisure, eating and transit/journey; 1 level per $1 on all different purchases
- Perks: No international transaction charge; complete journey insurance coverage
Greatest luxurious airport lounge entry card
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege*
At a look: For Aeroplan factors collectors who need an elevated airport expertise, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege bank card could be a nice journey companion. It’s full of journey advantages like limitless free entry for you and a visitor to Maple Leaf Lounges all through North America. The cardboard additionally comes with a complimentary membership within the Visa Airport Companion Program hosted by DragonPass and consists of six lounge visits, usable at over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. You’ll actually really feel like a VIP on the airport with different perks like precedence check-in, boarding and baggage dealing with, and also you’ll get peace of thoughts with an intensive suite of journey insurance coverage. That is additionally one of many few playing cards in Canada that characteristic a companion go.
- Annual charge: $599
- Rates of interest: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on stability transfers, 22.99% on money advances
- Annual revenue requirement: Private revenue of $150,000 or family revenue of $200,000
- Welcome bonus: Not out there to show for the time being.
- Rewards: 2 Aeroplan factors per $1 spent on direct purchases with Air Canada and Air Canada Holidays, 1.5 Aeroplan factors per $1 spent on eligible fuel, grocery, journey and eating purchases, 1.25 factors per $1 spent in every single place else
- Different perks: Entry to Maple Leaf Lounges; Nexus charge rebate of $100 each 4 years; precedence check-in; precedence baggage dealing with; precedence boarding; precedence airport standby; precedence upgrades; entry a yearly round-trip companion go from $99 (plus taxes, charges, fees and surcharges)
Greatest airport lounge entry card for frequent travellers
American Specific The Platinum Card*
At a look: It’s one of the vital costly premium bank cards in Canada, however the $699 annual charge will get you entry to probably the most complete and amenity-laden collection of airport lounges worldwide, together with top-tier American Specific Centurion Lounges. Relying on the lounge, cardholders might have a vast variety of free visits and may convey one companion with them at no further price. Cardholders may reap the benefits of a yearly $200 journey credit score, which basically brings the price of the cardboard right down to $499 so long as you make some extent of utilizing the credit score. Each 4 years, you’ll additionally get a $100 credit score in direction of a Nexus membership charge. Extra perks like late check-out and each day complimentary breakfast at choose motels, in addition to journey insurance coverage and upgraded lodge membership standing with manufacturers like Marriott Bonvoy, spherical out this prime journey bank card.
- Annual charge: $699
- Rates of interest: N/A
- Annual revenue requirement: None
- Welcome bonus: You’ll be able to earn as much as 80,000 rewards factors ($800 worth).
- Rewards: 3 factors per $1 spent on eating and meals supply; 2 factors per $1 spent on journey; 1 level per $1 on every thing else
- Perks: Precedence Go and American Specific Centurion Lounge entry; Toronto Pearson Airport precedence lane; lodge standing at choose manufacturers; premium medical, flight delay/cancellation and baggage insurance coverage
Greatest airport lounge entry card for infrequent journey
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard*
At a look: If you end up in an airport even only a few instances a yr, you’ll respect that the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard provides free membership within the Mastercard Journey Go program supplied by DragonPass, plus 4 free passes a yr. BMO additionally has one of the vital versatile redemption applications within the nation, so you possibly can redeem your factors to cowl eligible journey purchases like flights, motels and automotive leases it doesn’t matter what journey supplier you booked with. Or should you’re not travelling a lot in a given yr, you possibly can even put your factors in direction of a contribution to a BMO financial savings or funding account. The cardboard additionally comes with journey insurance coverage, together with journey medical insurance coverage that may cowl you, your partner or youngsters for as much as 21 days.
- Annual charge: $150
- Rates of interest: 20.99% on purchases, 23.99% on money advances, 22.99% on stability transfers
- Annual revenue requirement: Private revenue of $80,000 or family revenue of $150,000
- Welcome bonus: You’ll be able to earn as much as 70,000 factors and the annual charge waived within the first yr for each the first cardholder and approved customers.
- Rewards: 5 factors per $1 spend on journey, 3 factors per $1 on eating and leisure, 1 level per $1 on every thing else
- Perks: Entry to over a million Wi-Fi hotspots everywhere in the world; BMO concierge service; prolonged guarantee; buy safety; and BMO World Elite journey and medical safety
Greatest airport lounge entry card for travelling to the U.S.
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
At a look: In case you regularly cross the border to the U.S. for holidays, work journeys or household visits, contemplate 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 yr. Each 4 years, you get an announcement credit score of as much as $100 in direction of a Nexus software charge. The cardboard additionally comes with an intensive suite of journey insurance coverage, together with out-of-province emergency journey medical, in addition to the hard-to-find lodge housebreaking and cellular machine insurance coverage. Aventura is a reasonably versatile rewards program that allows you to redeem factors for a wide range of issues, together with journey bookings, merchandise, bank card funds, contributions to a financial savings or funding account and even funds in direction of your CIBC mortgage.
- Annual charge: $139
- Rates of interest: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances, 22.99% on stability transfers
- Annual revenue requirement: Private revenue of $60,000 or family revenue of $100,000
- Welcome bonus: You’ll be able to earn $1,250 in worth.
- Rewards: 2 factors per $1 spent on journey via the CIBC Rewards Centre; 1.5 factors per $1 on fuel, groceries and drugstores; 1 level per $1 on every thing else
- Perks: Visa Airport Companion Program membership with 4 lounge visits a yr; Nexus card charge rebate ($100 worth, each 4 years); out-of-province emergency journey medical insurance coverage; flight delay and baggage insurance coverage; buy safety and cellular machine insurance coverage; use Journie awards to avoid wasting on fuel
Airport lounge entry applications in Canada
| Program | Key particulars | Variety of lounges |
|---|---|---|
| DragonPass | In 2022, DragonPass took over the airport lounge applications for Visa and Mastercard; in Canada, the applications are actually respectively referred to as the Visa Airport Companion Program and Mastercard Journey Go supplied by DragonPass. This system consists of entry to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada, in addition to lots of of various lounge applications worldwide. Lounges characteristic snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi, showers and enterprise centres. Cardholders can normally use their free passes for themselves and for a visitor, however particular guidelines differ by lounge. | Greater than 1,200 worldwide |
| Maple Leaf Lounges | Facilities embrace cell-free quiet zones, snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi and showers. Maple Leaf Lounges can solely be utilized by clients departing on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Specific or a Star Alliance companion airline. | 16 throughout North America and Europe |
| Centurion Lounges | Centurion Lounges sometimes characteristic high-quality meals (designed by award-winning cooks) and drinks (and should even characteristic a signature cocktail), free high-speed Wi-Fi, plush seating and devoted working areas. Some characteristic elevated facilities like spa providers, nap pods and showers. Centurion Lounges are sometimes a part of The American Specific International Lounge Assortment that options greater than 1,300 airport lounges in over 140 international locations. | Greater than 40 worldwide |
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