In anticipation of our ultimate guide to VIP airport lounges coming soon, here’s how 6 different types of lounge access benefits work very concretely. These 6 excellent cards are among the best that offer free lounge access, but their lounge access benefits are not identical at all.
Yes! Everything is often different from one card to another in the wonderful world of travel rewards. That’s normal; they’re different cards. It’s always like this; you’d better get used to it if you want to maximize the thousands of dollars in free travel you can easily get.
All lounge benefits are a bit different, but it’s nothing complicated. Flytrippers helps you travel for less with our free newsletter specifically about travel rewards, our ranking of the best deals, our monthly live videos, and our infographic with all the basics.
Here are the details in infographic format for the 6 cards, with many more details (and many more cards) to come very soon.
TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
Airport lounge access:
- Visa Airport Companion by DragonPass
We have a complete guide to the TD First Class Travel airport lounge benefit with all the details.
Here are the details of the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card‘s welcome bonus:
- $905 in free travel by unlocking the welcome bonus
- $905 in rewards
- $0 fee (waived the 1st year)
- 12.1% back on $7,500 in spending
- $905 value divided by
- $7,500 minimum spending requirement
- $7,500 to spend in a maximum of 180 days (6 months)
- The equivalent of just $288 per week
- We have tips to meet spending requirements
- Rewards of the more simple type (TD Rewards points)
- Value is fixed at 0.5¢/pt
- Redeemable for any travel expense on their site
- Or any travel expense on any site at 0.4¢/pt
- Great increased offer (end date not disclosed)
- One of this card’s highest-ever offers
- The best offer for simple points currently
Here are some of the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card‘s benefits:
- Access to the Visa Airport Companion (DragonPass) lounge network
- 1200+ lounges worldwide
- 25 lounges in 9 airports in Canada
- 4 free visits per membership year
- Others have 50% more… but a much lower welcome bonus
- Birthday bonus up to $50
- 10% of all points earned the previous year
- Earn bonus at Starbucks
- 50% more Stars
- Excellent travel insurance coverage
- All the main types
American Express Platinum Card
Airport lounge access:
- American Express Global Lounge Collection (including Priority Pass)
We have a complete guide to the Amex Platinum airport lounge benefit with all the details.
Here are the details of the American Express Platinum Card‘s welcome bonus:
- ≈ $1167 in free travel by unlocking the welcome bonus
- ≈ $1965 in rewards + 2 dining credits ($200 each)
- $599 net fee ($799 minus $200 credit you can cash out)
- The fee is deducted twice (the offer includes a renewal bonus)
- ≈ 11.7% back on $10,000 in spending
- ≈ $1167 value divided by
- $10,000 minimum spend requirement
- $10,000 to spend in a maximum of 3 months
- Rewards of the more lucrative type (Amex points)
- Value is extremely variable (and unlimited)
- Our conservative Flytrippers Valuation is ≈ 1.5¢/pt
- Can easily be worth 2X more for business class
- Redeemable for specific flights only (to get ≈ 1.5¢/pt)
- Or any travel expense on any site at 1¢/pt
- Great increased offer (until July 28)
- This card’s best offer of the year
- The best offer for getting more lucrative points currently
Here are some of the American Express Platinum Card‘s benefits:
- Access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection network
- 1400+ lounges worldwide
- 25 lounges in 9 airports in Canada
- Unlimited free visits each year (with 1 guest)
- The best access of all Canadian cards
- Will be limited for some lounges in 2027
- Automatic Gold elite status with Marriott and Hilton
- 15,000+ hotels worldwide
- NEXUS credit to partially reimburse the cost
- Faster customs and airport security
- Annual $200 dining credit at high-end restaurants
- No out-of-pocket expense required
- It’s $200 off a $200 transaction
- Excellent travel insurance coverage
- All the main types
- No minimum income requirement
- As with all American Express cards
BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard
Airport lounge access:
- Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass
Here are the details of the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard‘s welcome bonus:
- ≈ $717 in free travel by unlocking the welcome bonus
- ≈ $717 in rewards
- $0 fee (waived the 1st year)
- ≈ 3.6% back on $20,000 in spending
- ≈ $717 value divided by
- $20,000 minimum spending requirement
- $20,000 to spend in a maximum of 12 months
- The equivalent of just $385 per week
- We have tips to meet spending requirements
- Rewards of the more simple type (Blue points; formerly AIR MILES)
- Value is relatively not variable at ≈ 0.67¢/pt
- Redeemable for any travel expense on their site
- Or for merchandise at a fixed value of 0.67¢/pt
- Good offer
- Increased offers are rare on this card
Here are some of the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard‘s benefits:
- Access to the Mastercard Travel Pass (DragonPass) lounge network
- 1200+ lounges worldwide
- 25 lounges in 9 airports in Canada
- 4 free visits per membership year
- Others have 50% more… but a much lower welcome bonus
- No Mastercard has more free visits
- NEXUS credit to completely reimburse the cost
- Faster customs and airport security
- Many benefits for everyday life
- Free roadside assistance service
- Free Instacart+ for 3 months and monthly credit
- Accepted at Costco
- Without having to use the tips to circumvent
- Excellent travel insurance coverage
- All the main types
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
Airport lounge access:
- Air Canada lounges (North America)
We have a complete guide to the Air Canada airport lounge benefit with all the details.
Here are the details of the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card‘s welcome bonus:
- ≈ $593 in free travel by unlocking the welcome bonus
- ≈ $1192 in rewards
- $599 fee
- ≈ 7.9% back on $7,500 in spending
- ≈ $593 value divided by
- $7,500 minimum spend requirement
- $7,500 to spend in a maximum of 3 months
- Rewards of the more lucrative type (Aeroplan points)
- Value is extremely variable (and unlimited)
- Our conservative Flytrippers Valuation is ≈ 1.5¢/pt
- Can easily be worth 2X more for business class
- Redeemable for specific flights only (to get ≈ 1.5¢/pt)
- Or for any Air Canada flight at ≈ 1.1¢/pt
- Great increased offer (until July 28)
- This card’s best offer of the year
- One of the best offers for getting more lucrative points currently
Here are some of the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card‘s benefits:
- Access to the Air Canada lounge network in North America
- Flight on Air Canada or Star Alliance required
- 20 Maple Leaf Lounges (16 in Canada and 4 in the US)
- 7 Air Canada Café lounges in 5 airports in Canada
- Signature Suite lounges are not included
- Unlimited free visits each year (with 1 guest)
- The only benefit for access to Air Canada lounges
- Along with the identical Visa version
- Free checked bags on Air Canada
- For 8 companions too
- Free full-size carry-ons on Air Canada
- Even in basic economy fare class
- Priority boarding (and other luxury benefits)
- On Air Canada
- NEXUS credit to partially reimburse the cost
- Faster customs and airport security
- Discounts on flights booked with points
- On Air Canada
- Not on partners (low guaranteed fixed prices)
- Shortcut to requalify to Air Canada Aeroplan elite status
- Headstart of 10% of the previous year’s SQCs
- Excellent travel insurance coverage
- All the main types
- No minimum income requirement
- As with all American Express cards
American Express Gold Rewards Card
Airport lounge access:
- Plaza Premium (Canada only)
Here are the details of the American Express Gold Rewards Card‘s welcome bonus:
- ≈ $930 in free travel by unlocking the welcome bonus
- ≈ $1080 in rewards
- $150 net fee ($250 minus $100 credit you can cash out)
- ≈ 7.8% back on $12,000 in spending
- ≈ $930 value divided by
- $12,000 minimum spend requirement
- $12,000 to spend ($1,000 per month for 12 months)
- 12 separate monthly bonuses
- We have tips to meet spending requirements
- Rewards of the more lucrative type (Amex points)
- Value is extremely variable (and unlimited)
- Our conservative Flytrippers Valuation is ≈ 1.5¢/pt
- Can easily be worth 2X more for business class
- Redeemable for specific flights only (to get ≈ 1.5¢/pt)
- Or any travel expense on any site at 1¢/pt
- Great offer
- Increased offers are rare on this card
- One of the best current offers for lucrative points
Here are some of the American Express Gold Rewards Card‘s benefits:
- Access to the Plaza Premium lounge network in Canada
- 13 lounges in 5 airports in Canada
- 4 free visits per calendar year
- So 8 in the 1st year of your card
- 4 in 2026 and 4 in 2027
- NEXUS credit to partially reimburse the cost
- Faster customs and airport security
- Excellent travel insurance coverage
- All the main types
- No minimum income requirement
- As with all American Express cards
Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card
Airport lounge access:
- Priority Pass
Here are the details of the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card‘s welcome bonus:
- $601 in free travel by unlocking the welcome bonus
- $1000 in rewards
- $399 fee
- 6.0% back on $10,000 in spending
- $601 value divided by
- $10,000 minimum spending requirement
- $10,000 to spend in a maximum of 14 months
- The equivalent of just $167 per week
- We have tips to meet spending requirements
- Rewards of the more simple type (Scene+ points)
- Value is fixed at 1¢/pt
- Redeemable for any travel expense on any site
- Or for merchandise at 1¢/pt
- Good offer
- Increased offers are rare on this card
Here are some of the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card‘s benefits:
- Access to the Priority Pass lounge network
- 1200+ lounges worldwide
- 25 lounges in 9 airports in Canada
- 10 free visits per membership year
- More than all others (except those with unlimited access)
- No foreign transaction fee (savings of 2.5%)
- But it’s on the Amex network (great for the US especially)
- Excellent travel insurance coverage
- All the main types
- Very low minimum income requirement
- The lowest for a premium card (except American Express cards)
Learning how to travel for less
Join over 100,000 savvy Canadian travelers who already receive Flytrippers’ free newsletter so we can help you travel for less!
What would you like to know about how free access to VIP airport lounges works? Tell us in the comments below.
See the flight deals we spot: Cheap flights
Discover free travel with rewards: Travel rewards
Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration
Learn pro tricks: Travel tips
Featured image: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (photo credit: Shot by Cerqueira)
