The American Express Platinum Card and American Express Business Platinum Card are premium cards that are by far the best in Canada for those who travel frequently and/or luxuriously. The main reason is their lounge access benefit, which gives you free unlimited access to the world’s largest network of VIP airport lounges. These are by far the best cards for lounge access!
I love my American Express Platinum Card specifically for its lounge access; it’s amazing! Don’t overreact to the card’s fee; please at least read our explanation before irrationally saying no.
Here are all the details on the Amex Platinum Card lounge access benefit.
Overview of the Amex Platinum Card airport lounge access benefit
This infographic summarizes the highlights of the airport lounge access benefit of the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card (the “Card” section is for the 1st of the 2, as its the most popular and we couldn’t fit in both).
There’s something unique that’s important to understand about the best cards for lounge access.
Credit cards normally give you free access to a network of individual airport lounges. But with this benefit, there are actually several different lounge networks included, for you to get even more lounges accessible for free.
So this benefit is a little more complex than that of other cards, but it’s still not that complicated if you just take a few minutes to understand. Since it includes several networks, there are necessarily different rules and processes for the different networks.
Priority Pass, the largest lounge network, includes 1300+ of the total 1400+ lounges included with the cards. Therefore, the rules in the infographic are this network’s as they’re the most important. The other smaller networks operate in a very similar way (access is always unlimited and free), but there are a few exceptions and differences with regard to certain details.
It couldn’t all fit in the infographic, but I’ll explain it all here in this guide.
Details of the Amex Platinum Card lounge access benefit
Here’s more information on each component.
Cards — Amex Platinum Card lounge access benefit
Here are the basics of the most popular card that has this amazing benefit, the Amex Platinum Card:
- ≈ $652 with the welcome bonus
- Rewards of ≈ $1850
- Net fee of $599*
- Minimum spending requirement for the bonus
- $10,000 in 3 months
- Income requirement for the card
- None
*Deducted from Flytrippers Valuation twice because the welcome bonus includes a renewal bonus that makes the 2nd year profitable as well
The peculiarity that you’ve surely noticed is that there’s also a “business” version (which doesn’t require you to have an incorporated business), the American Express Business Platinum Card. The card itself is different.
However, its lounge access benefit is identical.
Here’s the basics on the Amex Business Platinum Card:
- ≈ $1123 with the welcome bonus
- Rewards of ≈ $2321
- Net fee of $599*
- Minimum spending requirement for the bonus
- $15,000 in 3 months
- Income requirement for the card
- None
- Special instructions to follow
*Deducted from Flytrippers Valuation twice because the welcome bonus includes a renewal bonus that makes the 2nd year profitable as well
So this guide is for the 2 cards and I’m only going to mention the name of the “personal” card everywhere to simplify and shorten… but it refers to both because their lounge access benefit is exactly the same.
Lounge access — Amex Platinum Card lounge access benefit
Here’s what’s actually included in this lounge benefit.
Number of accesses
The Amex Platinum Card gives you unlimited free visits.
You can do 50 lounge visits in a year, 10 lounge visits in a year, or 10 lounge visits in a day (I’ve done it): it’s unlimited. Simple.
Guesting privileges
The unlimited free visits can be used by the Amex Platinum Card cardholder AND:
- 1 guest (almost all lounges)
- 2 guests (in some lounges)
- 3 guests (in 1 small network)
- 0 guests (in 2 small networks)
To be very clear, the cardholder must always be present (as with all lounge access benefits).
Please note that children under 2 years of age are almost always admitted into lounges free of charge without counting as a guest, and other children often don’t get special treatment and will count as a guest (which makes sense, since they take up a seat just like adults), as with plane tickets.
Policies for children depend on the individual lounge, not the networks. They are usually listed on the lounge page.
Additional guests
Certain lounges in Canada are part of both the Priority Pass network and another network included with the Amex Platinum Card lounge benefit, like Plaza Premium or Swissport. That means you can combine your guesting privileges and get more guests for free!
Otherwise, additional passes for additional guests are available in 2 ways:
- By paying for an additional card on the account
- Costs $250 per year
- This gives 2 additional unlimited accesses
- By paying for additional guests directly at the lounge
- $35 (almost all lounges)
- Sometimes a little more expensive (small networks)
Even better: if you’re sticking to the 1300 Priority Pass lounges anyway (and not the smaller lounge networks), you can simply get other cards that have lounge access benefits! That will give you passes for additional guests AND other huge welcome bonuses and improve your credit score on top of that!
For example, the new TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card lounge benefit gives you 4 passes and $1025 with the welcome bonus! The list of lounges included with its Visa Airport Companion by DragonPass network is almost identical to the Priority Pass network. The new record-high offer on the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card (not to be confused with this one; similar names but different cards) gives you 10 passes and $601 with the welcome bonus!
Access conditions
For all networks except 2 small ones, there are no restrictions related to:
- Your airline
- Your seat class
- Your method of payment
You have access to the lounges as a cardholder of the Amex Platinum Card, and it’s quite simple. You don’t need to have an Air France flight to enter an Air France lounge if it’s included in one of the networks (like the one in Montreal), you never need to have a business class seat, and you certainly don’t need to have paid for your flight with your Amex Platinum Card or with Amex points.
(There are 2 smaller networks included that are airline lounge networks, so they logically require you to be flying with them — and one even excludes its cheapest fare class. Details in the next section!)
However, as with all airport lounges, you must have a valid same-day boarding pass and access may be limited to a certain number of hours before your flight (except during connections or delayed flights).
For the boarding pass, that’s not an issue for most travelers.
For the time before your flight, often it’s limited to 3 hours before your flight. This means that if you arrive 7 hours before your flight, the lounge may refuse to let you in. This limit doesn’t apply if you have a connection, even if it’s a self-transfer on separate tickets (another good reason to always take a screenshot of your boarding pass to have it after the flight). Often, they don’t apply the rule — but they certainly do sometimes.
Sometimes, for long connections, there’s a limit on the total length of the visit (this is completely separate from the allowed time before your flight). For example, some lounges have a rule that one visit counts as just 3 hours. Since you have unlimited free visits anyway, you can then just re-use your card to get a new visit. In 100+ lounge visits, including many long ones, I’ve only been asked to do it a handful of times.
Here too, specific rules may vary by individual lounge and not just by network. They’re often listed on the lounge page. As mentioned, they’re not always applied either, but often they are.
Lounges included — Amex Platinum Card lounge access benefit
The Amex Platinum Card gives you access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, the largest in the world.
It gives you access to 1400+ lounges worldwide, including 24 lounges in 9 Canadian airports.
It’s, in fact, a network that includes several lounge networks.
Priority Pass (1300+ lounges)
The Priority Pass network is by far the biggest inclusion.
After the Amex Global Lounge Collection itself, Priority Pass is the world’s largest lounge network, with 1300+ lounges in 140 countries.
Priority Pass is a network that sells memberships that are accessible to all travelers. By the way, it would be worth $469 if you wanted to buy the unlimited plan if you didn’t have the Amex Platinum Card‘s lounge benefit (and at that price, it doesn’t even include the free guest you’re entitled to thanks to the card benefit).
The Priority Pass network includes both independent lounges and lounges belonging to certain airlines.
The only peculiarity is that Priority Pass also includes restaurants and what they call “airport experiences” (which is why their site refers to 1,700 “lounges”). You don’t get free access to the restaurants or experiences with the Amex Platinum Card lounge benefit; only real airport lounges are included free of charge.
Don’t miss our detailed guide to the Priority Pass network soon.
American Express Centurion Lounges (20+ lounges)
The American Express Centurion lounges network is small, but the 15 lounges in the United States are absolutely the best on the continent. I’ve visited almost all of them, and they’re really great, including one with a “secret” speakeasy section. I’ll share my experiences.
There are also a few other Amex Centurion lounges elsewhere. They’re very nice too.
These lounges are exclusive to cardholders of the Amex Platinum Card; you simply can’t get in any other way.
You’re entitled to 2 complimentary guests in this network instead of just 1!
Don’t miss our detailed guide to the Amex lounges network soon.
Plaza Premium (50+ lounges)
Plaza Premium lounges are located in many Canadian airports and around the world.
They’re now almost all already part of the Priority Pass network too, so it’s especially useful for the guesting tip.
Don’t miss our detailed guide to the Plaza Premium network soon.
Executive Lounges by Swissport/Aspire (5 lounges)
The benefit includes only the 5 Swissport lounges located in Canada.
The guesting privileges are more generous in this network, as the cardholder’s spouse and 2 children under the age of 21 are allowed in for free (or 1 regular guest)!
Escape Lounges (10+ lounges)
The benefit includes only the 10+ Escape lounges located in the United States (not those in other countries).
You’re entitled to 2 complimentary guests in this network instead of just 1!
Delta SkyClubs (50+ lounges)
Delta is a leading U.S. airline, and its SkyClubs are mostly located in the United States (not those in other countries).
Delta SkyClub lounge access works a bit differently. It’s more limited — by the way, it makes no sense to complain about that. The alternative would be not having access to Delta SkyClubs at all, which would obviously be much worse than a limited access.
Basically, you must be flying Delta (or a Delta-marketed WestJet codeshare flight with a Delta ticket number). You also cannot enter if you purchased a Basic Economy ticket. Clearly, a lot of travelers don’t know what that is, so I’ll share a guide to fare classes soon. But in short, economy class tickets are offered in many different fare classes. The cheapest one is Basic Economy. All other economy tickets are fine for Delta lounge access.
Also, you are not allowed a free guest in this network. You can pay $50 each for up to 2 guests if you want. They also need to be flying an eligible flight.
To be clear, most airlines now have 2 tiers of lounges. Delta also has more premium Delta One lounges; those are not included in this benefit.
Lufthansa Lounges (15 lounges)
This one is a bit weird, as it’s not actually listed in the Canadian Amex Global Lounge Collection, only the American version. That said, I know I’ve been able to use my Canadian card so I’m still listing it so you’re aware of it.
Lufthansa is Germany’s flag carrier, and they have lounges in their home country, the United States, and a few other major hubs.
This access is very similar to Delta’s, except you can be flying Lufthansa, SWISS, or Austrian Airlines as they’re all owned by Lufthansa (but not other Lufthansa subsidiaries). No guests are included.
You have access to Lufthansa business class lounges — not the more premium Lufthansa Senator lounges.
Logistics — Amex Platinum Card lounge access benefit
You have 3 logistical steps:
- Activate your lounge access
- Find the included lounges
- Enter lounges at the airport
Activate your lounge access
For the Priority Pass network, you need to link your Amex Platinum Card to a new Priority Pass account. You can use the chat feature in your Amex account, online or in the app (or call 1-800-263-1616 if you want to not to something online for a reason I’ll never understand).
For all other networks, you don’t need to activate your access.
Find the included lounges
To find out which lounges are included in the American Express Global Collection, unsurprisingly you need to check the American Express website or app.
In both cases, all the details will be included, such as whether it’s a lounge you have access to via the Priority Pass network or not.
On the website, you enter an airport name and the lounges will be displayed.
On the app, my preferred option, you click on the “Membership” tab at the bottom and then on “Find a Lounge” on the next screen.
Once there, it works the same way as on the website.
I do want to give you a teaser of our ultimate guides about airport lounges and the Amex Global Lounge Collection network, which will be sent to the savvy travelers who get Flytrippers’ free newsletter specifically for travel rewards.
Here’s an infographic of all 48 VIP airport lounges here in Canada and which ways to access them for free (I remind you that the Amex Platinum Card‘s Amex Global Lounge Collection network includes the Priority Pass and Plaza Premium networks).
Enter lounges at the airport
To access lounges that are part of the Priority Pass network, you need to show your Priority Pass card.
You have 4 options:
- The digital card on the app
- A screenshot of the digital card
- A printed version of the digital card
- The real physical card you’ll receive by mail
To access other lounges, you need to show your Amex Platinum Card directly.
The physical card is required; showing the card in your digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Wallet, etc.) is generally not accepted.
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Summary
The American Express Platinum Card airport lounge access benefit is one of the best reasons to get this amazing premium card. It’s by far the best lounge benefit for Canadians, with unlimited access to the world’s largest network of VIP airport lounges, for you and 1 guest.
What would you like to know about the American Express Platinum Card airport lounge access benefit? Tell us in the comments below.
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Featured image: Amex Centurion Lounges in Atlanta and Seattle (photo credit: Andrew D’Amours/Flytrippers)
