If you travel often, airport lounge access will be a game-changer… and there is no good reason why you shouldn’t be able to enjoy them, as you can get access for you and one guest for free! And for many of you, this benefit will start at your own home airport.
If you know me a little, you know that I’m far from being a luxury traveler. I travel in hostels most of the time. The only exception is when I’m in a city where I can get a free Marriott hotel, and even then, I usually only go to Category 1 or 2 hotels or else I feel like I’m spending too many points!
That being said, I took 72 flights last year and airport lounges were really something that made all this time spent in transit a lot more enjoyable… and a lot cheaper, considering how expensive food and drinks usually are in airports.
How do I get into these lounges for free? With my American Express Platinum Card! It comes with a complimentary Priority Pass membership, which gives you access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide, and special access to other lounge programs. Other Canadian cards offer free lounge access too.
We’ve already covered all the details of which lounge programs are included with the Platinum Card, and we must tell you that the most beautiful lounges are in other countries, but this article will show you all the lounges that are available here in Canada specifically for when you are leaving home.
Priority Pass Lounges In Canadian Airports
Your Priority Pass membership that comes with the AMEX Platinum Card allows you 1 complimentary guest at all times, including at all the lounges below.
But there is a special feature in Canada for some of these lounges (marked with an asterisk), one that gives you extra guesting privileges for your kids. To use this benefit, you’ll need to present your American Express Platinum Card instead of presenting your Priority Pass card like you would everywhere else in the world.
Without further ado, here are all the lounges available for you here in Canada with Priority Pass.
YYZ – Toronto-Pearson International Airport
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If you are departing or transiting in Toronto, you’re in luck! YYZ has Canada’s best selection of free lounges. Flytrippers’ other co-founder Kevin and I have both been to many of these and they are great, with hot food and everything you’d expect from lounges.
Priority Pass gives you access to 8 different lounges at Pearson. So whether you’re flying domestically, internationally or to the United States, you’ll be covered.
Remember that your AMEX Platinum Card also gives you access to the express lane if you need to go through security at Pearson.
Priority Pass lounges at YYZ:
- AIR FRANCE – KLM LOUNGE – Terminal 3
- *PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (DOMESTIC DEPARTURES) – Terminal 3
- *PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (INT’L DEPARTURES) – Terminal 3
- *PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (INT’L DEPARTURES) – Terminal 3
- *PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (USA TRANSBORDER) – Terminal 3
- *PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (DOMESTIC DEPARTURES) – Terminal 1
- *PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (INT’L DEPARTURES) – Terminal 1
- *PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (USA TRANSBORDER) – Terminal 1
* this lounge allows 1 guest but also 2 kids under 21 by presenting your Platinum Card instead of your Priority Pass card
YUL – Montreal-Trudeau International Airport
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Montreal has a Priority Pass lounge and it is very nice, having been there many times. It has great hot food (although it seems like it’s always red chicken or yellow chicken, but it tastes good at least haha), a full bar, and many snack options. It can get a bit noisier and more crowded than most lounges at times, but overall it’s pretty good.
Just note that the only downside is that because of the terminal configuration and US pre-clearance setup and an unfortunate decision by the airport to segregate international gates, you can only access the lounge when flying internationally (excluding the US that is).
The good news is that the airport said they plan to add a contract lounge in late 2020.
So for now, in Montreal, you only have a lounge if flying internationally (excluding the US). That would be a great opportunity for a first Canadian Priority Pass airport restaurant given how many flights to Canada and the United States YUL has (crossing our fingers)! UPDATE: our wishes have been answered!
Priority Pass lounges at YUL:
- *National Bank Lounge – International (non-USA) Terminal
- Houston Avenue Bar & Grill – USA Terminal
- Pork & Pickle – Domestic Terminal
* this lounge allows 1 guest but also 2 kids under 21 by presenting your Platinum Card instead of your Priority Pass card
The only problem is the Platinum card no longer includes Priority Pass restaurants (just lounges). But with all the other cards that offer lounge access, you can use your lounge passes for C$37 off the price of food in those 2 restaurants. That’s why despite having the Platinum Card, I still include one of those other cards at least once a year among my credit card application cycle.
YVR – Vancouver International Airport
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Vancouver has a great selection of 5 lounges to choose from. We’ve been to the domestic Plaza Premium one and it is very nice, and lucky for those flying internationally out of YVR, the SkyTeam Lounge is apparently one of the nicest in the world.
Yes, in the world. It’s a very recent lounge and we’ve even heard about it from American bloggers, so it must be quite something.
Priority Pass lounges at YVR:
- SKYTEAM LOUNGE (INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES) – Vancouver International (International Terminal)
- *PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES) – Vancouver International (International Terminal)
- *PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (USA DEPARTURES) – Vancouver International (International Terminal)
- *PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (DOMESTIC DEPARTURES) – Vancouver International (Domestic Terminal ) #1
- *PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (DOMESTIC DEPARTURES) – Vancouver International (Domestic Terminal ) #2
* this lounge allows 1 guest but also 2 kids under 21 by presenting your Platinum Card instead of your Priority Pass card
YYC – Calgary International Airport
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Calgary has 3 Priority Pass lounges in its brand new airport! Fun fact: Flytrippers’ other co-founder Kevin worked on the airport renovation before we started Flytrippers, when working as a structural engineer. And he hasn’t even had the chance to go back to see the final product, due to now being a digital nomad living in places like Bali and Fiji instead.
Priority Pass lounges at YYC:
- CHINOOK LOUNGE – YYC Calgary Intl (Concourse A)
- *ASPIRE LOUNGE INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES – YYC Calgary Intl (Concourse D)
- *ASPIRE LOUNGE TRANSBORDER DEPARTURES – YYC Calgary Intl (Concourse E)
* this lounge allows 1 guest but also 2 kids under 21 by presenting your Platinum Card instead of your Priority Pass card
YEG – Edmonton International Airport
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Edmonton has 2 Priority Pass lounges, so you’re covered no matter where you are flying to.
Priority Pass lounges at YEG:
- *PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (DOMESTIC & INTL DEPARTURES) – Edmonton International
- *PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (USA DEPARTURES) – Edmonton International
* this lounge allows 1 guest but also 2 kids under 21 by presenting your Platinum Card instead of your Priority Pass card
YWG – Winnipeg International Airport
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Winnipeg only has 1 Priority Pass lounge, but it is a very nice one. We were there on the way back from Swoop’s inaugural flight and it’s really a nice space to relax before your flight.
Priority Pass lounges at YWG:
- *Plaza Premium Lounge
* this lounge allows 1 guest but also 2 kids under 21 by presenting your Platinum Card instead of your Priority Pass card
YOW – Ottawa International Airport
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Ottawa is the newest Canadian airport to join this list. In 2020, a beautiful lounge opened and joined Priority Pass and it looks beautiful. The only time I transited through Ottawa recently, I was very bummed about not having a lounge.
Priority Pass lounges at YOW:
- Aspire Salon Lounge
* this lounge allows 1 guest but also 2 kids under 21 by presenting your Platinum Card instead of your Priority Pass card
YQB – Quebec Jean Lesage International Airport
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Quebec City only has 1 lounge, but it is one that has one Priority Pass network-wide awards in the past. Having been there quite a few times (it is my home airport after all), I can tell you it is quite beautiful.
The only downside is the lack of hot food. But there are a few options to snack on, and there’s a Häagen-Dazs freezer during the summer too! And there’s a nice massage chair (and it’s free of course).
Priority Pass lounges at YQB:
- *Salon VIP Lounge
* this lounge allows 1 guest but also 2 kids under 18 by presenting your Platinum Card instead of your Priority Pass card
Other Canadian Airports (Without Lounges)
We also spot flight deals from other Canadian cities that, unfortunately, do not yet have any Priority Pass lounges.
If you live in one of these cities, there’s a good chance many of your flights go through a hub where there are lounges and that it’s still worth it to get the AMEX Platinum Card. You’ll get to enjoy lounge access on your layovers and abroad before returning home.
Those cities are:
- Hamilton & Toronto City – See today’s deals
- Halifax – See today’s deals
- St. John’s – See today’s deals
- Saint John – See today’s deals
- Moncton – See today’s deals
- Fredericton – See today’s deals
- Saskatoon – See today’s deals
- Regina – See today’s deals
- Abbotsford – See today’s deals
Bottom Line
The Priority Pass benefit that is included with the American Express Platinum Card really is something we could not travel without now that we’ve tried it, and it makes your travels much more enjoyable from the moment you set foot in your home airport!
Again, here are more details about lounge access:
- Details Of The American Express Platinum Lounge Benefit
- Priority Pass Free Airport Restaurants (Lounge Alternatives)
- American Express Platinum Card Overview
- Here’s What It’s Like Inside Airport Lounges
Have any questions about the lounges in Canada (or anywhere else)? Ask us in the comments below.
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