There are 10 VIP airport lounges at the Montreal airport (YUL) that you can easily access for free get paid to access. Yes, it’s so easy to get huge welcome bonuses AND free access to airport lounges all over the world when you know the pro tips!
The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card, which gives you a $1000 welcome bonus for any travel expense (the highest welcome bonus for simple points ever seen in Canada), gives you access to 5 airport lounges in Montreal (and 1200+ worldwide).
The other 5 are Air Canada lounges, and 1 just reopened last week. Flytrippers helps you travel for less with its free newsletter specifically about travel rewards, its ranking of the best current offers, its monthly live videos, and its infographic summarizing all the basics.
Here’s everything you need to know about VIP airport lounges in Montreal (YUL).
How to access VIP airport lounges in Montreal (YUL) for free?
I write for free just to keep it simple, but I’ll say it again, it’s not “just” free: it’s better, you literally get paid to access these lounges. That’s pretty wild.
Free food and drinks, way more comfort and serenity… lounges are a great way to make your airport experience so much more enjoyable. I really liked the 7 Montreal lounges I’ve tried.
There are 2 main networks of VIP airport lounges that are easily accessible in Canada:
- Independent lounges (5 lounges at YUL)
- Air Canada lounges (5 lounges at YUL)
Both work very differently.
How to access independent lounges at the Montreal airport (YUL) for free?
You can access independent lounges by getting one of the many credit cards that offer the Priority Pass or DragonPass airport lounge access benefit.
Here’s a table of the best current offers for cards that give access to independent lounges, along with the number of free visits included.
| Access to independent VIP airport lounges |
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 Valuation (BONUS)(13.3% back on $7.5k)
Rewards: $1000
Annual fee: $0 $139
Spend required:$7.5k in 6 mos.
Best for: 4 annual passes (worlwide) & huge bonus
 SIMPLE
60k/100k
limited time
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Valuation (BONUS) (14.5% back on $2k)
Rewards: $440
Card fee: $150
Spend required:$2k in 3 mos.
Best for: 6 annual passes (worldwide) & no FX fee
 SIMPLE
60k/100k
ends July 1st
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Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 8.5% back on $10k)
Rewards: ≈ $1651
Card fee: $799
Spend required:$10k in 3 mos.
& make 1 purchase in months 15-17
Best for: Unlimited access + 1 guest (worldwide) but some limits in 2027
 LUCRATIVE
No min. inc.
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| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
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Access to independent VIP airport lounges |
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SIMPLE 60k/100k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: $1000
Annual fee: $0 $139 (13.3% back on $7.5k)
Spend required:
$7.5k in 6 mos.
Best for: 4 annual passes (worlwide) & huge bonus
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SIMPLE60k/100k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: $440
Card fee: $150 (14.5% back on $2k)
Spend required:
$2k in 3 mos.
Best for: 6 annual passes (worldwide) & no FX fee
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LUCRATIVENo min. inc.
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $1651
Card fee: $799 (≈ 8.5% back on $10k)
Spend required:
$10k in 3 mos.
& make 1 purchase in months 15-17 Best for: Unlimited access + 1 guest (worldwide) but some limits in 2027
|
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SIMPLE12k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: $1000
Card fee: $399 (6.0% back on $10k)
Spend required:
$10k in 14 mos. (or $3k)
Best for: 10 annual passes (worldwide) & no FX fee
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 LUCRATIVE200k/200k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $1195
Card fee: $399 (≈ 15.9% back on $5k)
Spend required:
$5k in 6 mos.
Best for: 6 annual passes (worldwide) & lucrative pts
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 SIMPLE80k/150k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: $333
Card fee: $0 $150 (6.7% back on $5k)
Spend required:
$5k in 110 days
Best for: 4 annual passes (worlwide) & accepted at Costco
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| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
You get access to the lounges regardless of how you paid for the flight, regardless of your seat class, and regardless of your airline.
It’s simple; all that matters is that you have the right credit card (even if you already bought your flight before getting the card).
You can read all the details in our ultimate guide on the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card airport lounge access benefit.
Which independent lounges can be accessed for free at the Montreal airport (YUL)?
The card benefit above will give you access to these 5 VIP airport lounges in Montreal.
Air France Lounge (International terminal)
By far my favorite among the 3 in the international terminal. It was completely renovated in 2021. The design is stunning, and the food is really good too.
National Bank Lounge (International terminal)
It’s a pretty average lounge, but the good news is that it’ll be completely renovated starting August 1, 2026 (a smaller temporary lounge will replace it in the meantime).
Aspire Amex Lounge (International terminal)
This is the newest of the international terminal lounges. It’s the only one of the 5 independent lounges I haven’t tried yet, but I have tried the Domestic Aspire Amex Lounge which is really great. This one is unfortunately open to the terminal, though.
Aspire Amex Lounge (Domestic terminal)
Some people criticize this pretty lounge, but I’ve always loved my experience every time I’ve gone. It just opened in 2025 and offers good unlimited small à-la-carte plates.
Odyssée Desjardins | Plaza Premium Lounge (Transborder terminal)
The least good lounge at the airport, but certainly better than having no lounge at all for US-bound flights. It’s small and not enclosed, so it’s not that great.
How to access Air Canada lounges at the Montreal airport (YUL) for free?
You can access Air Canada lounges by getting one of the few credit cards that offer the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access benefit.
(There are only 4 cards, so unlike independent lounges, it’s not possible to get paid for access indefinitely, only for 2 years per person; or indefinitely if you have a much higher income!)
Here’s a table of the best current offers for cards that give access to Air Canada lounges (their unlimited access is the same; but the 2 Visa cards also offer 6 passes for independent lounges).
| Access to Air Canada VIP airport lounges |
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Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 5.9% back on $7.5k)
Rewards: ≈ $1041
Card fee: $599
Spend required:$7.5k in 3 mos.
Best for: Unlimited access + 1 guest (N. America) & no min. income
 LUCRATIVE
No min. inc.
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Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 5.5% back on $10.5k)
Rewards: ≈ $1172
Card fee: $599
Spend required:$10.5k in 3 mos.
Best for: Unlimited access + 1 guest (N. America) & no business req.
LUCRATIVE
No min. inc.
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Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 2.2% back on $24k)
Rewards: ≈ $1126
Annual fee: $599
Spend required:$24k in 12 mos.
Best for: Unlimited access + 1 guest (N. America) & 6 passes for ind. lounges
LUCRATIVE
150k/200k
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| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
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Access to Air Canada VIP airport lounges |
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LUCRATIVENo min. inc.
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $1041
Card fee: $599 (≈ 5.9% back on $7.5k)
Spend required:
$7.5k in 3 mos.
Best for: Unlimited access + 1 guest (N. America) & no min. income
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LUCRATIVENo min. inc.
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $1172
Card fee: $599 (≈ 5.5% back on $10.5k)
Spend required:
$10.5k in 3 mos.
Best for: Unlimited access + 1 guest (N. America) & no business req.
|
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LUCRATIVE150k/200k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $1126
Annual fee: $599 (≈ 2.2% back on $24k)
Spend required:
$24k in 12 mos.
Best for: Unlimited access + 1 guest (N. America) & 6 passes for ind. lounges
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LUCRATIVE150k/200k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $1370
Card fee: (≈ 3.1% back on $25k)
Spend required:
$25k in 12 mos. (or $5k)
Best for: Unlimited access + 1 guest (N. America) & 6 passes for ind. lounges
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| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
You get access to the lounges regardless of how you paid for the flight, regardless of your seat class… but your flight must be on Air Canada or a Star Alliance partner airline.
That’s the major difference, but it makes sense: these are Air Canada lounges and Air Canada credit cards!
You can read all the details in our ultimate guide on the Air Canada Aeroplan card airport lounge access benefit.
Which Air Canada lounges can be accessed for free at the Montreal airport (YUL)?
The card benefit above will give you access to these 5 VIP airport lounges in Montreal.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (International terminal)
This is a beautiful lounge that’s relatively recent. Before last week’s reopening, it was the best of the 3 flagship Maple Leaf lounges at the airport. The famous poutine is a nice bonus.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Domestic terminal)
This is the one that reopened last week after a complete renovation. I’m really looking forward to visiting it; I was at the media event for the opening of one of the newest ones in San Francisco, and that one is amazing, so this new lounge is surely really great too.
Air Canada Café lounge (Domestic terminal)
This is a slightly different concept, where the focus is on grab-and-go food and drinks. I love this very nice location with excellent food choices.
You can read my full review of the Air Canada Café lounge (Domestic) in Montreal (YUL).
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Transborder terminal)
This is a slightly older lounge, which will likely be renovated someday. It’s also a bit cramped, but the new Transborder Café lounge will help. And there are always a few good food options, and the seats are comfortable.
Air Canada Café lounge (Transborder terminal)
This is another almost brand-new one that opened this year. It’s the same concept as the Domestic Café lounge, but I haven’t had the chance to go yet (I might be able to try it on June 12 when going to the Vans Warped Tour).
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Summary
You can get paid to access 10 VIP airport lounges in Montreal (YUL). There are 2 very different types: independent lounges that are very easily accessible for free year after year, and Air Canada lounges that are easily accessible for free for a few years (or indefinitely for those with a higher income).
What would you like to know about VIP airport lounges in Montreal (YUL)? 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: Domestic Aspire Amex Lounge and International Air Canada Lounge in Montreal (photo credit: Andrew D’Amours/Flytrippers)
