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National Bank has announced that the lounge in Montreal will close for a full renovation on April 30, 2026 starting at 10:00 PM. The good news is that access won’t disappear entirely: a temporary lounge will open on May 1, 2026, in the same location near Gate 53.
Thus, if you fly internationally out of Montréal–Trudeau (YUL) and rely on the National Bank Lounge, take note of alternative options.
Temporary Lounge Opens May 1
National Bank says it needs to close the lounge to complete a full renovation and modernize the space. Until the refreshed lounge reopens, a temporary lounge is available in the same area.
National Bank Lounge YUL
Access remains complimentary for the National Bank World Elite Mastercard holders, one guest, and up to two children aged 12 or under. Access is also available through any credit card membership: Priority Pass and DragonPass/Visa Airport Companion.
I would not expect the temporary space to be as comfortable as the National Bank lounge, but it’s better than closing with no replacement at all. The temporary lounge will have reduced capacity, with visits limited to two hours. If you have the Private Banking 1859 World Elite Mastercard, you can stay for up to three hours.
The temporary setup will still offer a buffet service, and some food and beverage service may also be served via table service.
As for when the renovation will wrap up, National Bank plans to reopen the lounge in 2027, with exacte dates (as usual) subject to change.
This comes at an interesting moment for Montreal aviation more broadly, as the city is also effectively gaining another airport hub at YHU thanks to Porter’s launch of 12 new routes from Montreal Saint-Hubert.
Other Lounge Options at YUL
If the temporary National Bank setup ends up feeling cramped, Montreal still has some solid alternatives in the international area.
My personal favourite is the Air France KLM Lounge, which is accessible through Priority Pass. It’s one of the best Priority Pass lounges in Canada, and I’d take it over most bank-branded lounges without much hesitation.
That said, I haven’t yet visited the new Aspire International Lounge, which is a newer option at Montreal Trudeau Airport. Anshul visited late last year and was impressed by how the Aspire Lounge reimagined the lounge experience, offering good food, quality drinks, and premium restaurant-style seating.
If you’re flying Star Alliance, you can also visit the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. The Montreal one is one of the best in Air Canada’s network. For many Aeroplan and Star Alliance premium cabin travellers, it’ll be the default option anyway.
Admittedly, I’ve never actually been to the National Bank Lounge because I almost always just head straight to the Maple Leaf Lounge or the Air France KLM Lounge. Next time I’m in the international departures, I’ll probably check out the new Aspire lounge.
A renovated National Bank Lounge will definitely be a net positive once it returns, but in the meantime, travellers should expect a more limited experience from May 1 onward.
Takeaway
The National Bank Lounge will temporarily close starting April 30, with a limited-capacity replacement opening May 1. While it’s a short-term downgrade, a full renovation should make the lounge much more competitive when it returns in 2027.
In the meantime, there are solid alternatives, such as the Air France KLM Lounge, Maple Leaf Lounge, or Aspire Lounge.
Which lounge do you usually use in Montreal’s international terminal?
