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The luxury of airport lounges is part of how I structure my travel day, and turn a three-hour connection into something actually to look forward to. In addition to delivering space, food, showers, and connectivity, lounges offer a predictable environment before boarding. That baseline is why the latest changes to Amex Canada’s Platinum lounge access have set off alarms across my inbox. Beginning January 1, 2027, Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders in Canada will no longer enjoy unlimited Plaza Premium and Priority Pass access. Benefits will shift to a cap of six Plaza Premium and six Priority Pass visits per membership year, with supplementary Platinum cards receiving two visits for each network. A high annual spend tier will preserve unlimited entry, but for many readers, this is a material reduction and a reason to diversify lounge access beyond a single issuer or network.
When a long-standing “unlimited” promise becomes a limited benefit, the natural next question is which other cards can keep your travel rhythm intact without locking you into one airline every time you fly. The goal of this post is to map out strong alternatives that preserve reliable lounge access across Canadian and international airports. I’m focusing on cards that either deliver complimentary visit allotments through DragonPass via Visa Airport Companion or Priority Pass, or that provide unlimited access within a defined ecosystem like Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge network.
Best Credit Cards in Canada for Lounge Access
In my opinion, the best credit card for lounge access is an airline-agnostic card that features complimentary lounge visits and offers ultimate flexibility. It should work for your travel plans regardless, when you’re on WestJet to Calgary, Porter to Newark, Delta out of Detroit, or a low-cost carrier in Europe. If you frequently mix airlines for schedule or price, or you’re booking corporate-dictated fares that bounce between alliances, a non-airline card keeps you covered and avoids the “wrong logo on the boarding pass” problem. However, the cost of flexibility is predictability, as most non-airline cards limit complimentary access to 6-10 visits, and popular lounges can restrict entry during peak periods. Comparatively, an airline card with lounge access is frictionless when you fly that airline or its partners. No visit limits to manage, no separate app to load, and a lounge network at the exact airports where you’re likely to connect.
For many readers, the best answer is not “either/or”, but pairing. Here are my recommended cards (premium and non-premium) to anchor your wallet with an airline card and complement it with a non-airline card that covers you during out-of-network trips.
Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card – Apply Now
It is the premium substitute if your primary concern is “show up and get in” at a wide range of lounges. With a $250 annual travel credit, 10 complimentary airport lounge visits, no foreign transaction fees on international purchases, a comprehensive insurance package, VIP services and curated experiences, the card is clearly for those who value travel as a lifestyle, especially in how rewards are earned and redeemed. The annual fee for the card is $599, and new cardmembers can earn a welcome bonus of up to 80,000 Scene+ points (Apply by October 31, 2025). A detailed analysis of the benefits and perks can be found here.
RBC® Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card – Apply Now
This is another premium card I recommend for steady, bank-agnostic access. It offers six complimentary global airport lounge access passes through the Visa Airport Companion Program, as well as security fast-track lanes at select Canadian airports. New cardmembers can earn up to 70,000 Avion points, which is worth at least $1500 (using fixed-rate redemption). The value proposition of Avion points skyrockets well beyond $1500 when you transfer it to other airline loyalty miles, like BA Avios, American AA miles, or even Cathay Asia miles. The annual fee for the card is $399, and a detailed analysis of the benefits and perks can be found here.
Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card – Apply Now
A premium travel credit card in the Scotia portfolio that offers an elevated 2x earn on all purchases (without restrictions), along with 10 complimentary lounge access for the primary cardholder (Supplementary cardholders get four complimentary visits per year from the date of enrolment), no foreign transaction fees, and comprehensive travel insurance. The annual fee for the card is $399, and new cardmembers can earn a welcome bonus of up to 80,000 Scene+ points (Apply by October 31, 2025). A detailed analysis of the benefits and perks can be found here.
Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* – Apply Now
If you’re not looking to step up to Infinite Privilege or Platinum level annual fees, Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite remains the most balanced non-premium option for broad, repeatable access. Dubbed the best No Foreign Transaction fee card in Canada, the card comes with a complimentary Priority Pass™ membership plus six complimentary lounge visits per membership year. The annual fee for the card is $150, and new cardmembers can earn a welcome bonus of up to 40,000 Scene+ points (Apply by October 31, 2025). A detailed analysis of the benefits and perks can be found here.
TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card – Apply Now
The surprise mover this year in the non-premium bracket is the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite, which now includes Visa Airport Companion access with four complimentary lounge visits per membership year. With an annual fee of just $139 (Annual Fee Rebate for the first year), new cardmembers can earn up to 165,000 TD Rewards Points, a $100 travel credit, and a comprehensive insurance package, the card punches above its category. A detailed analysis of the benefits and perks can be found here.
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
For travellers who live on Air Canada and Star Alliance metal, the American Express Aeroplan Reserve remains the best single-card lounge solution in Canada by a distance. It provides unlimited access for the cardholder to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés in North America, with the ability to bring one complimentary guest, provided you’re travelling on a same-day flight marketed or operated by Air Canada or any Star Alliance member. Maple Leaf Lounge coverage is deep across Canadian hubs, U.S. gateways, and many international airports. The annual fee for the card is $599, and new cardmembers can earn a welcome bonus of up to 95,000 Aeroplan points, along with exceptional travel and Air Canada airport benefits. A detailed analysis of the benefits and perks can be found here.
Takeaway
For readers who build their wallets around use cases rather than brands, the takeaway is simple – pick one card that always works with your most-flown airline, and one that usually works everywhere else. That two-card structure is resilient to issuer policy changes, handles family travel gracefully, and keeps you out of the terminal scrum when you need it most.
Featured Image: Atlanta Centurion Lounge
