Did you know that when you travel, your can give you access to VIP lounges at — as well as some airports around the world — totally free of charge? If you're a frequent flyer, it's probably in your best interest to be strategic by getting your hands on a credit card that offers this perk. You might even already have a card that grants you entry into and just not know it. While annual fees for these types of cards can approach the $800 mark, we've rounded up five options that'll open the doors to those sweet buffets, comfy couches and superior Wi-Fi zones for $150 or less — with some offering the first year free under certain terms.
Depending on your income, your habits and the number of "VIP passes" available per card, you'll be able to make the choice that best suits your needs. CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card. $139 – There is currently an offer to rebate the annual fee in the first year.
20.99% Four free visits per year with the Visa Airport Companion Program. Cardholders get four free visits a year to any lounge that's part of the .
That's more than 1,200 lounges worldwide! You can still take advantage of this benefit on more than four occasions, but you'll have to pay a fee of $32 USD per person for each additional visit. The National Bank Lounge and Air France - KLM Lounge, located in the Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport's international flight zones, are included in this offer. This credit card also allows you to collect Aventura Points, which you can redeem for flights, hotel stays, vacation packages, and more.
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card. $150 20.99% Six free visits per year with the Visa Airport Companion Program.
By choosing this card, you can enjoy six free annual visits to over 1,200 VIP lounges around the world. These include the Air France - KLM Lounge and the National Bank Lounge, both located at the Montreal airport. If you wish to visit these spaces more often, you'll be charged a fee of $32 USD per person for access to the facilities.
Note that the National Bank Lounge is only accessible in the "international flights" zone, so it is not possible to use it on domestic Canadian flights or flights to the United States. As for other card benefits, you can redeem Scene+ points to cover the cost of your trip, and save money on car rentals thanks to your complimentary Avis Preferred Plus membership. The latter can offer you discounts in Canada and the United States, ranging from 5% to 25%, as well as free upgrades whenever they're available.
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard. $150 20.99% Four free visits per year with the Mastercard Travel Pass program provided by DragonPass.
Named one of the best credit cards for travel by Milesopedia, the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard gives you four free visits to three lounges at the Montreal International Airport: the National Bank Lounge, the Air France and KLM Lounge Managed by Plaza Premium Group and the Desjardins Odyssey Lounge - Plaza Premium Lounge via the . Note that the first two of those lounges are located in the "international flights" zone. It is possible for cardholders to extend this privilege to their travel companions.
Once the four visits have been used up, you can pay a fee of $32 USD per person to continue accessing the facilities. Cardholders can also earn five times the points for every dollar spent on eligible travel purchases. National Bank World Elite Mastercard.
$150 20.99% Unlimited visits to the National Bank Lounge. With the National Bank Mastercard World Elite credit card, named one of the best credit cards for travel by Milesopedia, you get free access to the Montréal-Trudeau Airport's National Bank Lounge with no limit on the number of visits.
All you need is the physical credit card and a boarding pass to enter, and you're also entitled to bring one guest plus two children aged 12 or under. Under certain terms and conditions, cardholders can receive up to $150 in travel reimbursements each year for expenses such as seat selection, airport parking, checked luggage and more. You can also earn up to five reward points per dollar spent and then use them on travel discounts.
CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card. $139 – There is currently an offer to get the first year rebated. 20.
99% Four free visits per year with the Visa Airport Companion Program. For a more accessible card, CIBC's Aventura Gold Visa is a good choice since the minimum household income required to qualify is much lower than the typical $100,000 per household, as seen above. Cardholders can visit participating Visa Airport Companion Program VIP lounges, including the National Bank Lounge and the Air France - KLM Lounge at the Montreal International Airport four times a year, in this case.
Note that these two lounges are located in the "international flights" zone. Guests are once again invited to join, and the fee to use the service more than four times is $32 USD per person. The benefits for this card are identical to those of the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card, such as the ability to use Aventura Points to book flights and purchase travel packages.
which was originally published on Narcity Québec by Noémi Lincourt..
