There are multiple types of credit cards providing access to different lounges across the world. Within Canada, you can gain access to the following lounges:
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
- Delta Sky Club
- WestJet Elevation Lounge
- Priority Pass Lounges
- DragonPass Lounges
- Plaza Premium Lounges
- Centurion Lounges
- Escape Lounges
- Airspace Lounges
- Executive Lounges by Swissport
- National Bank Lounge at Montreal Airport
- Desjardins Odyseey Lounge
Some of these programs might overlap. For example, many Plaza Premium Lounges are also part of the Priority Pass and DragonPass program. You will need to complete your own due diligence to confirm which lounge network works best for your travel patterns.
However, if you want an overall summary, then these are the best credit card for lounge access in Canada.
WestJet Elevation Lounge Access
There is only one WestJet Elevation Lounge in the world, at Calgary Airport, the home of WestJet. The Elevation lounge is considered one of the best lounges in North America, better than the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, and most other lounges available through a credit card.
Interestingly, WestJet Elevation Lounge partners with both Priority Pass and DragonPass, allowing members from both programs to access the lounge in Calgary.
There are fourteen credit cards in Canada that provide complimentary access to the WestJet Elevation lounges:
- Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
- CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
- CIBC Aventura Gold Visa
- BMO Ascend World Elite MasterCard
- Scotiabank Platinum American Express
- BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege
- CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege
- RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
- Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege
- Vancity enviro Visa Infinite Privilege
- TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
- CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
- Business Platinum Card from American Express
- The Platinum Card (American Express)
Ranking Criteria
Since all the credit cards have the same annual fee with similar benefits, the sign-up bonus and other benefits are used to further distinguish the best card.
0 to $30 Per Lounge Visit
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
The card provides six complimentary airport lounge visits for an annual fee of $150.
$30 to $40 Per Lounge Visit
There are three cards in this category. CIBC takes the first two spots. BMO the last spot.
The only difference between the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite and CIBC Aventura Gold Visa is that one of them is a Visa Infinite and the other is a Visa Gold. Visa Infinite, is ranked technically higher than the Visa Gold.
The BMO Ascend World Elite Master Card is ranked last due to a slightly higher annual fee.
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite
The card provides four complimentary airport lounge visits for an annual fee of $139.
While the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite and CIBC Aventura Gold Visa are very similar cards, as a Visa Infinite card, this card provides additional benefits that are not available on the Gold.
CIBC Aventura Gold Visa
The card provides four complimentary airport lounge visits for an annual fee of $139.
While the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite and CIBC Aventura Gold Visa are very similar cards, as a Visa Gold card, this card has slightly fewer benefits than the Visa Infinite.
BMO Ascend World Elite Master Card
The card provides four complimentary airport lounge visits for an annual fee of $150.
Scotiabank Platinum American Express
The card comes with 10 lounge visits across both Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges for an annual fee of $400.
$50 to $60 Per Lounge Visit
While strictly speaking, both the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege cards have a higher per lounge visit fee, both cards provide a $200 credit to their annual fees every year. I have applied a $200 discount to their annual fees to determine their per lounge visit.
The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege is ranked lower than the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege because the credit is slightly harder to redeem with a few additional terms and conditions.
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege
The annual fee after the credit is $300 which provides six complimentary airport lounge visits.
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege
The annual fee after the credit is $300 which provides six complimentary airport lounge visits.
$60 to $70 Per Lounge Visit
The RBC Avion Infinite Privilege is ranked higher because of the sign up bonus. However, if you are a member of Desjardings or Vancity, it is possible, that your per lounge visit fee is significantly below the fee listed here, as both banks have a lower annual fee for their members.
The Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege is ranked higher than the Vancity enviro Visa Infinite Privilege card because the Desjardins card also provides access to the Desjardins Odyssey Lounge in Montreal.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
The card provides six complimentary airport lounge visits for an annual fee of $399.
Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege
The card provides six complimentary airport lounge visits for an annual fee of $395.
Vancity enviro Visa Infinite Privilege
The card provides six complimentary airport lounge visits for an annual fee of $395.
$100 Per Lounge Visit
Let’s be honest, you do not get these credit cards for DragonPass lounges. While these cards do provide lounge access to DragonPass lounges, their additional benefit is that they also provide unlimited lounge access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges.
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege is ranked higher than the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege due to a higher sign-up bonus.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
The card provides six complimentary airport lounge visits for an annual fee of $599.
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
The card provides six complimentary airport lounge visits for an annual fee of
Unlimited Lounge Access
Primary and supplementary card holders receive unlimited access to The Centurion lounges across the world for yourself.
Primary and supplementary card holders receive unlimited access to The Centurion lounges across the world for yourself.
Conclusion
There are plenty of cards that will allow you complimentary access to the WestJet Elevation Lounge. Rather than read through this list, I would instead focus on the overall best card for lounge access, if that is your main preference.