Priority Pass, DragonPass, Air Canada Maple Leaf, WestJet Elevation, Desjardins Odyssey — every guest fee spelled out. Updated June 2026.
You have lounge access. Maybe through a premium credit card, a Priority Pass membership, or Aeroplan elite status. Then your travel companion shows up — and you realize you have no idea what bringing them inside is going to cost.
Canadian airport lounges do not use a single guest fee system. Priority Pass, DragonPass, Air Canada, WestJet, and independent lounges each have their own rules, and those rules change depending on which card you used to get in. A guest who costs you nothing at one lounge can cost $65 CAD at the next terminal over.
This guide covers every guest fee structure in use at Canadian airports today — with the specific dollar amounts, which cards give you a free guest visit, and the seven traps that catch even experienced travellers off guard.
Guest Fee Quick-Reference Table
All fees quoted in USD where networks set them (Priority Pass and DragonPass bill in USD). CAD fees are lounge-specific walk-in rates.
| Lounge / Network | Your Access Method | Guest Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Pass lounge (any Canadian airport) | PP Standard, Standard+, or Prestige direct membership | $35 USD per guest per visit |
| Priority Pass lounge | Amex Platinum Canada ($799 card) | 1st guest FREE; additional guests ~$35 USD each |
| Priority Pass lounge | Amex Aeroplan Reserve ($599 card) | 1st guest FREE (PP lounges only) |
| Priority Pass lounge | TD/CIBC Aeroplan VIP or most other Canadian cards | $35 USD per guest |
| DragonPass lounge (Visa Airport Companion) | Scotiabank Passport VI / CIBC Aventura VIP / BMO Ascend WE | $32 USD per extra visit — pool is shared with guests |
| Air Canada Maple Leaf (domestic or US transborder) | TD/CIBC Aeroplan VIP or Amex Aeroplan Reserve | 1 guest FREE (TD/CIBC benefit through Dec 2026) |
| Air Canada Maple Leaf (any location) | Walk-in / no card benefit | $59 CAD per guest |
| Air Canada Maple Leaf | One-Time Guest Pass (earned via card spend) | FREE — domestic and US transborder MLL only; not valid at international MLL |
| WestJet Elevation (YVR and YYC) | Any Priority Pass card | You enter free; guest pays $59–$65 CAD + GST walk-in rate |
| WestJet Elevation | Walk-in (WestJet boarding pass) | $59 CAD + GST adult / $30 CAD + GST child (2–17) / FREE under 2 |
| Desjardins Odyssey (YUL — DragonPass only) | Walk-in (any airline) | $42 CAD adult / $26 CAD child (3–11) / FREE under 3 |
| Plaza Premium First (YVR Gate D67) | Standard Priority Pass | Upcharge required even for cardholder — not covered by standard PP |
| Plaza Premium (standard locations) | Priority Pass member | $35 USD per guest |
| AC Signature Suite (YVR, YYZ, YUL International) | Any pass or status | No guest access — Business class ticket required for all occupants |
Priority Pass Guest Fees in Canada
Priority Pass covers the majority of independent lounges in Canada — all standard Plaza Premium locations, the SkyTeam Lounge at YVR, and the WestJet Elevation Lounges at both YVR and YYC. What your guest costs depends entirely on how you got your membership.
If you bought Priority Pass directly
All three direct-purchase tiers — Standard, Standard Plus, and Prestige — charge the same flat guest fee: $35 USD per guest per visit. There is no first-guest-free benefit on any direct-purchase tier. Every guest, every time, costs $35 USD.
If your card includes Priority Pass as a benefit
Most Canadian premium travel cards bundle a Priority Pass membership, but the guest rules attached to that membership vary by card — and they are often different from what the same card offers in the United States.
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | PP Visits Included | Guest Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Platinum (Canada) | $799 | Unlimited | 1 guest FREE per visit; additional at ~$35 USD each |
| Amex Aeroplan Reserve | $599 | Unlimited PP + unlimited MLL | 1 PP guest FREE; 1 MLL guest FREE |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege | $599 | Unlimited MLL + 6 DragonPass | 1 MLL guest FREE; DragonPass pool shared with guests |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege | $599 | Unlimited MLL + 6 DragonPass | Same as TD Aeroplan VIP |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | $150 | 6 DragonPass | 6 visits shared with guests; $32 USD per extra |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege | $599 | 10 DragonPass | 10 visits shared with guests; $32 USD per extra |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege | $599 | 6 DragonPass | 6 visits shared with guests; $32 USD per extra |
| BMO Ascend World Elite MC | $150 | 4 DragonPass | 4 visits shared with guests; $32 USD per extra |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve (US card, usable in Canada) | $795 USD | Unlimited PP | 1 guest FREE; additional ~$60 CAD equivalent |
Canadian Amex Platinum is not the same as American Amex Platinum. The US version gives 2 free guests per visit. The Canadian version gives 1. If you have been reading US cardholder forums or comparison sites, double-check the Canadian benefit guide before you travel with two companions.
DragonPass and the Visa Airport Companion — The Pool Problem
DragonPass is the network behind the Visa Airport Companion program used by Scotiabank, CIBC, and BMO cards in Canada. It looks like Priority Pass but works very differently when guests are involved.
How the shared visit pool works
When a card advertises six complimentary visits, that is not six visits for you plus six for each guest. It is a combined pool. If you bring one guest, you both enter — but that counts as two visits from your allocation, leaving you four remaining. Once the pool runs out, every subsequent visit for anyone costs $32 USD per person.
Some cards issue separate allocations to supplementary cardholders rather than drawing from the primary holder's pool. This varies by issuer and product year — check your specific card's benefit guide before assuming your companion draws from a separate pool.
To stretch a DragonPass allocation: use visits solo when travelling without a companion to preserve the pool. If your guest also holds an eligible card, have them enter on their own allocation rather than yours. Supplementary cardholders on some Scotiabank Passport VIP cards get their own separate allocation — worth checking against the extra card fee.
DragonPass lounges in Canada largely overlap with Priority Pass lounges — most Plaza Premium locations, WestJet Elevation, and the SkyTeam Lounge at YVR are accessible through both networks. One major exception: Desjardins Odyssey lounges at YUL are DragonPass only. Priority Pass members cannot use them regardless of tier.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Guest Fees
The Maple Leaf Lounge is Air Canada's own network, entirely separate from Priority Pass. Access comes through Aeroplan elite status, a premium credit card, or walk-in payment. Guest fees vary substantially depending on how you got in.
The walk-in guest fee is $59 CAD per person, at any Maple Leaf Lounge in Canada — YVR, YYZ, YUL, YYC, or any other location. There is no online pre-purchase for walk-in guests. You pay at the desk.
Who gets a free guest at the Maple Leaf Lounge
| Access Method | Free Guest Entitlement |
|---|---|
| Aeroplan 50K+ status (Super Elite, Elite, 50K) | Spouse/partner + up to 5 children under 24 + 1 additional guest FREE |
| Star Alliance Gold (flying non-AC carrier) | 1 guest FREE |
| TD or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege ($599) | 1 guest FREE — time-limited extension currently through Dec 2026 |
| Amex Aeroplan Reserve ($599) | 1 guest FREE at MLL |
| AC One-Time Guest Pass (earned via card spend) | 1 guest FREE — domestic and US transborder MLL only; not valid at international MLL |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve (US card) | 1 guest FREE at eligible lounges |
| Business class same-day ticket (Air Canada) | All travelling companions in business class |
| Walk-in or no qualifying benefit | $59 CAD per guest — no exceptions |
The Air Canada One-Time Guest Pass — and where it does not work
Air Canada's One-Time Guest Pass is an underused benefit earned through Aeroplan credit card spending: one pass per $10,000 CAD spent on an eligible card, up to four passes per year. The pass admits one guest when the cardholder is also present.
The critical limitation: One-Time Guest Passes are explicitly excluded from the Maple Leaf Lounge International locations — YVR Gate D, YYZ Gate F, and YUL International. They are valid at domestic and US transborder Maple Leaf Lounges only. If you are flying internationally and attempt to use one, it will be declined at the door.
The TD and CIBC free guest benefit — a time-limited extension
The one-free-guest benefit on the TD and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege cards has existed since approximately 2023 as a time-limited annual extension from Air Canada. The current extension runs through December 2026. It has been renewed every year it has existed, but it is worth confirming on your card's current benefits page before travelling with a guest — particularly if you are reading this after mid-2026.
The Signature Suite — no guests, no exceptions
The AC Signature Suite, located within the MLL International at YVR Gate D52, YYZ, and YUL, admits only passengers booked in Business Class on an intercontinental Air Canada flight departing the same day. No credit card, no status, no guest pass overrides this. The only way to bring a companion is if they are also ticketed in Business Class on the same flight.
WestJet Elevation Lounge Guest Fees (YVR and YYC)
WestJet operates Elevation Lounges at Vancouver (YVR Pier B) and Calgary (YYC Concourse B). Both accept Priority Pass for the cardholder — but Priority Pass covers entry for the cardholder only. Guests always pay WestJet's own walk-in pricing, regardless of your PP tier or card.
| Guest Type | WestJet Boarding Pass | Other Airline Boarding Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $59 CAD + GST | $65 CAD + GST |
| Child (ages 2–17) | $30 CAD + GST | $33 CAD + GST |
| Infant (under 2) | FREE | FREE |
This applies even to Amex Platinum cardholders, who normally receive one free guest at Priority Pass lounges. WestJet's own pricing schedule is explicit — the PP guest benefit does not extend to the Elevation Lounge. If you are planning to bring a companion to WestJet Elevation, budget for the walk-in rate regardless of your card.
Desjardins Odyssey Lounges at YUL — DragonPass Only
Desjardins operates two Odyssey Lounges at Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) — one domestic, one international. These are among the most underrated lounges in Canada, but they are only accessible through DragonPass (Visa Airport Companion). Priority Pass members cannot use them regardless of membership tier.
Walk-in guest fees
| Guest Age | Walk-In Fee (before tax) |
|---|---|
| Age 12 and over | $42 CAD |
| Ages 3 to 11 | $26 CAD |
| Under 3 years old | FREE |
Desjardins cardholder discounts
Desjardins cardholders receive meaningful discounts beyond the walk-in rate. The Odyssey Gold Visa gives 50% off the walk-in rate for the cardholder and one companion, plus up to three children under 18. The Odyssey World Elite Mastercard includes eight free passes per year with 50% off after the allocation is used. The Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege includes twelve free passes per year, again with 50% off after that. The cardholder's pass covers the cardholder and one companion — family pricing is built into the discount structure.
Plaza Premium First — The YVR Gate D67 Upcharge
Plaza Premium operates more lounges at Canadian airports than any other independent operator — with standard locations at YVR, YYZ, YUL, YYC, YEG, and more. All standard Plaza Premium lounges are covered by Priority Pass and DragonPass at no additional charge, with guests paying the standard $35 or $32 USD fee.
The exception is Plaza Premium First at YVR Gate D67. This is a premium-tier lounge with enhanced food, private seating, and superior finishes. Standard Priority Pass access does not cover it — even Prestige-tier cardholders must pay an upcharge to enter, and guests pay an additional fee on top of that. Walk-in rates run approximately $80–120 CAD depending on time of day and booking method.
If you want standard Plaza Premium access at YVR, the 24-hour International lounge, the US Transborder lounge at Gate E88, and the Domestic lounges at Pier B and Pier C are all fully covered by Priority Pass and DragonPass at no extra charge. Plaza Premium First at Gate D67 is a deliberate upsell — you may be directed toward it from the standard entrance if you are not paying attention.
Canadian Cards That Give You at Least One Free Guest Visit
Only a handful of Canadian-issued cards provide a free guest benefit at any lounge network. If travelling with a companion regularly, these are the options worth knowing.
| Card | Annual Fee | Free Guest At | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Platinum (Canada) | $799 | PP lounges | 1 free guest per visit; no limit on how often |
| Amex Aeroplan Reserve | $599 | PP lounges + AC MLL | 1 free PP guest; 1 free MLL guest |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege | $599 | AC MLL only | 1 free MLL guest; time-limited through Dec 2026 |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege | $599 | AC MLL only | Same as TD Aeroplan VIP |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve (US card, usable in Canada) | $795 USD | PP lounges | 1 free guest; additional ~$60 CAD equivalent |
| Aeroplan 50K+ status (no card required) | n/a | AC MLL only | Spouse + up to 5 children + 1 extra guest FREE |
BMO Ascend, Scotiabank Passport, and CIBC Aventura cards are not on this list. They do not include a free guest benefit — your guest's entry draws from the same shared visit pool as yours.
7 Guest Fee Traps Nobody Warns You About
Each of these has cost real travellers money — usually at the lounge entrance with no time to fix it.
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Canadian Amex Platinum gives 1 free guest, not 2. US comparison sites and cardholder forums consistently state the Amex Platinum provides 2 free guests per visit. That is the US benefit. The Canadian card gives 1. If you are reading US sources to research Canadian cards, verify against the Canadian benefit guide specifically.
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DragonPass pool visits are shared, not per person. A card advertising 6 complimentary visits means 6 combined entries for you and any guests combined. Bring a friend and you have used 2 of your 6, leaving 4 for the rest of the year. Many cardholders do not realize this until they are turned away mid-trip with an exhausted allocation.
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AC One-Time Guest Passes do not work at international Maple Leaf Lounges. These passes — earned at $10,000 CAD spent per pass — are explicitly excluded from the MLL International at YVR Gate D, YYZ Gate F, and YUL International. Attempting to use one on an international departure will be declined. Domestic and US transborder only.
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Desjardins Odyssey at YUL does not accept Priority Pass. Both Odyssey Lounges in Montreal are DragonPass only. If you transit through YUL regularly and carry only a Priority Pass, you have no access regardless of your membership tier.
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WestJet Elevation charges your guest walk-in rates even with Amex Platinum. Priority Pass covers the cardholder only at WestJet Elevation. The PP free-guest benefit that normally applies at most other lounges does not extend here. Your companion pays $59–$65 CAD + GST regardless of which card you are holding.
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The TD and CIBC Aeroplan VIP free-guest benefit is not permanent. The one-free-guest benefit at MLL is a time-limited annual extension from Air Canada, not a permanent card feature. It has been renewed every year since approximately 2023 and runs through December 2026. Confirm it is still active on your card's current benefits page before you count on it.
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The AC Signature Suite has no guest mechanism whatsoever. No credit card, elite status, or pass overrides the Business Class ticket requirement. Both you and your companion must hold a same-day Business Class ticket on an intercontinental Air Canada flight. There is no workaround.
Which Card Gets You and Your Guest In for the Least
If you travel regularly with a companion, here is how the major options stack up.
Best for unlimited free-guest access at Priority Pass lounges: The Amex Platinum Canada at $799 per year gives unlimited PP visits for the cardholder plus one free guest on every visit. Additional guests pay around $35 USD each. If you travel as a pair and visit lounges more than a few times a year, this is the only Canadian card that makes every PP visit effectively free for two people.
Best for Air Canada Maple Leaf plus PP guest coverage: The Amex Aeroplan Reserve at $599 per year covers both networks — unlimited MLL access with one free MLL guest, plus unlimited PP with one free PP guest. If you fly Air Canada frequently and want full coverage across both networks on a single card, this is the most comprehensive option.
Best entry-level option with any lounge access: The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite at $150 per year includes six DragonPass visits shared between you and a guest, with a $32 USD overage fee per additional visit. No free-guest benefit, but at $150 the math often still works if you only visit lounges a few times a year as a pair.
Best for families flying Air Canada with status: Aeroplan 50K+ status combined with a TD or CIBC Aeroplan VIP card gives unlimited MLL access, immediate family free, and one extra guest free — on top of the DragonPass allocation on the card. This is the highest-value scenario for families travelling regularly on Air Canada routes.
Quick decision guide: At a PP lounge with Amex Platinum Canada — your first guest is free, second and beyond pay ~$35 USD each. At a PP lounge with any other Canadian card — every guest pays ~$35 USD. At an Air Canada MLL with Amex Reserve or TD/CIBC VIP — first guest is free. At an MLL with no qualifying benefit — $59 CAD per guest. At WestJet Elevation with any PP card — your guest always pays $59–$65 CAD + GST. At Desjardins Odyssey with Priority Pass — not accepted at all.
Frequently Asked Questions: Airport Lounge Guest Fees in Canada
How much does it cost to bring a guest to a Priority Pass lounge in Canada?
The standard guest fee at any Priority Pass lounge in Canada is $35 USD per person per visit. This applies whether you hold a direct Priority Pass membership or access through most Canadian credit cards. The exception is the Amex Platinum Canada and the Amex Aeroplan Reserve, both of which include one free guest per visit at PP lounges.
Does Amex Platinum Canada give free guest access to airport lounges?
Yes — the Canadian Amex Platinum ($799 annual fee) includes one free guest per visit at Priority Pass lounges, with no limit on how many times you can use it. A second or third guest pays the standard ~$35 USD each. Note that this is different from the US Amex Platinum, which provides two free guests per visit.
Can I bring a guest to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge for free?
Yes, if you hold the right card or status. The Amex Aeroplan Reserve, TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege, and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege all include one free MLL guest. Aeroplan 50K+ status holders can bring their immediate family and one additional guest free. Anyone else pays $59 CAD per guest at the door.
Does my Priority Pass cover a guest at WestJet Elevation lounges?
No. WestJet Elevation accepts Priority Pass for the cardholder's entry only. Guests pay WestJet's own walk-in rate — $59 CAD + GST for adults with a WestJet boarding pass, $65 CAD + GST with any other airline's boarding pass. This applies even to Amex Platinum cardholders, who would normally receive one free PP guest at other lounges.
What is the DragonPass visit pool and how does it affect guest fees?
DragonPass cards that include a set number of complimentary visits — such as 6 visits on the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite — share that allocation between the cardholder and any guests. Bringing one guest on a single trip uses two visits from your pool. Once the pool is exhausted, every subsequent entry costs $32 USD per person. This catches many cardholders off guard mid-year.
Can I use an Air Canada One-Time Guest Pass at an international Maple Leaf Lounge?
No. AC One-Time Guest Passes — earned at a rate of one pass per $10,000 CAD spent on an eligible Aeroplan card, up to four per year — are only valid at domestic and US transborder Maple Leaf Lounges. They are explicitly excluded from the international MLL locations at YVR Gate D, YYZ Gate F, and YUL International. Attempting to use one before an international flight will be declined.
Does Priority Pass work at the Desjardins Odyssey Lounges in Montreal?
No. The Desjardins Odyssey Lounges at Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) accept DragonPass (Visa Airport Companion) only. Priority Pass members have no access to these lounges regardless of membership tier. If you travel through YUL regularly and want Odyssey Lounge access, a Desjardins card or a card with DragonPass access is required.
Are guest fees at Canadian airport lounges charged in CAD or USD?
It depends on the network. Priority Pass and DragonPass charge guest fees in USD — currently around $35 USD and $32 USD respectively — which will appear on your statement converted to CAD at the rate used on the day of the visit. Walk-in guest fees at Air Canada Maple Leaf, WestJet Elevation, and Desjardins Odyssey are set in CAD.
All fees and benefit details in this guide are accurate as of June 2026. Lounge access policies, guest fee structures, and credit card benefits are subject to change — always confirm with your card issuer and the lounge operator before travelling with a guest.
Images in this article were created using AI image generation tools for illustrative purposes. Actual lounge interiors, facilities, and appearances may differ from those shown.