A comfortable armchair, a real meal, an outlet for your phone and some calm before boarding: a lounge changes the wait at the airport. Montréal-Trudeau has about ten of them, but not all in the same place or for the same travellers. Here is which one awaits you depending on your destination, how to get in, and what those who have been there say about it.
First things first: your flight decides your lounge
Once past security, the Montreal terminal is divided into three zones: international flights, flights to the United States (after U.S. preclearance) and flights within Canada. You cannot move from one zone to another. A lounge in the international zone is therefore of no use if you are flying to Fort Lauderdale.
| Your flight | The lounges in your zone |
|---|---|
| Your flightInternational (South, Europe, elsewhere) | The lounges in your zoneMaple Leaf Lounge (Air Canada), National Bank, Aspire American Express, Desjardins Odyssey, Air France-KLM |
| Your flightTo the United States | The lounges in your zoneMaple Leaf Lounge (Air Canada), Desjardins Odyssey |
| Your flightWithin Canada | The lounges in your zoneMaple Leaf Lounge (Air Canada), Aspire American Express |
International flights
Maple Leaf Lounge (Air Canada)
Near gate 52
Reserved for business class travellers on Air Canada or a Star Alliance partner, top-tier Aeroplan Elite and Star Alliance Gold members, holders of certain premium Aeroplan cards, and business or first class passengers on Emirates. A guest costs $59.
What travellers say
- Very comfortable armchairs for a long wait.
- A fresh food station, with the poutine and the chicken often mentioned.
- Quiet in the early afternoon.
What comes up as less good
- A line to get in, sometimes a long one.
- Packed in the evening, when the flights to Europe leave.
- Several find it falls short of what you would expect from Air Canada's main lounge.
National Bank Lounge
Near gate 53 · 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. · Priority Pass: 3.4 out of 5 (207 reviews)
Under renovation since October 4, 2026. The main lounge is closed for a full renovation, scheduled until June 2028. A temporary lounge has replaced it in the same spot, with visits limited to 2 hours. The reviews below are about the former lounge.
Access with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard, the American Express Platinum Card, Priority Pass or DragonPass, or by paying at the door.
What travellers said
- The view of the runways from the large windows.
- Self-serve coffee, tea and juice, with no waiting.
- Food that is often refreshed and friendly staff.
What came up as less good
- A line at the counter for alcohol and soft drinks.
- Few tables to sit down and eat.
- Around 10:30 a.m., the switch from breakfast to lunch means a wait.
Aspire American Express Lounge
International zone · Opened in September 2025
Access with certain American Express cards (Platinum, Centurion), Priority Pass, Visa Airport Companion or Mastercard Travel Pass, or by paying at the door.
What travellers say
- A new, well-designed lounge.
- Patient and kind staff, even at peak times.
- St-Viateur bagels at breakfast.
What comes up as less good
- A waiting list at the entrance, sometimes long even when seats are free.
- You order one dish at a time by QR code, and service is slow.
- No washrooms in the lounge.
Desjardins Odyssey Lounge
Near gate 63 · Same access rules as the Odyssey lounge for flights to the United States
Air France-KLM Lounge
Near gate 57 · 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. · Priority Pass: 4.2 out of 5 (more than 1,000 reviews)
Primarily for Air France and KLM customers. Others get in with Priority Pass, DragonPass, Plaza Premium or certain American Express cards, except from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., when access is reserved for Air France and KLM customers.
What travellers say
- Showers, and clean, spacious washrooms.
- Recent furniture and a calm atmosphere.
- Good food for a lounge you can enter with Priority Pass.
What comes up as less good
- Small for the number of travellers.
- You may be asked to wait while an Air France flight boards.
- An uneven welcome, depending on the reviews.
Flights to the United States
Maple Leaf Lounge (Air Canada)
Near gates 72 and 73
Same access rules as the Maple Leaf Lounge in the international zone (above).
What travellers say
- The staff, often mentioned.
- A self-serve bar with draft beer.
- A wide view of the tarmac.
What comes up as less good
- Packed: you sometimes have to hunt for a seat.
- Food considered ordinary and not very varied.
- Decor that could use an update.
Desjardins Odyssey Lounge
Near gate 76 · Run by Plaza Premium, about 80 seats
Access with certain Desjardins Odyssey cards (complimentary visits or a discount depending on the card), with DragonPass, or by paying at the door.
What travellers say
- A professional welcome and a well-designed entrance.
- Plenty of room and no wait at off-peak times.
- Soups, chicken, pasta and a salad bar when everything is well stocked.
What comes up as less good
- Uneven quality from one visit to the next.
- A coffee machine that is often out of order.
- A basic buffet, and fabric banquettes that have aged.
Flights within Canada
Maple Leaf Lounge (Air Canada)
Near gates 1 to 3, upstairs, above the Air Canada Café · Reopened on May 20, 2026 after renovation
Same access rules as the Maple Leaf Lounge in the international zone (above).
What travellers say
- The renovation: more open, more outlets to plug in your devices.
- The view of the planes and the runways.
- A clean lounge, professional staff.
What comes up as less good
- Often packed, with a line at the entrance at peak times.
- Only Super Elite members skip the line, not business class.
- A buffet considered limited, and small washrooms.
Aspire American Express Lounge
Between gates 1 and 2 · Opened in July 2025, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. (2 p.m. to 10 p.m. for Priority Pass members) · Priority Pass: 4.1 out of 5 (200 reviews)
The first domestic lounge open to all travellers: with certain American Express cards (Platinum, which gives priority at the entrance), with Priority Pass, Visa Airport Companion or Mastercard Travel Pass.
What travellers say
- You order from your table with a QR code, and dishes are made to order.
- Nice decor, different kinds of seating, a view of the planes.
- Fast, friendly service.
What comes up as less good
- Often full: you sometimes have to sign up on a waiting list.
- No washrooms in the lounge.
- A short menu.
How to get in without a premium card
- With your credit card. Several cards give free access, a few visits a year or a discount: Desjardins Odyssey for the Odyssey lounges, the World Elite Mastercard for the National Bank Lounge, premium Aeroplan cards for the Maple Leaf Lounges, American Express Platinum for the Aspire lounges. Read your card's terms: the number of visits and guests varies.
- With Priority Pass or DragonPass. These programs often come with a credit card. They open the Aspire, National Bank and Air France-KLM lounges (and Desjardins Odyssey for DragonPass).
- By paying at the door. Most lounges sell single-visit access, often between $40 and $65 per adult. Check the amount on the lounge's website before you leave.
- In business class. Your ticket gives you access to the airline's lounge (Maple Leaf for Air Canada, Air France-KLM for Air France).
The rules change often. Before you leave, check the website of the lounge or of your card.
Is it worth it?
It all depends on how much time you have before boarding. If you get to the airport just in time, a lounge won't do you any good. With an hour or two ahead of you, it's another story.
On short flights, most airlines no longer offer much on board. Having a glass of water, a coffee or a real meal before you leave becomes very handy, especially when you see the price of a sandwich and a bottle of water at the airport restaurants.
And if your credit card gives you lounge access, you are already paying for that service through your annual fee. You might as well use it.
Our pro tips
- Take a photo of the waiting-list QR code. Several lounges display a QR code at the entrance to sign up for their waiting list. Keep it on your phone: next time you fly, you can join the line for your favourite lounge as soon as you arrive at the airport, even before going through security.
- Arrive early. YUL's lounges are often full at peak times, and several work with a waiting list.
- Using Priority Pass for the Air France lounge? Avoid the 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. window, reserved for its customers.
- At the temporary National Bank Lounge, visits are limited to 2 hours. No point going in too early.
- There are no washrooms in the Aspire lounges. Stop by before going in if the line is long.
- With children, check ahead. Babies get in almost everywhere at no charge, but from age 2, a child often counts as a guest.
