Access to airport lounges is now a common perk offered by many mid-range credit cards with annual fees of $200 CAD or less. To streamline the experience for both cardholders and financial institutions, Mastercard Travel Pass acts as a third-party provider to manage lounge entry.
The Mastercard Travel Pass platform is modern and user-friendly, and this article will walk you through the entire process from registration to relaxing with your favorite beverage in comfort via the credit card benefit of free airport lounge passes.
What is Mastercard Travel Pass?
The Mastercard Travel Pass serves as a bridge between the DragonPass Lounge Network and Mastercard credit card issuers, making it easier than ever for banks to offer lounge access as a cardholder benefit.
If you hold an eligible World Elite Mastercard, you can enjoy entry to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide, along with discounts at select airport restaurants. You can search here by airport to see which airport lounges are part of this program if you are planning ahead for your next trip.
By registering your World Elite Mastercard through the Mastercard Travel Pass App, cardholders can use their lounge passes not only for themselves but also for accompanying friends or family. Whether you’re flying solo or with company, relaxing in an airport lounge is a great way to kick off your trip in comfort.
Which Mastercards Come with Free Airport Lounge Access?
There are only four Canadian Mastercards that come with airport lounge access, and only two of them include lounge passes as part of the Mastercard Travel Pass Program.
| Mastercards with Travel Pass Access | Number of Passes | Welcome Bonus | Other Benefits | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard | 4 | 90,000 BMO Rewards | Fuel Discount at Shell | $150 |
| BMO Ascend World Elite Business Mastercard | 2 | 100,000 BMO Rewards | Fuel Discount at Shell | $149 |
Both of the main credit cards in Canada that offer Mastercard Travel Pass and include free airport lounge passes are issued by BMO and earn BMO Rewards points. BMO Rewards can be a useful rewards option; however, they’re not as powerful as Scene+, as their maximum value is 0.67 cents per point ($0.0067), versus Scene+ at 1 cent per point ($0.01).
| Credit Card | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
90,000 BMO Rewards points and $125 FlyerFunds Estimated value: $728 Ends Jan 31, 2026 |
|
 |
100,000 BMO Rewards points Estimated value: $670 Ends Dec 13, 2025 |
|
The other Mastercards that offer airport lounge access that are listed on our card comparison page, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for Business and the National Bank World Elite Mastercard, offer lounge access through WestJet Silver status or only offer access to the National Bank Lounge in Montreal.
Overall, if complimentary airport lounge access is your goal, you’re likely better off exploring the Visa Airport Companion program, which has better credit cards for earning points while spending, in addition to a greater allotment of free lounge passes as a benefit.
That being said, Mastercard Travel Pass offers some attractive dining discounts that eligible cardholders can take advantage of. As a WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard cardholder, there are many restaurants with a discount at Montreal airport, for example.
And for what it’s worth, you can pay to enter lounges with the free membership to Dragonpass that is included in your annual fee. However, at $32 USD per visit, I’m not sure that many airport lounges would be worth it, especially when considering that there are many credit cards in Canada that offer free airport lounge access.
How to Join Mastercard Travel Pass
If you have an eligible Mastercard, the first step to joining the Mastercard Travel Pass program is to download the Mastercard Travel Pass app from your respective smartphone app store, such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
After downloading, you’ll be met with the following screen, where you’ll want to create an Account.
You’ll then be asked to verify your account. You’ll need to have your physical credit card, a picture of your card front and back, or a great memory to remember all these details!
After verifying all your information, your new membership number will populate! You’ll be presented with a screen as captured below (except it will have a Mastercard Travel Pass membership number, as I’ve censored mine).
How to Access Mastercard Travel Pass Airport Lounges
To check into an airport lounge using your free airport lounge passes via the Mastercard Travel Pass, you’ll need your boarding pass and the QR code in the app, which can be accessed in the “Membership Tab”. It’s a seamless process from there, as you’ll need to provide both to the check-in agent at the entrance to the lounge.
If you want to use all 4 airport lounge passes to admit family and friends as well in one visit, you’re welcome to do that as the primary cardholder, as long as the lounge has capacity.
What Are The Best Airport Lounges To Access with Mastercard Travel Pass?
Aspire American Express Lounge at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
This Aspire American Express Lounge in Montreal is one of the newest and, in my opinion, one of the best airport lounges in Canada. That being said, American Express Platinum, Business Platinum, and Centurion Cardholders get priority access, so you may have a tough time getting in.
If you have a long connection or plan to arrive at the airport early, this is an excellent space to kill time in the domestic area of the airport. I recently visited this lounge for the first time, so you can expect to see my review on Frugal Flyer in the coming weeks.
Maple Leaf Lounge at New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
New York City airports are getting a major glow-up, and Terminal B at New York LaGuardia has no less than four amazing lounges to access. Surprisingly, the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is available to Mastercard Travel Pass and Visa Airport Companion program members, a luxury usually reserved for airline elites. We talk all about the different levels of airport lounges in Episode 9 of Miles Ahead.
SkyTeam VIP Lounge at Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
You will need to be on an international flight to access the SkyTeam VIP Lounge at Vancouver International Airport. However, being an airline-affiliated lounge, it’s sure to bring an excellent standard of food and beverage. I have yet to visit this location, but it has recently undergone a renovation and looks amazing.
Conclusion
The Mastercard Travel Pass program is not quite as robust as the Visa Airport Companion regarding the eligible cards that include free access. However, the list of airport lounges is the same, and it features an easy setup procedure just like its sister program with Visa. Hopefully, we see more financial institutions expand and offer lounge access complimentary with their Mastercards!
Frequently Asked Questions
Mastercard Travel Pass is a global airport lounge access program available to select World and World Elite Mastercard holders. It allows cardholders to access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, typically for a fee per visit unless complimentary entries are included with your specific card.
Eligibility and benefits vary depending on your card issuer and country.
You can register by visiting the official Mastercard Travel Pass website or by downloading the Mastercard Travel Pass app, then entering your eligible Mastercard details.
Once verified, you can browse participating lounges, view entry fees (if applicable), and generate a digital lounge pass QR code for easy check-in at the airport.
Daniel Burkett
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