Review: Plaza Premium Lounge Edmonton (Non-US Departures)

As Reed and I are both based in Edmonton, we have become regular visitors to the few airport lounges available at Edmonton International Airport (EIA). While there are not many choices, there is one lounge that we find quite consistent in their food and drink offerings: the Plaza Premium lounge for all passengers departing on domestic or international flights (excluding any US transborder flights).

Plaza Premium lounges are often middle of the road when it comes to airport lounges, and the one in Edmonton is no different.

Let’s dive into our review of the Plaza Premium Lounge at Edmonton International Airport (Non-US Departures).

Accessing the Plaza Premium Lounge Edmonton (Non-US Departures)

The Plaza Premium Lounge in Edmonton for all non-US departures can be found near gate 52, situated right beside the Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge. It is open from 4:30 am to 7:30 pm daily, but you should always double-check opening hours in advance to avoid disappointment before your next visit.

The lounge area is very clearly marked, with signage and information posted outside for both the Plaza Premium lounge and Maple Leaf lounge.

Once you enter the lounge area, take the stairs or elevator to the second floor. At the top of the stairs, head to the right to access the Plaza Premium lounge. On the left-hand side, is the Edmonton Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge.

My preferred way to access this lounge is by holding an American Express Platinum credit card. This card grants access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, and the Plaza Premium Lounge in Edmonton is part of this program. Platinum cardholders are able to receive complimentary access for themselves, one guest, and any child under 2 years old.

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American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum card earns Membership Rewards and offers cardholders a variety of benefits including an annual $200 travel credit, complimentary airport lounge access, an annual $200 dining credit, and instant elite status with many hotel loyalty programs.

In 2024, we awarded this card as the Best Credit Card for Airport Lounge Access.

BONUS
100,000 Membership Rewards

MINSPEND
$10,000

NET VALUE
$1,401+

ANNUAL FEE
$799

FOREX FEES
Yes

EXPIRY
–

Alternatively, this Plaza Premium lounge is part of the Dragonpass lounge program. If you hold any cards that offer complimentary Dragonpass lounge passes, such as the CIBC Aventura Gold card or CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card, this is another great option to gain access before your next flight. Ultimately, there are many ways to access this lounge for free, especially thanks to a few of the best credit cards with airport lounge access for Canadians.

Seating & Lounge Layout

While this lounge is not big in size, I find that it is “right-sized” for the amount of traffic that the Edmonton International Airport sees. Simply put, I’ve never had an issue finding seating at this lounge, and it is nice to be able to enjoy a lounge that isn’t always crazy busy.

The majority of the seating is focused on the typical lounge chair you see at many airport lounges, with a small table in between seats. While these seats are spacious, they are not really conducive to having a decent meal or working on a laptop.

Closer to the bar is some bench seating, often preferred by larger parties.

A few smaller tables and chairs are set up closer to the windows that overlook the terminal. These are the perfect seats for couples if they are available.

Moving further into the lounge, past the food and beverage area, there is a second seating area. This is a neat “open-air” seating area, giving you sweeping views of the terminal. This area is hidden near the back, near the washrooms, and often has seating available.

This is my personal favorite area to set up and people-watch while enjoying a bite to eat and a cocktail or two (or three).

The biggest drawback for the seating at the Plaza Premium lounge is that there are very few spots that have a table, let alone a sizable table. This makes it difficult to find a place to work if you are hoping to get a few things done on your laptop.

Food & Beverage

The Plaza Premium lounge in Edmonton has an adequate food and beverage offering. While it doesn’t compare to say, the Denver Centurion lounge or any of the American Express Centurion lounges for that matter, for a smaller airport like Edmonton it fits the bill.

Starting at the food and beverage area, there is a Pepsi machine with a variety of soft drink options. Right beside it is a coffee machine that is able to make a variety of caffeinated drinks (note that the staff can also make lattes, cappuccinos, and more if desired).

Directly beside the coffee machine are two carafes, often one containing juice and the other containing chilled water. There are also a variety of cookies and muffins available.

Moving to the right, there are a variety of cold dishes placed on ice. I’ve often seen items such as pasta salad and coleslaw available.

Directly beside the cold dishes, are the hot options. Typically, in the morning this includes items such as scrambled eggs, sausage, or bacon. During my visit this time, they had teriyaki chicken, lentil stew, and white rice.

Moving around the corner, there is a small refrigerated area that houses other desserts and sometimes sandwiches. If you want anything from this case, you will need to ask staff to retrieve it for you.

Finally, the Plaza Premium Lounge Edmonton has a full bar available. This bar is available at all hours and offers a variety of spirits and local draft beer on tap. 

While there are some spirits that are available at an upcharge, basic well liquor is available free of charge (things such as Captain Morgan rum and Alberta Premium rye). Most staff members will even pour you a double if you ask nicely!

Conclusion

While we don’t have a ton of options when it comes to lounges in YEG, the Plaza Premium lounge Edmonton is the best option for any passengers departing on domestic or international flights. The food is decent, the drinks are strong, and the lounge always has places to sit.

If you have a way to access this lounge on a complimentary basis, I definitely recommend checking it out on your next departure from Edmonton.