Review: Aspire AMEX Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau Airport (YUL)

I accessed the recently opened American Express Aspire Lounge in the domestic terminal at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport in September 2025 and had an excellent experience. From priority access for Platinum & Centurion cardholders, to finely curated cocktails, wine, beer, and food, this lounge delivers a premium experience in a compact space.

Read on to see why the Aspire Amex Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau is one of the best domestic airport lounges in Canada.

Where is the Aspire AMEX Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport?

The Aspire Amex Lounge is across from Gate 1 in the domestic area of Montreal Trudeau International Airport. Gate 2 is further down the terminal hallway, even though it’s listed as right next to the lounge on this map.

Accessing the Aspire AMEX Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport

Passengers have many options when it comes to accessing the Aspire American Express lounge, as Priority Pass, Visa Airport Companion, and Mastercard Travel Pass lounge programs all grant access. This means that if you have a credit card with airport lounge access, you should be good to enter.

However, the American Express Platinum Card, American Express Business Platinum Card, and American Express Centurion cardholders get priority access, and it’s strictly enforced.

I arrived at the lounge and was met with quite a large lineup; however, after flashing my American Express Platinum Card, I was whisked to the front and immediately seated. It’s nice to see some services that are advertised as priority, actually enforced! Unsurprisingly, this is another great example of how these two premium credit cards continue to add outsized value for cardholders.

Credit Card		Welcome Bonus
Apply Now Learn More	American Express Business Platinum® Card	American Express Business Platinum® Card 120,000 Membership Rewards points Estimated value: $2,400	Apply Now Learn More
Apply Now Learn More	American Express Platinum® Card	American Express Platinum® Card 100,000 Membership Rewards points Estimated value: $2,000	Apply Now Learn More

While the Maple Leaf Lounge is under construction (it should reopen in January 2026), Air Canada Business Class passengers also get priority access to this lounge, the same as Platinum and Centurion cardholders.

Seating

This lounge is relatively small in size, but the seating space is excellent. I also like the way they manage their seating, by escorting you to a seat based on preference and the size of your party.

For example, as a solo traveller, I was not permitted to sit at these tables with green chairs, so the seating capacity is not wasted. The windows are huge with amazing runway views as well.

Separating the dining area and the bar is a line of standing-room-only spaces. Maybe eventually there will be more barstools here, but for now, I didn’t see anyone utilizing this space.

The bar is a huge highlight here, which seems to be a trend among new lounge designs. Both the Chase Sapphire Lounge at LaGuardia and the Air Canada Cafe at Billy Bishop feature a similar layout. Placed around the outside edge of the bar are diner-style booths, which looked like a nice private place to enjoy the lounge.

On the window side of the bar area is some excellent solo seating, which I was placed at during my visit. I particularly enjoyed the beverage holder built into the chair to maximize table space, and the power port built into the chair. At every sat you’ll find a QR code to scan for ordering, which is similar to the WestJet Elevation Lounge.

At the bar, I found not only handy baggage hooks but also many charging ports, which included direct connections to USB-A and USB-C. I consider USB-C ports somewhat of a litmus test for newly constructed hotels/lounges/premium cabin seats, and the Aspire Lounge YUL passed with flying colours.

The backside of the bar holds equally pleasing aesthetic views. You’ll also find a solo phone booth, which is an excellent addition; phone booths are one of my favorite staple features of Delta Sky Clubs.

Food & Beverage

The dining options here are excellent. Full stop. There’s really no other way to describe it. I can only hope that this quality continues, and it doesn’t trail off as this lounge gets busier. As mentioned earlier, each seat has a QR code that can be scanned to order food directly to it. Once you choose your items, you’ll get the following confirmation screen.

My visit included the signature hot dog, gnocchi, and deconstructed key lime pie. A feature I loved was the branded coasters, which are also present at the AC Cafe at Billy Bishop. If Aspire keeps building all the new lounges in Canada, I’m delighted!

As for beverages, I opted for a few of the spectacular signature cocktails. I was lucky enough to stop by the Aspire lounge again about a week after this visit and sampled some beer and wine, which were also great. The branding on the glasses was an excellent example of the attention to detail that was evident here.

The menu here is vast, but there are several “premium” items on the menu that require an additional charge if ordered. However, those premium items that have an American Express logo beside them are free for Platinum & Centurion cardholders.

That being said, every type of liquor has some kind of house option, so you won’t go thirsty if you’ve got a particular drink request.

The food menu is as follows:

The beverage menu is as follows:

Coffee, water, and tea are all self-serve at a singular beverage station near the bar. The coffee is provided by the renowned Montreal Cafe St Henri.

Bathroom

There are no bathrooms inside this lounge, but I’ll gladly step out to use the facilities if it means more seating space for travelers in this small area.

Grab & Go Area

When you enter the lounge, you’re escorted to a seat by the staff, but on your way out, you can stop by the small selection of hot and cold coffee. I imagine this will be expanded to have some cold snacks, but that is pure speculation. There’s also a (very) small seating area here.

Conclusion

The Aspire Lounge YUL is a welcome addition to the lounge scene at Montreal Trudeau. Even though this lounge is located in the domestic area of the airport (for now), you’re still able to access it on a transborder ticket. Arguably, this lounge takes the cake for the best ‘Priority Pass Lounge’ in Canada, even though it lacks bathrooms and a shower.

Happy traveling, and may the waitlist gods be ever in your favor!