{"schema_version":1,"citation_url":"https://www.loungefrog.com/news/aspire-amex-lounge-calgary-opens-montreal-transborder-2027","title":"A second Aspire Amex Lounge opens in Calgary, with a third coming to Montreal in 2027","description":"American Express and Aspire opened a co-branded lounge in Calgary's domestic area on September 16. A transborder lounge for US flights at Montreal-Trudeau follows in early 2027.","author":"Patrick Karsh","publisher":"Lounge Frog","date_published":"2026-10-07T20:30:23.73416Z","date_modified":"2026-10-14T23:43:34.687487Z","body_markdown":"Canada still has no [Centurion Lounge](/programs/centurion). But American Express is building something else there. On September 16, 2026, Amex and Aspire Pre-Flight Hospitality opened a new Aspire Amex Lounge at Calgary International Airport (YYC). A third one is planned for Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) in early 2027, according to [Amex and Aspire's announcement](https://www.placera.se/pressmeddelanden/american-express-and-aspire-pre-flight-hospitality-expand-aspire-lounge-partnership-in-canada-20260916).\n\nAspire is the lounge brand of Swissport, the airport services company. It runs about 100 lounges around the world.\n\n## The new Calgary lounge\n\nThe Calgary lounge is in YYC's domestic terminal. It serves passengers flying within Canada. This is the first Aspire Amex Lounge in Western Canada.\n\nLike the first one in Montreal, it mixes a buffet with tableside ordering, so you can grab food yourself or order from a server. Amex and Aspire say the menu leans on local Calgary partners.\n\nThe companies did not share the lounge's size, seat count or hours in the release. We list it in our directory as the [Aspire Amex Lounge (Domestic)](/lounges/yyc-aspire-amex-lounge-domestic). It has a full bar and no showers, and our users rate it 4.0 out of 5.\n\n## A transborder lounge for Montreal in 2027\n\nThe next lounge will open in early 2027 in the transborder area at Montreal-Trudeau. That is the part of the airport for flights to the United States, after US preclearance.\n\nIt joins the first Aspire Amex Lounge, which opened in YUL's domestic area in September 2025. Amex says that lounge has had more than 50,000 visits from Amex cardmembers in its first year. We list the Montreal domestic lounge as [Aspire Lounge (Domestic)](/lounges/yul-aspire-lounge-domestic), rated 4.4 out of 5.\n\nOnce the new lounge opens, an eligible cardholder will have an Aspire Amex Lounge in three places:\n\n- Calgary, domestic flights\n- Montreal, domestic flights\n- Montreal, flights to the US\n\n## Who gets in\n\nAspire Amex Lounges are not exclusive to Amex cardholders. They work much like other [Aspire lounges](/programs/aspire-lounges), so travelers can also get in through programs like [Priority Pass](/programs/priority-pass) or by paying at the door.\n\nWhat Amex cardholders get is priority. Amex says eligible cardmembers get priority entry and priority on the waitlist when the lounge is full. That matters, because popular lounges in Canada often run waitlists at busy times.\n\nAt the Montreal domestic lounge, Aspire lists these Canadian cards as getting free priority access:\n\n- The [Platinum Card (Canada)](/cards/amex-platinum-canada)\n- The [Business Platinum Card (Canada)](/cards/amex-business-platinum-canada)\n- The [Centurion Card](/cards/amex-centurion) issued in Canada\n\nAmex hasn't said whether the Calgary lounge uses exactly the same list. If you hold a different Amex card, check with the lounge before you go.\n\nAlso note that Amex has announced changes to Canadian Platinum lounge benefits starting January 1, 2027. I'd check your card's terms before relying on any lounge perk next year.\n\n## Other lounges at Calgary\n\nYYC has a strong lineup for domestic travelers. The [Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge](/lounges/yyc-air-canada-maple-leaf-lounge) is one of the best-rated in [Air Canada](/airlines/ac)'s network on Lounge Frog, at 4.7 out of 5. [WestJet](/airlines/ws)'s [Elevation Lounge](/lounges/yyc-westjet-elevation-lounge) is rated 4.5. For flights to the US, the [Aspire Lounge and WestJet Garden](/lounges/yyc-aspire-lounge-and-westjet-garden-transborder) is open to Priority Pass members and has two showers.\n\nSee every lounge at [Calgary](/airports/yyc) and [Montreal-Trudeau](/airports/yul).\n\n## Related reading\n\n- [Amex Platinum vs Hilton Aspire: which lounge card fits?](/cards/amex-platinum/vs/hilton-aspire)\n- [Amex plans a 30,000-square-foot Newark Centurion Lounge and a second Heathrow lounge, in Terminal 5](/news/amex-centurion-lounge-newark-heathrow-t5-philadelphia-houston-expansion)\n- [The 10 best Amex Platinum lounges: September 2026](/news/best-amex-platinum-lounges-september-2026)","link_base":"https://www.loungefrog.com/news/aspire-amex-lounge-calgary-opens-montreal-transborder-2027","citation_guidance":"Cite citation_url. Preserve source links, dates and qualifications. date_modified is an edit date, not proof that every claim was rechecked. Third-party images and quoted material retain their own rights."}