MONTREAL, Oct. 6, 2026 — The National Bank Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) closed for renovation on Sunday night and reopened Monday as a smaller temporary lounge. Most guests are now limited to two hours, down from three, and the rebuilt lounge is not expected until June 2028.
What happened
- Closed: the original lounge shut at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
- Temporary lounge: open since Monday, October 5, near Gate 53 in the international departures zone.
- Capacity: reduced. National Bank and Milesopedia both warn of this, and waits are possible at busy times.
- Time limit: two hours for most guests. Private Banking 1859 World Elite Mastercard holders get three hours. The limit before October 5 was three hours.
- Hours: 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, according to National Bank.
- Reopening of the renovated lounge: June 2028, which the bank says is subject to change.
Who can get in
| Guest | Access |
|---|---|
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard holder | Free with the physical card and a boarding pass, with one guest |
| Other adults | C$63.24, taxes included |
| Children aged 2 to 12 | C$40.24, taxes included |
| Other National Bank clients | 25% off those prices |
Access is for passengers on international flights only, meaning destinations outside Canada and the United States. Food, drinks and Wi-Fi are still included.
Milesopedia lists four other lounges in the same international zone: the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, the Desjardins Odyssey Lounge, the Aspire lounge and the Air France lounge.
What it means for non-revs
- Two hours will not cover a long standby wait. If you are rolled from one transatlantic flight to the next, plan on spending most of that time at the gate.
- Time your entry. Go in for the two hours before the flight you most expect to clear, not as soon as you pass security.
- Expect a queue at the evening peak. A smaller room and a busy bank of international departures means you may wait to get in.
- The lounge does not help on US or domestic trips. Entry needs a boarding pass for an international flight outside Canada and the US.
- Standby travellers without a seat assignment should confirm at the desk that their boarding document is accepted. Neither source addresses this.
- This lasts a long time. The temporary set-up is due to run until June 2028.
Sources
- National Bank of Canada — “National Bank Lounge at Montreal Airport” — nbc.ca
- Milesopedia — “National Bank Lounge at YUL: Renovation and Temporary Lounge” — milesopedia.com
- RusTourismNews — “Montreal National Bank Lounge Cuts Visits to Two Hours From October 5” (October 5, 2026) — rustourismnews.com
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