BMO World Elite Mastercards switch from Priority Pass to Mastercard Airport Experiences by LoungeKey

As of today, BMO’s three World Elite Mastercard products will no longer offer Priority Pass memberships and lounge visits as a benefit. Instead they are moving in sync with most World Elite products that are using the Mastercard Airport Experiences by LoungeKey.

LoungeKey works in a similar fashion to Priority Pass so existing cardholders who have become accustomed to PP shouldn’t fear. In fact both companies are owned by the same parent company so it’s no wonder they are very similar to each other. LoungeKey offers access to over 1,000 airport lounges Worldwide so the coverage is very similar. The major difference between Priority Pass and LoungeKey, which isn’t of significance to World Elite Mastercard holders is that unlike Priority Pass, LoungeKey membership cannot be purchased by anyone rather it is only supplied to Mastercard cardholders around the world. The good news is you don’t need the separate membership card like the one that is provided by Priority Pass, your Mastercard card acts as your membership card.

Related: Rewards Canada’s Guide to Business Class Lounge Access

You may be asking, “OK so the membership is now LoungeKey but the old Priority Pass option gave me some free lounge visits with my card” Well that is still the case for the BMO Rewards World Elite Mastercard and the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard which get 4 and 2 annual complimentary passes respectively. The BMO CashBack World Elite MasterCard gets you the Mastercard Airport Experiences by LoungeKey membership but no complimentary passes. Once you use up those passes or in the case of the Cash Back card have no passes each lounge visit is US$27. This is a familiar number as it the same price charged by Priority Pass.

You can find the details of the three cards listed above and other cards offered BMO on our BMO Credit Card – Bonus Mile & Point Offers page