BMO replacing Priority Pass with MasterCard Airport Experiences (Coming August 2018)

Jun 1st, 2018 3:15 am

#1

EdisonL299 [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Apr 24, 2017; 6574 posts; 5289 upvotes

Jun 1st, 2018 3:15 am

BMO replacing Priority Pass with MasterCard Airport Experiences (Coming August 2018)

https://www.canadianrewards.net/2018/05 ... s.html?m=1

It seems BMO is going to devalue their WE credit cards (BMO WE, BMO AMWE) AGAIN even further. Priority Pass which comes with BMO WE and BMO AMWE is going to be replaced with MasterCard Airport Experiences, starting August 2018. Both credit card holders still get 4 and 2 passes annually, but the lounges from MCAE are less than the ones from Priority Pass.

After the massive devaluation in January and this 2nd one within a year, what do you think?

Last edited by EdisonL299 on Jun 1st, 2018 3:15 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Jun 1st, 2018 4:45 am

#2

amplified: Deal Addict; Oct 13, 2006; 2794 posts; 1256 upvotes; Burnaby

Jun 1st, 2018 4:45 am

crap, well hopefully i get the 4 PP allotment in June and I can use it throughout the year. then cancel and close the bank-up plan after that.

+1

Jun 1st, 2018 6:16 am

#3

mech9t5: Deal Fanatic; Dec 16, 2005; 6424 posts; 4631 upvotes

Jun 1st, 2018 6:16 am

Man. Scotia came out with a decent product (no fx and 6 lounge passes). So I was hoping BMO would respond and update the card to no fx... Instead they remove the 1 feature that made this card decent. They could have still taken away the PP but added no fx. That would have been a draw.

Now the card is completely useless.

+2

Jun 1st, 2018 8:11 am

#4

sssscary2: Member; Jun 17, 2013; 478 posts; 212 upvotes

Jun 1st, 2018 8:11 am

Will the BMO WE card still have 4 free lounge passes from MasterCard Airport Experiences at least?

Jun 1st, 2018 8:22 am

#5

jeffyjaixx: Deal Fanatic; Feb 28, 2006; 9742 posts; 2847 upvotes; Richmond Hill

Jun 1st, 2018 8:22 am

Oh no! I was going to use priority pass lounge in Fall for an international trip!

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Jun 1st, 2018 8:23 am

#6

suikoyen: Member; Aug 3, 2013; 488 posts; 288 upvotes; Durham

Jun 1st, 2018 8:23 am

BMO=Bend Me Over

+20

Jun 1st, 2018 9:10 am

#7

wra45mon: Deal Addict; Oct 22, 2015; 1564 posts; 520 upvotes

Jun 1st, 2018 9:10 am

Sounds like there will be free access (number not known) but holders of other bmo credit cards will also have this access but will have to pay 27usd

Jun 1st, 2018 11:03 am

#8

EdisonL299 [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Apr 24, 2017; 6574 posts; 5289 upvotes

Jun 1st, 2018 11:03 am

sssscary2 wrote: ↑ Will the BMO WE card still have 4 free lounge passes from MasterCard Airport Experiences at least?

Yes, but the lounges from MasterCard Airport Experiences are just a subset of the ones from Priority Pass. There will be way less lounges to choose from.

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Amex Platinum - Bonvoy Brilliant Amex - CIBC Aeroplan VIP

+1

Jun 1st, 2018 11:46 am

#9

DaVibe: Deal Expert; Nov 16, 2004; 24596 posts; 12657 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 1st, 2018 11:46 am

For anyone looking to download the new app,

https://airport.mastercard.com

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Jun 1st, 2018 11:48 am

#10

EdisonL299 [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Apr 24, 2017; 6574 posts; 5289 upvotes

Jun 1st, 2018 11:48 am

wra45mon wrote: ↑ Sounds like there will be free access (number not known) but holders of other bmo credit cards will also have this access but will have to pay 27usd

I’m so sick of BMO saying that and it sounds like BMO adding benefit to the cards. MCAE is available to almost all World/World Elite cards. Both my friend and I successfully enrolled in MCAE with Rogers WE and Capital One World MC.

Amex Cobalt - MBNA RWE - Brim WE
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Jun 1st, 2018 11:52 am

#11

ChinpokoMon: Deal Addict; Jul 27, 2003; 4539 posts; 3462 upvotes; Edmonton

Jun 1st, 2018 11:52 am

EdisonL299 wrote: ↑ Yes, but the lounges from MasterCard Airport Experiences are just a subset of the ones from Priority Pass. There will be way less lounges to choose from.

That is true.

I just checked all the airport lounges I've used over the last few years (thru priority pass), and all of them are available from MCAE as well. It seems MCAE's lounge selection is fairly similar to PP, at least for the major airports. So this won't affect me personally, but YMMV.

MCAE also has a few airport dining and shopping offers that are not available from PP as well.

Jun 1st, 2018 11:59 am

#12

ChinpokoMon: Deal Addict; Jul 27, 2003; 4539 posts; 3462 upvotes; Edmonton

Jun 1st, 2018 11:59 am

EdisonL299 wrote: ↑ I’m so sick of BMO saying that and it sounds like BMO adding benefit to the cards. MCAE is available to almost all World/World Elite cards. Both my friend and I successfully enrolled in MCAE with Rogers WE and Capital One World MC.

You can enroll in MCAE with most WE cards, but only specific ones will grant you complementary visits (e.g. BMO WE/Air Miles WE). For others you'll have to pay per visit.

+2

Jun 1st, 2018 12:44 pm

#13

HermanH: Deal Addict; Apr 23, 2017; 1176 posts; 2100 upvotes

Jun 1st, 2018 12:44 pm

The YYZ Plaza Premium Lounges (AKA Amex Lounges, AKA Priority Pass Lounges) are also in the MasterCard Lounge program. So for departing YYZ passengers there is no change from the current system, as long as BMO keeps giving the four free entries per year.

I just wish BMO would add no FX to the card to make it decent again.

+1

Jun 1st, 2018 1:01 pm

#14

wra45mon: Deal Addict; Oct 22, 2015; 1564 posts; 520 upvotes

Jun 1st, 2018 1:01 pm

So I wonder if we will be able to use up all PP passes before the switchover and then get more passes from MCAE after August. ( Assuming there is free passes)

Jun 1st, 2018 1:03 pm

#15

mech9t5: Deal Fanatic; Dec 16, 2005; 6424 posts; 4631 upvotes

Jun 1st, 2018 1:03 pm

ChinpokoMon wrote: ↑ You can enroll in MCAE with most WE cards, but only specific ones will grant you complementary visits (e.g. BMO WE/Air Miles WE). For others you'll have to pay per visit.

How do you know the WE will still give passes free?

+1

Jun 1st, 2018 1:22 pm

#16

loonie: Deal Addict; Apr 20, 2006; 2107 posts; 470 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 1st, 2018 1:22 pm

I was contemplating closing the BMO account anyways but was waiting to use my 4 PP passes before that. Now I feel I shd just take away my 6k and start earning interest instead.

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Jun 1st, 2018 1:35 pm

#17

onthemove: Sr. Member; Feb 13, 2016; 733 posts; 1010 upvotes

Jun 1st, 2018 1:35 pm

100% closing my bmo card and switching to the Scotiabank card. Only real value I saw in this card at this point was the PP.

+4

Jun 1st, 2018 2:17 pm

#18

ChinpokoMon: Deal Addict; Jul 27, 2003; 4539 posts; 3462 upvotes; Edmonton

Jun 1st, 2018 2:17 pm

mech9t5 wrote: ↑ How do you know the WE will still give passes free?

That is a reasonable assumption based on the screenshot posted by the OP, since it specifically pointed out a USD$27 per visit fee for the non-WE/Air Miles WE cards.

Jun 1st, 2018 2:21 pm

#19

ChinpokoMon: Deal Addict; Jul 27, 2003; 4539 posts; 3462 upvotes; Edmonton

Jun 1st, 2018 2:21 pm

onthemove wrote: ↑ 100% closing my bmo card and switching to the Scotiabank card. Only real value I saw in this card at this point was the PP.

Before you close your card, you may want to check MCAE's website to see if the lounges you visit show up on their list. From a cursory look, the lounge selection for the airports that I typically visit is very similar to PP.

Jun 1st, 2018 2:48 pm

#20

tigger03: Deal Addict; Jul 18, 2005; 3864 posts; 318 upvotes

Jun 1st, 2018 2:48 pm

Already used the 4 Passes. Before I close the card, what's the best way to redeem the bonus $$ I received for signing up for this card last year? Flights are usually the answer, but not an option for me atm. Cash it out?