Maple Leaf Lounge

Sara Skodak

Author

Abid Salahi

Editor

With lounges located in over 17 airports across Canada, the U.S. and Europe, Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges are readily available with plenty of cozy pre-departure accommodations.

Eligible customers can make their way past the gates to unlock sanctuaries stocked with snacks and refreshments, entertainment, workspaces, and tranquility.

To learn more about Maple Leaf Lounges, like where they’re located, how to gain access, and what sorts of amenities you can expect, keep scrolling.

Where Can You Find Maple Leaf Lounges?

For customer convenience, Maple Leaf Lounges are widespread – with tons of locations in Canada, plus a few scattered within the U.S. and Europe.

Here’s a more comprehensive breakdown of where you can find these Air Canada accommodations:

Calgary International Airport (YYC): Concourse C
Edmonton International Airport (YEG): South Terminal
Frankfurt Airport (FRA): Terminal 1, Concourse B, Level 3
Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport (YHZ): Level 1
London - Heathrow (LHR): Terminal 2B, Queen’s Terminal, Level 1
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): Terminal 6
Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Airport, Montréal (YUL): International Terminal, Domestic Terminal, Transborder Terminal
LaGuardia Airport, New York (LGA): Terminal B Eastern Concourse, Level 3
Newark Liberty International Airport, New York, Newark (EWR): United Club, Terminal A, near gate A27, 2nd Floor
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW): Level 2
Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG): Level 1
Regina International Airport (YQR): Level 1
San Francisco International Airport (SFO): Terminal 2, Sector 4, 4th Floor
Saskatoon Airport (YXE)
St. John’s International Airport (YYT)
Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Toronto (YYZ): International (Terminal 1, Level 3, Node F), Domestic (Terminal 1), Transborder (Terminal 1, Level 4, Node F), Express (Terminal 1, 193 Commuter Terminal, Gates F84-F99), Café (Terminal 1, Domestic Departures near gate D20)
Toronto Billy Bishop (YTZ): Aspire Air Canada Café at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (Gate 1, Domestic Terminal)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR): International Terminal, Domestic Terminal, Transborder Terminal
Winnepeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG)

For more information on each lounge location, including hours of operation, featured amenities, and maps, check out the Air Canada official website.

How do you Access Maple Leaf Lounges?

So, you’ve figured out where your ideal Maple Leaf Lounge resides, but how do you gain entry?

There are several ways Canadians can access Maple Leaf Lounges. Any travellers with the following titles will be granted entry:

Eligible Ticket Holders

Any traveller that possesses a business or first class ticket can enjoy access to Maple Leaf Lounges. Ticket holders simply need to present their valid same-day ticket or boarding pass at reception. If you have any travel companions tagging along, note that each guest will be subject to an entry fee.

Those particularly taking off on an Emirates flight in business or first class have access to Maple Leaf Lounges at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) airports.

Premium Rouge Travellers

As long as your flight is set to fly within Canada, to the U.S or Sun destinations, Premium Rouge travellers have complimentary access to participating Maple Leaf Lounges.

Aeroplan Members

Eligible Aeroplan Elite Status members have complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounges, which includes Aeroplan Super Elite, Aeroplan 75K, and Aeroplan 50K members – all tiers within the program.

To gain entry, present your Aeroplan number and valid same-day boarding pass to reception.

The best part? Your partner and up to 5 dependent children can accompany you for free. Keep in mind, however, that any additional guests will be subject to an entry fee.

Star Alliance Gold Members

If you already own a Star Alliance Gold membership, all you need to do is present your membership along with a valid same-day ticket or boarding pass to gain access to Maple Leaf Lounges.

One guest is permitted to join you as long as they're travelling on the same flight itinerary, and any additional guests are subject to entry fees.

Aeroplan Business and Corporate Cardholders using One-Time Guest Passes

If you own an Aeroplan business or corporate credit card, you can access Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges once for free as long as the lounge is located in the domestic and transborder departure areas of Canadian airports, or Maple Leaf Lounges at Los Angeles, New York (LaGuardia), and Newark airports.

Eligible Aeroplan business and corporate cards include:

TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card
American Express Aeroplan Corporate Card

Each eligible card comes with a One-Time Maple Leaf Lounge Guest Pass which can be used by the primary cardholder, a secondary cardholder, or any travel companions accompanied by a cardholder.

Aeroplan Premium Cardholders

Primary or secondary Aeroplan premium credit card members can also access Maple Leaf Lounges by linking their Aeroplan premium card to their Aeroplan account. After the card is linked to the account, simply add your Aeroplan number to your booking and present your valid same-day boarding pass to lounge reception.

Access is granted at Maple Leaf Lounges in Canada (at domestic, transborder and international areas) or the United States.

As of now, cardholders of any of the following Aeroplan premium cards can be accompanied by one guest on the same flight itinerary for free:

TD Aeroplan VIsa Infinite Privilege Card
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card
American Express Aeroplan Corporate Reserve Card

Customers who Purchase Access

Another option you can resort to for Maple Leaf Lounge Access is purchasing access in the first place.

The key is to purchase this add-on in advance since you can’t buy access at the airport on the day of your departure.

If you’re travelling on a Premium Economy, Latitude, Comfort, or Flex Fare flight, you can tack-on Maple Leaf Lounge access as a travel option as you make your booking, just be sure to do so at least 24 hours before takeoff.

For those curious, here’s what you can expect to pay depending on your flight type:

Premium Economy: $49.00 - $58.80
Latitude: $49.00 - 58.80
Comfort: $59.00 - $70.80
Flex: $79.00 - $94.80

Current Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Members

While the purchase of Maple Leaf Club memberships are currently suspended, current club members can also access a specified amount of lounges in select cities or countries depending on their membership tier.

If you’re an Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Canada member, you can access 18 lounges across certain cities in Canada.

Alternatively, if you’re an Air Canada Maple Leaf Club North American Plus member, you can access over 60 lounges within Canada, the U.S., and Europe.

Finally, if you’re an Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Worldwide member, you can access more than 230 lounges across the globe.

What Kinds of Amenities can you Expect within Maple Leaf Lounges?

Now that you know where every Maple Leaf Lounge is located and how to gain access to them, you’re probably curious about what lies beyond each entry gate.

Depending on which location you visit, the amenities may differ based on availability (that’s where the Air Canada website’s lounge locator comes in handy).

Generally, travellers can expect to find the following features and benefits at participating Maple Leaf Lounges:

Cell-Free Quiet Zones

To keep the peace, many Maple Leaf Lounges have cell phone-free areas where you can truly relax in the absence of any phone conversations, startling ringtones, or headphone-free TikTok scrolling.

Complimentary Snacks and Beverages

Fuel up before takeoff with a selection of refreshments like juice, tea, soda, coffee or specialty brews (think cappuccinos, espressos, and lattes). For something a little stronger, you can also browse a selection of beer, wine, and spirits.

Airplane food isn’t everyone’s favourite (myself included) and if so, satisfy your stomach with some delicious Maple Leaf Lounge snacks beforehand.

Entertainment

Who says airport visits need to be drawn-out and boring? When visiting Maple Leaf Lounges, pass the time with plenty of entertainment options like diverse reading material or a catalogue of TV shows.

Wi-Fi

What would we do without Wi-Fi? Luckily, with Maple Leaf Lounges, you don’t have to wonder what a Wi-Fi-Free airport visit looks like. That’s because each lounge is completely covered with high-speed services that connect to your own personal wireless device or any desktop PC located in participating lounges’ business centres.

Showers

Sometimes, travelling tends to make you feel in need of a refresh. In these cases, many Maple Leaf Lounges offer showers stocked with fresh towels, plus complimentary soap and shampoo to scrub away any lingering stress.

Business Centres

For those with deadlines to meet prior to departure or business to conduct before boarding, many Maple Leaf Lounges provide business centres packed with office-essentials like desktop PCs and colour printers.

Maple Leaf Lounge Etiquette

Last but not least, it’s important to go over Maple Leaf Lounge etiquette – meaning the ways in which you can ensure you’re being a respectful guest.

We get it, nobody really wants to read through a long list of rules and guidelines. So, we put together a brief breakdown of what’s expected of Maple Leaf Lounge visitors:

Wear proper attire. While it’s not expected that you dress formally when visiting a Maple Leaf Lounge, guests should always dress appropriately.
Abide by a smoke-free environment. Like anywhere in the airport, Maple Leaf Lounges are smoke-free and smoking of any kind is prohibited.
Refrain from using mobile devices in cell-free zones. As the name suggests, there are areas within the lounges that promote cell phone-free spaces, do your part and turn off your personal devices when visiting these zones.
Enjoy snacks and refreshments inside the lounges. All food and beverages must be consumed within Maple Leaf Lounge perimeters.
Accompany underage guests. Since Maple Leaf Lounges serve alcohol, younger guests must be visiting with an adult who is a member.
Keep accompanying pets nearby inside of a leak-proof, well-ventilated carrier.