How to Access Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is a key part of the premium travel experience for Canadians.

Our national airline proudly offers Maple Leaf Lounges at major airports across the country, and you’ll get to visit quite a few locations over the years by booking premium flights, maximizing credit card benefits, or earning Aeroplan Elite Status.

This post covers everything you need to know about getting access to the Maple Leaf Lounges in 19 airports across Canada, the US, and Europe.

Which Airports Have Maple Leaf Lounges?

Air Canada currently operates a network of 25 Maple Leaf Lounges across 18 global airports.

This number doesn’t include the two Air Canada Signature Suites in Vancouver (YVR) and Toronto Pearson (YYZ), the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson (YYZ), or the Aspire | Air Canada Café at Billy Bishop Toronto Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ).

Below is a list of the airports around the world where you’ll encounter a Maple Leaf Lounge. Let’s begin with the Canadian locations:

• Vancouver (YVR) Domestic: By Gate 29
• Vancouver (YVR) Transborder: By Gate 84
• Vancouver (YVR) International: By Gate 52
• Calgary (YYC): By Gate C50
• Edmonton (YEG): South Terminal, By Gate 56 (not accessible to passengers on transborder flights)
• Saskatoon (YXE): By Gate 5
• Regina (YQR): Opposite Gate 5
• Winnipeg (YWG): By Gate 9 (not accessible to passengers on transborder flights)
• Toronto (YYZ) Domestic: Upper level, immediately past security
• Toronto (YYZ) Transborder: Upper level, immediately past security
• Toronto (YYZ) Transborder Express: In the commuter terminal for Gates F84–F99
• Toronto (YYZ) International: At the end of the walkway, prior to the escalators down to the main international concourse
• Ottawa (YOW): By Gate 19 (not accessible to passengers on transborder flights)
• Montreal (YUL) Domestic: By Gate 1
• Montreal (YUL) Transborder: By Gate 72
• Montreal (YUL) International: By Gate 52
• Halifax (YHZ): By Gate 20
• St. John’s (YYT): By Gate 12A

There are also a handful of global Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges at some of Air Canada’s major outstations. These include:

• Los Angeles (LAX): Terminal 6, 4th floor
• San Francisco (SFO): Terminal 2, Sector 4, 4th floor
• New York (LGA): Concourse B, 3rd floor
• Newark (EWR): Co-located in the United Club, Terminal A, 2nd floor
• London (LHR): Terminal 2B (satellite terminal), upper level
• Paris (CDG): (Currently closed due to airport renovations)
• Frankfurt (FRA): Terminal 1, Concourse B

There are a variety of ways to access the Maple Leaf Lounge. This page on the Air Canada website provides a good summary; however, we’ll go through each of the methods one-by-one.

Outbound passengers can access Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges up to three hours prior to the original departure time of their flight. This means that if you show up at a lounge for your first departing flight four hours before departure, you’ll have to wait an hour before you’ll be granted access.

Should your flight be delayed, you can still access lounges beginning three hours prior to the original departure time.

If you have a flight connection, you can access Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges for any length of time.

1. Fly Air Canada or Star Alliance Business Class

You can access the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge if you hold a valid same-day boarding pass for a flight in business class on Air Canada or a Star Alliance partner.

Access is granted on business class tickets no matter how they were purchased (i.e., an outright paid fare, an upgrade, or an award ticket).

Business class passengers aren’t entitled to bring any guests with them, unless they pay a fee per guest of about $59 (CAD/USD/EUR/GBP), depending on the location.

You’ll also get access to the Maple Leaf Lounge if you’re flying in Air Canada Premium Rouge, but only if you’re travelling within Canada, the US, or the Sun destinations (Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean).

If your Premium Rouge flight is to anywhere else, then you’ll only have the option of purchasing Maple Leaf Lounge access on your reservation prior to the trip, and not at the airport itself.

(Given that you’re about to embark on long-haul Premium Rouge, though, that’ll probably be the least of your worries.)

2. Hold a Premium Aeroplan Credit Card

The premium Aeroplan credit cards by TD, CIBC, and American Express offer unlimited access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges as a key benefit of the cards.

As a primary or secondary cardholder, you’re eligible to access Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges within North America prior to a same-day flight operated by Air Canada or a Star Alliance partner. Access to Maple Leaf Lounges located outside of North America isn’t included.

The guest access policies when accessing Maple Leaf Lounges using a premium Aeroplan credit card vary by issuer:

• The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card and American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card allow primary and supplementary cardholders to each bring one guest free of charge as an ongoing perk.
• The CIBC Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite Privilege^* Card allows primary and supplementary cardholders to each bring one guest free of charge until December 31, 2025.
• The TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite Privilege^* Card allows primary and supplementary cardholders to each bring one guest free of charge until December 31, 2024. (We’ll update as soon as we find out whether TD has also extended this benefit until 2025)

3. Have Aeroplan 50K Status or Higher

Aeroplan members with Aeroplan 50K status and above are entitled to unlimited lounge access at any location around the world.

In addition, Aeroplan 50K members and above can use Maple Leaf Lounges in Canada and the US upon arrival as well as before departure, which can be a great way to unwind after a flight before heading into the city.

Furthermore, Aeroplan 50K members and above also get to bring in a very generous number of guests: a significant other and up to five dependent children aged 25 and under, as well as one additional guest.

4. Use a Maple Leaf Lounge One-Time Guest Pass

Any passenger travelling on an Air Canada flight may access the Maple Leaf Lounges in the domestic or transborder departure zones of Canadian airports, as well as the lounges in the United States, when in possession of a Maple Leaf Lounge One-Time Guest Pass.

There are a couple of ways to earn One-Time Guest Passes:

• Aeroplan members who earn Aeroplan 25K status may choose a set of two One-Time Guest Passes as a Select Benefit.
• Aeroplan members who earn Aeroplan 35K status receive a set of two One-Time Guest Passes as a Core Benefit.
• Aeroplan members who earn Aeroplan 50K status or Aeroplan 75K status receive a set of three One-Time Guest Passes as a Core Benefit.
• Aeroplan members who earn Aeroplan Super Elite status receive a set of four One-Time Guest Passes as a Core Benefit.
• Holders of the TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card, CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card, CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Plus, or the American Express Aeroplan Corporate Card may earn a One-Time Guest Pass for every $10,000 spent per cardholder year, up to a maximum of four One-Time Guest Passes.

The digital One-Time Guest Passes are accessible via your Aeroplan account. You may download them in PDF format and show them upon entering the lounge to gain access.

The One-Time Guest Passes earned from Aeroplan Elite Status may be transferred to anyone, regardless of whether they are travelling with the member or not.

On the other hand, the One-Time Guest Passes earned from the small business credit cards can only be used by the primary or secondary cardholder, or any guests accompanying them at the time of entry. They cannot be transferred to a third party, as indicated by the words “Non-transferable” on the pass.

5. Have Star Alliance Gold Status

In addition to Air Canada’s own elite members, travellers who have achieved Star Alliance Gold with any of Star Alliance’s other loyalty programs will also have access to Maple Leaf Lounges prior to any Star Alliance-operated flight in any class of service.

Star Alliance Gold members are also entitled to bring one guest into the lounge with them free of charge, as long as the guest is also travelling on the same flight as them. Any additional guests are subject to the standard guest fee.

6. One-Time Purchase

There’s also the option of purchasing Maple Leaf Lounge access on eligible Air Canada fares, with the fees per person as follows:

• Economy (Latitude): $49 (CAD)
• Economy (Comfort): $59 (CAD)
• Economy (Flex): $79 (CAD)
• Premium Economy (Lowest): $49 (CAD)

The value here is quite debatable and would likely appeal most to business travelers who prioritize privacy and the convenience of a dedicated workspace in the lounge.

However, if your main goal is simply to grab a meal, you might find better options dining at a restaurant in the airport.

Other Air Canada Lounge Concepts

In addition to Maple Leaf Lounges, you may also have access to a few of Air Canada’s other lounge concepts, which the airline has been slowly building out across their Canadian hubs in recent years.

Air Canada Signature Suite

Air Canada’s most premium lounge offering is the Signature Suite concept. Presently, there are Signature Suites available in Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Vancouver (YVR).

The Signature Suite provides an elevated luxury experience prior to your long-haul international business class flight with Air Canada or First Class flight with Emirates.

Premium services include sit-down dining featuring dishes by acclaimed chef David Hawksworth, a variety of high-end cocktails, spirits, and Champagne, and shower rooms with luxury skincare products from Molton Brown.

Access to the Signature Suites is extremely exclusive. You’ll only get access if you’re travelling on a paid business class fare on Air Canada to New Zealand, Australia, Europe, South America, Africa, or Asia, in booking classes “J”, “C”, “D”, “Z”, or “P”. There are no guesting privileges for these fares.

If you’ve redeemed Aeroplan points for a Business Class (Flexible) or First Class (Flexible) reward in Air Canada business class, you can also enjoy access; however, you can’t bring any guests.

Passengers departing from Toronto on an Emirates First Class flight can enjoy access to the Signature Suite, and may bring with them one guest.

Additionally, access is granted to holders of the exclusive American Express Air Canada Card, which is available by invitation only, who are travelling in any class of service. These cardholders are able to bring in one guest.

You won’t get access to the Signature Suite if you’ve redeemed Aeroplan points for a Business Class (Lowest) award, been upgraded to business class as the result of irregular operations, bid upgrades, or eUpgrades, if you’re flying on a Star Alliance partner in business class, or by virtue of Aeroplan Elite Status of any kind.

Interestingly Lufthansa Group HON Circle members have access to the Air Canada Signature Suite in Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) when departing on an international flight with Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, or Air Dolomiti, regardless of the class of service.

HON Circle members may also bring one complimentary guest traveling on the same flight, along with children under the age of two years.

Air Canada Cafés

In addition to the Signature Suite, Air Canada also has launched the Air Canada Café concept.

Presently, there are Air Canada Cafés in Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Toronto Billy Bishop City Centre Airport (YTZ).

These spaces provide a simple grab-and-go alternative to the Maple Leaf Lounge, allowing eligible passengers travelling on domestic flights to drop in and pick up a barista-crafted coffee, juice, or snack, maybe sit down for a few minutes, and then head on to the gate.

Access to the Air Canada Café Toronto Pearson (YYZ) is restricted to business class passengers, Aeroplan 50K members and higher, Star Alliance Gold members, and premium Aeroplan cardholders – thus, the same access policies as Maple Leaf Lounges, minus one-time pass holders.

Aeroplan 50K and higher members, as well as premium Aeroplan co-branded card holders, may bring one guest into Air Canada Café with them.

In June 2023, the Aspire | Air Canada Café opened at Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre Airport. In addition to the same lounge access requirements as the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson (YYZ), the lounge is open to passengers through a number of other means.

Passengers travelling in any class of service on any airline may also access the Aspire | Air Canada Café with a Priority Pass or Visa Airport Companion membership.

If you aren’t otherwise eligible for complimentary access, you can also pay for entry. If you book through the Aspire website, access is $50 (CAD) per adult and $30 (CAD) per child (before taxes), which is at a discount from $55 (CAD) per adult or $35 (CAD) per child if you pay upon entry.

Furthermore, passengers who are connecting onwards to an Air Canada business class flight at another airport will also enjoy access to the Aspire | Air Canada Café. This is a unique lounge access policy, and perhaps amongst the first of its kind.

Conclusion

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges are accessible to a wide range of travellers in any class of service. The most common ways to gain access are with an Air Canada business class ticket or a premium Aeroplan co-branded credit card, and you’ll also be rewarded with complimentary access if you hold Aeroplan 50K status or higher.

With so many ways of visiting the lounge, you’ll never go too far across Canada before stepping into a Maple Leaf Lounge somewhere, and you’ll soon become very familiar with the signature appetizers, drink spread, and chocolate chip cookies that are ubiquitous across every location.