An airport lounge is a space reserved for selective travellers. It is very convenient to get away from the crowds and relax before your plane takes off.

Within a lounge, you can:

• get free food and drinks
• listen to the television and read newspapers or magazines
• work
• take a shower
• get free Wi-Fi
• relax in a cell phone-free zone

Air Canada has its network of airport lounges called Maple Leaf.

There are 26 Maple Leaf lounges in 19 airports across Canada, the United States and Europe. They are all located after security.

Maple Leaf Lounge hours of operation are dependent on Air Canada flight schedules and are different for each lounge. They usually open early in the morning. The larger the airport or the busier the airport, the later the lounge closes.

In Canada, they are located at the following terminals and gates:

There is also a Maple Leaf Express Lounge in Toronto, in Terminal 1, between gates F84-F99.

Another type of Air Canada lounge is the Air Canada Signature Suite. It is located only in 2 airports. The experience is much more gastronomic and upscale.

This Air Canada Signature Suite is reserved only for travellers with a Signature Class ticket or an award ticket in Business Flexible or First Class, for international travel to Australia, Asia or Europe.

• Vancouver YVR: Located near gate D52
• Toronto YYZ: Located near gate E77

As of June 13, 2023, access to the Maple Leaf Lounges, Signature Suites and Air Canada Cafés will be limited to three hours before scheduled departure time. For example, if a flight is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., the person can only enter a Maple Leaf Lounge from 8:00 a.m.

If your flight is delayed, you can stay in the lounge. A passenger between 2 connections is not affected.

In the United States, Maple Leaf lounges are located near the following gates:

In Europe, the Maple Leaf lounges are located near the following gates:

There are several ways to access an Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges. You must have an eligible class of travel, higher Aeroplan Elite status or specific Aeroplan credit cards.

At the entrance to the lounge, a person simply scans his or her boarding pass, paper, or on a mobile device. The person at reception will then confirm whether you can enter.

A Business Class ticket (purchased with cash or through a flight reward) always gets you into a Maple Leaf lounge.

Entry must be made prior to departure on the same day as your Air Canada, Air Canada Express, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada code-share or other Star Alliance partner flight

If a guest accompanies you and that person does not have the same class of ticket as you, the guest will be charged according to the time of arrival:

• Before 11:00 a.m.: $20-$24 CAD/US
• After 11:00 a.m.: $30-$36 CAD/US

And, at any time for the Maple Leaf lounges of Europe :

• Frankfurt Lounge: 29,75 EUR
• Paris Lounge : 30 EUR
• and the London Heathrow Departure Lounge: 25 GBP

Premium Rouge customers only have free access on flights :

• within Canada
• to the United States
• and sun destinations (Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean)

Advance purchase of access to the Maple Leaf lounge will be required for flights in the Premium Rouge cabin to Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. The only exception is the Maple Leaf Lounge in Paris, where it can be purchased directly at the airport.

Children’s access to Maple Leaf lounges:

• Maple Leaf Club members (currently unavailable): children 12 and under are admitted for free
• Aeroplan Elite 50K, 75K and Super Elite status: up to 5 children under the member’s age of 24 may enter for free.
• For the rest, children 2 years of age or older are considered as a guest, therefore paying. Children under the age of 2 get in for free.

With a high Aeroplan Elite status level, you have unlimited access to a Maple Leaf lounge, regardless of the class of ticket you hold.

The flight must be operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express, Air Canada Rouge, or a Star Alliance carrier. The eligible flight must be the same day.

Don’t forget your Elite status membership card to show at the entrance.

Primary and secondary cardholders of specific credit cards have complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounges in Canada and the United States. Before your trip, make sure your eligible credit card is linked to the correct Aeroplan membership number.

These are mainly the following Premium Aeroplan credit cards:

• TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card
• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege* Card
• American Express^®* Aeroplan^® Reserve Card

As well as premium small business credit cards:

• American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Business Reserve Card
• American Express* Aeroplan Reserve Business Card

It should be noted that the holder is entitled to one guest free of charge.

Again, the flight must be operated the same day by Air Canada, Air Canada Express, Air Canada Rouge, or a Star Alliance carrier.

Each additional guest will be charged $20-$24 for entry before 11:00 a.m. and $30-$36 after 11:00 a.m.

Also, for the business cards listed below, primary and secondary cardholders will have access to all lounges at all Canadian airports as well as the Los Angeles and NewYork LaGuardia lounges(for departures at the domestic and transborder flights only):

• TD Aeroplan Visa* Business Card
• CIBC Aeroplan Visa* Business Card
• American Express* Aeroplan Business Card

The Maple Leaf Club is a paid membership to the Maple Leaf lounge. It’s a bit like Priority Pass, DragonPass and LoungeKey. For the moment, these subscriptions are not available, and there is no confirmed reinstatement date.

• Canada subscription: $375, only for Maple Leaf lounges in Canada
• North America Plus Membership: $495, for Maple Leaf lounges in Canada, the United States and Europe
• World Membership: $665, with access to 230 airport lounges (all Maple Leaf and Star Alliance partner lounges)

You can purchase access to the Maple Leaf Lounge up to 24 hours before your flight, using your Latitude, Comfort or Flex fare. You can do this in your Aeroplan profile, under My Bookings.

The cost of access is per one-way trip and depends on your fare:

• Latitude: $25 CAD/US
• Comfort: $40 CAD/US
• Flex: $50 CAD/US

Your travel companions must also have purchased access to the Maple Leaf lounges to join you in the lounge.

The Maple Leaf lounge at Paris CDG allows Air Canada passengers to purchase access for 42 Euros per customer. Travellers can have any class of service and access must be purchased directly at Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle Airport.

In autumn 2023, it was temporarily closed for renovations.

When you qualify, your Aeroplan Elite status allows you to choose passes, which are accepted for one visit to a Maple Leaf lounge. It gives access to Canadian and US Maple Leaf lounges only.

They are easily transferable to another person and are valid until December 31 of each year. In fact, several people in our Facebook group who hadn’t used them gave them to those who were traveling in the last weeks of December!

To confirm lounge access, check your boarding pass. You’ll see an armchair icon in the top right-hand corner of the code.

Air Canada’s Maple Leaf lounges are very convenient for someone who travels extensively within Canada, the United States and to some major European cities. It is an oasis of peace in the teeming world of an airport.

It’s up to you to discover them all with your airline ticket, your premium credit card or your Aeroplan Elite status!