Vancouver Domestic Flights: Maple Leaf Lounge Closes for 14 Months, Air Canada Cafés Take Over
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Air Canada's domestic Maple Leaf Lounge at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) closes on October 14, 2026 for a full renovation and is scheduled to reopen in early 2028. You can still use it until Tuesday, October 13, 2026, its last day of service.
For more than a year, if you depart Vancouver on a domestic flight, you will use one of the two Air Canada Cafés in the domestic departures area instead. The International and Transborder Maple Leaf Lounges, along with the YVR Signature Suite, stay open.
What closes, and when
The YVR domestic Maple Leaf Lounge, located on Pier C, welcomes its last guests on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Construction starts the next day, October 14, 2026, and Air Canada is aiming for an early 2028 reopening, with no exact date yet.
If you connect through Vancouver often, that means at least 14 months without a Maple Leaf Lounge on the domestic side.
Where to go during construction
For the full length of the closure, you can settle into one of the two Air Canada Cafés at YVR, which Air Canada names as the alternative in the domestic departures area. According to Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounge page, here is where to find them:
- Main Café: near Gate C50, open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.;
- Smaller Café: across from the food court, between Gates 46 and 47, open daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Both spaces are smaller than a Maple Leaf Lounge and centred on food and a bar, which works well before a short flight. We walk you through both Vancouver Cafés in the articles below.
Flying to the U.S. or overseas? Nothing changes: the Transborder lounge (Pier E) and the International lounge (Pier D) operate as usual.
| Space | Flight type | Status from October 14, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Maple Leaf Lounge (Pier C) | Domestic | Closed until early 2028 |
| Two Air Canada Cafés | Domestic | Open, alternative option |
| Transborder Maple Leaf Lounge (Pier E) | U.S. | Open, no change |
| International Maple Leaf Lounge (Pier D) | International | Open, no change |
| Signature Suite | International | Open, no change |
Who is affected
The closure concerns you if you usually use the Maple Leaf Lounge before a domestic flight out of Vancouver, meaning you belong to one of the three groups Air Canada names:
- Aeroplan Elite Status members departing Vancouver on the domestic network;
- Business Class customers on a domestic flight;
- Eligible premium Aeroplan co-brand cardholders.
Good news: most of you keep access. According to Air Canada's official Air Canada Café page, you get in if you fly Business Class or Premium Rouge on an Air Canada domestic flight, or if you hold Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K or 50K status, or Star Alliance Gold. Holders of the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card, CIBC's Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card and the American Express Aeroplan Reserve cards (personal and business) get in too.
The access rules for each group are in our guide to accessing Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges. For the airport's other options, see our article on airport lounges at Vancouver.
What the new lounge will look like
Air Canada is promising a fully reimagined lounge, with better comfort and accessibility. Announced features include:
- quiet zones for focused work;
- a central fireplace gathering area;
- locally inspired food;
- a full-service bar.
You will have to wait for the details: Air Canada has not yet released a floor plan, square footage or seat count.
What it means for your status or card
Your Elite status or premium Aeroplan card keeps most of its value in Vancouver: the International and Transborder lounges stay open, and the Air Canada Café still welcomes you before a flight within Canada. What drops during construction is comfort on domestic departures, since a Café offers less space and choice than a full lounge. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card, for example, gets you into both.
If Vancouver is your home airport, factor this in when you weigh what your card is worth. Our Aeroplan program page helps you run the numbers. For the rest of the airport, our guide to Vancouver International Airport is kept up to date.
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$2,000Total$2,000Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $2,000
- Welcome offerAfter $24,000 in 12 months
- Up to 100,000 points
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on TD's website
Bottom Line
- Use the YVR domestic Maple Leaf Lounge up to and including October 13, 2026.
- From October 14, 2026 to early 2028, head to one of the two Air Canada Cafés in the domestic departures area.
- On a transborder or international flight, nothing changes.
To hear about the reopening and other lounge news, create your free member account: you can then pick the newsletters you want from your member area.
Vancouver Maple Leaf Lounge - Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Vancouver domestic Maple Leaf Lounge close?
It closes on October 14, 2026. Tuesday, October 13, 2026 is the last day you can use it before construction starts.
When will the lounge reopen?
Air Canada plans to reopen it in early 2028, with no exact date yet. Expect at least 14 months of closure.
Where are the Air Canada Cafés at Vancouver airport?
The main Café is near Gate C50 and opens from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The smaller Café sits across from the food court, between Gates 46 and 47, and opens from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Who can use the Air Canada Café?
According to Air Canada, you get in with a Business Class or Premium Rouge ticket on an Air Canada domestic flight, with Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K or 50K status, or with Star Alliance Gold status. Some premium Aeroplan credit cards also give access.
Does my Aeroplan credit card get me into the Air Canada Café?
Yes if you hold the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card, CIBC's Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card or an American Express Aeroplan Reserve card, personal or business. Other Aeroplan cards do not include Café access.
Are the Transborder and International lounges at YVR affected?
No. The Transborder and International Maple Leaf Lounges at YVR stay open, and so does the Signature Suite. Only the domestic lounge closes.
What will change in the new lounge?
Air Canada has announced quiet zones for focused work, a central fireplace gathering area, locally inspired food and a full-service bar. Size and seat count have not been released.