How to access the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges

An airport lounge is a space reserved for a certain type of traveler. It is very convenient to get away from the crowds and relax before our plane leaves.

But also, it allows :

• free food and drink
• listening to television and reading newspapers or magazines
• to work
• take a shower
• to have free Wi-Fi
• … or relax in a cell phone-free zone

Air Canada has its own network of airport lounge called the Maple Leaf Lounges.

There are 23 Maple Leaf lounges in 16 airports in Canada, the United States and Europe. They are all located after the security passage.

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 gateways:

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

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

Then 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 a specific Aeroplan credit cards.

A Signature or Business Class ticket (purchased with cash or through a rewards flight) 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 partnerflight

If a guest accompanies you and that person does not have the same class of ticket as you, they 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.

Access : Children at the Maple Leaf lounge:

• Maple Leaf Club members: children 12 and under are 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, the children of 2 years and more are considered as a guest, therefore paying. Under this age, they enter free of charge.

With a high Aeroplan Elite status, 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. Then, the eligible flight must be the same day.

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

Primary cardholders and secondary card of certain credit card have free access to Maple Leaf lounge. These are mainly the following “black” Aeroplan card :

• TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege* Card
• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege* Card
• and the American Express Aeroplan* Reserve Card

As well as corporate premium card :

• American Express* Aeroplan Corporate Reserve Card
• American Express* Aeroplan Reserve Business Card

However, it should be noted that, for a limited time, a guest is accepted for free.

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

Also, for the business card 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
• or the American Express* Aeroplan Corporate Card

The Maple Leaf Club is a paid membership to enter the Maple Leaf lounge. It’s kind of like Priority Pass or LoungeKey. For now, these subscriptions are on hold because of the pandemic.

• Canada membership: $375, only for Maple Leaf lounges in Canada
• North America Plus Membership: $495, for Maple Leaf lounges in Canada, the United States and Europe
• or a Worldwide 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 prior to a flight with your fare. You can do this in your Aeroplan profile, under the My Reservations section. This option is currently on hold due to the pandemic.

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

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

The person (or persons) accompanying you must also have previously purchased access to the Maple Leaf lounge in order to join you at the lounge.

The Maple Leaf lounge in Paris allows Air Canada passengers to purchase access for 42 Euros per customer. Travelers can have any class of service and access must be purchased directly atCharles de Gaulle Airport.

When you qualify, your Aeroplan Elite status allows you to choose passes, which are accepted for one visit to Maple Leaf lounge. It gives access to the Canadian and American Maple Leaf lounge 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!

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 a bit of an oasis of peace in the teeming world of an airport.

As of February 2022, all Maple Leaf lounges are now open. It’s up to you to discover them all with your airline ticket, your premium credit card or your Aeroplan Elite status!