Air Canada Café in Quebec City: a new lounge at YQB
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Air Canada has just opened its very first Air Canada Café at Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB). This 97-seat lounge is the first premium lounge experience in the capital’s terminal. The Air Canada Café in Quebec City now welcomes eligible travellers in a modern space to relax, work, or grab a bite before boarding.
Operated in partnership with Plaza Premium, this seventh Air Canada Café in the country showcases the region’s gastronomy and lifestyle. Its opening is also part of the airline’s broader lounge modernization program. To compare the cards that provide lounge access, see our page on the best credit cards.
A seventh Air Canada Café in the country
The Air Canada Café in Quebec City joins a network that is growing quickly. The airline recently opened an Air Canada Café at Montreal-Trudeau and renovated its domestic Maple Leaf Lounge. You will find details on these changes in our article on the Maple Leaf Lounge renovations in Montreal.
Last year, Air Canada added more than 500 lounge seats worldwide. In addition, the Café concept is proving to be a real success with travellers. Quebec City therefore becomes a new stop in this rollout, following several openings and upgrades across Canada.
An experience inspired by Quebec City
The Café’s design draws on the landscape and character of the Quebec City region. The space therefore focuses on a calm, welcoming atmosphere, true to Air Canada’s “Glowing Hearted” design philosophy. Two major works anchor the space: Flow, by abstract artist Antonietta Grassi, and 1982, by novelist and visual artist Douglas Coupland.
Travellers love Quebec City for its gastronomy, charm, and character. With this new Air Canada Café, we created a space that feels like a love letter to the city.
– Jacqueline Harkness, Managing Director, Products and Services at Air Canada
Menus that celebrate the region
The menu highlights local products and Quebec and Indigenous partners. In addition, a self-serve station offers hot and cold dishes to enjoy on site. Here are a few highlights of the offering:
- Signature crêpes: maple butter, fleur de sel, and Sigewigus pumpkin seed spread from the Mi’gmaq community of Gespeg
- Meal-bowl bar: fresh, local ingredients to build yourself
- Cheeses and jams: a selection of local cheeses and artisanal jams
- Options for everyone: vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices, with allergen labelling
- Full bar: Lavazza coffee, cocktails from Distillerie du Fjord, and beers from La Souche microbrewery
Layout and amenities
- 97 seats: in a premium 336 m² (3,616 sq ft) space
- Work seating: areas designed for working or taking calls
- Outlets at every seat: USB-C ports powerful enough to charge a laptop
Who has access to the Air Canada Café in Quebec City?
Access to the Air Canada Café in Quebec City is available to all eligible customers, not just those on domestic flights. Specifically, four traveller profiles can enter:
- Aeroplan Elite status: 50K members and above
- Star Alliance Gold status: regardless of the originating carrier
- Premium Aeroplan cards: holders of premium co-branded cards
- Business Class: customers departing YQB on Air Canada and Star Alliance
Access with a premium Aeroplan card
Several Aeroplan co-branded credit cards open the doors to the Air Canada Café in Quebec City. In fact, four premium cards provide this access to their cardholders:
The following table compares these four cards side by side. To go further, also see our selection of the best Aeroplan cards and the best cards for airport lounges.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $599 | |||
| $599 | |||
| $599 | |||
| $599 |
Access with Aeroplan status
Your Aeroplan status also counts for entry to the Air Canada Café in Quebec City. Indeed, Aeroplan Elite 50K, 75K, and Super Elite members have access on an eligible flight departing from YQB, whether domestic or international. In addition, Star Alliance Gold members enjoy the same privilege, regardless of their program of origin.
Note: 25K status does not provide access to this lounge. To understand all the ways to access the airline’s lounges, see our complete guide to accessing Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges. You can also review how the Aeroplan program works.
An Air Canada investment in Quebec
With this new lounge, Air Canada strengthens its presence in the Quebec market. First Montreal, then Quebec City: the airline is expanding premium spaces tailored to the communities it serves. The Air Canada Café in Quebec City therefore confirms this strategy focused on comfort and service.
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American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
With this welcome offer for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points. Here’s how:
- Earn 60,000 Aeroplan points after you spend $7,500 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
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With this Amex Aeroplan Card, you earn 3x the points on purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. And 2x the points on dining and food delivery in Canada. Everywhere else, you earn 1.25x the points.
With this premium Amex Aeroplan Card, you enjoy many Air Canada travel benefits, such as Maple Leaf Lounge access in North America for you and a guest, priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling. It’s the best Amex Aeroplan Card for frequent Air Canada flyers.
As a holder of this American Express Aeroplan Card, up to 8 passengers can check their first bag free (maximum weight of 23 kg/50 lb) when the trip starts on an Air Canada flight.
As with all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is required.
- Annual fee
- $599
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,200Total$1,200Plus $500 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,200
- Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 3 months
- Up to 85,000 points
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Air Canada Café in Quebec City – Frequently asked questions
Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about the Air Canada Café in Quebec City.
Where is the Air Canada Café located at Québec City Airport?
The Air Canada Café is located in the terminal at Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB). It is the first premium lounge experience offered at this airport. The 97-seat space is operated in partnership with Plaza Premium.
Who has access to the Air Canada Café in Quebec City?
Access is available to all eligible customers, not just for domestic flights. This includes Aeroplan Elite 50K members and above, Star Alliance Gold members, holders of premium Aeroplan cards, and Business Class customers departing YQB on Air Canada and Star Alliance.
Which credit cards provide access to the Air Canada Café in Quebec City?
Four premium Aeroplan co-branded cards provide access to the Café. These are the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card, the CIBC® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card, as well as the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card. Compare them on our best Aeroplan cards page.
Do you need Aeroplan status to enter the Air Canada Café?
Aeroplan Elite 50K, 75K, or Super Elite status is sufficient for entry on an eligible flight departing from YQB, whether domestic or international. However, 25K status does not provide access to the lounge. A premium Aeroplan card or a Business Class ticket remains another way to access it. Our Maple Leaf Lounges guide details each scenario.
How many seats does the Air Canada Café in Quebec City have?
The Café has 97 seats in a 336 m² (3,616 sq ft) space. It includes work seating, power outlets at every seat, and USB-C ports. It is the seventh Air Canada Café in the country.
Does the Air Canada Café replace a Maple Leaf Lounge?
No. The Air Canada Café concept is a distinct lounge format, rolled out as part of the airline’s modernization program. In Quebec City, it is a first, since the airport did not yet offer a premium lounge. In Montreal, an Air Canada Café coexists with the renovated Maple Leaf Lounge.
