Review: Air Canada Café Toronto-Pearson YYZ Lounge

Updated May 31, 2024
Fact checked by
Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève Leclerc

Marie-Ève Leclerc

Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève, Web Director at Milesopedia, is an expert in budget travel and a slow travel enthusiast. Specializing in Aeroplan, Scene+, and Marriott Bonvoy programs, she spends nearly six months a year abroad, making travel her way of life. Constantly seeking the best waves to surf, excellent coffee, and strategies to extend her travels, she is often found in coworking spaces with fellow digital nomads or by the sea, watching the sunset.
All posts by Marie-Ève Leclerc
Note
10/10
Air Canada Café Toronto YYZ 20
Lounge Air Canada Café
Airport Toronto-Pearson
Lounge Access Method Business class
Terminal 1
Country Canada
City Toronto
To the point Discover our review on the new Air Canada Café lounge located at the D20 door of Toronto-Pearson YYZ International Airport.

A new kind of lounge

On September 6, 2019, Air Canada opened a new type of lounge: Air Canada Café.

Air Canada now has 3 lounge brands:

  • Maple Leaf: reserved for passengers (paying or using an Aeroplan award ticket):
    • traveling on business class on Air Canada or Star Alliance partners
    • Star Alliance Gold members
    • Aeroplan Super Elite Members, 35K, 50K, 75K
    • and holders of certain premium credit card such as the AeroplanMD* American ExpressMD Reserve card .
  • Signature Suite: reserved for paying passengers (excluding Aeroplan reward tickets) in Air Canada’s international business class
  • Café: reserved exclusively for travelers taking a domestic flight:
    • in Business or Premium Rouge Class
    • or Aeroplan Super Elite, Aeroplan 75K or 50K members
    • or Star Alliance Gold members
    • Some premium credit card , such as the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege*card

Location

This lounge is located in Toronto ‘s domestic terminal (1) near gate D20 (used primarily for departures to Montreal-Trudeau YUL).

It is open from 5:15 a.m. to midnight daily:

Concept ''Grab and go''

In its Air Canada Café, Air Canada introduces the “Grab & Go” concept.

Thus, you are invited to take food and drinks with you. This is not normally the case in other airport lounge!

To this end, Air Canada provides “Air Canada Café” paper bags (visible below on the right of the photo).

Air Canada Customer Service

At the entrance to the Air Canada Café, Air Canada agents are available to assist you in your travel plans.

Food and beverages available at Air Canada Café

While visiting this lounge around 10am, I was impressed by the variety of food and drinks on offer.

Here are some pictures of the choices offered by Air Canada:

There’s something for everyone, from Greenhouse juices to Kombuchas to a variety of cold-pressed organic juices, flavoured waters…

There are even Lindt chocolate truffles, fine OKA cheese and high-end Goûter pastries.

The very principle of a café… is to serve coffee!

On this point, you have 2 choices. Either the take away method:

Or asking the Barista at the counter!

I chose this method and particularly enjoyed my Lavazza double espresso. Especially after the redeye from San Francisco!

Air Canada Café's work and relaxation areas

Given the concept of the “Grab and Go” lounge, travellers do not stay very long in this one. So it’s easy to find seats…

… or workspaces, all with electrical and USB sockets.

Or just sit at the counter (seats are also equipped with USB sockets).

Air Canada Café also has men’s and women’s toilets.

Conclusion

Air Canada Café is a great new concept introduced by Air Canada. This should help to relieve some of the burden on the Maple Leaf lounge.

Air Canada Café Toronto YYZ 20
Air Canada Café Toronto YYZ

Let’s hope that the airline will reproduce this concept of Air Canada Café at other Canadian airports, including Montreal-Trudeau.

Actually, the Maple Leaf lounge in the domestic zone would really need to be supported by an Air Canada Café given its peak-hour traffic!

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien, President and Founder of Milesopedia, is a recognized expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel in Canada and France. Approaching forty and a father of two, he has travelled to over 100 countries, half of them with his children and his wife, Audrey. Specializing in top loyalty programs like Aeroplan, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, he guides travellers to maximize their benefits across North America and Europe.
All posts by Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Airport lounges
Region
Canada, Toronto
4.9 Milesopedia Rating

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