To the point
Here is our photo report of the Odyssey Desjardins lounge in Montreal, accessible to passengers travelling in business class or holding a Desjardins card.
Here is the story of my stay in Asia last month. I advise you to read this article to know the why and especially the how of this route. Let’s start our story with the Desjardins Odyssey Lounge located at the Montreal airport.
This is the first post dedicated to my trip, others will follow in the coming weeks.
It all starts with a bus ride to the airport. We reach the bus stop at Lionel-Groulx station. The 747 shuttle no longer uses the Montreal bus station which is a shame, especially in winter.
We quickly reach the airport. Check-in is at the counter, as Turkish Airlines does not allow check-in either online or on their mobile app. On the other hand, we were able to select our seats beforehand via their new website with the PNR communicated by Aeroplan. No photo of the registration area because I was not allowed to take one.
Our luggage is checked in to Singapore. We also have our two boarding passes. The agent then tells us that the Odyssey Desjardins lounge is accessible to business class passengers.
The transition to security is also fast. We try to go to the new Air Canada lounge but the unkind guard at the entrance tells us that it will close soon. So we go to the door 63.
The lounge is on the second floor, like the Air France lounge. There is a staircase or an elevator to access it.
To access it you need:
- travel in Business Class on Turkish Airlines (other airlines will probably use it)
- or be a Desjardins cardholder:
- Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege (12 accesses per year)
- Odyssey World Elite MasterCard (8 accesses per year)
- Odyssey Gold Visa (50% off, available until June 30, 2017)
- Platinum Prestige and Platinum (50% off, available until June 30, 2017)
- or pay an entry fee starting at $40
After the reception desk we find the departure board and advice on the Boni Dollars loyalty program (yes, there are still people who don’t read milesopedia).
There is a first restaurant corner but it was almost closed when we arrived.
Then we find a corridor with a long bench facing the slopes.
This is one of the positive points of this lounge: it is very open to the outside and therefore very bright. You can also admire the aircraft on the tarmac. A pleasure for the little and big avgeeks 🙂
The lounge is quite large, it is announced a capacity of 160 people. The furniture is modern, Ikea style, it can please. The Wifi access is the one offered by the airport to the lounges, it is efficient. The advantage is the diversity of the furniture: tables, armchairs and benches. There is something for everyone, whether you are a solo traveler, a couple or a group.
Some coffee tables contain electrical outlets. This does not seem to me to be sufficient for the capacity of the exhibition. Unless, of course, you have luggage that allows you to recharge your electronic devices.
The beverage offer is classic with beer, wine and some spirits in self-service. The food offering is a little better than the National Bank Lounge with hot dishes.
A quick trip to the bathroom and it’s time to board.
I already know the company for having borrowed it a year and a half ago to go to Thailand.
We meet again in the next ticket for the flight to Istanbul.
Bottom line
The Odyssey Lounge is a good addition to the existing offer at Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport. Other lounges elsewhere in the world offer better facilities and I have some doubts about the durability of some of the layouts. But it has the advantage of being a little more modern in its layout than the National Bank and it gives travelers a little more choice. We can only be pleased with it.
Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
