Calgary Maple Leaf Lounge Access Policy Change
Jul 29, 2014, 12:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MLL / AC Cafe
Programs: It's hard to get status when the website won't let me book flights.
Posts: 5,706
Calgary Maple Leaf Lounge Access Policy Change
Just posted by AC: http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/140729.html
Calgary Maple Leaf Lounge gets a makeover
July 29, 2014
As Calgary International Airport undertakes the expansion of its terminal facilities, the Air Canada Maple Lounge footprint has been reduced temporarily for the airport to build a new connection corridor.
Construction work affecting the Lounge is expected to last 18 months, so we’ve taken this opportunity to give our Maple Leaf Lounge a makeover! When all this is over in September 2015, we’ll be serving up a brand new expanded Maple Leaf Lounge with new features and enhanced amenities to serve you better than ever.
Access
Due to the reduced space availability, it will not be possible to purchase lounge access as a travel option or to redeem a Maple Leaf Lounge One-Time Guest Pass to access the Calgary Maple Leaf Lounge for the duration of construction.
In addition, between 11:30 am and 6:30 pm, Lounge access will be restricted to the following customers:
Air Canada customers holding a Business Class ticket
Altitude Super Elite 100K members, accompanied by one guest
Altitude Elite 75K, Elite 50K, Elite 35K members*
Star Alliance Gold members*
Maple Leaf Club Worldwide members*
Outside of the restricted hours, the Lounge will operate normally and we welcome all eligible members and their guests to come relax as they wait for their flight.
* No guests will be permitted.
Personally visiting this lounge many times I can fully understand the access restrictions as it's always VERY busy in this lounge.
Calgary Maple Leaf Lounge gets a makeover
July 29, 2014
As Calgary International Airport undertakes the expansion of its terminal facilities, the Air Canada Maple Lounge footprint has been reduced temporarily for the airport to build a new connection corridor.
Construction work affecting the Lounge is expected to last 18 months, so we’ve taken this opportunity to give our Maple Leaf Lounge a makeover! When all this is over in September 2015, we’ll be serving up a brand new expanded Maple Leaf Lounge with new features and enhanced amenities to serve you better than ever.
Access
Due to the reduced space availability, it will not be possible to purchase lounge access as a travel option or to redeem a Maple Leaf Lounge One-Time Guest Pass to access the Calgary Maple Leaf Lounge for the duration of construction.
In addition, between 11:30 am and 6:30 pm, Lounge access will be restricted to the following customers:
Air Canada customers holding a Business Class ticket
Altitude Super Elite 100K members, accompanied by one guest
Altitude Elite 75K, Elite 50K, Elite 35K members*
Star Alliance Gold members*
Maple Leaf Club Worldwide members*
Outside of the restricted hours, the Lounge will operate normally and we welcome all eligible members and their guests to come relax as they wait for their flight.
* No guests will be permitted.
Personally visiting this lounge many times I can fully understand the access restrictions as it's always VERY busy in this lounge.
Jul 29, 2014, 12:19 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: YYC
Programs: AC*SE100K
Posts: 243
The YYC lounge is insane before the LHR/FRA/NRT flights leave on a daily basis (and we don't have a transborder lounge at all).
I'm going to be hitting up the lounge this week with the family. I assume I'll be able to guest in my wife and then get my kids in (3 and 5) as well.
If I can't, I'll be sure to be on the internet within minutes registering my complaint.
I'm going to be hitting up the lounge this week with the family. I assume I'll be able to guest in my wife and then get my kids in (3 and 5) as well.
If I can't, I'll be sure to be on the internet within minutes registering my complaint.
Jul 29, 2014, 12:27 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Canada's worst airport....YYJ
Programs: AC: E75K, Marriott :Titanium, National: EXEC ELITE
Posts: 596
While I understand the need for renovation and space constraints, this is still highly irritating for a current 50K, soon to be 75K member. I don't get to travel with my wife very often, and now when we do, I can't even offer her the one benefit that my ongoing travel gets that she really enjoys.
Perhaps AC should reconsider a slight amendment to allow gold level members of their own program (75 and 50K) to bring in a spouse. I have no issues with not bringing co-workers or friends, but basically cutting off my lounge access when I'm travelling with my wife really isn't acceptable.
Redesignate the lounge as International for the duration of the renovation, and deny access to anyone below 50K, credit card holders, pass users, LMU's, etc. But locking out the spouses of your own *G members is too much.
Perhaps AC should reconsider a slight amendment to allow gold level members of their own program (75 and 50K) to bring in a spouse. I have no issues with not bringing co-workers or friends, but basically cutting off my lounge access when I'm travelling with my wife really isn't acceptable.
Redesignate the lounge as International for the duration of the renovation, and deny access to anyone below 50K, credit card holders, pass users, LMU's, etc. But locking out the spouses of your own *G members is too much.
Jul 29, 2014, 12:48 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50K (*G), Westjet Gold
Posts: 788
I was there around 4pm a couple weeks ago and agree that it was too full, but to cut out guests for Elite pax and tell MLL Club holders that they're SOL is slimy, I think. People buy memberships and book tickets assuming they'll have MLL access.
I wonder if this is just temporary for summer, when it seems that more Elite pax are bringing in families?
That being said, I can't come up with a better solution! If its full, its full, and I'd rather they let every Elite in, instead of only a few E35Ks with their wives and three kids and groups of teenagers using their parents' MLL passes over summer!
I wonder if this is just temporary for summer, when it seems that more Elite pax are bringing in families?
That being said, I can't come up with a better solution! If its full, its full, and I'd rather they let every Elite in, instead of only a few E35Ks with their wives and three kids and groups of teenagers using their parents' MLL passes over summer!
Jul 29, 2014, 2:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 186
While I understand the need for renovation and space constraints, this is still highly irritating for a current 50K, soon to be 75K member. I don't get to travel with my wife very often, and now when we do, I can't even offer her the one benefit that my ongoing travel gets that she really enjoys.
Perhaps AC should reconsider a slight amendment to allow gold level members of their own program (75 and 50K) to bring in a spouse. I have no issues with not bringing co-workers or friends, but basically cutting off my lounge access when I'm travelling with my wife really isn't acceptable.
Redesignate the lounge as International for the duration of the renovation, and deny access to anyone below 50K, credit card holders, pass users, LMU's, etc. But locking out the spouses of your own *G members is too much.
Perhaps AC should reconsider a slight amendment to allow gold level members of their own program (75 and 50K) to bring in a spouse. I have no issues with not bringing co-workers or friends, but basically cutting off my lounge access when I'm travelling with my wife really isn't acceptable.
Redesignate the lounge as International for the duration of the renovation, and deny access to anyone below 50K, credit card holders, pass users, LMU's, etc. But locking out the spouses of your own *G members is too much.
How is that a better sell?
Jul 29, 2014, 2:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,604
They're really just guidelines. UA doesn't allow lounge access to their own *G domestically.
*Alliance also dictates that *G boards with business class, but UA's zoned boarding has *G board with Zone 2 and their credit card holders.
*Alliance also dictates that *G boards with business class, but UA's zoned boarding has *G board with Zone 2 and their credit card holders.
Jul 29, 2014, 2:53 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Canada's worst airport....YYJ
Programs: AC: E75K, Marriott :Titanium, National: EXEC ELITE
Posts: 596
And yes, I will feel the same way when the day comes and I drop down to that status. And I feel the same way about priority boarding. Zone 1 = S100K and J, Zone 2 = E75, E50 & *G, Zone 3 = 35 & 25 and all cc preferreds.
Jul 29, 2014, 4:06 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YYC
Programs: AC-E50K, *G, WS-Gold, Nexus, HH-Diamond, Marriott-Gold, Hertz-PC
Posts: 182
I always fly solo or with fellow status pax, so this restriction has no impact on me.
However, what I did find interesting when I was in the MLL this morning were the mock-ups of what the "new" lounge will look like (directly to the left of the check in desk). One pic clearly shows a bar setup, complete with counter separating the patrons from the booze and an actual bartender (akin to he UA Lounge setups).
Most definitely NOT looking forward to this config. I'm not what you'd call a heavy user of the 'self-serve' booze currently in place in all of the MLL, however when I do go for a drink or two I prefer to pour it myself, and not have to wait for someone to do it for me, then feel obligated to tip, etc....
However, what I did find interesting when I was in the MLL this morning were the mock-ups of what the "new" lounge will look like (directly to the left of the check in desk). One pic clearly shows a bar setup, complete with counter separating the patrons from the booze and an actual bartender (akin to he UA Lounge setups).
Most definitely NOT looking forward to this config. I'm not what you'd call a heavy user of the 'self-serve' booze currently in place in all of the MLL, however when I do go for a drink or two I prefer to pour it myself, and not have to wait for someone to do it for me, then feel obligated to tip, etc....
Jul 29, 2014, 4:16 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MLL / AC Cafe
Programs: It's hard to get status when the website won't let me book flights.
Posts: 5,706
I always fly solo or with fellow status pax, so this restriction has no impact on me.
However, what I did find interesting when I was in the MLL this morning were the mock-ups of what the "new" lounge will look like (directly to the left of the check in desk). One pic clearly shows a bar setup, complete with counter separating the patrons from the booze and an actual bartender (akin to he UA Lounge setups).
Most definitely NOT looking forward to this config. I'm not what you'd call a heavy user of the 'self-serve' booze currently in place in all of the MLL, however when I do go for a drink or two I prefer to pour it myself, and not have to wait for someone to do it for me, then feel obligated to tip, etc....
However, what I did find interesting when I was in the MLL this morning were the mock-ups of what the "new" lounge will look like (directly to the left of the check in desk). One pic clearly shows a bar setup, complete with counter separating the patrons from the booze and an actual bartender (akin to he UA Lounge setups).
Most definitely NOT looking forward to this config. I'm not what you'd call a heavy user of the 'self-serve' booze currently in place in all of the MLL, however when I do go for a drink or two I prefer to pour it myself, and not have to wait for someone to do it for me, then feel obligated to tip, etc....
However, to elaborate on your post a bit what has been getting to me about the bar stations in the lounges that do have them is simply the amount of time I now have to waste waiting for an employee to be free to pour it.
Jul 29, 2014, 5:16 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan 75K, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,374
I snapped a picture of the new layout a couple weeks ago.
Jul 29, 2014, 10:05 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,237
Got this email today, I guess SE get slightly different wording
What is interesting is this will be in place until summer of 2015
Calgary International Airport has undertaken an expansion of its terminal facilities and the Air Canada Maple Leaf™ Lounge footprint has been temporarily reduced for the construction of a connection corridor.
Due to the reduced space availability, the following access restrictions will apply between 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.:
• Altitude Super Elite™ 100K members are limited to one guest
• Maple Leaf Lounge one-time guest passes will not be accepted
Outside the restricted hours, the normal Lounge access policies will apply.
Please note that this is a temporary measure and that our Maple Leaf Lounge will return to full capacity in the summer of 2015.
We’re happy to inform you that we are taking this opportunity to renovate our Maple Leaf Lounge with enhanced amenities to serve you better.
We apologize for any inconvenience this temporary situation may cause.
Due to the reduced space availability, the following access restrictions will apply between 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.:
• Altitude Super Elite™ 100K members are limited to one guest
• Maple Leaf Lounge one-time guest passes will not be accepted
Outside the restricted hours, the normal Lounge access policies will apply.
Please note that this is a temporary measure and that our Maple Leaf Lounge will return to full capacity in the summer of 2015.
We’re happy to inform you that we are taking this opportunity to renovate our Maple Leaf Lounge with enhanced amenities to serve you better.
We apologize for any inconvenience this temporary situation may cause.
Jul 29, 2014, 10:52 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Calgary
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 771
I used one of my (now defunct in Calagary) passes recently for a visit, and I was very disappointed.
- The place was grubby and cramped. It is in dire need of a change and upgrade, it is long overdue.
- Food. Soup tastes like packet soup. Hummus and crackers/nachos are boring and look very tired. Fresh vegetables look sad, and why would I want another bag of those awful pretzels that get flung at us on AC flights? It is/was embarrassing.
-Drink. One fridge and beer draught tap, was locked and not working, and a few of the hard liquor bottles were empty. The choices of booze are very limited.
-Internet. Datavalet, is very poor, I had to stick to LTE on my phone and tethering.
I have, not gone back since then ( voluntarily) and will leave my room for the SEs to "enjoy" whilst I enjoy a quiet Stella at the end of the AC domestic terminal!
- The place was grubby and cramped. It is in dire need of a change and upgrade, it is long overdue.
- Food. Soup tastes like packet soup. Hummus and crackers/nachos are boring and look very tired. Fresh vegetables look sad, and why would I want another bag of those awful pretzels that get flung at us on AC flights? It is/was embarrassing.
-Drink. One fridge and beer draught tap, was locked and not working, and a few of the hard liquor bottles were empty. The choices of booze are very limited.
-Internet. Datavalet, is very poor, I had to stick to LTE on my phone and tethering.
I have, not gone back since then ( voluntarily) and will leave my room for the SEs to "enjoy" whilst I enjoy a quiet Stella at the end of the AC domestic terminal!