Last edit by: yyznomad
Access to the Montreal (YUL) International Maple Leaf Lounge™ (MLL)
Latest news, as per The Altitude Report, "October Edition", sent on November 1, 2017:
Our Montreal International Maple Leaf Lounge™ next to Gate 52 offers a peaceful, sophisticated place to relax before taking flight. As a friendly reminder, eligible customers who are departing on an international flight may access the lounge, regardless of the departure gate. Those departing on a domestic flight may only access the international lounge if their departure gate is between 50 and 68. They can also access the domestic Maple Leaf Lounge next to Gates 1 and 3.
An aside from yyznomad: (November 1, 2017)
From my own insider information, there was a recent meeting to discuss access to the YUL International MLL. It was to discuss access eligibility for domestic flights, due to overcrowding. I found this out due to an experience where I was flying out of Gate 50 on a domestic flight and was denied by both a lounge agent and a concierge seated next to him. After patiently waiting for them to reconfirm the rules, only upon my insistence, did they let me in. The agent vehemently advised that it was Gate 52 and higher and told me to talk to the concierge next to him. The concierge then asked the same agent what the rule was, and sided with the agent without verifying. Two days later, another agent apologized on their behalf for getting it wrong as it was still Gate 50 to 68. In any case, the rule still stands for gates 50-68.
Also, if you got in, but as an exception to the rules, then consider yourself simply as lucky.
So don't be afraid to stand your ground, with or without printed proof. So as long as you are eligible, stand your ground! You are most likely to get an agent who won't know the rules and wrongly turn you away.
Latest news, as per The Altitude Report, "October Edition", sent on November 1, 2017:
Our Montreal International Maple Leaf Lounge™ next to Gate 52 offers a peaceful, sophisticated place to relax before taking flight. As a friendly reminder, eligible customers who are departing on an international flight may access the lounge, regardless of the departure gate. Those departing on a domestic flight may only access the international lounge if their departure gate is between 50 and 68. They can also access the domestic Maple Leaf Lounge next to Gates 1 and 3.
An aside from yyznomad: (November 1, 2017)
From my own insider information, there was a recent meeting to discuss access to the YUL International MLL. It was to discuss access eligibility for domestic flights, due to overcrowding. I found this out due to an experience where I was flying out of Gate 50 on a domestic flight and was denied by both a lounge agent and a concierge seated next to him. After patiently waiting for them to reconfirm the rules, only upon my insistence, did they let me in. The agent vehemently advised that it was Gate 52 and higher and told me to talk to the concierge next to him. The concierge then asked the same agent what the rule was, and sided with the agent without verifying. Two days later, another agent apologized on their behalf for getting it wrong as it was still Gate 50 to 68. In any case, the rule still stands for gates 50-68.
Also, if you got in, but as an exception to the rules, then consider yourself simply as lucky.
So don't be afraid to stand your ground, with or without printed proof. So as long as you are eligible, stand your ground! You are most likely to get an agent who won't know the rules and wrongly turn you away.
YUL International MLL
#152
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ, SFO
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#153
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It's absolutely not worth a special trip. If I lived at an airport hotel in YUL I'm not sure it would be worth the trip.
#154
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: sqrt(-united states of apologist)
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Posts: 5,403
Jus' sayan
#155
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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#156
Original Poster
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Location: YVR
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#157
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
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Posts: 5,691
AC seems to think that way, too. It shouldn't be too difficult for the verbiage on the *A site to include a note that certain lounges have access restrictions. Unfortunately, I suspect that would lead to a huge degradation in the quality and availability of lounges as many airlines would choose to keep the *G "riffraff" out in favour of their own top tier pax.
#158
Join Date: May 2013
Location: west coast best coast
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Posts: 3,989
Yeah, unfortunately *A doesn't seem to care if local carriers make exceptions to the overall *A policy. For example, the SQ, BR international lounges at SFO routinely deny UA *A members access (whether flying domestically or internationally) even though they're not a United Club. Sometimes the agents will let exceptions be made for people flying long-haul on UA, but it's at their discretion.
#159
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYT, YVR, BNE, LON
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold
Posts: 320
Anyone know when this is supposed to be done? The initial post said fall 2015...
#160
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Location: YVR
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#161
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
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Posts: 5,691
#162
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: BGI (ex-YYC, YYZ)
Programs: AC*G-E100K (once again)
Posts: 1,701
Pic of the lounge
#163
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
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Posts: 5,691
#164
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: YVR
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Posts: 8,963
#165