Nov 1, 2017, 1:32 pm
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
Aug 1, 2015, 8:56 pm
#91
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: GVA
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Posts: 269
I think the next step to E50K is co-pay for Int'l lounge access. Co-pay was introduced on Long-haul eUps a few years ago and I see that being extended to lounges. Like I said, adding square footage for more lounges is very expensive overhead. My reducing the number of people in the lounges, and getting more money out of those who want to have lounge access, they can improve them, and make the SE's feel more special (getting a benefit others must pay for to get).
As for E75K, at the moment, they don't really get anything for the difference between 50 & 100, so this might get some people to pay a little more to attain it. At the moment, I don't really see a benefit worth spending more bucks for.
As for E75K, at the moment, they don't really get anything for the difference between 50 & 100, so this might get some people to pay a little more to attain it. At the moment, I don't really see a benefit worth spending more bucks for.
Aug 1, 2015, 9:01 pm
#92
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,759
Aug 1, 2015, 9:18 pm
#93
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: sqrt(-united states of apologist)
Programs: *$ Green
Posts: 5,403
Wait, so if I was the UA equivalent of an E50K, I would have Star Alliance Gold status, but they would refuse lounge access to me?
How is that even legal?
How is that even legal?
Aug 1, 2015, 9:33 pm
#94
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,759
So keep in mind that US airports don't usually have the same domestic/transborder/intl layout as Canadian airports, but yes, UA Premier Gold (*G) members only receive complimentary UA Club access on international itineraries, whereas a partner *G would get it on any *A ticket (including pure US domestic).
Aug 1, 2015, 9:42 pm
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
The INT MLL at YUL was moved to a temporary location (the lounge I visited a few posts back) so they can reno the one we know. The plans for this redone lounge (12-18 months was quoted to me today...but Quebec) is normal MLL on top and an SE or SE/J lounge on the bottom (I was told twice, "SE"), where they had the bar and cook tops (if you've been in the past year).
The lounge I was in today doesn't look "AC" at all...not 1%. Very modern, white and grey. It is situated upstairs across the hall from the Mastercard lounge and has massive windows overlooking the gates. Other notes about this temp lounge:
- electrical plugs everywhere, like I've never seen
- vinotec wine serving machine with premium (for AC) wines
- excellent food
- very bizarre symbols to indicate washrooms, etc (Quebec for ya I guess)
- individual washrooms
- although a good looking lounge there are certainly some temporary elements to it such as plywood boxes holding up the vanities
The lounge I was in today doesn't look "AC" at all...not 1%. Very modern, white and grey. It is situated upstairs across the hall from the Mastercard lounge and has massive windows overlooking the gates. Other notes about this temp lounge:
- electrical plugs everywhere, like I've never seen
- vinotec wine serving machine with premium (for AC) wines
- excellent food
- very bizarre symbols to indicate washrooms, etc (Quebec for ya I guess)
- individual washrooms
- although a good looking lounge there are certainly some temporary elements to it such as plywood boxes holding up the vanities
I haven't been in the YUL Int'l MLL in a couple of years, so all I know is what they had at the upper level. I avoid YUL as much as I can, although as of late they seemed to have made some improvements (I've flown domestically here and there to/from YUL in the last while but out of necessity only).
Some people here on FT have told me that there will NOT be an SE lounge at YUL so I will just pretend I didn't heaer them and take your word for it since you have experienced it and heard it from several horses' mouths...
Aug 1, 2015, 9:58 pm
#96
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: sqrt(-united states of apologist)
Programs: *$ Green
Posts: 5,403
So keep in mind that US airports don't usually have the same domestic/transborder/intl layout as Canadian airports, but yes, UA Premier Gold (*G) members only receive complimentary UA Club access on international itineraries, whereas a partner *G would get it on any *A ticket (including pure US domestic).
I thought that one of the benefits of being an E50K is to receive *AG benefits?
Weird. I guess UA is just really sub-par
Aug 1, 2015, 10:09 pm
#97
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,759
United Star Alliance Gold customers may only access the United Clubs within the U.S. when travelling in conjunction with a Star Alliance international flight.
Aug 1, 2015, 10:14 pm
#98
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
Aug 1, 2015, 10:22 pm
#99
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50k, A3*G, UA*S, MR Titanium, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 3,669
Plus, they make good money from selling Club memberships
Aug 1, 2015, 10:24 pm
#100
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Aug 1, 2015, 10:30 pm
#101
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50k, A3*G, UA*S, MR Titanium, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 3,669
: What's the deal with the lack of separation between domestic/international terminals there?
Aug 1, 2015, 10:36 pm
#102
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As long as you write my profile 
It used to be separated. And from what I understand, they then opened up the international section so now it's not. Good for me as there's a CC lounge across from the international lounge. The domestic lounge is at like gate...what? 3? But it's MORONIC. It doesn't make sense when I'm at gate 47. What were they thinking??
Aug 2, 2015, 7:02 am
#103
Formerly known as tireman77
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 5,505
Thanks for the explanation. Makes sense now.
I haven't been in the YUL Int'l MLL in a couple of years, so all I know is what they had at the upper level. I avoid YUL as much as I can, although as of late they seemed to have made some improvements (I've flown domestically here and there to/from YUL in the last while but out of necessity only).
Some people here on FT have told me that there will NOT be an SE lounge at YUL so I will just pretend I didn't heaer them and take your word for it since you have experienced it and heard it from several horses' mouths...
I haven't been in the YUL Int'l MLL in a couple of years, so all I know is what they had at the upper level. I avoid YUL as much as I can, although as of late they seemed to have made some improvements (I've flown domestically here and there to/from YUL in the last while but out of necessity only).
Some people here on FT have told me that there will NOT be an SE lounge at YUL so I will just pretend I didn't heaer them and take your word for it since you have experienced it and heard it from several horses' mouths...
My understanding was that it was simply an expansion of the YUL International MLL and never designed to be exclusively for SEs. I may be wrong, but the only place I've heard anything about a specific SE-only lounge is here. And I believe that information came from the grapevine.
We are 6 months into this thread, and I don't think I have read any actual concrete information or any other corroborating sources about an SE only lounge. Am I wrong?
Aug 2, 2015, 7:07 am
#104
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: YVR
Programs: ACSEMM QRGold SPGLifetimePlat FairmontPlat HyattD AMEXCenturion SerenaPlat TalkBoard Founding Member
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Kind of confused here (nothing new there). The downstairs part of the YUL International MLL is not exclusively for SE's. As a lowly E50k travelling in Y, I have used it. Its open during the peak hours when the upstairs lounge was greatly insufficient. It was crazy there between 15:00 and 19:00.
My understanding was that it was simply an expansion of the YUL International MLL and never designed to be exclusively for SEs. I may be wrong, but the only place I've heard anything about a specific SE-only lounge is here. And I believe that information came from the grapevine.
We are 6 months into this thread, and I don't think I have read any actual concrete information or any other corroborating sources about an SE only lounge. Am I wrong?
My understanding was that it was simply an expansion of the YUL International MLL and never designed to be exclusively for SEs. I may be wrong, but the only place I've heard anything about a specific SE-only lounge is here. And I believe that information came from the grapevine.
We are 6 months into this thread, and I don't think I have read any actual concrete information or any other corroborating sources about an SE only lounge. Am I wrong?
The only evidence I have is two different MLL agents telling me about it, one stating they have seen the model (though I took that to mean plan).
Aug 2, 2015, 7:09 am
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Kind of confused here (nothing new there). The downstairs part of the YUL International MLL is not exclusively for SE's. As a lowly E50k travelling in Y, I have used it. Its open during the peak hours when the upstairs lounge was greatly insufficient. It was crazy there between 15:00 and 19:00.
My understanding was that it was simply an expansion of the YUL International MLL and never designed to be exclusively for SEs. I may be wrong, but the only place I've heard anything about a specific SE-only lounge is here. And I believe that information came from the grapevine.
We are 6 months into this thread, and I don't think I have read any actual concrete information or any other corroborating sources about an SE only lounge. Am I wrong?
My understanding was that it was simply an expansion of the YUL International MLL and never designed to be exclusively for SEs. I may be wrong, but the only place I've heard anything about a specific SE-only lounge is here. And I believe that information came from the grapevine.
We are 6 months into this thread, and I don't think I have read any actual concrete information or any other corroborating sources about an SE only lounge. Am I wrong?