Dec 2, 2017, 8:59 pm
Last edit by: canadiancow
As per AC Signature Suite page - July 2, 2021
* Air Canada Signature Class customers travelling on an Air Canada-operated flight (to Europe, Asia and South America) originally booked and ticketed in the following booking classes will be eligible for access to the Air Canada Signature Suite: J, C, D, Z, P. Only Aeroplan flight rewards booked as a Business Class Flexible Reward or a First Class Flexible Reward in J, C, D, Z, P, I booking classes are eligible for access. All bookings in R class (including, but not limited to, eUpgrades, Last-Minute Upgrades, and AC Bid Upgrades), Aeroplan flight rewards booked as a Business Class Lowest Reward or a First Class Lowest Reward, Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, Business Class flight rewards booked and ticketed by partner airlines, and I (including Star Alliance Upgrade Awards), as well as bookings made during irregular operations where the customer was not originally booked and confirmed in one of the eligible booking classes, will be excluded. Eligible customers may not invite guests. Access to the Air Canada Signature Suite is not available to customers travelling on promotional tickets or employees.
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/fly/premium-services/signature-suite.html
canadiancow's photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/0nui9iIVxRH5nczi1
Video of Signature Suite along with menus and food shots. https://youtu.be/QDdKM735n3k
* Air Canada Signature Class customers travelling on an Air Canada-operated flight (to Europe, Asia and South America) originally booked and ticketed in the following booking classes will be eligible for access to the Air Canada Signature Suite: J, C, D, Z, P. Only Aeroplan flight rewards booked as a Business Class Flexible Reward or a First Class Flexible Reward in J, C, D, Z, P, I booking classes are eligible for access. All bookings in R class (including, but not limited to, eUpgrades, Last-Minute Upgrades, and AC Bid Upgrades), Aeroplan flight rewards booked as a Business Class Lowest Reward or a First Class Lowest Reward, Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, Business Class flight rewards booked and ticketed by partner airlines, and I (including Star Alliance Upgrade Awards), as well as bookings made during irregular operations where the customer was not originally booked and confirmed in one of the eligible booking classes, will be excluded. Eligible customers may not invite guests. Access to the Air Canada Signature Suite is not available to customers travelling on promotional tickets or employees.
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/fly/premium-services/signature-suite.html
canadiancow's photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/0nui9iIVxRH5nczi1
Video of Signature Suite along with menus and food shots. https://youtu.be/QDdKM735n3k
New VIP lounge YYZ int'l: Air Canada Signature Suite
Sep 5, 2021, 11:56 am
#1831
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
With the recent posts regarding access to the Signature Suite YYZ. Have I missed an opening date?
Sep 5, 2021, 12:01 pm
#1832
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,778
Sep 6, 2021, 7:49 am
#1833
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan 50K/Star Alliance Gold, Accor Gold, base level Marriott/Hyatt/Hilton
Posts: 658
That's a nice new perk with the new redemption system.
Did some random lookup to Asian destinations and the business flex redemption is mostly 12k more expensive (one way). That converts to ~$200 for being able to access Signature lounge.
Not a too good value but I guess you also gain the flexibility of cancelling free of charge.
Did some random lookup to Asian destinations and the business flex redemption is mostly 12k more expensive (one way). That converts to ~$200 for being able to access Signature lounge.
Not a too good value but I guess you also gain the flexibility of cancelling free of charge.
- meal and drinks: $75, waymore if you can drink a lot
- at least another 1.5 hours of sleep (because you won't have to eat on the plane): $250
AND you have more flexibility on your ticket, the SSL is a nicer space than the MLL, the service is better (although some might not care about that)... IMHO it's a no brainer. Especially if you're going points/cash and get better value on the excess points.
Sep 6, 2021, 7:55 am
#1834
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,354
Except they've said, numerous times, that J flex rewards are only as cheap as they are because neither SS is open.
Expect the price delta to increase.
Expect the price delta to increase.
Sep 6, 2021, 2:42 pm
#1835
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YYZ
Programs: Ex-Bonvoyed, Hyatt, Hilton, BR, AC, AA
Posts: 1,298
$200 isn't a bad deal at all, although I'm not sure where you got that number from given that each point is worth $0.03.
- meal and drinks: $75, waymore if you can drink a lot
- at least another 1.5 hours of sleep (because you won't have to eat on the plane): $250
AND you have more flexibility on your ticket, the SSL is a nicer space than the MLL, the service is better (although some might not care about that)... IMHO it's a no brainer. Especially if you're going points/cash and get better value on the excess points.
- meal and drinks: $75, waymore if you can drink a lot
- at least another 1.5 hours of sleep (because you won't have to eat on the plane): $250
AND you have more flexibility on your ticket, the SSL is a nicer space than the MLL, the service is better (although some might not care about that)... IMHO it's a no brainer. Especially if you're going points/cash and get better value on the excess points.
But like cow said, don't expect the 12k delta to hold once the SS is open again.
Sep 6, 2021, 3:14 pm
#1836
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 166
As for the delta going up, you can definitely book a year in advance and hope SS opens by then. Otherwise it’s free cancellation since it’s a J flex redemption.
Sep 6, 2021, 3:50 pm
#1837
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YYZ
Programs: Ex-Bonvoyed, Hyatt, Hilton, BR, AC, AA
Posts: 1,298
Acquiring points in some trade group (“personal” travel agents) is @~1.6cpp. (Mod plz remove this if it’s forbidden to talk about on this forum)
As for the delta going up, you can definitely book a year in advance and hope SS opens by then. Otherwise it’s free cancellation since it’s a J flex redemption.
As for the delta going up, you can definitely book a year in advance and hope SS opens by then. Otherwise it’s free cancellation since it’s a J flex redemption.
Currently, given the right circumstances (overseas address and the right credit cards), you can acquire them right now at 1.32 cents (without violating any TOS or hoping you're not dealing with an unscrupulous "agent").
And yes, if you're willing to extend an interest-free loan to Air Canada far in advance, you can get a better price.
Sep 6, 2021, 7:40 pm
#1838
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 166
Currently, given the right circumstances (overseas address and the right credit cards), you can acquire them right now at 1.32 cents (without violating any TOS or hoping you're not dealing with an unscrupulous "agent").
And yes, if you're willing to extend an interest-free loan to Air Canada far in advance, you can get a better price.
The tax/surcharge on a reward redemption is pretty low now, I wouldn’t be concerned too much on an interest free loan of ~$50.
Sep 6, 2021, 7:49 pm
#1839
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,778
This is the Signature Suite thread. Let's please try to get back on topic, and save general posts for points valuation and how to acquire them for other, more appropriate venues.
Adam Smith
AC Forum Co-Moderator
Adam Smith
AC Forum Co-Moderator
Sep 9, 2021, 5:58 pm
#1840
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: BA, AA, SQ, UA, AC, WS, MR TIT
Posts: 8,659
I have been once to AC Signature Lounge in YYZ while flying on a revenue ticket with AC. Honestly there is not much to talk about the lounge when you compare it to other airlines elite lounges like LH or BA or even UA Polaris lounge in ORD or EWR. The best description for AC Signature lounge is: Mediocre Luxurious Lounge.
Sep 9, 2021, 8:17 pm
#1841
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
I have been once to AC Signature Lounge in YYZ while flying on a revenue ticket with AC. Honestly there is not much to talk about the lounge when you compare it to other airlines elite lounges like LH or BA or even UA Polaris lounge in ORD or EWR. The best description for AC Signature lounge is: Mediocre Luxurious Lounge.
I would've argued that the AC YYZ Signature Lounge is among the top business class class lounges, especially in term of catering.
Since you mentioned BA and LH lounges, I'm very much familiar with both:
- LH business class lounges: catering is generally quite poor
- LH Senator lounges: usually 1-2 good food options, but not a la carte and not freshly prepared
- BA business class lounges: at least pre-covid, catering was somewhere between appalling and disgusting
- BA Gold / First Class lounges: catering is usually ok, but AC Signature lounge is still much better IMO
On the other hand, UA seems to do a really good job with its Polaris lounges, so I'll give UA credit for that.
Sep 9, 2021, 8:49 pm
#1842
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan 50K/Star Alliance Gold, Accor Gold, base level Marriott/Hyatt/Hilton
Posts: 658
I have been once to AC Signature Lounge in YYZ while flying on a revenue ticket with AC. Honestly there is not much to talk about the lounge when you compare it to other airlines elite lounges like LH or BA or even UA Polaris lounge in ORD or EWR. The best description for AC Signature lounge is: Mediocre Luxurious Lounge.
- LH group lounges - some look stunning with decent food (LX ZRH Dock E) and some just terrible (VIE, ZAG, etc)
- BA J lounges - one word: crap. All of them. I've been to a few at LHR and there are very few positive reviews of them. Sure, the F lounges look okay, but you can get into the SSL on a $2000 ticket. The same can't be said about BA F lounges.
- Polaris - sure, you can have a decent debate here. UA have done a great job on their newer lounges. Still, the general consensus is that Polaris < Signature Suite, so it's possible that you just came on a really bad day.
Sep 9, 2021, 10:00 pm
#1843
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
AC's highest cabin/service is J (or "C" or whatever else is similar).
Are some comparing the SSL to F lounges? If so, that's not exactly the best comparison.
Are some comparing the SSL to F lounges? If so, that's not exactly the best comparison.
Sep 9, 2021, 10:32 pm
#1844
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,570
I have been once to AC Signature Lounge in YYZ while flying on a revenue ticket with AC. Honestly there is not much to talk about the lounge when you compare it to other airlines elite lounges like LH or BA or even UA Polaris lounge in ORD or EWR. The best description for AC Signature lounge is: Mediocre Luxurious Lounge.
The target market really is a handful of US mid-western rich guys who would just as happily go through YYZ as NYC/LAX/SEA to destinations further along. But no one who wants a good meal and has the coin to choice between LHR vs ORD for food and service is considering the lounges in London or Chicago airports.
Sep 10, 2021, 12:59 am
#1845
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,354
Yeah, if we're comparing F lounges to the SS, I've been in some that beat it, I've been in a few that are comparable, and I've been in a few that are worse (eg the old UA GFL).
If we're only looking at J lounges, the only one I've tried that comes close is Polaris, but the food quality in the SS is substantially higher. Like a diner versus a pretty nice (at least for Canada) restaurant.
If you want showers without having to leave "the lounge" (and that means different things in YYZ and YVR), sure, Polaris is better. But for what I want in a lounge, SS wins.
If we're only looking at J lounges, the only one I've tried that comes close is Polaris, but the food quality in the SS is substantially higher. Like a diner versus a pretty nice (at least for Canada) restaurant.
If you want showers without having to leave "the lounge" (and that means different things in YYZ and YVR), sure, Polaris is better. But for what I want in a lounge, SS wins.