Nov 22, 2020, 1:01 pm
Last edit by: vancouver25k
As of July 2022, MLLs appear to be largely back to normal operations.
Ordering to the table has been shut down, with most MLLs offering self-serve buffets similar to what was available pre-COVID.
Note that the EWR MLL has been permanently shut down as a result of changes/construction at EWR.
Showers
YYZ int - closed (Aug 12. They claimed all showers closed at YYZ but I was only at int.)
YVR tb - open
YVR int - open
YUL int - open
Ordering to the table has been shut down, with most MLLs offering self-serve buffets similar to what was available pre-COVID.
Note that the EWR MLL has been permanently shut down as a result of changes/construction at EWR.
Showers
YYZ int - closed (Aug 12. They claimed all showers closed at YYZ but I was only at int.)
YVR tb - open
YVR int - open
YUL int - open
MLLs in the time of COVID - re-openings, food, distancing, etc [READ WIKI FIRST]
May 25, 2020, 5:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: YOW, LHR, SIN
Programs: AC-SE, EK-G, GF-G
Posts: 674
MLLs in the time of COVID - re-openings, food, distancing, etc [READ WIKI FIRST]
Does anyone have any idea when MLL's may open up?
May 25, 2020, 7:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Aberdeenshire
Programs: BA Exec Silver, Aeroplan, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 1,127
No word yet, but I suspect not until July when frequencies increase. I suspect that not all MLLs will reopen at once, but gradually over time as frequencies increase. International MLLs first; minor domestic ones MLLs last.
Further, in order to maintain physical distancing, I suspect they will at first be limited to paid J only, then gradually to SE, etc.
Further, in order to maintain physical distancing, I suspect they will at first be limited to paid J only, then gradually to SE, etc.
May 25, 2020, 9:22 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
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No word yet, but I suspect not until July when frequencies increase. I suspect that not all MLLs will reopen at once, but gradually over time as frequencies increase. International MLLs first; minor domestic ones MLLs last.
Further, in order to maintain physical distancing, I suspect they will at first be limited to paid J only, then gradually to SE, etc.
Further, in order to maintain physical distancing, I suspect they will at first be limited to paid J only, then gradually to SE, etc.
May 25, 2020, 9:43 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
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I find it questionable that they'd open only to paid J first, but that aside, AC definitely doesn't agree with your statement as made evident by the SS entry policy.
May 26, 2020, 12:31 am
#5
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
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Posts: 2,026
No word yet, but I suspect not until July when frequencies increase. I suspect that not all MLLs will reopen at once, but gradually over time as frequencies increase. International MLLs first; minor domestic ones MLLs last.
Further, in order to maintain physical distancing, I suspect they will at first be limited to paid J only, then gradually to SE, etc.
Further, in order to maintain physical distancing, I suspect they will at first be limited to paid J only, then gradually to SE, etc.
The Saskatoon and Regina MLL may take quite some time before they open up again.
May 26, 2020, 11:25 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: YYT
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Posts: 1,715
Likewise for the MLL in YYT. I get a little sad whenever I pop out to the airport and look up through the MLL windows when I am planespotting to see that it is totally void of people.
May 26, 2020, 11:40 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: TK *G
Posts: 3,099
Not going to comment on whether paid J is more important than SE or not. That’s a “mine is bigger” type of argument. 
I doubt AC MLL will be crowded any time soon. And if it’s crowded, it probably indicates social distancing is not as important any more.
I doubt AC MLL will be crowded any time soon. And if it’s crowded, it probably indicates social distancing is not as important any more.
May 26, 2020, 1:27 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: ZRH
Programs: AC SE 100K
Posts: 926
I believe all lounges are closed through June 30. Any extension is TBD but I believe we could see some lounges stay closed for longer - especially international locations with almost no passengers.
The current COVID setup is planned to go through June 30 (including the seat spacing in Y). Beyond that, we will see.
The current COVID setup is planned to go through June 30 (including the seat spacing in Y). Beyond that, we will see.
May 26, 2020, 1:40 pm
#9
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I believe all lounges are closed through June 30. Any extension is TBD but I believe we could see some lounges stay closed for longer - especially international locations with almost no passengers.
The current COVID setup is planned to go through June 30 (including the seat spacing in Y). Beyond that, we will see.
The current COVID setup is planned to go through June 30 (including the seat spacing in Y). Beyond that, we will see.
Blocking middle seats is free for AC as long as demand in Y is under 2/3, whereas keeping lounges closed can hurt their revenue.
I'm certainly looking at some trips where a guarantee of ground and onboard service will heavily influence my choice of airline, and I'm not booking Y. My opinion is service will not go down from current levels, only up, so I view it unlikely that, for example, the one open SFO UC would close. Whereas I have no idea when AC will have a single lounge open in their hubs.
May 26, 2020, 3:03 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Aberdeenshire
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Of course what we do not know is how depressed demand will be, even when people can move about more freely, so this could be moot.
May 26, 2020, 3:21 pm
#11
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I guess if an airline was stuck in some kind of either/or calculation (that is, they thought they could reasonably accommodate only one of Rev J or SE/E), they might go for Rev J since not allowing them lounge access might seem unfair, while a Y passenger got access.
Of course what we do not know is how depressed demand will be, even when people can move about more freely, so this could be moot.
Of course what we do not know is how depressed demand will be, even when people can move about more freely, so this could be moot.
May 26, 2020, 5:23 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2017
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I think the question is what kind of rules they have with the CC providers?
Maybe not Regina, but generally I'd think there is enough room for paid J and organic status PAX (since everyone there is going to be in some metal petri tube soon enough) if they can keep out the CC lice.
Maybe not Regina, but generally I'd think there is enough room for paid J and organic status PAX (since everyone there is going to be in some metal petri tube soon enough) if they can keep out the CC lice.
May 26, 2020, 8:01 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Aberdeenshire
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Posts: 1,127
Ah, I forgot about guests and credit card holders. I wonder in normal circumstances what percentage of the total they constitute.
May 27, 2020, 7:11 am
#14
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I think the easiest and imo most likely thing for AC to do is open it up for everyone whom already has access covering any fights with changing rules, then cap it like all the grocery stores (at least around here in ON) are.
Once you hit n people, you aren’t getting in or have to wait for someone to leave. n will of course differ by location and lounge.
Once you hit n people, you aren’t getting in or have to wait for someone to leave. n will of course differ by location and lounge.
May 27, 2020, 11:01 am
#15
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I think the easiest and imo most likely thing for AC to do is open it up for everyone whom already has access covering any fights with changing rules, then cap it like all the grocery stores (at least around here in ON) are.
Once you hit n people, you aren’t getting in or have to wait for someone to leave. n will of course differ by location and lounge.
Once you hit n people, you aren’t getting in or have to wait for someone to leave. n will of course differ by location and lounge.
When a lounge is approaching the capacity, they stop allowing passes. I'm not sure if they stop anything else. But I've never been denied entry to full lounges, while people immediately ahead of or behind me have.
Whether or not it's fair, they do have some kind of internal priority for who is allowed in when they're full.