Last edit by: Bohemian1
This wiki will attempt to cover the ability to access various lounges operated by AC. Since many travellers are not familiar with the layout of Canadian airports, we will detail both physical access as well as rules.
Overview of lounges
AC has three types of lounges:
Locations & Physical Access
Lounges are in the following locations:
Notes:
Note that most of the Canadian airports used by AC have separate areas for domestic, transborder ("TB", i.e. to the US), and international flights. MLLs are often referred to based on which area of the terminal they’re in, e.g. “YYZ Dom” is the domestic lounge in YYZ, YUL Intl is the international lounge at YUL. Except when connecting from a domestic flight to a TB/international one, you can only use a lounge in the area from which your flight departs. For instance, a passenger flying from YYZ to LGA cannot use the YYZ Dom MLL as CATSA will not allow them to access the domestic wing; a passenger flying YXE-YYZ-LGA could use the YYZ Dom MLL as they will already be in the domestic area on arrival.
YYZ, YVR, and YUL have segregated international departures areas. The international MLLs cannot be accessed before domestic flights. In other locations, a "domestic" MLL can also be accessed before international flights.
Please note that while the US is a separate country, it is NOT an "international" destination in the way most Canadian airports and AC are set up. You can NEVER access the international lounges when departing on a flight to the US. (Passengers connecting in YVR between a domestic and US flight and following the connections path will enter the international departures area prior to the US area and although can physically access the international MLL, you will not be admitted and will be directed to the US area).
Lounges in transborder areas are after US customs pre-clearance, and can only be accessed by customers travelling to the US.
Access Rules
NEW Effective June 13, 2023
Access to Maple Leaf Lounges, Air Canada Cafés, and Signature Suites will be limited to three hours prior to scheduled departure time. Please note that this policy does not apply during flight connections or flight delays.
While it is not published at the time of writing this, the internal policy now exempts SEs and most passengers with reported disabilities (eg WCHR) from the three hour rule for Maple Leaf Lounges, but not the Signature Suite.
MLLs
Can be accessed for customers holding a SAME DAY DEPARTING boarding pass (for a flight operated by AC or another *A member) based on:
Domestic MLLs in Canada, and MLLs in the USA, can also be accessed by those ARRIVING on an Air Canada mainline, rouge or Express flight, for those holding 50K status and higher.
Signature Suites
Signature Suites require both (a) an eligible fare and (b) an eligible destination. Your flight must be a flight operated by Air Canada that is departing internationally from Toronto or Vancouver. It doesn’t matter whether you bought the ticket through AC or if you’re on an AC codeshare, or if your itinerary has other international connections. Unless your flight is operated by Air Canada, and is advertised as Signature Class, and is departing internationally from Toronto or Vancouver, you’re not eligible. The only exception is Emirates First Class - see below.
Eligible fares:
Eligible destinations:
NOT accessible to:
Cafés
Can be accessed by those with a departing domestic boarding pass (no arrivals benefit for the Café) based on:
While it is not published, the internal policy exempts SEs from that requirement, so you should be admitted.
LHR Arrivals Lounge
AC shares an arrivals lounge with UA at LHR, accessible to the following customers upon exiting the baggage hall in Terminal 2:
Overview of lounges
AC has three types of lounges:
- Maple Leaf Lounges (“MLLs”): essentially, regular lounges
- Café: café-style lounge with limited access and grab-and-go
- Signature Suites: essentially, only for long-haul international business class passengers
Locations & Physical Access
Lounges are in the following locations:
Notes:
- YYZ Transborder: there are 2 MLLs, a full MLL right after US CBP and a second, small MLL near the regional gates
- YYC Transborder: AC provides access to the Aspire lounge for status and J pax (no passes/credit cards)
- YTZ Café: the Café at YTZ is an Aspire lounge (accessible via Priority Pass and other programs) co-branded by AC
- EWR: the “MLL” is a co-branding of the United lounge in Terminal A; access rules are not entirely clear
Note that most of the Canadian airports used by AC have separate areas for domestic, transborder ("TB", i.e. to the US), and international flights. MLLs are often referred to based on which area of the terminal they’re in, e.g. “YYZ Dom” is the domestic lounge in YYZ, YUL Intl is the international lounge at YUL. Except when connecting from a domestic flight to a TB/international one, you can only use a lounge in the area from which your flight departs. For instance, a passenger flying from YYZ to LGA cannot use the YYZ Dom MLL as CATSA will not allow them to access the domestic wing; a passenger flying YXE-YYZ-LGA could use the YYZ Dom MLL as they will already be in the domestic area on arrival.
YYZ, YVR, and YUL have segregated international departures areas. The international MLLs cannot be accessed before domestic flights. In other locations, a "domestic" MLL can also be accessed before international flights.
Please note that while the US is a separate country, it is NOT an "international" destination in the way most Canadian airports and AC are set up. You can NEVER access the international lounges when departing on a flight to the US. (Passengers connecting in YVR between a domestic and US flight and following the connections path will enter the international departures area prior to the US area and although can physically access the international MLL, you will not be admitted and will be directed to the US area).
Lounges in transborder areas are after US customs pre-clearance, and can only be accessed by customers travelling to the US.
Access Rules
NEW Effective June 13, 2023
Access to Maple Leaf Lounges, Air Canada Cafés, and Signature Suites will be limited to three hours prior to scheduled departure time. Please note that this policy does not apply during flight connections or flight delays.
While it is not published at the time of writing this, the internal policy now exempts SEs and most passengers with reported disabilities (eg WCHR) from the three hour rule for Maple Leaf Lounges, but not the Signature Suite.
MLLs
Can be accessed for customers holding a SAME DAY DEPARTING boarding pass (for a flight operated by AC or another *A member) based on:
- Status
- Aeroplan 35K (domestic and transborder only; no guests; until June 1 2023 - no access on or after)
- Aeroplan 50K and up (spouse/partner, dependent children, and one guest)
- Star Alliance Gold (one guest)
- VA Velocity Platinum or Gold (one guest)
- Emirates SkyWards Platinum or Gold (one guest)
- Class of service:
- Business class (on AC or another *A carrier)
- Premium rouge
- Passes(passes may only be valid for certain locations, e.g. domestic/TB - Assume your pass is not valid for any International lounge)
- Given out to those with AC status
- Given out to certain credit card holders
- Purchased directly from AC as an add-on to the flight, either in advance or at the lounge
- Credit cards (no passes required, only for MLLs located within Canada and the US. No access to LHR, CDG, or FRA lounges):
- TD VIP (one guest through 31 December 2023)
- CIBC VIP (one guest through 31 December 2023)
- Amex Aeroplan Reserve cards
Domestic MLLs in Canada, and MLLs in the USA, can also be accessed by those ARRIVING on an Air Canada mainline, rouge or Express flight, for those holding 50K status and higher.
Signature Suites
Signature Suites require both (a) an eligible fare and (b) an eligible destination. Your flight must be a flight operated by Air Canada that is departing internationally from Toronto or Vancouver. It doesn’t matter whether you bought the ticket through AC or if you’re on an AC codeshare, or if your itinerary has other international connections. Unless your flight is operated by Air Canada, and is advertised as Signature Class, and is departing internationally from Toronto or Vancouver, you’re not eligible. The only exception is Emirates First Class - see below.
Eligible fares:
- Paid business class (originally booked in J, C, D, Z, or P classes)
- Business Class (Flexible) Aeroplan tickets - note that only Air Canada can ticket Flexible reward tickets; the website may incorrectly display a partner reward as Flexible
- First Class (Flexible) Aeroplan tickets when travelling on an Air Canada segment in Business Class
- Emirates First Class (one guest)
Eligible destinations:
- South America (Colombia and south)
- Europe
- Asia
- Australia and New Zealand
NOT accessible to:
- Passengers in business class on any type of upgrades (eUpgrades, Last-Minute Upgrades, bid upgrades, Star Alliance Upgrade Awards)
- Anyone booked in Business Class (Lowest) reward tickets
- Anyone booked on a reward ticket through a partner airline, e.g. United MileagePlus, Miles & More, etc
- Passengers flying internationally with Air Canada, but who are not departing on an international Air Canada flight from Toronto or Vancouver. Example, if you are arriving on an international flight, but connecting to a US or domestic flight - you will NOT have access to the suite.
Cafés
Can be accessed by those with a departing domestic boarding pass (no arrivals benefit for the Café) based on:
- Status
- Aeroplan 50K and up (spouse/partner, dependent children, and one guest)
- Star Alliance Gold (one guest)
- Emirates SkyWards Platinum or Gold (one guest)
- Class of service:
- Business class (there is no business class service from YTZ, but a business class boarding pass for the subsequent flight enables access)
- Premium rouge
- Credit cards:
- TD VIP (one guest through 31 December 2023)
- CIBC VIP (one guest through 31 December 2023)
- Amex Aeroplan Reserve cards
While it is not published, the internal policy exempts SEs from that requirement, so you should be admitted.
LHR Arrivals Lounge
AC shares an arrivals lounge with UA at LHR, accessible to the following customers upon exiting the baggage hall in Terminal 2:
- Business Class (Including upgrades to J)
- Aeroplan Super Elite (one guest) when arriving on an Air Canada flight.
AC Lounge Access - physical locations and rules (2022 onwards)
#166
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: All Accor Plat, 1865 Voyager, AE E35K, HH Gold,Hyatt, Hrtz Gold, Marriott Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 1,670
#167
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: A3*G, FB plat, BA silver, Hilton diamond, IHG diamond
Posts: 36
Signature lounge in YYZ and Which lounge in SFO
Flying on paid business class ticket DUB-YYZ-SFO with both SFO sectors in Signature class on A330. Have a 4 hour layover in YYZ so would I be able to access SS before the SFO flights. Secondly which lounge would I have access to as star gold travelling in signature class in SFO. Many thanks.
#168
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SEMM / HH Diamond
Posts: 3,161
Flying on paid business class ticket DUB-YYZ-SFO with both SFO sectors in Signature class on A330. Have a 4 hour layover in YYZ so would I be able to access SS before the SFO flights. Secondly which lounge would I have access to as star gold travelling in signature class in SFO. Many thanks.
You will only have access to the trans-border MLL, which is upstairs after you have cleared US immigration.
#169
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SEMM / HH Diamond
Posts: 3,161
No, you will not have access to the signature suite. You're leaving YYZ to go to the states, which is considered "trans-border", not international - so you will not even be in the same part of the airport as the SS.
You will only have access to the trans-border MLL, which is upstairs after you have cleared US immigration.
You will only have access to the trans-border MLL, which is upstairs after you have cleared US immigration.
#170
Join Date: Jul 2021
Programs: AP AS BA
Posts: 364
At the risk of drifting off topic, I can confirm the YYZ T1 domestic premium plaza lounge (post security) re-opened last week.
#171
Join Date: Jul 2021
Programs: AP AS BA
Posts: 364
YYZ T1 arrival access
Last week, my arrival into YYZ T1 was a bit late and missed my GO bus. Thought I'd try my luck going into the MLL. Surprisingly, my BP allowed me in.
I was on a YYT-YUL-YYZ Flex fare as a 25K and a TD VIP holder.
I was on a YYT-YUL-YYZ Flex fare as a 25K and a TD VIP holder.
#172
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: 44,324
We were just denied entry to the Cafe with YYZ-SFO BPs.
Reading the website:
This is now being enforced.
Reading the website:
The new café is reserved exclusively for those departing on a domestic confirmed Air Canada flight
#173
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SEMM / HH Diamond
Posts: 3,161
#174
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,416
The language AC provided regarding access is not at all clear:
"The new café is reserved exclusively for those departing on a domestic confirmed Air Canada flight flying in Business Class or Premium Rouge, Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K, 50K, and Star Alliance® Gold members, and select Aeroplan Credit Cardholders."
Thanks to the vagaries of the English language and the non-specific way it is written, that can be read to mean that if you've got status on AC or are a *G or even have the right credit card you can gain access n matter what flight you are on.
"The new café is reserved exclusively for those departing on a domestic confirmed Air Canada flight flying in Business Class or Premium Rouge, Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K, 50K, and Star Alliance® Gold members, and select Aeroplan Credit Cardholders."
Thanks to the vagaries of the English language and the non-specific way it is written, that can be read to mean that if you've got status on AC or are a *G or even have the right credit card you can gain access n matter what flight you are on.
#175
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,568
The language AC provided regarding access is not at all clear:
"The new café is reserved exclusively for those departing on a domestic confirmed Air Canada flight flying in Business Class or Premium Rouge, Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K, 50K, and Star Alliance® Gold members, and select Aeroplan Credit Cardholders."
Thanks to the vagaries of the English language and the non-specific way it is written, that can be read to mean that if you've got status on AC or are a *G or even have the right credit card you can gain access n matter what flight you are on.
"The new café is reserved exclusively for those departing on a domestic confirmed Air Canada flight flying in Business Class or Premium Rouge, Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K, 50K, and Star Alliance® Gold members, and select Aeroplan Credit Cardholders."
Thanks to the vagaries of the English language and the non-specific way it is written, that can be read to mean that if you've got status on AC or are a *G or even have the right credit card you can gain access n matter what flight you are on.
#177
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
I tend to agree with Xyzzy here:
"The new café is reserved exclusively for (those departing on a domestic confirmed Air Canada flight flying in Business Class or Premium Rouge), (Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K, 50K, and Star Alliance® Gold members), and (select Aeroplan Credit Cardholders.)"
The domestic requirement can be read as applying to AC flights in J or Premium Rouge only.
"The new café is reserved exclusively for (those departing on a domestic confirmed Air Canada flight flying in Business Class or Premium Rouge), (Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K, 50K, and Star Alliance® Gold members), and (select Aeroplan Credit Cardholders.)"
The domestic requirement can be read as applying to AC flights in J or Premium Rouge only.
#178
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,568
I tend to agree with Xyzzy here:
"The new café is reserved exclusively for (those departing on a domestic confirmed Air Canada flight flying in Business Class or Premium Rouge), (Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K, 50K, and Star Alliance® Gold members), and (select Aeroplan Credit Cardholders.)"
The domestic requirement can be read as applying to AC flights in J or Premium Rouge only.
"The new café is reserved exclusively for (those departing on a domestic confirmed Air Canada flight flying in Business Class or Premium Rouge), (Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K, 50K, and Star Alliance® Gold members), and (select Aeroplan Credit Cardholders.)"
The domestic requirement can be read as applying to AC flights in J or Premium Rouge only.
English (should) uses semicolons.... but the obviously related lists are obviously related and "domestic" is separated from the lists with "in", it's obviously different from the the separate clauses:
Domestic in [so: and] (one of a cabin) or (one of a status) or (CC).
#179
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
"The new café is reserved exclusively for those departing on a domestic confirmed Air Canada flight. Access is limited to passengers flying in Business Class or Premium Rouge, Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K, 50K, and Star Alliance® Gold members, and select Aeroplan Credit Cardholders."
#180
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,568
I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Anyway. This is hardly the first time AC has failed to put published and pseudo legalese out without passing it through someone with a BA, JD, and/or is a mischievous and creative FTer to pickup on the obvious and easily fixable ambiguity.
Anyway. This is hardly the first time AC has failed to put published and pseudo legalese out without passing it through someone with a BA, JD, and/or is a mischievous and creative FTer to pickup on the obvious and easily fixable ambiguity.