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)
#991
#993
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 50K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,552
This is the map of the old Terminal A. This no longer exists. The new Termnal A that just opened (way, way nicer btw) will have a new United Club and a co-located MLL. The last time I was there in May, this lounge was not yet open.
#994
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 1
Hi there - flying YYZ-HKG soon via YVR. A couple of questions:
1. Flying J, is there access to the Signature Suite in YYZ, or only YVR? (Given that the first leg is domestic, I have been unable to find a clear answer on this...)
2. I understand that AC uses the Silver Kris lounge at HKG, but it is currently closed. Any idea what is in place temporarily?
3. Is there an arrival lounge in HKG?
Thanks!
1. Flying J, is there access to the Signature Suite in YYZ, or only YVR? (Given that the first leg is domestic, I have been unable to find a clear answer on this...)
2. I understand that AC uses the Silver Kris lounge at HKG, but it is currently closed. Any idea what is in place temporarily?
3. Is there an arrival lounge in HKG?
Thanks!
#995
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 183
Hi there - flying YYZ-HKG soon via YVR. A couple of questions:
1. Flying J, is there access to the Signature Suite in YYZ, or only YVR? (Given that the first leg is domestic, I have been unable to find a clear answer on this...)
2. I understand that AC uses the Silver Kris lounge at HKG, but it is currently closed. Any idea what is in place temporarily?
3. Is there an arrival lounge in HKG?
Thanks!
1. Flying J, is there access to the Signature Suite in YYZ, or only YVR? (Given that the first leg is domestic, I have been unable to find a clear answer on this...)
2. I understand that AC uses the Silver Kris lounge at HKG, but it is currently closed. Any idea what is in place temporarily?
3. Is there an arrival lounge in HKG?
Thanks!
#996
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
Hi there - flying YYZ-HKG soon via YVR. A couple of questions:
1. Flying J, is there access to the Signature Suite in YYZ, or only YVR? (Given that the first leg is domestic, I have been unable to find a clear answer on this...)
2. I understand that AC uses the Silver Kris lounge at HKG, but it is currently closed. Any idea what is in place temporarily?
3. Is there an arrival lounge in HKG?
Thanks!
1. Flying J, is there access to the Signature Suite in YYZ, or only YVR? (Given that the first leg is domestic, I have been unable to find a clear answer on this...)
2. I understand that AC uses the Silver Kris lounge at HKG, but it is currently closed. Any idea what is in place temporarily?
3. Is there an arrival lounge in HKG?
Thanks!
Points redemption into Business Lowest? No access.
Cash Economy Class ticket + eUpgrade? No access.
Cash Economy Class ticket + Bid Upgrade? No access.
Cash Economy Class ticket + Last Minute Upgrade? No access.
Source:
Air Canada Signature Class customers travelling on a non-stop 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.
#997
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: 35,432
#998
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SEMM / HH Diamond
Posts: 3,173
The wiki at the top of this very thread contains all of our collective understanding and the very latest details. Make sure you expand the wiki if you don't see much (it's long, and by default it's collapsed for desktop browsers)
#999
Join Date: May 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PLT, Marriott LTP
Posts: 493
Hi
New to AC. I read the wiki and several posts but wanted to confirm lounge access.
I'm on a paid Business Class ticket (flexible) BOS-YYZ-YYT, return.
I have a 4 hour layover outbound and 3 hour on the return so plenty of time to spend in the lounges.
On the outbound, I will only have access to the Domestic MLL in Terminal 1 which will be after I pass through customs. Follow signs for domestic connections I guess.
On the return, since I'll be coming from a domestic location, I could use the again the same Domestic MLL, then go thru US customs/security and be able to use the transborder MLL?
Do I have this correct? Which lounge is 'better' the Dom MLL or the TB MLL?
Looking the map on AC site, they seem to be close to each other on level 4 terminal 1.
Thanks is advance.
New to AC. I read the wiki and several posts but wanted to confirm lounge access.
I'm on a paid Business Class ticket (flexible) BOS-YYZ-YYT, return.
I have a 4 hour layover outbound and 3 hour on the return so plenty of time to spend in the lounges.
On the outbound, I will only have access to the Domestic MLL in Terminal 1 which will be after I pass through customs. Follow signs for domestic connections I guess.
On the return, since I'll be coming from a domestic location, I could use the again the same Domestic MLL, then go thru US customs/security and be able to use the transborder MLL?
Do I have this correct? Which lounge is 'better' the Dom MLL or the TB MLL?
Looking the map on AC site, they seem to be close to each other on level 4 terminal 1.
Thanks is advance.
#1000
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM
Posts: 16,655
On the outbound, I will only have access to the Domestic MLL in Terminal 1 which will be after I pass through customs. Follow signs for domestic connections I guess.
On the return, since I'll be coming from a domestic location, I could use the again the same Domestic MLL, then go thru US customs/security and be able to use the transborder MLL?
Do I have this correct? Which lounge is 'better' the Dom MLL or the TB MLL?
Looking the map on AC site, they seem to be close to each other on level 4 terminal 1.
Thanks is advance.
On the return, since I'll be coming from a domestic location, I could use the again the same Domestic MLL, then go thru US customs/security and be able to use the transborder MLL?
Do I have this correct? Which lounge is 'better' the Dom MLL or the TB MLL?
Looking the map on AC site, they seem to be close to each other on level 4 terminal 1.
Thanks is advance.
Return - you can access the MLL at YYT then both lounges in YYZ. Just keep in mind that you need to give yourself time to clear US customs at YYZ when you go from domestic to the TB part of the terminal. The Domestic lounge is bigger and maybe a tiny bit nicer but both are "fine".
#1001
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 183
Hi
New to AC. I read the wiki and several posts but wanted to confirm lounge access.
I'm on a paid Business Class ticket (flexible) BOS-YYZ-YYT, return.
I have a 4 hour layover outbound and 3 hour on the return so plenty of time to spend in the lounges.
On the outbound, I will only have access to the Domestic MLL in Terminal 1 which will be after I pass through customs. Follow signs for domestic connections I guess.
On the return, since I'll be coming from a domestic location, I could use the again the same Domestic MLL, then go thru US customs/security and be able to use the transborder MLL?
Do I have this correct? Which lounge is 'better' the Dom MLL or the TB MLL?
Looking the map on AC site, they seem to be close to each other on level 4 terminal 1.
Thanks is advance.
New to AC. I read the wiki and several posts but wanted to confirm lounge access.
I'm on a paid Business Class ticket (flexible) BOS-YYZ-YYT, return.
I have a 4 hour layover outbound and 3 hour on the return so plenty of time to spend in the lounges.
On the outbound, I will only have access to the Domestic MLL in Terminal 1 which will be after I pass through customs. Follow signs for domestic connections I guess.
On the return, since I'll be coming from a domestic location, I could use the again the same Domestic MLL, then go thru US customs/security and be able to use the transborder MLL?
Do I have this correct? Which lounge is 'better' the Dom MLL or the TB MLL?
Looking the map on AC site, they seem to be close to each other on level 4 terminal 1.
Thanks is advance.
#1004
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: YUL
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 138
#1005
Join Date: Oct 2022
Programs: Aeroplan SE; Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 1,553
Outbound - correct. You could access the United Club in BOS but IIRC it is in a different part of the terminal.
Return - you can access the MLL at YYT then both lounges in YYZ. Just keep in mind that you need to give yourself time to clear US customs at YYZ when you go from domestic to the TB part of the terminal. The Domestic lounge is bigger and maybe a tiny bit nicer but both are "fine".
Return - you can access the MLL at YYT then both lounges in YYZ. Just keep in mind that you need to give yourself time to clear US customs at YYZ when you go from domestic to the TB part of the terminal. The Domestic lounge is bigger and maybe a tiny bit nicer but both are "fine".