INTRO � PLEASE READ FIRST


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 locations as well as rules. This is a long wiki, with answers to most questions relating to AC lounge access. If you only see this paragraph (usually using FT in desktop mode), find and click on the "Show more" link which can be found at the very end of the last text you see in this wiki window.

Please note this thread is only for information about accessing lounges operated by Air Canada. If you have questions about accessing a lounge operated by a Star Alliance partner (United, Lufthansa, etc), please visit the forum for that airline (the Star Alliance lounge finder can be used to find lounges operated by *A partners). For locations where there is neither an AC nor *A partner lounge and AC contracts with 3rd party lounge providers (Aspire, airport authorities, etc), please visit this thread. Access to Emirates lounges at DXB is discussed in the EK partnership thread.

MODERATOR NOTE: questions about accessing lounges not operated by AC will be deleted.

Table of Contents

• Lounge Types
• Locations & Physical Access
• Access Rules
• Other Information

Lounge Types


AC has three types of lounges:

• Maple Leaf Lounges (�MLLs�): essentially, regular lounges
• Caf�: caf�-style lounge with limited access and grab-and-go
• Signature Suites: essentially, only for long-haul international business class passengers

Additionally, AC shares an arrivals lounge with UA at LHR for eligible customers.




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
• YVR Caf�: under construction as of mid-2025. Opening date uncertain
• YYC Transborder: AC provides access to the Aspire lounge for status and J pax (no passes/credit cards)
• YTZ Caf�: the Caf� at YTZ is an Aspire lounge (also 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

Closures:

• CDG: the terminal is currently under renovations and AC is operating from a different terminal; the MLL is not operating. See this thread for information on temporary arrangements for other lounges
• YHZ: closed until early 2027 for extensive renovations. No alternatives or compensation are provided
• YUL DOM: closed for renovations until late 2025 or early 2026. The Caf� is available, and as a temporary measure, AC is providing access to the Aspire/Amex lounge only for (a) business class passengers and (b) 50K, 75K, and SE

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 usually 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. YMMV on whether CATSA will allow access to the domestic area before a TB or international flight.

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


General Rules

Access to Maple Leaf Lounges, Air Canada Caf�s, and Signature Suites is limited to three hours prior to scheduled departure time. This policy does not apply during flight connections (no time limit for same-day connections) or flight delays (access is based on the original scheduled departure time).

While it is not published at the time of writing this, the internal policy now exempts SEs and most passengers with reported disabilities (e.g. WCHR) from the three-hour rule for Maple Leaf Lounges, but not the Signature Suite.

Minors (as generally defined by local law) are not permitted into MLLs, Signature Suites, or Caf�s without an adult who also has access to the same lounge.


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 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) - applies only when connecting to or from flights between Canada and DXB, at the YYZ and YUL MLLs (domestic/TB/international)
• 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. Some passes may require your flight to be operated by Air Canada)
  • 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
• Holders of Premium co-branded credit cards (one guest); no passes required, only for MLLs located within Canada and the US. No access to LHR, CDG, or FRA lounges (except holders of the Amex Air Canada card, who can access all MLLs). Premium credit cards are detailed in a separate section below
• Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers and authorized users (no guests); excludes all YUL MLLs
• For passengers flying on Discover Airlines (4Y, formerly known as Eurowings Discover, a Lufthansa subsidiary that is not a *A member), the YHZ MLL can be accessed by the following:
  • Business class
  • Aeroplan 50K and up (spouse/partner, dependent children, and one guest)
  • Lufthansa HON Circle and Senator members (one guest)
  • United MileagePlus Gold/Platinum/1K/GS (one guest)
  • Only if travelling on an Air Canada codeshare of the 4Y flight, ticketed by Air Canada holders of Premium co-branded credit card (+1 guest); note that the codeshare requirement means Aeroplan tickets are not eligible

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 (limited exceptions noted below). If you are on a direct flight with a domestic stop, you do not have access before that first departure.

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)
• Lufthansa and SWISS First Class, or HON Circle in any class on an AC/LH/LX flight (one guest in either case)
• Holders of the Amex Air Canada card (see Premium Co-Branded Credit Cards below) can access the Suites, with one guest, regardless of their fare

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 an Air Canada 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.

Caf�s

Can be accessed by those with a departing domestic boarding pass (no arrivals benefit for the Caf�) 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
  • Premium rouge
  • Note re YTZ Caf�: there is no J service from YTZ, but a boarding pass for the subsequent flight enables access
• Holders of Premium co-branded credit cards; no passes required. Premium credit cards are detailed in a separate section below
• Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers and authorized users (no guests)
• Passes:
  • Domestic/U.S. MLL guest passes (e.g. provided to status members) qualify as of January 1, 2024

Passengers arriving on a domestic flight with a connection to a US or international destination, although you can physically access the Caf�, you will not be admitted. SEs are exempt from this requirement and can be departing on any AC flight.




Other Information


Premium Co-Branded Credit Cards

The following AC/Aeroplan co-branded cards are considered Premium credit cards. This includes both personal and business versions of any of these cards.

• Amex Air Canada (invitation-only; technically Super Premium in AC�s internal hierarchy)
• Amex Aeroplan Reserve
• TD Visa Infinite Privilege
• CIBC Visa Infinite Privilege

LHR Arrivals Lounge

AC shares an arrivals lounge with UA at LHR, accessible to the following customers on AC-operated flights upon exiting the baggage hall in Terminal 2:

• Business class (including upgrades)
• Aeroplan Super Elite (one guest)