New AC lounges for Toronto, San Francisco, Montreal, Vancouver (M. Nasr interview)
May 28, 2023, 3:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,945
New AC lounges for Toronto, San Francisco, Montreal, Vancouver (M. Nasr interview)
Just sharing some details on AC's lounge roadmap, as detailed by AC's Mark Nasr in an interview late last week.
There are a few key takeouts here:
[Quick disclosure: I'm the editor-in-chief at Executive Traveller, this info came from an interview with Mark Nasr during his quick trip to Sydney, and I'm happy to reply to questions or share anything else that comes up from this]
There are a few key takeouts here:
- a refresh on the way for key domestic and international Maple Leaf Lounges in line with that new 'warmer' Air Canada brand language
- a 'new model' / 'new concept' lounge at Toronto to open in northern summer 2023 (expect an official announcement in the coming weeks) with seating for 133 travellers, a hot and cold buffet, bar and ‘grab & go’ facility
- opening of the San Francisco Maple Leaf Lounge will be in second half of June
- Montreal to get an Air Canada Cafe in 2024
- Vancouver to get an Air Canada Cafe in 2025, which will also see an "evolution" of the original concept with a more modern 'cafe / co-working' vibe
[Quick disclosure: I'm the editor-in-chief at Executive Traveller, this info came from an interview with Mark Nasr during his quick trip to Sydney, and I'm happy to reply to questions or share anything else that comes up from this]
Last edited by djsflynn; May 28, 2023 at 4:13 am
May 28, 2023, 7:43 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM
Posts: 16,840
Pure speculation but I wonder if the "twist" for the new 133 person AC lounge at YYZ domestic will be that it's either a domestic Signature Suite open only to J passengers OR perhaps an SE lounge.
It's not entirely true that SFO will be AC's first lounge on the US west coast - they had operated a lounge at LAX for many years before migrating to the Star Alliance lounge. Did Mark Nasr indicate what they will do about UA Star Golds who don't get entry into UA's Clubs for domestic flights wandering over to the SFO MLL? Maybe that's why it has capacity for 120 people, although that could get quickly overwhelmed.
It's not entirely true that SFO will be AC's first lounge on the US west coast - they had operated a lounge at LAX for many years before migrating to the Star Alliance lounge. Did Mark Nasr indicate what they will do about UA Star Golds who don't get entry into UA's Clubs for domestic flights wandering over to the SFO MLL? Maybe that's why it has capacity for 120 people, although that could get quickly overwhelmed.
May 28, 2023, 8:18 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,879
Good news.
I don't think the lounge size increase ("average of 30%") is enough but when coupled with a Cafe in YUL / YVR (whose domestic lounges are both overcrowded disasters right now) maybe this will be enough to make the domestic lounge situation reasonable again.
I don't think the lounge size increase ("average of 30%") is enough but when coupled with a Cafe in YUL / YVR (whose domestic lounges are both overcrowded disasters right now) maybe this will be enough to make the domestic lounge situation reasonable again.
May 28, 2023, 8:50 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,945
Did Mark Nasr indicate what they will do about UA Star Golds who don't get entry into UA's Clubs for domestic flights wandering over to the SFO MLL? Maybe that's why it has capacity for 120 people, although that could get quickly overwhelmed.
May 28, 2023, 8:51 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: SE 100K
Posts: 959
Good news.
I don't think the lounge size increase ("average of 30%") is enough but when coupled with a Cafe in YUL / YVR (whose domestic lounges are both overcrowded disasters right now) maybe this will be enough to make the domestic lounge situation reasonable again.
I don't think the lounge size increase ("average of 30%") is enough but when coupled with a Cafe in YUL / YVR (whose domestic lounges are both overcrowded disasters right now) maybe this will be enough to make the domestic lounge situation reasonable again.
Or maybe (unfortunately) just offset by all the credit card access...
Regardless looking forward to expanded offerings across the network + especially in YVR.
May 28, 2023, 8:53 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: AC*SE
Posts: 1,967
Thanks, that's interesting.
No love for poor little YEG! I hope this means more power plugs, but I'd settle for the Cafe-style to go coffee cups in YYC/YVR (or everywhere) (YYC because at least they make decent cafe style drinks so it would make sense).
I wonder if the YVR refresh can help handle things like the airflow because that Dom/TB lounges get just so hot with the windows it's uncomfortably muggy in there.
The scale is entirely different but the food/drink variety of WS' YYC Lounge is really something. Perhaps this will be more competitive with that style of lounge (obviously one or two is different than a domestic network of them).
No love for poor little YEG! I hope this means more power plugs, but I'd settle for the Cafe-style to go coffee cups in YYC/YVR (or everywhere) (YYC because at least they make decent cafe style drinks so it would make sense).
I wonder if the YVR refresh can help handle things like the airflow because that Dom/TB lounges get just so hot with the windows it's uncomfortably muggy in there.
The scale is entirely different but the food/drink variety of WS' YYC Lounge is really something. Perhaps this will be more competitive with that style of lounge (obviously one or two is different than a domestic network of them).
May 28, 2023, 9:56 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Toronto, ON, CANADA
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Bonvoy LTE
Posts: 1,888
May 28, 2023, 10:13 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, FB Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,665
The overcrowding in the domestic lounges continues to be a massive issue. It has been a bit better for SE's with the SE/paid J line up. Being mostly on the west coast, YVR's domestic lounge could easily be twice the size. Additional lounge facilities at YVR not coming till 2025 seems a poor decision. And agree that YEG needs a refresh but it's pretty clear that AC is focused on its three hubs as well as eastern Canada and is leaving Alberta to WS.
May 28, 2023, 10:22 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: AC*SE
Posts: 1,967
The overcrowding in the domestic lounges continues to be a massive issue. It has been a bit better for SE's with the SE/paid J line up. Being mostly on the west coast, YVR's domestic lounge could easily be twice the size. Additional lounge facilities at YVR not coming till 2025 seems a poor decision. And agree that YEG needs a refresh but it's pretty clear that AC is focused on its three hubs as well as eastern Canada and is leaving Alberta to WS.
I haven't bothered with YYZ main lounge in ages for the same reason (fullness), but it's also a pain to go up to vs finding out YVR is crammed.
May 28, 2023, 10:25 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: YVR/YYZ
Programs: AC50K, *A Gold, Marriott Titanium (LGE), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 390
Pure shot in the dark - but any reason why AC woudn't open a presecurity lounge that would benefit Dom/Intl (perhaps US pax albeit a little farther away). Would help with destination requirements, but keep it tight - perhaps SE only.
May 28, 2023, 10:34 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,615
I can't imagine why? It's not like you don't need to clear some kind of security for !DOM destinations.
May 28, 2023, 10:57 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NYC, Wash DC
Programs: BA Gold, UA Plat (1mm),Marriott LT Plat, Avis PC, National Exec Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 397
I took my first and last flights on AC yesterday. YVR-YUL-IAD. Whole experience from beginning to end was sub par. Lounges useless. Agents useless.
May 28, 2023, 11:07 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,535
Good news.
I don't think the lounge size increase ("average of 30%") is enough but when coupled with a Cafe in YUL / YVR (whose domestic lounges are both overcrowded disasters right now) maybe this will be enough to make the domestic lounge situation reasonable again.
I don't think the lounge size increase ("average of 30%") is enough but when coupled with a Cafe in YUL / YVR (whose domestic lounges are both overcrowded disasters right now) maybe this will be enough to make the domestic lounge situation reasonable again.