CP: lounge changes
 

The latest newsletter (it might be the in-between Gold+Platinum) one says there are lounge changes coming.

I finally had a chance to spend some time in the YYZ lounge on Saturday, and it's nice although I like YVR's layout better. I did pick up an 11x17 brochure on the lounge. Here are the highlights, I'll only dwell on what seems new to me:

This is regarding the new Vancouver and renovated Toronto lounges.
--Business Centre with computers and printers, Internet access, photocopiers and fax machine, free local calls, pay phone for long distance, free modem lines (interestingly, in Toronto I saw only one computer in the "Business Centre", although there were also a bunch upstairs).
--massage chairs
--putting machine (YVR only)
--DMX music listening stations
--"cyber stations" (the upstairs computers)
--National Trivia Network

also, things I'm not sure I've seen yet:

New Beverage Service:
With the introduction of new wines and scotch, selections from the bar are more refined than ever. For starters, Cellar Secret wines featured in our Business Class will be servewd, allowing you an opportunity to sample exciting 'boutique' wines exclusive to Canadian Airlines. Single malt scotch will also be available, including a featured malt every two months. Coffee lovers are in for a treat, too. Choose your own favourite regular or decaf Starbucks coffee, or enjoy a cappuccino, espresso or latte from the fully automated cappuccino/espresso machine.
[actually I _did_ see the Black Opal wine we had YVR-YYZ, in the lounge]

New Food Service
Food service has been expanded during peak hours. For breakfast, choose from fresh items like muffins, bagels, seasonal fresh fruit, juices and yogurt. Lunchtime fare varies to include gourmet sandwiches, appetizers, cheese selections and fresh vegetables. And in the evening, you'll find hot appetizers and more.
[I've seen bagels etc. in YOW in the morning, but only packaged cheese and melba toast at lunch in YVR, and not even that at 7:30pm in YYZ]

andrew


[This message has been edited by Andrew Webber (edited 11-18-1999).]

Thanks for the info AW, I hope the food/snack improvements come fairly soon because I have noticed a real reduction at the YVR domestic lounge. Since it opened last year, the afternoon snacks have gone from small gourment sandwiches to the single cheddar cheese servings with crackers. I have no complaints about the beverage offerings but a varied selection of wines would be a nice improvement. I have found most of CP's lounges are superior to AC's except in YYC's North Lounge (D wing) - that one needs to be gutted. Anyone have some further comments?

Gut the north Terminal lounge in Calgary, are you crazy?! While it doesn't hold up against most in the system, it is an awful lot better than the Empress Lounge in the main south Terminal. There is nothing like those Panasonic massage chairs...

Calgary is the weak link in Canadian's lounge system, rather odd considering it is their home base/corporate HQ. AC's new Maple Leaf lounge in the main south Terminal puts Canadian's in both terminals to shame. Some day Toronto's domestic lounge will get that door they keep promising, but it will never be as awsome as the one on Vancouver's domestic Empress Club.

And don't forget the draft beer machines that are now a fixture of both airlines up here, serving local micros... along with their bottled versions for those times when the lines get too much CO2 in them!

Having just sampled a few Continental and Northwest Lounges across their system, few meet the standards our two airlines have set for themselves: not to mention the free booze...

Sorry about that, Sharholder.

I have never used the Main Terminal lounge as it used only for YYC-YYZ and YYZ-YUL flyers as far as I know. Those of us flying YYC-YWG, YEG, YOW have been used to cramming in the North Terminal lounge which can be quite the scene. BTW, has anyone used the new CP Transborder lounge? I am assuming this is the old Delta Crown Room Club? Was it at least renovated?

Well, first time I am here in the YOW lounge and it seems very nice. I am flying YYZ-YOW-YVR today, but I think nothing compares to YVR lounge, that lounge has good view and it's huge.

Regards,
Empress

Sorry I missed you Empress (I was on the 10:00 flight to Toronto).

I've been in YYZ lounge since 6:00pm and no sign of real food. There's one of those covered dishes you see at buffets but as always it's empty. There must have been some cheese packages brought out since I saw someone with those, but now there are just a few crackers.

andrew