Based on feedback from the community over the past couple of years, we have a thread that lists AC lounge locations and access rules, separate from the threads on experiences in the lounges themselves (MLL / SS / Café).

Several FTers have recently noted that it's unclear where information on opening hours for the lounges and discussion of line-ups / wait times belongs.

I'm not really sure there's a right or wrong place between the two types of thread we have, and would like to hear from the community. I think there are probably three options, broadly:

1. Discussion goes in the access thread
2. Discussion goes in the experiences threads
3. A new thread gets created

I think opening hours and lines as separate topics, so the answer could differ between one and the other, e.g. maybe opening hours go in the access thread while wait times go in the experiences threads. But I'm open to input if people see these two subjects as inherently linked.

As always, feedback is welcome and valuable regardless of post count. I would say I'd be particularly interested in opinions from those who regularly use the threads to find out or post about these particular issues to understand what seems most logical, but whether you have 10 posts or 10,000 isn't important.

I'm sure that we won't reach a unanimity on this point, but when there's no clear answer, I do appreciate trying to find out what the group is thinking as opposed to making a unilateral decision or just going off what a handful of people have said privately. As usual, I'll try to keep most of my opinions to myself for a bit to let the discussion flow.

I would put opening hours in the access thread (all about how and when to get into lounges) and wait times in the experiences thread (how good/bad was your lounge visit, long lines being "bad", of course.

Second this motion

Hours in access thread.

lines in the thread with all the pictures of peoples feet on the tables and chairs

In general I agree, but it's hard to access a lounge if you're stuck standing in line...

Agree. I think posting the opening hours in the Access Wiki would be a big help. Wait times/line-ups to me are more of an 'experience' thing as opposed to the opening hours which are more informative.

Can we not just point people to the AC website and let them look up lounge hours for themselves?
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...lounges.html#/

Sure, but it's nice to strive for a one-stop shopping experience on FT.

Also, that link doesn't seem to cover the SS.

I wondered about that. I'm rarely at MLLs near opening or closing times though. Is the website generally up to date and reliable these days?

Nor do the Cafes appear to have hours published on the website. I know the YYZ Cafe closing times because they kick me out frequently, but I am sure this is useful info.

I also know the SS hours in Toronto changed earlier this year for example, but I don't think that was published anywhere either.

Cafes hours are covered through the link that Adam posted to the website. There is a separate page for the SS which has a lot of info, but sadly not the hours they are open.

What (s)he said.
The existing access thread is the logical place for hours.

Wait times vary so much and only valid in the snippet of time the post was made.
There are some rules of thumb of when wait times will occur such as pre 9am at YVR university gym locker room Dom MLL.

Might be nice to have the wiki include all the MLL alternates, YVR Dom has many fines ones.
I would like to know all the local lore MLL alternates when I travel

This sounds right to me

I think that's straying pretty far from the purpose of the AC forum. It will create a lot of bloat in an already lengthy wiki - YVR PPL A/B and C, TB, INTL, SkyTeam lounge; YYC Aspire and WS, YYZ PPL DOM, YYZ PPL INTL, LHR UA, SQ, LH, PPL, etc, etc... Plus the inevitable follow-up questions about access rules for all of those lounges. Just as the AC forum can't be the venue for discussions about all things to do with security, customs, etc at Canadian airports, it also can't be the repository for 3rd party lounges.

I'd note the wiki already has a link to the *A lounge finder that can help find alternatives at airports where there are other *A lounges.

My suggestion, if others like the idea of having an easy resource to find alternatives to AC lounges - at least those in Canada, to try to keep the thread somewhat focused - would be for someone to create a thread in the Airport Lounges forum with a directory of 3rd party lounges in Canada. That thread could then be linked to in the wiki of the AC lounge access thread. This would also benefit those who fly other airlines - WS, PD, US carriers, etc - as opposed to confining the information to those flying AC or partners, and be of greater utility to the FT community as whole.