Lounge Access Wording
 

So, as a guy who earns status the hard way I kinda feel like I'm mooching lounge access, so I try to know all the rules and never get turned away.

That said I just noticed something interesting. Wondering if someone can explain it.

I live in Vancouver, but I'm flying ANA to Tokyo this month. I have status via Air Canada, so as a Star Gold, I'll use the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge International at YVR.

I was on the ANA site, and was checking out their lounge at a few Asian airports, then clicked on their lounge in Vancouver (knowing they don't have a dedicated one). What I found confused me, I figured they'd just use the Star alliance relationship and have their passengers use the Maple Leaf Lounge, just like United does.

Turns out they use the Plaza Premium Lounge, so then I thought it would only be on offer to Paid J or F class ticketed passengers on ANA. But not according to the wording.

"Star Alliance Gold members on ANA and/or Star Alliance member carrier operated flights, and one accompanying guest on ANA and/or Star Alliance member carrier operated flights per customer."

Call me crazy, but that suggests to me that any Star Gold member, travelling on a Star flight can use this lounge. Is this accurate? Is this normal? I rarely fly INTL from YVR, but I'm positive the domestic plaza premium lounge doesn't feature this. So I'm wondering if maybe it's just a poorly worded translation. Using the Star Alliance lounge finder, it only shows Maple Leaf Lounge concourse D and E (which if working at YVR for 6 years taught me correctly, I don't think the Transborder lounge at E would be available as it would be cordoned off for passengers already cleared be US customs).

That sounds like ANA copied the boilerplate language from the rules rather than making the specific allowance. If you're on ANA as a *G they'll give you a pass for the lounge at the check-in counter. LH does the same thing. It is a contract lounge, not a *A-operated *G lounge so just showing up will not get you in if you're not flying on a carrier which explicitly grants such access (and pays the lounge operator for it).

I was last through YVR for an international departure in November '13 and the Plaza Premium lounge was under construction at the time. I should hope that work is completed by now.

If that is the lounge they give to C pax (don't think they fly F to YVR do they?) then you will get the same pass with *G in economy. You're not obligated to use that lounge though, your *G card without a pass will equally get you into the Maple Leaf lounge if you prefer.

Ooo maybe I'll show up a bit earlier than planned, thanks for the advice gang, sounds like I have lounge OPTIONS for once :). Usually it's just United club A/B/C or East/West lol.

I've heard the PP lounge INTL has better food/booze, which, the booze at MLL is fine by me, but the food is kinda non-existant, it's snackables and that's about it unless you hit the couple sweet spots during the day where they cook something. I know the domestic PP lounge has cooked food pretty much all day, so it'll be interesting to see what's there.

Now I just gotta remember to ask them at the check-in.

oddly, the Star Alliance lounge finder does not make mention of the PP lounge

http://www.staralliance.com/loungeFi...e=&airline=ANA

Exactly why I was asking. The ANA site though makes no mention of the Maple Leaf Lounge.

I'll try to remember to report back just so that in the future if anyone else asks the answer will be here.

Ok so quick update, T-24 I check in, mobile boarding pass specifically says "Priority Pass Lounge Access" so I'm assuming I'll get access to both. I'll report back, but I'm hopeful to try both since I've never used the INTL MLL and I've never used any PP lounge.

Quick confirmation here.

No request was needed at checkin or anything for a voucher, I noticed the PP lounge thing on my mobile BP. Went to the AC MLL Intl first, just due to location, much better than domestic which is where I usually am, also much quieter. No access to the TB lounge like star alliance lounge finder said I would have. Having worked at YVR I was pretty sure about that already but wanted to confirm with my own eyes. Got to the PP lounge the guy almost looked a bit confused but then I saw he had an old school dot matrix print out with names, being an A mine was the first one of about 6 on this flight so he checked me off and that was it. I dunno if those were the only 6 star gold/biz customers on this flight, that'd be hard to believe but I'm I think it was as the other flights were separate on the paper.

As discussed in other threads this PP lounge was far superior. Lots more food, full meals, plenty of booze from the bartender and about triple the size it seemed. Both lounges were good, AC had more food options coming when I left but at least I know it's better than the DOM lounge. Either way both were nice and it's great to have options!

thanks for the update and glad it worked out for you!!