WestJet Elevation Lounge YYC
Mar 10, 2024, 7:11 pm
#226
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,986
Yes, accessing the D Aspire lounge before a domestic flight is now no problem. I've been able to get in there with Priority Pass a few times when the Elevate Lounge was turning away Priority Pass customers. When I can get in to the Elevate Lounge and I'm flying out of D, I'll typically go there until an hour before the flight then move over to Aspire. It's not as nice as Elevate but perfectly fine; I believe Aspire charges for showers whereas Elevate does not. Never had to deal with a (scheduled) flight that late, so I haven't tested the lounge closure / advanced entry issue you're asking about.
Mar 11, 2024, 5:34 pm
#227
Join Date: May 2017
Location: YEG, SFO, VCA, JR JY-13
Programs: hahaha
Posts: 933
I was at Elevate until the lounge closed recently. I don’t know when they stop admitting guests, but I got in at around 9:15pm. Last food order was announced at 10:15pm and I promptly left at 10:20. I’m sure you can stay a bit longer to “enjoy” your snack, but I had enough time in the empty lounge to do all of that in the preceding hour
Mar 11, 2024, 5:36 pm
#228
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 34
Yes, accessing the D Aspire lounge before a domestic flight is now no problem. I've been able to get in there with Priority Pass a few times when the Elevate Lounge was turning away Priority Pass customers. When I can get in to the Elevate Lounge and I'm flying out of D, I'll typically go there until an hour before the flight then move over to Aspire. It's not as nice as Elevate but perfectly fine; I believe Aspire charges for showers whereas Elevate does not. Never had to deal with a (scheduled) flight that late, so I haven't tested the lounge closure / advanced entry issue you're asking about.
Mar 13, 2024, 7:46 pm
#229
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 446
Yes, accessing the D Aspire lounge before a domestic flight is now no problem. I've been able to get in there with Priority Pass a few times when the Elevate Lounge was turning away Priority Pass customers. When I can get in to the Elevate Lounge and I'm flying out of D, I'll typically go there until an hour before the flight then move over to Aspire. It's not as nice as Elevate but perfectly fine; I believe Aspire charges for showers whereas Elevate does not. Never had to deal with a (scheduled) flight that late, so I haven't tested the lounge closure / advanced entry issue you're asking about.
International flights from Concourse D only.
Mar 13, 2024, 8:56 pm
#230
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,954
The Aspire lounge has its own thread in the Airport Lounges forum...
Apr 16, 2024, 3:08 pm
#231
Join Date: Jul 2021
Programs: AP AS BA
Posts: 376
I have found that the quality of the food served in WS lounge to have deterorated, not quite as bad as AC MLL but definately not as good as 2023.
I had breakfast when the lounge opened at 0500 on a Saturday. The French toast with real maple syrup came out as reheated premade meal (likely from Gordon Food Services) with a package of pancake syrup. The scrambled eggs with the full English breakfast was overcooked and so were the poached egg on the breakfast sandwich.
Thankfully, service remained excellent.
I had breakfast when the lounge opened at 0500 on a Saturday. The French toast with real maple syrup came out as reheated premade meal (likely from Gordon Food Services) with a package of pancake syrup. The scrambled eggs with the full English breakfast was overcooked and so were the poached egg on the breakfast sandwich.
Thankfully, service remained excellent.
May 24, 2024, 1:44 am
#233
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,080
Priority Pass and/or Westjet should just put this Priority Pass thing out to pasture. Basically it’s near impossible to get in at most anytime…..
May 24, 2024, 8:49 am
#234
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: The World
Programs: WS Platinum, Marriott Titanium, DL Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 1,548
With travel booming, the number of people with status (and lounge access) has boomed -- and the number of people trying to take advantage of PP or Amex Platinum travel benefits has boomed.
May 24, 2024, 9:28 am
#235
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: DL Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Best Western Diamond Selec
Posts: 558
Sadly that's the situation with lounges everywhere these days. Amex Centurion lounges are almost always packed and often have long lines and waits to enter. Ditto for Delta Sky Clubs. Even the mediocre Aspire Lounges at YYC (part of WS's lounge program, but they do not prioritize WS status passengers) often have long lines -- with wait times that are so long they may as well just turn people away.
With travel booming, the number of people with status (and lounge access) has boomed -- and the number of people trying to take advantage of PP or Amex Platinum travel benefits has boomed.
With travel booming, the number of people with status (and lounge access) has boomed -- and the number of people trying to take advantage of PP or Amex Platinum travel benefits has boomed.
Delta made it a lot more strict with entry requirements last year or so. I almost bought a Delta international business class ticket yesterday, after I double checked, unlike Air Canada, United, and American, I confirmed it wasn't good enough to SkyClub: I needed to fly their Delta One.
I entered a Priority Pass lounge in Europe this week, there were plenty of seats. If Centurion, SkyClub, etc are still crowded, it's more to do with credit card benefits in N America, than travel 'booming'.
I'm not chasing after Priority Pass or Visa Airport Companion, but some of my cards come with those anyway and many of my entitlements go unused every year. I imagine some people use them up.
May 26, 2024, 1:42 am
#236
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: YEG/YYZ
Programs: AC 50K, AF/KL Silver, Marriott Platinum, IHG Gold
Posts: 49
I have found that the quality of the food served in WS lounge to have deterorated, not quite as bad as AC MLL but definately not as good as 2023.
I had breakfast when the lounge opened at 0500 on a Saturday. The French toast with real maple syrup came out as reheated premade meal (likely from Gordon Food Services) with a package of pancake syrup. The scrambled eggs with the full English breakfast was overcooked and so were the poached egg on the breakfast sandwich.
Thankfully, service remained excellent.
I had breakfast when the lounge opened at 0500 on a Saturday. The French toast with real maple syrup came out as reheated premade meal (likely from Gordon Food Services) with a package of pancake syrup. The scrambled eggs with the full English breakfast was overcooked and so were the poached egg on the breakfast sandwich.
Thankfully, service remained excellent.
May 27, 2024, 1:14 pm
#237
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, 50K Altitude, Nexus
Posts: 344
I use it once a month, but I assume in the summer it will be very hard with lots of wide bodies going to Europe.
From September- April, its hard to get during morning rush and after 4 PM. All other times they let you in.
Used it twice in May with my Priority pass, one flight leaving at 10:30 AM one around 12:30.
From September- April, its hard to get during morning rush and after 4 PM. All other times they let you in.
Used it twice in May with my Priority pass, one flight leaving at 10:30 AM one around 12:30.
May 30, 2024, 7:45 am
#238
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 446
We (2 adults + 1 toddler) were at the lounge the past weekend for the first time. Used my PP to get in. Front desk scanned our two boarding passes. No mention of extra charges or anything.
Today, I got charged $35 USD transaction for PP on my AMEX Biz Plat. Does the PP not give 1 primary + 1 guest complimentary access to this lounge? Or did I get charge because of the toddler?
Today, I got charged $35 USD transaction for PP on my AMEX Biz Plat. Does the PP not give 1 primary + 1 guest complimentary access to this lounge? Or did I get charge because of the toddler?
May 30, 2024, 8:17 am
#239
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: The World
Programs: WS Platinum, Marriott Titanium, DL Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 1,548
We (2 adults + 1 toddler) were at the lounge the past weekend for the first time. Used my PP to get in. Front desk scanned our two boarding passes. No mention of extra charges or anything.
Today, I got charged $35 USD transaction for PP on my AMEX Biz Plat. Does the PP not give 1 primary + 1 guest complimentary access to this lounge? Or did I get charge because of the toddler?
Today, I got charged $35 USD transaction for PP on my AMEX Biz Plat. Does the PP not give 1 primary + 1 guest complimentary access to this lounge? Or did I get charge because of the toddler?
When it comes to PP, I don’t think staff in any PP participating lounge know about all of the different types of PP, nor do they determine whether to assess any charges or have any idea what the charges should be. They just scan the PP card, enter the number of people, and scan the boarding pass.
I know that the Priority Pass that comes with my Platinum Amex covers me plus one guest — but different cards get different versions of PP.
My kids are past toddler age, so I don’t know if there are different entry rules or benefits for young kids. You should take it up with Priority Pass if you think the child should have been free.
May 30, 2024, 1:44 pm
#240
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,986
We (2 adults + 1 toddler) were at the lounge the past weekend for the first time. Used my PP to get in. Front desk scanned our two boarding passes. No mention of extra charges or anything.
Today, I got charged $35 USD transaction for PP on my AMEX Biz Plat. Does the PP not give 1 primary + 1 guest complimentary access to this lounge? Or did I get charge because of the toddler?
Today, I got charged $35 USD transaction for PP on my AMEX Biz Plat. Does the PP not give 1 primary + 1 guest complimentary access to this lounge? Or did I get charge because of the toddler?