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How to Access Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges
Gain lounge access through elite status, credit card perks, ticket class or a paid membership.
Lee is a freelance travel writer and podcast host based in Nashville, Tennessee. He loves to travel with his wife and two children using miles and points. Lee has held the Southwest Companion Pass since 2007 and enjoys being spoiled thanks to his Kimpton Inner Circle status.
Sally French is co-host of the Smart Travel podcast and a writer on NerdWallet's travel team. Before joining NerdWallet as a travel rewards expert in 2020, she wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its sibling site, Wirecutter.
Outside of work, she loves fitness, and she competes in both powerlifting and weightlifting (she can deadlift more than triple bodyweight). Naturally, her travels always involve a fitness component, including a week of cycling up the coastline of Vietnam and a camping trip to the Arctic Circle, where she biked over the sea ice. Other adventures have included hiking 25 miles in one day through Italy's Cinque Terre and climbing the 1,260 steps to Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi, Thailand.
Megan Lee is a former editor on the travel rewards team at NerdWallet. She had more than 12 years of SEO, writing and content development experience, primarily in international education and nonprofit work. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for websites like GoAbroad and Go Overseas. When not traveling, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food.
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Air Canada's lounge network, the Maple Leaf Lounge, offers complimentary drinks, snacks, showers, Wi-Fi and more.
Ways to get Air Canada lounge access include elite status, ticket type, credit card benefits and paying cash. Even Chase Sapphire Reserve® card members can access participating locations with one complimentary guest with an eligible departing same-day boarding pass for a flight operated by Air Canada or a Star Alliance member airline.
Read on to learn more about Air Canada Lounge access, where the lounges are located and how to get lounge access for free.
The Air Canada Signature Suites are exclusive lounges available for passengers flying nonstop to Europe and South America in an eligible ticket class (J, C, D, Z and P).
There are currently two Signature Suites locations — Toronto and Vancouver. Inside this Air Canada premium lounge, you'll receive a complimentary sit-down meal, signature cocktails, upgraded seating and peaceful areas to relax or get work done.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Business Class award tickets booked in the "Lowest Rewards" with Star Alliance Upgrades or with partner airlines aren't eligible for Signature Suites access.
Eligible award tickets for access include Business Class Flexible Rewards and First Class Flexible Rewards.
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Aspire | Air Canada Cafe
Air Canada introduced a new lounge at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (a regional airport) to complement the initial Air Canada Cafe at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Both cafes offer complimentary beverages, a range of coffees, hot and cold food prepared by local chefs, and more. Premium alcohol and specialty drinks are available for purchase.
What is available at a Maple Leaf Lounge?
The bar at SFO's Maple Leaf Lounge. (Photo by Sally French)
The size of the lounge and available amenities vary based on the location. However, Air Canada seeks to provide a basic level of benefits at every Maple Leaf lounge that includes the following:
Cell-free quiet zone.
Complimentary light snacks and beverages.
News and entertainment.
High-speed Wi-Fi.
Showers to freshen up before or after your flight.
Business centers with desktop PCs and printers.
Opening hours and availability vary by location.
8 ways to access Air Canada lounges
Travelers have seven methods of gaining Air Canada lounge access. Some flyers will get free entry to the lounge, while others have to purchase a day pass.
1. Fly Air Canada business class
Traveling on an Air Canada business class flight includes a number of benefits to make your trip more enjoyable, including Maple Leaf lounge access when flying within North America.
2. Business class flights with Star Alliance partners
Air Canada is a member of the Star Alliance, which means you'll receive access to the Maple Leaf Lounge when flying business class with any Star Alliance partner. Present your boarding pass for a same-day qualifying flight to gain free entry.
3. Spend $50,000 a year on the United Club℠ Card
While Air Canada offers several versions of its credit card in Canada, there is only one Aeroplan card in the U.S. However, the Aeroplan® Credit Card doesn't include Air Canada lounge access.
Instead, if you want Maple Leaf Lounge access, you'll need to apply for the United Club℠ Card. This card includes complimentary access to United Club lounges and allows you to earn access to Star Alliance partner lounges, such as Maple Leaf Lounges, when flying on an eligible Star Alliance airline by meeting a $50,000 spending threshold each calendar year.
United Club℠ Card
NerdWallet rating
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Elite status perks with Aeroplan include access to the Maple Leaf Lounge at no charge for you, your immediate family members and one guest when flying Air Canada, a Star Alliance partner or Emirates. Your immediate family members include your spouse and up to five children ages 24 and under.
To earn Aeroplan 50K status, you must spend $6,000 Status Qualifying Dollars (SQDs) and earn 50,000 Status Qualifying Miles (SQMs) or fly 50 Status Qualifying Segments (SQS) within a calendar year. Your status is good for the remainder of the year you qualify, plus the following year.
Once you've earned Aeroplan elite status (starting with 25K), you'll receive two or more one-time guest passes that provide Air Canada lounge access. You can use them yourself or give them to others.
Here's how many one-time passes are available at each level of Aeroplan elite status:
25K – Two passes (when redeeming Select Benefit).
35K – Two passes.
50K – Three passes.
75K –Three passes.
Super Elite – Four passes.
These passes offer Maple Leaf lounge access for travelers on confirmed same-day tickets on Air Canada flights departing in Canada and several locations within the U.S.
As a Star Alliance Gold member, you'll receive complimentary lounge access to Air Canada Maple Leaf locations at your departure airport when flying in any class of ticket on a member airline. Star Alliance Gold members can also bring one guest into the lounge with them for free when traveling on the same flight.
7. Purchase a day pass
Air Canada also sells day passes when traveling with the airline. The cost of an Air Canada lounge day pass varies based on the type of ticket you have. You can purchase Air Canada lounge access when booking your flight.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
8. Hold a Chase Sapphire Reserve® (and meet a few other requirements)
Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardmembers and authorized users can access participating Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and Air Canada Café lounges with one complimentary guest. To enter, present your Sapphire Reserve Card and an eligible departing same-day boarding pass for a flight operated by Air Canada or a Star Alliance member airline (such as United) for you and your guests.
The first guest Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardmember is complimentary, but additional guests cost about $60 (exact pricing depends on where in the world you are).
Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges: are they worth it?
(Photo by Sally French)
When you travel on Air Canada, there are several ways you can get Air Canada lounge access. Many provide complimentary access based on elite status, credit card benefits or the ticket class purchased.
You can also get Maple Leaf Lounge access by purchasing a day pass. Once inside the lounge, you'll enjoy benefits, like complimentary drinks and light snacks, access to showers and more comfortable seating than you would find in the terminal.
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