Our Guide To The International Air Canada Lounge In Montréal

The three Air Canada lounges in Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) belong to the award-winning Maple Leaf Lounge lineup. Designed by a local Montreal artist and featuring a garden area, private salon, and more, this space offers luxurious comfort with a distinctly refined feel.

If you’re an Air Canada or partner airline passenger, you can enter the International Maple Leaf Lounge with a boarding pass and Aeroplan membership, entry fee, premium flight class, or eligible premium credit card. We recommend taking advantage of one of the top lounge access credit cards to maximize your lounge experience.

How to access the International Air Canada Lounge in Montréal

Image credit: Heekyung Duquette Design Office

There are 3 Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges in the Montréal-Trudeau airport – Domestic, International, and US Transborder – all located after security.

• The Domestic Maple Leaf Lounge is located in the Domestic Zone near Gate 05 and is open from Monday – Sunday from 4:15 AM – 9:30 PM ET.
• The International Lounge (the subject of his article) is located in the International Zone near Gate 52. It’s open Mondays from 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM ET; Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 6:30 AM – 11:00 PM ET; Wednesdays from 4:45 AM – 10:30 PM ET; and Fridays and Sundays from 4:45 AM – 11:00 PM ET.
• The US Transborder Lounge is located in the US Transborder Zone near Gate 76 and is open daily from 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM ET.

Once you reach the front desk, you must present a valid, same-day boarding pass for a flight departing in 3 hours or less issued by one of the following:

• Air Canada
• Air Canada Express
• Air Canada Rouge
• Air Canada (codeshare)
• Emirates
• Premium Rouge (flights within Canada or to US or Sun destinations)
• A Star Alliance member airline

You’ll also need one of the following:

• Entry fee: Travellers with a Premium Economy, Latitude, Comfort, or Flex Air Canada ticket can purchase guest lounge access for $49–$79 CAD each at the time of booking.
• Flight class: Ticket holders in Business and First Class enjoy complimentary access to the lounge and a special ticket price of $59 CAD/USD/EUR/GBP per guest.
• Membership: Aeroplan 50K, 75K, and Super Elite status members, their partners, a guest, and up to 5 dependent children can access the lounge for free. Gold Star Alliance, Maple Leaf Club, and Gold or Platinum Emirates Skywards members (flying between Canada and Dubai) also enjoy complimentary lounge access. All members can buy additional passes for $59 CAD/USD/EUR/GBP each.
• Premium credit card: Getting into a Maple Leaf Lounge for free requires either the right premium personal or business Aeroplan credit card. Premium cardholders can bring 1 free guest per visit (until December 31, 2024) and purchase additional passes for $59 CAD/USD/EUR/GBP each.

Sorry, DragonPass and Priority Pass members – Air Canada strictly reserves Maple Leaf Lounge access for its own customers and those of its partners.

Pro Tip: The easiest way to see if you have lounge access is to check the bottom left corner of your ticket – if you see "INVITATION LOUNGE / SALON," you’re invited.

Premium credit cards with Maple Leaf Lounge access

The only credit card that can get you into a Maple Leaf Lounge for free is an Aeroplan credit card.

All Aeroplan co-branded credit cards in Canada are issued by either American Express or Visa:

As you can see, the best credit cards with lounge access at the Montréal Airport fall into the Amex Reserve and Visa Infinite Privilege categories. Amex cardholders can also bring 1 free guest per visit and add a supplementary card with the same benefits to their account for $199/year.

While most business credit cardholders don’t have unlimited lounge access, they can earn 1 visit to a Maple Leaf Lounge per $10K of eligible spending (to a maximum of 4 passes per year) with the TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card, CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card, or American Express Aeroplan Corporate Card.

The Montréal International Maple Leaf Lounge experience

Hours: Monday from 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM ET; Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 6:30 AM – 11:00 PM ET; Wednesday from 4:45 AM – 10:30 PM ET; Friday and Sunday from 4:45 AM – 11:00 PM ET

Location: International Zone, near Gate 52

Maximum stay: 3 hours

Payment forms accepted: American Express, Interac, Mastercard, Visa

Amenities:

• 7,000+ magazines and newspapers available via the PressReader app
• Accessible showers and washrooms
• Bar service available
• Cell-free quiet zone
• Complimentary beverages, food, and snacks
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Dedicated workspaces
• Flight monitors
• Printing, and photocopying services
• Showers
• Television

Atmosphere

Image credit: Heekyung Duquette Design Office

Featuring maple wood and marble accents, the 11,000-square-foot International Maple Leaf Lounge in Montréal-Trudeau is decidedly upscale and proudly Canadian. The walls are adorned with art by Canadian photographers, the spaces with custom furniture by Canadian designers, and then there’s the iconic Air Canada maple leaf on the wall.

The lounge interior was designed by local Montréal maverick Heekyung Duquette, who prefers to draw inspiration from local landscapes. There’s only one aspect in which the International Air Canada Lounge leaves us in the cold: a lack of family-oriented or kid-friendly spaces or policies.

"The atmosphere is calm, making it a perfect spot to relax or study. The lounge's cleanliness and the staff's attentiveness ensure a welcoming experience. For me, it's not just a lounge; it's a quiet spot to reflect, recharge, and prepare for the journey ahead." —5-star Google review

Comfort

Image credit: Heekyung Duquette Design Office

The International Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge gained a 4-Star SkyTrax rating after its opening in 2016 so we recommend taking a small walking tour before you get settled. Head up the stairs or elevator after the reception area and you’ll find:

• Garden area: This quiet, dimly-lit sitting area amidst verdant foliage greets guests to the immediate left of the entrance stairs.
• Reading area: Keep heading into the lounge and you’ll find a small collection of leather chairs, a selection of magazines, and several reading lamps to the immediate right.
• Bar: Hung with bright squares of polished bronze, the show-stopping bar seats 15 at the counter for premium alcohol and barista coffee service.
• Tarmac view seating area: A series of sitting areas overlook the runway from behind floor-to-ceiling windows, divided by privacy screens and supplied with side tables and electrical outlets.
• Middle seating areas: A middle row of sitting areas runs the length of the lounge, offering guests vinyl booths, dining chairs, and several conversational living room arrangements.
• Workspaces: Walk the length of the lounge and you’ll end up at a workstation composed of 6 semi-private cubic chairs with extendable table tops, a long counter, and 2 computer stations.
• Semi-private loungers: Hidden behind wooden walls, 6 leather loungers, ottomans, and side tables overlook the tarmac away from the rest of the lounge.
• Private salon: Rumor has it that the invitation-only private room at the back of the lounge is similar to the Signature Suites at Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International.
• Showers: For guests in need of refreshment, the lounge provides 2 walk-in showers with heated floors and complimentary towels and toiletries by Molton Brown.

Be warned: visitors claim the lounge fills up fast and it can be hard to find seating during peak hours.

"Stylish, relaxing and with great service, including simple but well-cooked dishes. The lounge bar is among the best ever. There are various areas: a relaxation area with soft light for taking a nap, high tables for lunch or dinner, and low tables to drink a cocktail. Armchairs scattered along the window to observe the planes." —5-star Google review

Dining

Follow your nose toward the smell of bagels, poutine, and Montréal smoked meat sandwiches to find the dining area in the middle of the lounge.

The rotating menu features crowd-pleasing international favourites from pasta to stir fries to kebabs, plus two specials designed by local chefs Antonio Park and Jérôme Ferrer. Sink your teeth into either Vitello Tonnato – featuring sliced roast veal in a rich tuna sauce on arugula – or braised pork belly incorporating crispy nugget potatoes and savoury soy sauce.

The lounge serves breakfast from opening until 11:00 AM, and lunch and afternoon snacks until 9:30 PM. You can either visit the kitchen for a freshly prepped meal at the live cooking station and serve yourself from the cold salad and hot soup bar…

Image credit: Heekyung Duquette Design Office

…or order @ la table service by scanning the QR code at your table. The Air Canada menu app helpfully describes both the ingredients and allergens in every dish.

"Food selection was limited, but reasonably high quality. The service was fantastic, the bartending was efficient and professional." —5-Star Google review

Entertainment

Image credit: Heekyung Duquette Design Office

There are 2 magazine racks in the lounge – one near the entrance and one in the middle of the lounge. Maple Leaf Lounge guests can also download the 4.4-star PressReader app from Google Play to access over 7,000 magazines and newspapers for free.

There are few televisions in the lounge. People-watching at the bar (or plane-watching from an armchair) is much more interesting.

Rules and restrictions

You’ll need to follow the usual list of DON’Ts while visiting the International Maple Leaf Lounge in Montréal:

• DON’T bring outside food or beverages
• DON’T carry food or beverages outside
• DON’T dress inappropriately
• DON’T leave minors unattended
• DON’T smoke
• DON’T use mobile devices in the cell-free zone
• DON’T watch videos or listen to music without a pair of headphones

Service animals are welcome in the lounge but all other pets and emotional support animals must remain in an approved cabin carrier in the lounge.

Is the Air Canada Lounge in Montréal worth it?

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Montréal enjoys a reputation for comfort and good food, and deservedly so. The space is impeccably well crafted and designed.

That said, guests complain of long queues in the late afternoon and early evening despite the restrictive admissions policy.

"Terrible. Cramped. Overpacked. Lineup outside. Need to do better." —1-star Google review

Try to time your visit for the morning, and avoid the lunch and dinner rush if you want your money’s worth.

Have you visited this lounge?

If you’ve spent time in the Air Canada International Maple Leaf Lounge, let us know how it was by sharing your experience in the comments below.

FAQ

Where are the Air Canada lounges in Montréal airport?

There are 3 Air Canada lounges in Montréal-Trudeau: one in the Domestic Zone near Gate 05, one in the International Zone near Gate 52, and one in the US Transborder Zone near Gate 76.

Who is allowed in the Maple Leaf Lounge?

Maple Leaf Lounges are reserved for Air Canada and Star Alliance airline customers who pay the entry fee or present Business or First Class tickets; a top-tier Aeroplan, Star Alliance, or Emirates Skywards membership; or a premium Aeroplan credit card.

What airport lounges are at Montréal airport?

There are 8 airport lounges at Montréal-Trudeau ranging from the first-come, first-serve Desjardins Odyssey Lounge to the exclusive Marriott Concierge Lounge.

How do I know if I have access to the Air Canada lounge?

If you can enter the Air Canada lounge, you should see an invitation printed in the bottom left corner of your Air Canada or Star Alliance airline boarding pass.

How do you get free access to the Air Canada lounge?

Air Canada and Star Alliance member airline passengers with a Business or First Class ticket; a top-tier Aeroplan, Emirates Skywards, or Star Alliance membership; or a premium Aeroplan credit card can enter the Maple Leaf Lounge for free.