Our Guide To The Air Canada Lounge In Vancouver (Domestic)

There are four Air Canada lounges in Vancouver International Airport (YVR), three of which belong to the award-winning Maple Leaf Lounge lineup.

You can access the Maple Leaf Lounge in YVR’s Domestic Concourse if you have a boarding pass from Air Canada, Emirates, or a Star Alliance airline. You'll also need to show your Aeroplan membership, pay the entry fee, or have a premium lounge access credit card.

Our review of this Air Canada lounge includes directions for accessing the space, descriptions of the amenities available, and tips on deciding whether lounge access is worth it for you.

How to access the Domestic Air Canada Lounge in Vancouver

There are 4 Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges in Vancouver Airport– Domestic, International, Signature Suite, and US Transborder – all located after security.

• The Domestic Maple Leaf Lounge (the subject of this article) is located in Pier C in the Domestic Concourse near Gate C29 and is open every day from 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM PT. The glass door in the rock wall mimics the look of a waterfall.
• The International Lounge is located near the entrance to Pier D in the International Concourse. It’s open daily from 6:15 AM – 11:15 PM PT.
• The Vancouver Air Canada Signature Suite is located on the second floor of the International Maple Leaf Lounge above and welcomes guests from 7:30 AM – 11:15 PM PT daily.
• The elevator to the US Transborder Lounge is located in Pier E in the US Transborder Concourse near Gate E85. It’s open daily from 6:15 AM – 8:45 PM PT, except on Saturdays when it closes a half-hour later.

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:

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

The Domestic Lounge accepts travellers waiting for either a domestic or international flight. 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.
• 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 or business Aeroplan credit card. Premium credit 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 reserves Maple Leaf Lounge access for its 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.

There are just 13 Aeroplan co-branded credit cards in Canada, all issued by either American Express or Visa:

As you can see, the best credit cards with lounge access at the Vancouver 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 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 Domestic Vancouver Air Canada Lounge experience

Hours: Monday – Sunday from 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM PT

Location: Domestic Concourse, Pier C, near Gate C29

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
• Television

Atmosphere

Originally constructed in 1968, the Domestic Terminal of Vancouver Airport was completely gutted and restyled in 2005. The Domestic Lounge received little fanfare on completion and continues to wallow in anonymity.

Unlike the International and US Transborder lounges in the same airport, it has yet to receive a visit or rating from SKYTRAX. And unlike the superbly designed International Maple Leaf Lounge in Montreal, it’s corporate, dated, and generic. If you’re a regular Business or First Class flier, you’ll probably find it unworthy of your time.

"Lounge is kind of big, but busy as there is [only] one lounge for all domestic Air Canada. Food is not that great. Looks dated." —Elsa, 3-star Google review

Comfort

The Domestic Lounge has a basic, rectangular layout. Climb the stairs (or take the elevator) and you’ll find space for about 170 guests divided into 6 areas:

• Main seating area: The lounge’s greatest feature is its long wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, which look onto the airport tarmac and the mountains beyond. You’ll find 30 – 40 black and brown sofa chairs arranged in rows with the occasional privacy screen.
• Quiet area: Turn left and around the corner and you’ll find a small group of 9 arm chairs in a quiet corner next to a charging station. This cell-free zone is also home to a fax machine, photocopier, and printer.
• Dining area: Following the windows will bring you to about 50 seats scattered around aluminum tables or the counters at the window.
• Second seating area: Past the dining area and food stations, at the far end of the lounge, there’s a second seating area with more sofa chairs.
• Business center: Just beside the second seating area is a line of red counter seats and a 4-person work desk with integrated outlets.
• TV area: The far side of the second seating area (opposite to the windows) is dedicated to a flatscreen television and a small group of leather chairs.

Despite its large floorplan, the lounge has little privacy or sound muffling. It’s best to keep your voice low or to bring noise-cancelling headphones – especially if you want to work at the open desk located beside the TV area.

Like the design, the furniture is dated and there’s a distinct lack of everything that makes modern Air Canada lounges great: chaises, quiet, cleanliness, and – most importantly – plenty of electrical outlets and USB chargers.

"Nice lounge with excellent (for Air Canada) breakfast options, but it's getting pretty threadbare. The men's washrooms are in terrible shape." –John, LoungeBuddy review

Dining

The dining area and food station occupy the middle of the lounge. Meals are served on the stone island with fresh fruit, snacks, and self-serve beverages lining the counters behind it. Breakfast runs from opening until 10:00 AM PT, while lunch and dinner run from 10:00 AM PT until closing time.

Lounge cuisine is more café than restaurant and, more often than not, the options are cold – think salads, sandwiches, and wraps paired with chili or soup. One end of the dining area features a self-serve coffee machine and the other an open bar.

You can also order @ la table service by scanning the QR code at your table. The app contains allergen information and a selection of hot foods like curry, flatbread, nachos, etc.

"Bread, soup and salad only as others have suggested. Decent selection of drinks. If you have the option, try somewhere else. Great view of the mountains though!" —Luke, LoungeBuddy review

Entertainment

The first seating area just after the entrance contains a flight monitor and a magazine rack with pamphlets showing you how to download the 4.4-star PressReader app from Google Play. Follow the instructions to access over 7,000 magazines and newspapers for free.

Rules and restrictions

Keep the following DON’Ts in mind while visiting the Domestic Maple Leaf Lounge in Vancouver:

• 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 during your visit.

Is the Domestic Air Canada Lounge in Vancouver worth it?

Unless you can use your credit card to get in for free, we recommend giving the Domestic Maple Leaf Lounge at YVR a pass. The dated décor and meagre dining options are sure to disappoint paying guests – especially those looking to start a Business or First Class trip on the right foot.

Your time (and money) are better spent at one of the Plaza Premium Lounges in the same terminal or the Jetside Lounge in the Fairmont Hotel near the US Transborder Concourse.

"This [lounge] is definitely not for business class passengers. The lounge is always packed full often standing room only. The food is cold if there is any at all. I'm guessing they sell access as clearly the majority are not holding business class tickets. Not the place to go after long international travel and having to wait for domestic connection." —David, 1-star Google review

FAQ

What gets you into the Air Canada Lounge?

You can enter a Maple Leaf Lounge with an Air Canada or Star Alliance boarding pass, plus an entry fee, Business or First Class tickets; a top-tier Aeroplan, Star Alliance, or Emirates Skywards membership; or a premium Aeroplan credit card.

Is lounge access included with Air Canada Premium Economy?

Maple Leaf Lounge access isn’t included with a Premium Economy fare on an Air Canada flight but you can purchase it for $49 per person at the time of booking.

Are food and drinks free in the Air Canada Lounge?

Hot and cold food, drinks, and snacks are complimentary in the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. You can also order free hot snacks using the QR codes at each table and the Air Canada @ la table menu and service.

How much does Maple Leaf Lounge access cost?

If you’re the travelling companion of an eligible visitor, Maple Leaf Lounge access costs $59 CAD/USD/EUR/GBP per guest. If you have an Air Canada boarding pass for a flight class other than Business or First, you can purchase lounge access for $49 CAD for Premium Economy or Latitude; $59 for Comfort, or $79 (for Flex).

How do I know if I have Maple Leaf Lounge access?

If you’re eligible for Maple Leaf Lounge access, you should see an invitation printed in the bottom-right corner of your Air Canada or Star Alliance airline boarding pass.