Our Guide To The Maple Leaf Lounge In Toronto (Transborder)

There are six Air Canada lounges in Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), four of which belong to the award-winning Maple Leaf Lounge lineup. The Transborder Maple Leaf Lounge offers a comfortable place to rest with with plenty of amenitie and refreshing natural light, while the Express Maple Leaf Lounge is a smaller version with fewer amenities.

Both of these lounges can be accessed with an Aeroplan membership, entry fee, flight class, or a specialty lounge access credit card, plus a boarding pass from Air Canada, Emirates, or a Star Alliance airline.

More details on how to access these lounges, what they're like, and whether they're worth a visit are covered in the review below.

How to access the Transborder Air Canada Lounge in Toronto

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There are 6 Air CanadaMaple Leaf Lounges in Toronto Pearson Airport, all located after security in Terminal 1:

• The US Transborder Maple Leaf Lounge (the subject of this article) is accessible by the elevators on Levels 2 and 3 near the F Gates. It’s open daily from 4:45 AM – 8:30 PM ET.
• The Express Maple Leaf Lounge is located on Level 1 near Gates F84 – F99. It’s open every day from 5:00 AM – 8:30 PM ET.
• The Air Canada Café is located on Level 3 just after security, and is open daily from 5:30 AM – 9:30 PM ET.
• The Domestic Maple Leaf Lounge is located on Level 2 near Gate D20. It’s open daily from 5:00 AM – 12:00 AM ET.
• The International Maple Leaf Lounge is located on Level 3 near the F gates. It’s open daily from 4:15 AM – 11:15 PM ET.
• The Toronto Air Canada Signature is accessible by the elevator on Level 2 near Gate E77 and is open Tuesday and Saturday from 2:00 PM – 11:30 PM ET; and Monday, Wednesday to Friday, and Sunday from 11:00 AM – 11:30 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:

• Air Canada (regular or codeshare)
• Air Canada Express
• Air Canada Rouge
• Emirates
• Premium Rouge (flights within Canada or to US or Sun destinations)
• Or another 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.
• 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 dependant 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 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.

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 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 Express Maple Leaf Lounge experience

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If you don’t have time to visit the Transborder Lounge, the Express Maple Leaf Lounge is a successful proof-of-concept for a smaller, speedier lounge experience.

There are no showers or computers, but there is Canadian wine, Lavazza coffee, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a large selection of light snacks. Think pastries, salads, sandwiches, and wraps; while not as filling, the Express Lounge permits guests to take their food with them – even onto the plane.

While we wouldn’t pay to use the Express Lounge, it’s worth a visit if you can get in for free – especially if you’re on the go.

"Food is hit or miss… Don’t expect hot food, but a nice selection of packages salads and wraps….if available. The lounge is small and can be a nice change from the main lounges but isn’t as quiet due to no ceiling to block noise from gate announcements next door." —Charlie, 3-star Google review

The Transborder Toronto Pearson Maple Leaf Lounge experience

Hours: Monday – Sunday from 4:45 AM – 8:30 PM ET

Location: Elevator access via Levels 2 and 3 near the F Gates

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

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Air Canada often boasts of taking design cues from nature, but so far, the older Maple Leaf Lounges have failed to age as gracefully as the landscape. Sure, the warped wood accent wall in the Transborder lounge is neat, but it’s let down by boring framing elements like stony linoleum floors and institutional white walls. Even the signature Air Canada red is looking a little garish.

Still, the Transborder lounge retains 3 elements that are always in style: ample space, large windows, and plenty of natural light.

"Having been to many lounges, this is a poor lounge: 1. Food options are always poor – breakfast is cereal, toast, fruit and oatmeal – come on – how about something nicer for your home airport. 2. The lounge is stuffed with people most mornings. 3. The front desk folks are very nice – got to say that. The folks who clean and manage the kitchen, not sure they smile." —Jeffrey Hasham, 2-star review on Lounge Review

Comfort

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The Transborder Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto is split into two sections with the front desk roughly in the middle. Turn left for the:

• Window seating area: The first sitting area places pairs of red seats and tables in the middle and sofa chairs and side tables by the window. We recommend grabbing a window seat; that’s where all the electrical outlets are.
• Bar sitting area: Follow the windows and you’ll find the first of the lounge’s two self-serve beverage stations, plus a long wood counter where you can nurse your drink.
• Business center: Passing between the two accent walls at the end of the room will lead you to a communal work area with a wireless photocopy and print machine on the side.
• TV lounge: Turn right after the business center to enter a narrow living room with leather couches, tables, chairs, and a large flatscreen TV.

Or right for the:

• Children’s room: The children’s room is a semi-private room containing a long counter, small chairs, and a TV.
• Raised seating area: A red ramp shows the way to a raised, carpeted seating area in the middle of the lounge. Skip it; all the electrical outlets are located near the windows.
• Window seating area: As in the first section of the lounge, the windows are lined with sofa chairs, lamps, and side tables overlooking the apron.
• Conference room: The Transborder Lounge’s only conference room is stocked with sofa chairs but lacks a central table, phone, or many electrical outlets.
• Quiet area: Follow the windows to the back of the lounge to find a small corner with seats away from the hubbub.

Toilets are located immediately after reception. Head between the two accent walls and down the hall to access the showers, which offer complimentary toiletries by Molton Brown.

"Better and larger than Plaza Premium Lounge. Similar food and drink selection, nice business center area, tons of space, showers are nice." —Elisa, review on LoungeReview

Dining

The buffet on the right side of the lounge sports Air Canada’s typical offerings: eggs, meat, potatoes, and a counter full of bread, muffins, pastries, yogurt, and granola for breakfast; and salad, hot sides, and 2 hot tureens for lunch and dinner. Guests can enjoy brownies, cookies, and squares for dessert, or help themselves to salty snacks and cereals throughout the day.

For more variety, check out the @ la table service by scanning the QR code at your table. You can use the app to preview allergen information and order morning snacks from 5:00 AM – 10:00 AM, and savoury lunch and dinner options from 10:01 AM until closing.

Finally, there are 2 beverage stations (one on either side of the lounge) each featuring Lavazza coffee and a range of alcoholic options. Air Canada has earned a few nods from SKYTRAX for its alcohol selection, and rightfully so: guests can enjoy 4 Canadian reds, 4 Canadian whites, 4 Canadian beers on tap, and spirits from Bailey’s to Smirnoff.

"Lots of space but the food was just OK." —Mike, creditcardGenius reader

Entertainment

To the chagrin of Luddites everywhere, Air Canada has stopped stocking physical magazines and newspapers in all its lounges. Instead, guests are encouraged to download the 4.4-star PressReader app from Google Play to enjoy over 7,000 electronic publications for free.

Rules and restrictions

Keep the following DON’Ts in mind while visiting the Transborder Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto:

• 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 Transborder Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto worth it?

Spacious and satisfactory, the Transborder Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto does a better job of welcoming travellers than the Transborder Plaza Premium Lounge in the same terminal. But in our eyes, the lounge’s 4-star rating from SKYTRAX is overgenerous – the time you spend here is unlikely to leave a positive impression, if at all.

"There are some appealing elements of the Air Canada Transborder lounge at Pearson Airport, and food choices and bar products are meeting a good standard. The decor and furnishings are somewhat dated – however, core comfort and seat options are reasonably comfortable and functional. Staff are quite pleasant and friendly at most frontline touchpoints." —Certified 4-Star SKYTRAX review

FAQ

Can I pay to get into the Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto?

Air Canada customers with a Premium Economy, Latitude, Comfort, or Flex ticket can pay to enter the Maple Leaf Lounge for $49 – $79 CAD apiece.

How do I get into the Maple Leaf Lounge for free?

Maple Leaf Lounge access is included for free with a Business or First Class Air Canada, Star Alliance, or Emirates ticket. You can also get in for free with a Premium rouge ticket; an Aeroplan 50K, 75K, or Super Elite membership; or a Star Alliance Gold membership.

Does the Maple Leaf Lounge have free food?

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.

Can Premium Economy travellers use the Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto?

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.

Does Amex get you into the Maple Leaf Lounge?

Air Canada does not offer complimentary Maple Leaf Lounge access to all American Express cardholders. If you have the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card, you’ll enjoy complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounges.