Our Guide to the YQB Air Canada Lounge

The recently opened YQB Air Canada Lounge is one of the only Air Canada-Plaza Premium partnership lounges. It's an Air Canada Café that has a stylish atmosphere with comfortable seating, complimentary food and drinks, and other valuable amenities.

This article describes this lounge in detail and explains how travellers can access it. We also cover what entry may cost and the various credit cards that provide complimentary access.

How to access the YQB Air Canada Lounge

Air Canada offers access to the YQB Air Canada Lounge to travellers with eligible fares and Elite members of the Aeroplan loyalty program. If none of these apply to you, you can also pay an entry fee.

To unwind in the YQB Air Canada Lounge, head to the main terminal on the second floor. As you walk between gates 28 and 29, you'll see the café tucked into the terminal. It's open every day from 4 AM – 8 PM.

Pay an entry fee to access the YQB Air Canada Lounge

The simplest, most accessible way to enter the YQB Air Canada Lounge is to pay an entry fee. The process and fees are the same as for all Plaza Premium lounges:

• For 3 hours of lounge access, you'll pay $90.85 CAD
• Entry for 1 adult and 1 child over the age of 2 costs $154.45 CAD
• Children under 2 can enter for free

Unfortunately, your Dragonpass membership won't get you free access to this café.

Use your Aeroplan membership to access the YQB Air Canada Lounge

To get into the YQB Air Canada Lounge for free, you'll need to be a departing passenger at the Quebec City airport on an Air Canada or Star Alliance flight. Simply show your Aeroplan Elite status membership or qualifying fare at the lounge entrance.

These are the membership levels/fares that grant you Air Canada lounge access:

• Aeroplan Elite members (50K and above)
• Star Alliance Gold members
• Aeroplan premium co-brand cardholders
• Business Class travellers

Use a credit card to access the YQB Air Canada Lounge

Premium Aeroplan credit cardholders also qualify for free entry to the YQB Air Canada Lounge. These cards charge high annual fees, but many travellers feel airport lounge access and related travel perks make them worth the cost.

Here are the cards that qualify:

The YQB Air Canada Lounge experience

Hours: Every day from 4 AM to 8 PM ET

Location: Main terminal, second floor, between gates 28 and 29

Maximum stay: 3 hours

Payment forms accepted: None at the café, but you can use American Express, Mastercard, or Visa when purchasing a Plaza Premium pass online

Amenities:

• Accessible washroom and facilities
• Complimentary buffet-style foods
• Complimentary drinks, including house beer, liquor, cocktails, wine, coffee, and tea
• Flight monitors
• Televisions with satellite broadcasts
• Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dining options available
• Wi-Fi and charging stations
• Productivity-style seating

Atmosphere

As soon as you enter the café, you'll notice the impressive view through the expansive windows. The 336-square-metre lounge may be on the smaller side, but there's still plenty of comfortable seating, including communal tables, conversation sets, and booths for up to 97 guests.

Flight monitors and Canadian artwork by Douglas Coupland and Quebec-based artist Antonietta Grassi fill the walls. Warm lighting and plants dot the lounge.

To the side as you walk in, you'll see a contemporary but comfortable bar. Beyond that is the food and beverage self-serve area.

Comfort

As you move through the lounge, you'll notice somewhat distinct spaces:

• Dining spaces: Look for small bistro tables and a long couch with pullout chairs where you can enjoy a meal or drink between flights.
• Window seating area: Huge windows run the length of 2 of the lounge's exterior walls, so the expansive bar-style table with workstations gets ample natural light.
• Bar seating: Turn left as you walk through the lounge to find the bar area, with high-top seating and soft sconces. The darker decor gives this part of the lounge a slightly different feel.
• Private dining spaces: Comfortable, club chair-style seating allows visitors to take their drinks and sit at a small table for a little peace and quiet.

Every seat has a power outlet, including USB-C ports with enough wattage to charge a laptop.

Dining

The casual bar is fully stocked, with complimentary beer, wine, curated cocktails, and specialty coffees from Lavazza. You'll also find spirits from Distillerie du Fjord and beer from local brewery La Souche.

If you're in the mood for food, the self-serve buffet has plenty of local foods, including cheese, artisanal jams, and Indigenous-sourced ingredients from Sigewigus. Try the signature breakfast pancakes, served with maple butter and fleur de sel. They also come with Sigewigus pumpkin seed spread, sourced from the Mi'gmaq Nation of Gespeg.

Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are always available.

Entertainment

Compared to Maple Leaf Lounges or Plaza Premium spaces, the Air Canada Café offers little for entertainment. There's a large-screen TV in the bar, but that's about it.

You're probably more likely to use the café's Wi-Fi to unwind a little or catch up on work.

Rules and restrictions

Although Air Canada Café doesn't publish a list of rules and regulations, these are typical terms and conditions for using Air Canada lounges:

• Don't take food or drinks out of the café
• Don't bring luggage carts into the lounge
• Don't smoke in the lounge
• Don't leave children unattended in the lounge

If you're planning on travelling with a pet or service animal, call the café directly to ask about its animal policies.

Is the YQB Air Canada Lounge worth it?

The YQB Air Canada Lounge is certainly worth visiting if you're looking for a premium lounge experience in between flights. There aren't many options at Jean Lesage International Airport anyway – especially since the VIP Lounge by Club Med has been closed since summer 2025.

It's still a bit too soon to find reviews on users' experiences with the Air Canada Café, but we're going to go out on a limb and say it's probably worth it if you already have a lounge membership or an eligible credit card for entry.

Whether it's worth the $90.85 entry fee is up to you.

FAQ

Does YQB have a lounge?

Yes, one lounge is currently open at YQB Jean Lesage International Airport (Quebec City), and the Boréal Lounge is scheduled to open in the fall of 2026. This new lounge will be stylish and comfortable, with a variety of amenities and comforts for eligible travellers.

Are drinks free in the Air Canada lounge?

Yes, the Air Canada Café at YQB features a full-service bar that serves complimentary beer, wine, curated cocktails, and specialty coffees and tea. The bar uses spirits from Distillerie du Fjord and serves beer from La Souche, a local brewery.

Is the YQB Air Canada Lounge a café?

Technically, the YQB Air Canada lounge is an Air Canada Café, not a Maple Leaf Lounge. This means it's a little smaller and puts more emphasis on drinks and food, with a buffet of hot and cold options you can enjoy in the 97-seat space.

Who can go into the Air Canada lounge?

Travellers can enter the YQB Air Canada Café for free if they have 50K Aeroplan Elite status or higher. Those with Star Alliance Gold status or a premium Aeroplan credit card also have complimentary access. This lounge is also available for Air Canada Business passengers.

What is an Air Canada café?

Air Canada Cafés are somewhat smaller than Maple Leaf Lounges. They're designed as a comfortable space to grab a quick bite or something to drink between flights. The cafés are also designed with work-related needs in mind, so you can charge up devices or take calls in productivity-style seating.