Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver (Transborder)

To kick off a visit that may in the end take us to Nepal, India, and Mauritius, we had a fast positioning flight from Vancouver to Seattle with Air Canada.

Previous to this flight, we popped by the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver (Transborder) to compensate for a couple of emails and have a fast relaxation earlier than the all-economy flight.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver (Transborder) – Entry

My spouse Ashley and I stayed at an airport lodge in Vancouver the night time prior, and we arrived on the airport with loads of time to spare.

I waltzed by safety and the border with my NEXUS card, whereas Ashley wasn’t far behind as she pre-booked a safety appointment with YVR Specific and used Cellular Passport Management to expedite her border expertise.

Earlier than lengthy, we discovered ourselves exterior the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver (Transborder), which is situated between Gates 84 and 86.

The lounge is open from 6:15am–8:45pm day by day.

I loved entry to the lounge on account of my Aeroplan Tremendous Elite standing, and Ashley together with her Aeroplan 50K standing.

We each may’ve additionally entered with our American Specific Aeroplan Reserve Playing cards.

Other than having Aeroplan 50K standing or above, or any of the premium Aeroplan co-branded bank cards, you may receive entry with a enterprise class ticket on Air Canada or one other Star Alliance airline, Star Alliance Gold standing, a one-time visitor move, a Standing Move, or by paying for entry.

The doorway to the lounge is situated on the bottom flooring, simply off the primary walkway. When you step inside, you may take an elevator or a staircase as much as the check-in desks and the primary flooring.

Simply exterior the elevators, there’s a small foyer with a mannequin plane, a literature shelf that when displayed magazines, and a departures board.

The check-in desk consists of a pleasant wooden motif, and because the space is flanked by home windows on both aspect, there’s loads of pure mild.

The check-in employees scanned our boarding passes, and welcomed us into the lounge with out additional ado.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver (Transborder) – Seating

As I made my option to the lounge, I used to be happy to see that the majority of the seating is located alongside floor-to-ceiling home windows. From these seats, you may watch planes transferring throughout the tarmac, and you too can see the Fairmont Vancouver Airport lodge within the background.

To the left of the check-in space is a slender seating space, which has blue armchairs in a 2–2 association, in addition to some high-top seating that faces the planes under.

To the fitting of the check-in space is the first seating space, which is simply exterior of the buffet space.

The principle seating space is generally organized in an identical format, however with gray arm chairs as an alternative of blue ones. There are additionally some purple and blue chairs dotted across the lounge, which add some pops of color to the area, which is in any other case characterised by black, gray, and picket hues.

A row of 4 recliners face a central TV, which was enjoying some golf on the time.

If you happen to’re on the lookout for some peace and quiet, two rows of armchairs are tucked away within the rear part of the lounge, looking into the terminal under.

There are additionally some extra intimate seating choices obtainable, which might be a sensible choice for those who’re travelling with greater than two folks, because you’ll be capable of see and speak to one another.

Throughout our go to, the lounge was comparatively quiet, and we didn’t have any points discovering seats in whichever space that we needed to sit down in.

I spent most of my time within the lounge getting some work achieved and catching up on emails earlier than leaving the nation.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver Transborder – Bar & Eating

The eating and bar space on the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver (Transborder) is consolidated in an island in the midst of the lounge.

The principle buffet space is positioned within the centre, and gives a modest number of dishes.

The chilly buffet choice featured a tomato & feta pasta salad dish, and the ever present Maple Leaf Lounge tortilla chips with quite a lot of fixings.

The new buffet choices throughout our go to included beef chili and vegetable soup.

These choices are just about on par for a smaller Maple Leaf Lounge, and to be frank, nothing regarded notably tantalizing.

Simply exterior of the buffet space are eating tables, that are dotted all through the area and alongside the home windows that face the general public walkway.

The bar space is situated on the wall that separates the eating space from the check-in space.

There’s a good number of tender drinks and booze, all of which is on the market on a self-serve foundation. In comparison with another Maple Leaf Lounges on the market, the choice was a bit extra broad.

To the fitting of the bar, you’ll discover a well-stocked fridge with pop, juice, and glowing wine.

To the left of the bar is one in all two beers on faucet, with the opposite faucet to the fitting of the bar. The choices obtainable are Molson Canadian and Coors Mild.

Air Canada has rolled out some far more fascinating beer choices in different lounges, and it might be nice to see some selection added right here, particularly with the multitude of unbelievable craft beer obtainable in Vancouver.

On the far left‌, there’s yet one more fridge stocked with pop, glowing water, and juices.

Subsequent to the bar space, there’s an automated Lavazza espresso maker, in addition to quite a lot of tea packets and a sizzling water dispenser.

We selected to not partake in any meals this time round, as we needed to save lots of our appetites to pattern the American Specific Centurion Lounge in Seattle, and for the Do&Co catering onboard our Turkish Airways enterprise class flight.

Moderately, we toasted the event with a glass of bubbles, as we tied up some unfastened ends earlier than our month-long journey.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Transborder – Different Amenities

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver (Transborder) has a separate enterprise centre that’s tucked behind the primary eating space. It remained empty in the course of my keep, and I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s ultimately repurposed to create extra useful seating space.

It seems to be a completely useful area for getting some work achieved, and likewise comes with a printer for anybody who must print paperwork, in addition to a personal assembly room.

The restrooms at this lounge are situated within the hallway close to the check-in desk.

Happily, this Maple Leaf Lounge additionally has bathe suites situated by their restrooms, which is all the time appreciated.

The bathe suites have been very clear and spacious, and with a centrally situated vainness fabricated from frosted glass and metal rods, accompanied by a light-weight fixture on all sides.

To the left of the vainness is a rest room and garbage can, and reverse the vainness is the bathe, which is supplied with a rain bathe head. The bathe additionally comes with the mandatory Molton Brown facilities, equivalent to shampoo, conditioner, and physique wash.

As per common, I availed myself of the chance to wash in an airport, and left for my flight feeling fairly refreshed and prepared for the lengthy journey forward.

Conclusion

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver (Transborder) suits squarely into the common Maple Leaf Lounge expertise.

It’s a completely commonplace lounge, with a really modest cold and warm meals choice, draft beer, wines, and a pleasant assortment of onerous alcohol.

Alternatively, I appreciated the quantity of pure mild that flows into the lounge, and I additionally thought that there have been sufficient seating sorts to cater to several types of travellers.

The showers are additionally a pleasant contact, and a characteristic that’s not obtainable in all Maple Leaf Lounges.

If you must select between the close by not too long ago renovated Plaza Premium Lounge Vancouver (Transborder) and the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver (Transborder), you’re prone to be extra impressed with the previous.

Nonetheless, for those who solely have entry to the Maple Leaf Lounge, it’s absolutely a couple of steps above paying for meals on the concourse, or ready with everybody else on the gate.