Hey, this is pretty cool! The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (review) has just improved its airport lounge access benefits, as the card now offers access to an additional network of lounges. Thanks to Doctor of Credit for flagging this.
In this post:
Access Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges with Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card now offers Air Canada lounge access at participating locations. To enter, you simply need to present your eligible credit card, plus a same-day boarding pass for a flight operated by Air Canada or a Star Alliance member airline. This is available both to the primary cardmember and to authorized users (adding authorized users is a great deal, as it costs just $75 per person).
Cardmembers can’t bring guests on a complimentary basis, though it’s possible to pay for guests at a reduced rate. That cost is CAD 59 for locations within Canada, USD 59 for locations within the United States, EUR 59 for locations within the European Union, and GBP 59 for locations within the United Kingdom. Lounge access is also subject to capacity constraints.
This is a pretty cool addition that I didn’t see coming, and it makes the lounge access offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve even more compelling. As a reminder, the card also offers a Priority Pass membership, as well as unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounges.
It’s cool to see the partnership between Air Canada and Chase continue to become closer. Chase issues the co-branded Aeroplan® Credit Card (review), and Air Canada Aeroplan is also a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner.
Which Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges are participating?
Thanks to this partnership, it’s possible to access most (but not all) Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges with the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card. You can access the following lounges in the United States:
- Los Angeles (LAX) – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, Terminal 6
- New York LaGuardia (LGA) – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, Terminal B Eastern Concourse
- San Francisco (SFO) – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, Terminal 2
You can access the following lounges in Europe:
- Frankfurt (FRA) – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
- London Heathrow (LHR) – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
You can access the following lounges in Canada:
- Calgary (YYC) – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
- Edmonton (YEG) – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
- Halifax (YHZ) – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
- Ottawa (YOW) – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
- Regina (YQR) – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
- St. Johns (YYT) – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
- Saskatoon (YXE) – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
- Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
- Domestic departures – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and Air Canada Café
- U.S. departures – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Express
- International departures – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (excludes Air Canada Signature Suite)
- Toronto Downtown Billy Bishop (YTZ) – Aspire Air Canada Café
- Vancouver (YVR)
- Domestic departures – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
- U.S. departures – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
- International departures – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (excludes Air Canada Signature Suite)
- Winnipeg (YWG) – Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
It’s worth noting that none of the lounges in Montreal (YUL) are currently participating in this partnership.
Bottom line
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card now offers access to most Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges when flying Air Canada or a Star Alliance partner airline the same day. Guests cost extra, but this is a pretty awesome perk, as something is being added, without anything being taken away. Color me impressed!
What do you make of this new Air Canada lounge access perk with the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card?
Damn, the AC lounge at SFO is about to get very crowded. It has been an open secret so far that domestic *G pax get access. It's rarely crowded and I love the terrace.
Would be awesome if you reviewed the COMAC C919. This review is pathetic, mixing airline finishes with airframe characteristics: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/china-comac-c919-experience-intl-hnk/index.html
Is it wide and spacious like the A320 series or narrow and cramped like the 737? Is it quiet like an A350/787 or is it noisy? Are there any unique features like emergency door handles, vents, whatever? Does the ride feels smooth like the A320 or jerky like the 737? Etc. I know you would...
Would be awesome if you reviewed the COMAC C919. This review is pathetic, mixing airline finishes with airframe characteristics: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/china-comac-c919-experience-intl-hnk/index.html
Is it wide and spacious like the A320 series or narrow and cramped like the 737? Is it quiet like an A350/787 or is it noisy? Are there any unique features like emergency door handles, vents, whatever? Does the ride feels smooth like the A320 or jerky like the 737? Etc. I know you would write an amazing review, the seminal one for all passengers.
Doctor of Credit article mention you have to have Star Alliance-partner airline boarding pass too. Is this correct?
Any idea of the Ritz Carlton card also grants access? Typically they get similar access to CSR...
No, it was listed on Air Canada website. Only Chase Sapphire Reserve. Similarly, Ritz Carlton doesn't get access to Chase Sapphire Terrace in Austin, TX.
Saw this and thought it might actually convince me to get a new CSR (having cancelled it after the fee went up a few years back). But with no lounge access at YUL, it does me little good since that's my home airport.
Lol because Air Canada lounges aren’t already crowded enough…
That was my thought. What a perk to have the opportunity to wait in line for 45 minutes for mediocre coffee and snacks.
I would prefer the Chase access to include travel on any airline. I already have access as a Star Gold. But if I am flying Condor from Germany or Canada or Alaska from Canada this would be a valuable benefit. Otherwise it's not worth the ink it's printed on
A nice addition but I don't understand YUL isn't included.. so odd?
YUL Air Canada lounges are consistently crowded - Canada domestic at least, and often the US-bound one. Too much AC traffic, too little space. That airport needs more room overall.
All the lounges at YUL suffer from overcrowding. The international ones can be zoos in the evening when the European departures are all scheduled to take off. We are supposed to get the AC Café in YUL which will be very welcome for domestic travel.
not really... its pretty much expected, Quebec has very different laws than rest of Canada and credit card benefits can be a major issue, usually in these cases it takes an extra little bit to get approved but many companies don't bother and just don't offer benefits here... all Canadian cards for example basically have 2 versions that have different terms as well as sign up bonus' sometimes, one for Quebec and one for the...
not really... its pretty much expected, Quebec has very different laws than rest of Canada and credit card benefits can be a major issue, usually in these cases it takes an extra little bit to get approved but many companies don't bother and just don't offer benefits here... all Canadian cards for example basically have 2 versions that have different terms as well as sign up bonus' sometimes, one for Quebec and one for the rest of canada. the Branding can be different as well in order to be more French... like how Air Canada had 2 names but just simplified it and now just use the French version
The YUL lounges are always packed particularly the transborder lounges. It’s a shame but I understand it’s a pity all the restaurants pulled out of priority pass as otherwise there is only lounges in the international wing.
Fortunately it’s yet another excuse not to fly Mapleflot
Capacity issue. Lounges in YUL often have lines out the door, not just the MLLs
Authorized users also get access so for $75/year you can bring someone without paying the guest fee.