Several months ago, Air Canada closed one of its lounges in the United States, so that it could undergo a refurbishment. There’s now a positive update, as the lounge has reopened as of today.
In this post:
Details of the Air Canada Lounge LAX
The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has reopened as of today, November 26, 2024. The lounge has just undergone a refurbishment, whereby it was expanded by around 250 square feet, got power outlets at every seat, and received modernized seating.
The Air Canada Lounge LAX is located in Terminal 6, near gate 65A, on the upper level. The lounge is open daily from 5:30AM until 10:30PM, except Wednesdays, when it only opens at 6:15AM.
Below you can find some pictures of the updated Maple Leaf Lounge LAX.
The Maple Leaf Lounge LAX looks reasonably nice, and there are definitely some incremental improvements. However, this seems like it was more of a mild cosmetic refresh and expansion, rather than a complete overhaul of the lounge.
It also doesn’t seem like this is quite to the level of the Maple Leaf Lounge SFO, which opened in 2023. That lounge has a terrace, as well as a bartender who can prepare cocktails and barista coffee. That’s fair enough, since it can be hard to completely redesign an existing lounge.
How to access the Air Canada Lounge LAX
The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge LAX follows standard Star Alliance lounge access policies:
- Specific to Air Canada passengers, the lounge can be accessed by those in Air Canada business class, as well as Aeroplan Super Elite, Aeroplan 75K, and Aeroplan 50K members
- Beyond that, all Star Alliance business class passengers, as well as Star Alliance Gold members, can access the lounge
- Those with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (review) can access the lounge when traveling same day on an Air Canada or Star Alliance partner flight
So a United MileagePlus Premier Gold member or above gets access to the lounge on account of having Star Alliance Gold status. While they couldn’t access a United Club on a domestic itinerary, they can access an Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. It would be a small trek, but all LAX terminals are connected airside.
Bottom line
Air Canada has reopened its Maple Leaf Lounge at LAX. The lounge has undergone a minor expansion, and has also been refreshed. It’s always nice to have more lounge options, so this is useful for Star Alliance flyers, as well as Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers.
What do you make of the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge LAX?
Now if they could refresh their hub's lounges that would be amazing! YUL domestic hasnt been renovated since before their 2003 rebrand... think red cherry panels, dark green leather and brass everywhere... and YYZ domestic is sterile (same with YVR), US is too small, and international is a disgrace. the only redeeming lounges at YYZ are the signature suite and the Cafe (but overly crowded).
In the past, the only way a UA*G member could access this lounge was if their UA*G number was printed on their AC boarding pass. This seems to be in contradiction to what AC say on their website. Showing them your UA*G card does nothing. I’ve actually had them put my UA*G number on the boarding pass then have them switch back to my AC FF# at the gate. This has happened to me multiple...
In the past, the only way a UA*G member could access this lounge was if their UA*G number was printed on their AC boarding pass. This seems to be in contradiction to what AC say on their website. Showing them your UA*G card does nothing. I’ve actually had them put my UA*G number on the boarding pass then have them switch back to my AC FF# at the gate. This has happened to me multiple times and at YYZ lounge also. I think I recall a video circulating a couple months ago where someone filmed the agent at the LAX lounge denying someone entry who was using their Star Alliance Gold card.
Yeah. I've encountered a couple of dragons at the LAX AC lounge in the past.
Usually some saner and better informed agent corrects them quickly.
I've entered with a United Club membership AND *Gold multiple times when flying UA, but I almost always get quizzed as to "why" I'm trying to get in. Of course, I answer truthfully...a little extra time in the schedule means I've got a minute to have a little adventure instead of just going to the UA Club in T7.
Curious to see how FRA and LHR will turn out compared to this.
Prior to the refresh, the food in this lounge was barely edible. Any change since?
If they would only turn on the beer tap before 11:00 AM. You get about 5 minutes to drink a beer or a glass of wine before the 11:45 AM to YYZ starts boarding. Dumb.
Off-topic, but another European airline shut down a few days ago - Nordica. It was Estonia's national airline up till 2023, when it switched to being a charter airline, but I guess even that couldn't save it.
Off-topic, but another European airline shut down a few days ago - Nordica. It was Estonia's national airline up till 2023, when it switched to being a charter airline, but I guess even that couldn't save it.
Small typo under each photo: "loung".