Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Montreal Airport

Forget AA, DL or UA, AC definitely has the best and most consistent transatlantic business class product. Super Diamond reverse herringbone seats with beautiful finishes on all 787s and 777s, nice lounges, extensive connectivity, great food and friendly service. And they're currently rolling out the fastest international wifi in the sky.

If only they'd get rid of Rouge...

Just to be clear, this is the international MLL. The domestic and transborder MLLs are reportedly not as nice. For a few months there were lots of complaints over at FlyerTalk that domestic and transborder MLLs all over the country had nothing to eat but pickles.

The Calgary lounge is very similar to this one. Their breakfast spread and omelet station is pretty impressive as well. Consistently my favourite lounges.

What a petty struggle for priority boarding based on "status" you witnessed at the gate. Adults behaving like little kids fighting over the front seat in Dad's car. All 3 of them were going to board before the masses anyway, but they wanted to ensure they were absolutely first in line!

I am envious of what they have in Montreal. My Winnipeg MLL would barely qualify as the broom closet for that place.

I'll be enjoying the international Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto in a couple of weeks, and you've got me thinking of going to the airport early so I can fully indulge. These lounges are consistently good just about everywhere.

@Charlie McMillan You'll find the YYZ International AC MLL to be similar in terms of food - but that's about it. There's no bar, and despite it being huge it gets really crowded at peak departure times. Although there are some seating areas which are supposed to provide a bit more privacy or separation, there aren't many of them. That said, as Lucky and others have pointed out, any of the major AC lounges are head and shoulders above what any similar location in the US has on offer. I'd even put AC's regional lounges (YHZ for instance) up against any of the US carrier's main hub lounges. The only other option at YYZ T1 International is a Plaza Premium lounge which gives access to AmEx Platinums or Priority Pass and it's no great shakes...though the food can be better than AC MLL.

This lounge is much nicer than the MLL in Toronto. The Toronto one hasn’t been renovated recently like this one and when visiting around all the European afternoon/evening flights this lounge is packed to the point it’s hard to find a seat. I also think the one in Montreal has better food than in Toronto. I hope they renovate the YYZ MLL like this beautiful MLL. This is definitely Air Canada’s nicest lounge.

Have the AC lounges been removed from the Priority Pass system? I've heard that access has been denied for PP members at LAX.

What was the criteria for fast-track security? I'm flying out of there YUL-DCA (trans-border) on AC next month, and I'll be rushing from my meeting to the airport. I'm flying economy as there is no business class on that route, but I am *G and also have PreCheck (not sure if that works on trans-border flights in Canada though).

How were the bathroom facilities?

@VX_Flier, it's not denied. AC switched operations from T2 to T6, which means the old lounge is no longer operated by AC which at that time contracted to Priority Pass. The new lounge at T6, however, is smaller so I guess they can't accommodate as many guests and decided not to extend their contract with PP.

Looks good - wish I could access this when flying Icelandair through YUL in sept. Have anyone been to the priority pass location here - BNC (Banque Nationale du Canada) ??

I visited this lounge in 2015, while flying business on Swiss. The lounge agents were surprised when I presented a boarding pass and asked, is Swiss Star Alliance? Food options were limited as the LX flight departed around 5:30 and dinner was not brought out until after I departed. I find it odd that they would not want to serve the departing transatlantic passengers to eat in lounge and sleep on flight, for the earlier departures (there were also several AC flights leaving at that time too).

The YUL US Maple Leaf lounge is unfortunately FAR less impressive.

the old cappcino trick get you every time BEN

I've been to the YVR transborder MLL recently and although not as nice as the one Ben's been too, it was more than acceptable. Both food and drinks offerings were more than sufficient (not only pickles offered) and amount of seating area was sufficient. This is better than not having any lounge facility to access too if you fly DL or AA.

Hi. I always get Google alerts on your posts and postings. Love them all! My question is a little off about the Maple Leaf Lounge: were those tortilla chips in pasta bowls atop a hotplate? Is that a little too low brow for J-Class lounge? Or am I being too picky and a snob? Don't get me wrong, I love nachos, like at El Torito or La Talpa or Cabo Cantina....But in pasta bowls?

Hon members allowed to be have preboarding before everyone else

Here's a question I didn't see answered. I'm thinking on transited through YUL on my way back from Europe to the US via Swiss Air. Can I use this lounge before I go "stateside"?
Any ideas would be helpful.

Thanks!

Is this airport on par with Manchester and Heathrow airports?

Do united airline operate from here?