There’s an exciting lounge update for Vancouver International Airport (YVR), as we’ve just seen the opening of the new Plaza Premium Lounge, which has been under construction for quite some time. There’s even a surprise, as the lounge has a Plaza Premium First section as well.
Plaza Premium’s dual Vancouver lounge concept
Lounge operator Plaza Premium has just opened what it calls its flagship lounge in Canada. The lounge is roughly 1,000 square meters (~10,500 square feet), with a total capacity for 251 guests.
It’s located in the international (non-transborder) terminal at Vancouver Airport, between gates D67 and D68, and is open daily from 6:30AM until 1:30AM.
What makes this lounge unique is that it’s not just a new Plaza Premium Lounge, but there’s also a Plaza Premium First section, and this is the first North America lounge to have such a concept. Let’s go over the details of the two sections of the lounge.
Plaza Premium Lounge Vancouver basics
The main portion of the new Plaza Premium Lounge Vancouver can accommodate up to 136 guests, and has a modern design, in line with Plaza Premium’s latest design template.
The lounge has seating designed for both relaxation and dining, and has a live cooking station with rotating options (like noodle bars, pasta bars, and a signature poutine station), a self-service bar, a family room, and shower suites (available at an extra charge of CAD 25).
I would expect this lounge will get really crowded, since seating for 136 guests doesn’t exactly make this a huge space, and a lot of people will have access to it.
Below you can find some pictures of the new lounge.
Plaza Premium First Vancouver basics
Plaza Premium is offering its elevated lounge experience in the new Vancouver lounge, known as Plaza Premium First (this only opens December 2, 2024). This is the first Plaza Premium First location in North America, and the fifth in the world, with the others being in Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Macau.
The Plaza Premium First section can accommodate up to 115 guests, and is the premium portion of the lounge. This features things like a la carte dining (with a menu having signature dishes like crab omelets and vegan Thai curry), a full-service bar with a more premium drink selection, and complimentary showers and private relaxation areas.
I expect this part of the lounge will be much less crowded than the main part of the lounge, given the comparable capacity, but much more restrictive eligibility requirements.
The Plaza Premium First concept really is something special, so this should be a treat for passengers. Aside from the Air Canada Signature Suite, this will likely be the best lounge in the terminal.
Plaza Premium Lounge Vancouver access
The main part of the Plaza Premium Lounge Vancouver follows standard Plaza Premium access rules:
- All travelers can purchase access to the lounge; rates start at CAD $69 for a two-hour visit, and go up from there
- The lounge can be accessed by Priority Pass members, as well as select premium card members with Amex and Capital One cards
- Presumably some airlines are using this as a contract lounge, and will send their premium passengers here
Regarding the Plaza Premium First section, I’m told that access there starts at CAD $110 for a two-hour visit. I’ve asked for clarification on whether any airline passengers automatically receive access to this, and/or if a discounted rate is applied if you already have access to the main part of the lounge. I’ll update this post as soon as I find out more.
Bottom line
A long awaited Plaza Premium Lounge has opened at Vancouver Airport. Not only does the lounge actually look nice, but it adds much needed capacity in the international terminal.
The lounge even has the innovative Plaza Premium First concept, which is the first time we’re seeing this in North America. These lounges are really quite awesome, and much higher quality than virtually any other contract lounge out there. I look forward to checking out this space!
What do you make of the new Plaza Premium Lounge Vancouver Airport?
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