Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt (FRA)

Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt (FRA)

More From This Trip
NAME: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
Airport: FRA
DATE: January 2023
REVIEW RATING:
BEN SAYS: The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge features nice decor, good shower rooms, a relaxation area, and a solid selection of food & drinks. It's a great alternative to Lufthansa lounges.
14

Prior to flying Air Canada’s Boeing 777 business class from Frankfurt to Toronto, I visited the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. As a Star Alliance business class passenger you have the option of using this or the Lufthansa Business Lounge, so I visited both during my time at the airport.

As the only non-Lufthansa Star Alliance lounge at Frankfurt Airport, I have a soft spot for the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. It has nice decor, great views, comfortable rest areas and shower suites, and most importantly, pretzels! I often stop into this lounge if I’m departing on a flight from this part of the terminal, even if not flying Air Canada.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt location

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is located in Terminal 1 Concourse B of Frankfurt Airport, in the non-Schengen area (meaning you have to clear passport control to use this lounge). Once you’ve cleared security, just follow signage toward gates B41-B48.

Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 Concourse B

Around gate B43, you’ll see an escalator on the right side, leading up to the Maple Leaf Lounge, as it’s one level above the concourse.

Escalator to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt

It should be pretty easy to spot the lounge’s unique exterior, which features wood paneling.

Entrance to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt

There’s also an Air Canada Boeing 787 aircraft model right at the entrance, which I appreciate as an avgeek.

Entrance to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt hours

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt is open daily from 6AM until 5PM. This covers all Air Canada departures from the airport, and many departures on partner airlines as well.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt entry requirements

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is a standard Star Alliance business class lounges, so can be accessed by:

  • Air Canada business class passengers, as well as business class passengers on all Star Alliance partner airlines; no guests are allowed
  • Star Alliance Gold members can also use the lounge and bring a guest when flying Star Alliance the same day

On top of that, those with an eligible Air Canada lounge membership can also visit this lounge.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt seating & layout

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt is 726 square meters (~7,800 square feet). So it’s not massive, but it’s a decent size for an outstation lounge, and in my experience it doesn’t get quite as crowded as the Lufthansa lounges at the airport.

When you enter the lounge, you’ll see the buffet and a communal table with high-top seating right near the entrance.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt seating

The center of the lounge — both physically and visually — is a sitting area with two massive “U” shaped couches, and a sculpture in the middle. This space has alternating glass and textured panels, which along with the mood lighting, makes this a pretty cool space.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt seating
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt seating
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt seating

Then to one side of this area are roughly a dozen cafe-style tables. There’s a long bench on one side, and then chairs make up the rest of the seating.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt dining area
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt dining area

The other side of the lounge by the windows has more traditional lounge seating, with chairs in rows facing one another.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt seating
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt seating

There’s more seating in the back of the lounge, which is intended to be a quiet area, though I find that’s generally not observed by people (and if anything, it being quieter over there seems to make people want to make phone calls).

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt seating
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt seating
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt seating

One unique feature of this lounge is the resting area, where there are pre-reclined chairs, each in a semi-private area with a television. I find this to be significantly nicer than the rest areas offered in the Lufthansa lounges, which have no privacy.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt relaxation area
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt relaxation area

The last area of the lounge, which is really quite hidden, is the business center. This is behind reception and to the right, and it can be easy to miss this. It’s not unusual to find this area totally empty, even if the rest of the lounge is quite crowded.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt business center

The lounge has plenty of natural light on one side, along with views of the apron, though they are a bit obstructed due to the terminal’s design.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt food & drinks

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt has a pretty decent selection of self serve food & drinks. Lufthansa lounges may have a slight edge when it comes to quantity, but as someone who usually isn’t big into eating in lounges (when flying in a premium cabin, I eat way too much on the plane and am not getting much movement, so…), I find it more than sufficient.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt buffet

The buffet consisted of yogurt, fresh fruit, cold cuts, all kinds of pastries, croissants, pretzels, and pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and candy.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt food
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt food
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt food
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt food
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt food
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt food

To drink there was coffee, tea, water, soda, beer, wine, and liquor.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt drinks
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt drinks
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt drinks
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt drinks
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt drinks
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt drinks

My consumption in the lounge was limited to a pretzel, which was ridiculously delicious. I may have even had a second one. Given that the Lufthansa lounge didn’t have any of these during my visit, that gives this lounge the edge when it comes to catering, by my standards. 😉

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt pretzels

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt bathrooms & showers

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt has bathrooms behind reception. The mens restroom had a few sinks, stalls, and urinals, which were well maintained.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt bathrooms
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt bathrooms
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt bathrooms

The Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt also has shower suites, which I find to be significantly better than the ones you’ll find in Lufthansa lounges. They’re nicely appointed, and they have Molton Brown products.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt shower suite
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt shower suite
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt shower suite
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt shower suite toiletries

Bottom line

For Star Alliance travelers, the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt is a welcome alternative to Lufthansa’s endless collection of lounges. The Maple Leaf Lounge has nice decor, a comfortable relaxation area, beautiful shower suites, and pretzels.

Whether you’re flying Air Canada or another Star Alliance airline, I definitely think it’s worth at least stopping in here. I also find it’s often less crowded than the Lufthansa lounges at the airport.

What do you make of the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt?

Conversations (14)
The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.
Type your response here.

If you'd like to participate in the discussion, please adhere to our commenting guidelines. Anyone can comment, and your email address will not be published. Register to save your unique username and earn special OMAAT reputation perks!

  1. Jake Guest

    Hi There. Do you know if TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card holders have complimentary access to this lounge (assuming they are traveling on Air Canada flights)? If yes, does the same condition about bringing one guest apply? (another) If yes, do you know if this is accessible upon arrival to destination airport Frankfurt? Cheers!

  2. Joe Guest

    I am here now - you can enter with dragonpass reasonably (I'm statusless on *A these days). It was a nice quiet space and the lunch food was good. I think there is a time restriction (as in number of hours) on DP, but I only had an hour anyway. Nice and quiet on a Thursday lunchtime.

  3. Grey Diamond

    'I find this to be significantly nicer than the rest areas offered in the Lufthansa lounges, which have no privacy.'

    I don't think that there is no privacy in the resting area in the Lufthansa lounges... I mean, they are in a separate darkened room at least. Not really sure how these are much more private than that...
    Also, the Lufthansa lounge resting area has actual flat beds with pillows and blankets. I mean,...

    'I find this to be significantly nicer than the rest areas offered in the Lufthansa lounges, which have no privacy.'

    I don't think that there is no privacy in the resting area in the Lufthansa lounges... I mean, they are in a separate darkened room at least. Not really sure how these are much more private than that...
    Also, the Lufthansa lounge resting area has actual flat beds with pillows and blankets. I mean, surely that is more suitable for resting than a reclined chair?

  4. vlcnc Guest

    Getting a proper Laugenbrezel, definitely is massive plus especially as not something easy to come buy outside of Germany. And no they're not the same as that flavourless doughy rubbish you get in the US!

  5. Moon Guest

    Is this lounge preferred over Senator Lounge in Non-Schengen? Being a Canadian that’s all too familiar with MLL, I’m rather skeptical of all MLL (aside from the YUL intl one which is a special lounge).

  6. Julia Guest

    In terms of eligibility. MEA also sends their business class passengers to this lounge.

    1. AJO Member

      Yep, LATAM as well (at least, if they still do the MAD-FRA-MAD rotation).

  7. Euro Gold

    Went here for the first time last year and was pleasantly surprised as it was better than I expected. Especially the shower rooms, which were miles nicer than the ones at KLM's lounge at AMS.

  8. Bob Guest

    Sorry but this must be right when it opens (did you camp put by the door????) By 9am it's standing room only.

    Catering is the same, and views are much nicer at the Senator lounge across the hall.

  9. david Guest

    What brand of sparkling wine was on offer please?

  10. TravelinWilly Diamond

    I need to get my mind out of the gutter.

    Where you said “good shower rooms” I read it as “GOLDEN shower rooms.”

    Thanks for the inadvertent laugh, though!

    1. AJO Member

      Trump Tower probably has a separate golden shower room...

  11. Mark F Guest

    I've love the view because you can watch so many planes take off and land. I sit there with FlightRadar open and just geek out at all the plane traffic. Its a wonderful lounge to spend some time during the day. It wasn't crowded. I sat in the back by the windows. You can see so much activity.

    1. BigG Guest

      I have also never seen this or the one in London crowded . Same style the two of them but why are these so nice but the local ones especially the Vancouver Maple leaf lounges so awful . Other than the signature in yvr and yyz the other Canadian maple leaf lounges are dreadful.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

TravelinWilly Diamond

I need to get my mind out of the gutter. Where you said “good shower rooms” I read it as “GOLDEN shower rooms.” Thanks for the inadvertent laugh, though!

1
Jake Guest

Hi There. Do you know if TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card holders have complimentary access to this lounge (assuming they are traveling on Air Canada flights)? If yes, does the same condition about bringing one guest apply? (another) If yes, do you know if this is accessible upon arrival to destination airport Frankfurt? Cheers!

0
Joe Guest

I am here now - you can enter with dragonpass reasonably (I'm statusless on *A these days). It was a nice quiet space and the lunch food was good. I think there is a time restriction (as in number of hours) on DP, but I only had an hour anyway. Nice and quiet on a Thursday lunchtime.

0
More From This Trip
Meet Ben Schlappig, OMAAT Founder
5,163,247 Miles Traveled

32,614,600 Words Written

35,045 Posts Published