Of all the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges I visited in Air Canada’s three hubs, the domestic Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Montréal was my favorite…not because of the facilities, but because of the food.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Montréal (Domestic) Review
After stepping off my flight from Toronto, I headed to this lounge before heading to the transborder area for my flight back to Los Angeles.
Hours + Location + Access Requirements
This lounge is currently open daily from 4:30AM to 10:30PM. It is located in the domestic terminal between gates 1 and 3 past security.
Access is reserved for Star Alliance business or first class passengers as well as Star Alliance Gold status holders traveling on a Star Alliance flight. United Club and Maple Leaf Lounge members also have accesss, as do Aeroplan 35K members (which are Star Silver, not Star Gold).
In accordance with Quebec public health regulations, entry into this Maple Leaf Lounge requires a Quebec vaccination passport or proof of full vaccination from your home country/province. I was asked to show my vaccine card upon entering and flashed my Apple Wallet card without issue.
As you enter the lounge, take the elevator or stairs up to the second floor where your credentials will be checked.
Food + Drink
Let’s start with the food, because I was very impressed by the a la carte menu in this lounge. Every Maple Leaf Lounge in Canada now has an a la carte menu called @ la table and the menu is somewhat unique.
I ordered a bowl of creamy mushroom soup (the chef special), a Montreal smoked meat sandwich, and a salmon leek pie.
All three choices were brimming with flavor. The salmon leek pie was the perfect texture (hot and flaky crust with warm moist salmon inside), the hot smoked pastrami on toasted marble rye like something I would make at home, and mushroom soup actually chock full of mushrooms, not just cream.
I probably did not do my waistline any favors with this indulgent lunch, but it really hit the spot.
A self-serve buffet was also available with cold sandwiches, salads, fruit, chips, and cookies as well as water and juice. Alcoholic beverage and soft drink requests were on request from the bartender.
All self-serve drink machines were turned off.
Restrooms
This lounge does not have showers, but does have restrooms. Soap and hand lotion are from Molton Brown.
Seating
This rectangular lounge has two main areas of seating, with an L-shaped food area and bar separating them. Seating was plentiful during my mid-afternoon visit, with the lounge very quiet.
Business Center
Printing, scanning, and faxing was available. You can connect to the printer’s own wi-fi network and send over printing or scan something to your email address.
CONCLUSION
I really appreciated the lunch in this lounge, walking away content and with a full stomach. The lounge facilities are a bit dated, but still very functional. I look forward to returning to this lounge.
Not exactly competition for Schwartz’s Deli, but glad it was tasty anyway 🙂
Indeed, I was hoping to have time to stop by Schwartz’s on my last trip but decided it would be wiser to proceed directly to the airport. Glad to find that it did have decent smoked meat!
Also, YEG had no a la carte menu in the MLL this past Sunday, sadly. The staff were talking about how it was a thing at other lounges but not that one.
It was wonderful experience though I had short time to spend .but loved it .It lacked variety in food specially vegetarian .
Choclate cookies were yummiest .