New Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Opens In San Francisco

SFO boasts a newly expanded American Express Centurion Lounge, recently updated Delta Sky Club, United Airlines Polaris and United Club lounges, as well as Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges. However, the new Maple Leaf Lounge is the airport’s only lounge with a heated outdoor terrace for plane-spotting in the sun.

Forbes Advisor spoke exclusively with Air Canada about its growing investments in the U.S. and the San Francisco Bay Area. “We want to make sure that our customers traveling to Canada or on transatlantic and transpacific journeys enjoy a premium experience the moment they walk into the Maple Leaf Lounge,” says Scott O’Leary, Vice President of Loyalty and Product. “We consider it a real bonus that we can make our lounge available to all Star Alliance Gold travelers that are originating their journeys here in San Francisco.”

IMAGE COURTESY OF AIR CANADA

Air Canada delivers connectivity to both Canadian and international destinations, including recently announced Boeing 787 Dreamliner service to Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Singapore/Changi (SIN) from Vancouver, as well as new European, Caribbean and Central American destinations from Toronto and Montréal.

A founding member of Star Alliance, Air Canada owns and operates a network of Maple Leaf Lounges, Air Canada Cafés and Signature Suites in over a dozen airports across Canada, the United States and Europe. Through 2025, the airline expects to offer guests new and refreshed lounges at Toronto/Pearson (YYZ), Montréal/Trudeau (YUL) and Vancouver (YVR) international airports.

At Air Canada lounges, guests are welcomed with complimentary food, beverages, work spaces and areas to relax with family and friends. Other amenities, depending on location and lounge type, include showers, free Wi-Fi, VIP and private working rooms and personalized service from Air Canada staff.

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The SFO Maple Leaf is an 8,168-square-foot space that guests enter hands-free using biometric e-gates. A long and sweeping hallway guides travelers between large restrooms and shower rooms, relaxing seating, a large VIP room and three private working rooms.

In addition to diverse local and Canadian food and beverage selections, the San Francisco Maple Leaf Lounge also offers a full espresso barista bar. And, as previously mentioned, Air Canada’s outdoor terrace overlooks the picturesque San Francisco Bay and airport runways.

Indoor Seating and Outdoor Terrace

The 165-seat lounge is roomy. Finding a place to relax or work should not be an issue for SFO Maple Leaf Lounge visitors.

ENTRYWAY SEATING BY JUSTIN RESUELLO

Upon entering, guests will find many individual seats and lounge chairs that look out onto the airplanes parked at terminal two gates. Adjacent to this area are the private working rooms, a VIP room for up to 10 people and the shower facility and restrooms.

The private working rooms feature glass doors for natural light and privacy. These rooms are especially useful for professionals who need to attend video meetings or those who need to make a call to loved ones.

DINING AREA TABLES BY JUSTIN RESUELLO

The cocktail and espresso bar in the back of the lounge neighbors the outdoor terrace and fresh food areas. This space has two additional seating areas including comfortable chairs, dining tables and high-top seating. It also features a floor-to-ceiling custom mural by artist Amos Goldbaum depicting San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

ADA-compliant tables are available in various locations throughout the lounge with easy barrier-free access to all areas of the lounge.

Wall Outlets and USB Power Ports

USB power ports and U.S. wall outlets are abundant and at nearly every seat of Air Canada’s San Francisco Maple Leaf Lounge. Visitors to the lounge should have no concerns about where to power and recharge their most important electronic devices, including cellphones, tablets and portable laptop computers.

Drinks, Cocktail and Espresso Bar

The bar offers traditional seating and a wide variety of curated cocktails, Californian and Canadian wines, local craft beer and a complete espresso selection.

COCKTAIL BAR SEATING BY JUSTIN RESUELLO

Featured cocktails include a contemporary take on a spicy margarita called the Golden Gate, a floral vodka cocktail called the Sakura Bloom, a mescal-based Sunset Negroni and an Espresso Martini. Local craft beer selections include Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, as well as Anchor Brewing from Potrero Hill in San Francisco. Current wines featured include select vintages from Louis Jadot, Trivento Reserve, Angels & Cowboys, Familia Torres and Cannonball wineries.

Air Canada partnered with Lavazza to offer made-to-order espresso drinks for guests that include lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos. Tea is also available, along with Coca-Cola soft drinks and freshly made iced fruit teas and juices.

SOFT DRINKS, FRESH FRUIT TEAS AND JUICES BY JUSTIN RESUELLO

While some lounges such as the Alaska Lounge, United Club, Delta Sky Club and American Airlines Admirals Club have two beverage menus, one free and one paid, all guests to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge will not pay for any beverages because all are complimentary.

Food and Snacks

Most notable at the Maple Leaf Lounge SFO is fresh and delicious food showcasing local makers and flavors. The scratch kitchen produces many of the food selections on-site in the lounge itself. In partnership with Chef Errol Figueroa of Flik Hospitality Group, Air Canada shares local delights prepared by an army of cooks.

HOT LUNCH AND DINNER ENTREES PHOTO BY JUSTIN RESUELLO

Lunch and dinner entrees showcased at the grand opening included a tasty lobster bisque, adobo chicken, seafood cioppino, sliders and roasted vegetables. Crisp salad, caprese wraps and turkey sandwiches were also on offer, along with homemade baked goods and fresh fruit.

HOT BREAKFAST OPTIONS BY JUSTIN RESUELLO

A wide assortment of breakfast will also be offered for early departures. Options include egg and egg whites, bacon and turkey sausage, hash browns, black beans, oatmeal, assorted tortillas, breads and pastries, fruit and yogurt and cold cereal.

BREAKFAST SEASONAL FRUIT SELECTIONS BY JUSTIN RESUELLO

Note that these food selections may change as seasonal menus and new recipes are updated for guests. Breakfast is served from 4:15 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. and lunch/dinner is served daily from 10:30 a.m. until close.

Private Showers and Restrooms

With ample space to freshen up before or after a journey, the lounge features showers with heated towel racks as well several private guest bathrooms. Molton Brown amenities are available for Maple Leaf Lounge guests to enjoy.

A plane-spotter’s dream, the Maple Leaf Lounge at SFO offers a unique vantage point amidst the four runways of the airport. Designed by Gensler, the lounge incorporates cues that reflect both the California landscape and cultural ties to Canada. On a clear day visitors can enjoy picturesque vistas of the San Francisco Bay.

IMAGE COURTESY OF AIR CANADA

The outdoor terrace includes 35 seats with two custom vapor fireplaces by Canadian design house CF + D. Canadian painter Shawn Evans bookends the outdoor terrace with a kaleidoscopic work that makes this Maple Leaf Lounge truly San Franciscan in its celebration of color.

No other airline lounge at San Francisco offers an outdoor space for guests to relax while enjoying the lounge’s exceptional range of refreshments. While it will be especially nice during warmer summer months, the airline expects to install an outdoor heating system and add additional amenities in the coming months.

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is located on floor four of terminal two. Find the elevator in the airside walkway between boarding areas D and E, near security checkpoint D.

IMAGE COURTESY OF AIR CANADA

The lounge hours may vary. Beginning July 31, 2023, the lounge will operate from 4:15 a.m. until 8:45 p.m. daily. Beginning September 5, 2023, the lounge will operate from 4:15 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. daily. Security checkpoint D hours are 3:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. daily.

The lounge is inside the secure area and connects airside to boarding areas D, E, F and G, serving Air Canada, United Airlines and other Star Alliance member airlines, as well as Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines.

The following list shows how you can obtain access to the Maple Leaf Lounge in San Francisco:

For U.S. Residents:

• The Aeroplan® Credit Card includes Aeroplan 25K status and a select benefit of two Maple Leaf lounge passes.

For Canadian Residents:

• One-time guest pass holders with the following business or corporate cards: TD® Aeroplan® Visa Business Card, CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Business Card and American Express®* Aeroplan® Corporate Card
• Aeroplan Premium co-brand cardmembers plus one guest with the following: TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card, CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card, American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card American Express®, Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card and American Express® Aeroplan®* Corporate Reserve Card

For Everyone:

• Business-class ticket holders on Air Canada, Air Canada Express, Air Canada Rouge or Air Canada codeshare flights or a Star Alliance partner flights
• Air Canada customers traveling in Premium Rouge within Canada or to the U.S. and Sun destinations
• Aeroplan 50K, 75K and Super Elite 100K status holders plus a domestic partner, up to five dependent children and one guest
• Star Alliance Gold status holders and qualifying guest traveling on the same flight
• Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Members (currently suspended)
• Eligible Air Canada fares including: Premium Economy, Latitude, comfort and Flex passengers who purchase Maple Leaf Lounge access

In the U.S., guests can be invited by qualifying passengers for $59 per person. Maple Leaf Lounge access can be purchased by Air Canada passengers depending on the fare: $49 for Premium Economy and Latitude fares, $59 for comfort fares and $79 for Flex fares.

Guests are allowed entry three hours prior to flight departure time—this policy does not apply during flight connections or flight delays.

Read More: Air Canada Aeroplan: The Ultimate Guide

The new Maple Leaf Lounge is the latest signal of Air Canada’s growing loyalty to the San Francisco Bay Area, now that its permanent home is at Terminal 2. With seating for 165 guests, made-to-order drinks, delicious food crafted on-site, amenities for every traveler and a beautiful outdoor terrace, Maple Leaf Lounge sets the tone for premium-class travel at San Francisco Airport.