Air Canada just unveiled their brand new lounge at San Francisco International Airport and it is a stunner! The lounge is spacious and beautiful and it features a host of amenities for passengers to enjoy such as a self-serve buffet showcasing local California flavors, a hosted bar with premium quality drinks; and a first for Air Canada, an outdoor terrace with views of the San Francisco Bay and airport runway. This is a very special addition to the Maple Leaf Lounge network as San Francisco is now Air Canada’s third lounge located in the United States, after Los Angeles and New York.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge SFO Location, Hours, and Access
The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at SFO is located in Terminal 2. As you exit the security checkpoint, make an immediate left turn and follow the signs for the Maple Leaf Lounge. Take the elevator up to the fourth floor and the lounge will be located on your right. The lounge is open from 4:15 AM to 8:45 PM daily.
The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge SFO is accessible by:
- Aeroplan 50K, 75K, and Super Elite status members
- Air Canada/Star Alliance partner airline First/Business Class passengers
- Aeroplan premium co-branded cardholders
- Star Alliance Gold members
Effective June 13, 2023, access to the Maple Leaf Lounges is limited to three hours prior to your scheduled departure flight. However, this rule does not apply to passengers in transit or during flight delays.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge SFO
At 8,168 square feet (761 square meters), and room for 165 passengers, the lounge has plenty of space for passengers to rest, recharge and refuel before their flights. After you scan your boarding pass/credentials at the automated kiosks, make your way past the lounge attendants and you will enter the main seating area of the lounge. Here, you’ll find lounge chairs grouped together to socialize with your fellow travelers, and long tables along the windows if you prefer to work or zone out with some plane spotting.
The lounge is bright and airy and the large windows let in plenty of natural lighting. The decor is modern and clean and the use of different materials, finishes, and colors create an elegant, yet comfortable space. Password-protected WiFi is provided throughout the lounge and electrical outlets are readily accessible by all of the seating areas.
To the right of the main seating area is a small family room, an enclosed VIP room, and three private workstations. These workstations are great for taking phone calls or if you just need some extra space and privacy.
Behind the main seating area is the dining area with additional seating and tables. This area provides traditional restaurant-style tables and chairs in the center of the room and individual armchairs along the windows.
The self-serve buffet is located in the center of the lounge with a curated cuisine featuring local California flavors. During today’s event, there was a selection of dishes such as wraps, sandwiches, chicken adobo, rice pilaf, and seafood cioppino. This is definitely a step up from the other lounges and I’m glad to see Air Canada investing in their catering here.
In fact, this SFO lounge is unique in that it will be Air Canada’s testing ground to experiment with different services and product offerings. So I would expect the next time you visit, it may be a completely different experience than your last and I can’t wait to see what Air Canada comes up with!
Behind the dining room is the hosted bar featuring a fine selection of alcohol including Californian and Canadian wines, local craft beers, signature cocktails, and other premium spirits.
There’s also a coffee bar setup here but I’m not sure if or when they will have barista-made coffee drinks. I’m assuming these will be available during the morning hours.
For non-alcoholic drinkers, there’s the standard still and sparkling waters, juices, soda, and an espresso machine.
In the back of the lounge, there is another seating area with additional armchairs and tables.
But the highlight of this new lounge is the beautiful outdoor terrace. Here, you’ll find a fantastic space to socialize, enjoy a drink, or just sit and watch the airplanes landing in the distance. This is my favorite part of the lounge and I’m so glad Air Canada was able to secure this space. Dare I say, this new addition to the Maple Leaf Lounge network is a breath of fresh air. Literally.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge SFO Overall Thoughts
Overall, I was very impressed with this lounge. Before this, the Maple Leaf Lounge in Frankfurt was my favorite in the MLL network but in my opinion, this lounge blows the Frankfurt MLL out of the water. The lounge is spacious and beautifully decorated and the amenities provided are top-notch. This is a true business-class lounge and I can see it being very popular in the coming months. Air Canada is making significant investments across their network, including expanding seating capacity in their hub locations and introducing new menu offerings and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.
What are your thoughts? Have you visited the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at SFO? If so, please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I attending this lounge unveiling as a guest of Air Canada but rest assured, my views are my own. I will always report my experiences accurately and honestly.
My other Air Canada reviews include:
