I recently got the chance to try the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge on a quick layover. I had 3 hours in the lounge between my Vietnam Airlines flight from Hanoi and my Singapore fifth freedom flight from Frankfurt to JFK.
Fortunately, I had booked my itinerary on the Singapore flight through Air Canada, and I also hold the Air Canada Aeroplan Card, which grants access to all lounges. So it made sense to try this lounge.
My other option would have been the Lufthansa Senator Lounge which Singapore Airlines uses.
The lounge is located after security on the B concourse and is easy to find due to the numerous signs guiding you there. If you are heading there, it is the first to pop up on your way to the gates B21 through B60.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Location & Entry
The lounge façade I beautifully decorated and screams elegance with its classy wood touches. A large Air Canada logo is etched into the wood; the visibility changes with the viewing angle. Pretty cool architecture!
The foyer features a variety of warm Oak finishes in a vertical format. Having recently been in Japan, the finishes have a very Japanese feel.
An airplane model is almost a requirement in any airport lounge, and Air Canada did not disappoint. A beautiful aircraft model is in the front before the long-extended hallway to the lounge check-in counter.
Entry
Entry was relatively simple and quick, even though the counter was only staffed by one attendant, and there was no line. I showed them my Singapore SQ26 boarding pass and Aeroplan card and was granted entry.
Overall, the entire process took about thirty seconds. As I entered, the attendant told me I could freely visit the shower area behind Check-in.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Layout and Space
The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is reasonably large for an airport lounge outside North America. It has many different rooms and a wide variety of different seating arrangements.
Behind the main check-in desk are the shower areas and restrooms. I only tried the shower area, which I will discuss further in the review.
The lounge has a large central open area for food, drinks, and coffee; this area also features some bar seats.
Across from that is a large art bust on the wall that curves outwards. At the foot of the bust is a bench with table seating.
In another area by the window, there are plenty of single-person sofas with tables to relax in some privacy.
Another central area has lounge seating and a red glass art piece. This has lounge-like bench seating. I noticed that several people were using this area to sleep.
Nap Rooms
The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge has about seven nap rooms. These are located towards the rear of the lounge and are in a very quiet area.
Each room has its own black leather lounge seats for napping; I found them to be very private and secluded.
Next door to the nap rooms is a cell phone-free space, which ensures the whole area remains peaceful and quiet.
Wi-Fi
The Wi-Fi in the lounge was excellent. I found the connection fast and stable, with no issues doing anything.
You are given Wi-Fi access information when you check in to the lounge at the front desk.
The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Shower
If you need to freshen up, several shower rooms are available at Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. The design was very elegant, and personally, I loved the color scheme. I also found the shower rooms to be quite spacious.
The shower rooms were stocked with Molton Brown London dispensers and products. However, additional accessories are available on request.
My favorite part was the massive rain shower in the shower – which was so relaxing to use — one of the best showers I’ve experienced in an airport.
In terms of service, the attendant was extremely friendly and patient with me. Unfortunately, I had to return to the lounge space twice to get toiletries and a shirt I had forgotten shirt.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Food & Beverage
The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge featured your typical buffer-style self-service counter.
However, despite the various options available, it felt a little understocked. The lounge is lightly staffed and can have heavy traffic due to it being a Star Alliance Gold Lounge.
I was planning on getting lots of photos; however, By the time I went to get pictures, most of the food in the central bar area was already gone.
I ended up opting for some beans, eggs, and pancakes.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I found the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge adequate for its purpose. While I would not want to spend hours on end here, the lounge is a good choice for a quick relaxing visit between flights. The lounge seemed like a smaller version of Air Canada’s lounge at YVR Vancouver.
If you are a plane spotter, you will love the lounge. The direct views onto the B concourse air traffic were undoubtedly a bonus, as Frankfurt airport is excellent for all kinds of plane spotting.
Pros
- Service was all smiles!
- Excellent Check In and Customer Service experience.
- Excellent Shower Rooms, especially the rain shower.
- Good lounge color scheme and finishes.
- Beautiful entry.
- Solid array of food and drink options.
- Variety of seating
- Stable Wi-Fi
Cons
- The only downside was the lack of good food stocking. Otherwise, this lounge was excellent!
- I would have liked to see real flatbeds or chaise pieces in the nap rooms.
Verdict: 9/10
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