Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge

Air Canada’s operation at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport is somewhat peculiar. Not only does the carrier operate from Terminal 2A while other Star Alliance partners are co-located at Terminal 1, but the airline’s lounge is in a small satellite building, a healthy 10 minute walk from the security checkpoint.

To reach the Maple Leaf Lounge, go through security, follow the signs to the A gates, then walk through the entire length of the terminal towards gates A37-A38-A39. Take the connector hallway to the satellite building, then make your way down the escalator. You’ll find the club immediately at the bottom. Ring the bell to enter.

The Maple Leaf Lounge welcomes Star Alliance Gold customers, Maple Leaf Lounge members, and Air Canada’s Business Class passengers. The club also accepts Dragon Pass cards, though it’s currently off-limits to Priority Pass members.

Terminals 2A and 2C are connected airside, so it is possible to visit the Maple Leaf Lounge when departing from either terminal, but allow at least 15 minutes for the trek from Terminal 2C.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge CDG design

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport is a blast from the past. The lounge has kept most of its original design features, such as marble flooring, wooden partitions and consoles, granite surfaces, and black leather couches. The club probably looked opulent once upon a time. Today, the décor is decidedly vintage, even though the space has been well maintained.

Situated on the lower level of the terminal building, the Maple Leaf Lounge lacks proper windows and views. Technically, the space has windows, but they face an immigration hallway and are blocked by curtains.

The club stretches in two directions around the lobby area. On the left side is the dining zone, the bar, and a seating area, while on the right side is a quiet seating zone and the business center. In reality, the lounge tends to fill up as soon as it opens, and guests sit wherever they can. The quiet zone is hardly a haven of peace, though it’s at least away from the buffet and dining area.

The seating layout consists of clusters of two to eight black leather armchairs separated by wood and granite dividers. Solo travelers will find a handful of single seats in a nook beyond the bar area.

The space could be distributed much more efficiently: the dividers take valuable real estate and serve virtually no purpose—they’re too low for privacy, and too high to double as consoles. But at least they come with the occasional power outlet, which is a nice feature for a lounge that was designed before the advent of personal electronic devices.

An intimate dining area, opposite the buffet, features just a handful of tables paired with Air Canada’s signature red chairs.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge CDG amenities

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport features a set of essential amenities.

The food selection varies in variety and quantity—Air Canada tends to spruce up the offering ahead of their departure times—but the Maple Leaf Lounge Paris isn’t a temple of French gastronomy. Hot food occasionally makes an appearance, but most of the spread consists of shrink-wrapped snacks and basic salads and crudites.

On the beverage front, Air Canada offers soft drinks, espresso, tea, and a modest assortment of self-service wines, liquor, and spirits.

The Maple Leaf Lounge sports elegant marble clad bathrooms, but no showers, which is an unfortunate oversight for a club designed for long-distance travel.

The cavernous, dimly-lit, but highly private business center is both a true legacy of the 90s and a highlight of the lounge. The space features a dozen work cubicles with noise-buffering high partitions. It’s exquisitely secluded, quiet, and private, but also depressively dark and grim. The booths are outfitted with a work desk and power outlets; a few also come with a computer. Wi-Fi and a shared fax/copier/printer are available.

Other amenities include a baggage storage area in the lobby and a selection of newspapers and magazines.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge CDG bottom line

While the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport delivers on essentials such as comfortable seating, power outlets, Wi-Fi, and snacks, the club falls short of the standards of an international business class lounge. The Maple Leaf Lounge is, in fact, the weakest club at CDG Terminal 2A, where luxurious facilities such as the elegant Paul Maxence Lounge have sprung in the last few years.

The lounge lacks windows and thus daylight, the décor is dated, the food spread consists primarily of shrink-wrapped snacks, and there are no international-grade amenities such as showers. The space is well-maintained; Air Canada simply hasn’t caught up with the times.

Considering that Air Canada has modern, flagship lounges at both Frankfurt and London Heathrow airports, the Maple Leaf Lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle feels like a stepchild. Here’s to hoping that the Canadian carrier remodels the space—or better yet, moves to Terminal 1 along with fellow Star Alliance members, which would not only facilitate intra-alliance connections but also enable customers to use the recently-expanded Star Alliance Lounge.